• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: String Gauge

ZampraZ wrote:

I don't believe 11s will be rough. 9s are gross to play for me, 10s are light on an LP, so 11s should be fine. I believe I have strong fingers. I'll probably buy a set of 11-52, 11-48 and see how they feel. If bad I'll just toss them

Great insight.

My hands swell up compulsively. If I go fishing for 8 hours, I won't be able to bend my fingers two days later. If I play guitar all day, the edges of the neck bruise my hands. 10's are great all around, 9's for comfort, 11's for those days I want to be a bit rough. 11's are not impossible to play, only a little stiffer than 10's. There is an improvement with tone at the sacrifice of needing a higher action.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

20 Reply by Bailz (edited by Bailz 2009-08-30 22:27:15)

  • Bailz
  • Bailz
  • Silver Member
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  • From: Aberdeen, Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-01-05
  • Posts: 60

Re: String Gauge

I've just put a set of 11-52s on my Custom Les Paul. To the other guys that use 11s do you fit the wound G or the plain G string?

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: String Gauge

Bailz wrote:

I've just put a set of 11-52s on my Custom Les Paul. To the other guys that use 11s do you fit the wound G or the plain G string?

plain no question

I'm also running 11-52s now, great

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: String Gauge

With exception to acoustic strings, I don't think I've ever seen a wound G string for an electric guitar. The plain, while being the most obvious answer is also the most available.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: String Gauge

back in the day wound G string was the norm.  That didn't change until Ernie Ball came out with custom string guages.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: String Gauge

I've used 11-56 strings for a while now on both les paul and strats (cant be bothered buying all different sets for guitars so I stick to one), I bought a brand new Strat a month back came stock with Fender Super Bullet 250's it just felt good to play, I'm now in the process of changing them all over to the fenders (which lasted a suprisingly long time) and I'm probably gonna go to '9s just to see if it feels any different.

Been having alot of wrist problems lately partly due to working on computers 24/7 and guitar so I'm looking at making stuff easier for a while without cutting back play time (which is already short sad)

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: String Gauge

I've played Strats mostly for my entire 10 years of playing and out of that ten years I only used Ernie Ball Regular Slinky guage 10-46.  I've got a unhealthy obsession of trying to play and sound like Eric Clapton.  That being said I learned that in the 90's he was using .009 super slinkies.  After switching to those I found out that I'd been suffering all these years for nothing!  Sounded the same to my ears and I had way more playablility.  The guys I get together and jam with couldn't believe it when I told them I wasn't practicing at home and that all I did was changed my strings.  .009's on a stratocaster feel like .010 on a les paul or a gibson with a same scale neck.  I've tried .011's for a while on my les paul and top wrap them like Joe, and honestly I think Joe and all you guys are nuts my les paul plays fine with .010's.  My old SG had .011's on it and a very high action but I played Slide on it, and it wasn't top wrapped.  Very rarely would I go and play it straight for long but with a slide it sounded legendary and I've never had a slide sound that was as good as that after I sold it.  But one thing I can tell you is smaller hand need smaller strings.  Lighter touches need lighter strings.  And Last Slide guitar can have any string but the bigger they are the badder they are!

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 24

Re: String Gauge

I have an 07 R8 since new. I have never really bonded with it and have tried many 10 gauge sets on it.  I have been contemplating trading it for anything (which would have been a big mistake).   

Recently, I went to a tech to have him check it out. He has played Les Pauls for years and he recommended that I put on 9s of a certain brand so he could assess the character of the guitar.

I did a slight set-up with the string change - he liked the guitar allot adjusted the pick-ups and away I went.

Well, I really love this guitar with 9s! Plays and sounds fantastic (really makes those Rev. Willie G sounds now).

I also have an 07 R7 and 10s are great on it.

My point; I really think I have learned a valuable lesson that strings can be guitar specific.

My years of just 10s are over!

  • Registered: 2012-05-11
  • Posts: 4

Re: String Gauge

I know this thread is old, but I wasn't sure there is a better place to ask this question:

I was thinking about trying out the David Gilmour GHS Boomer 10.5 - 50 strings, the Red Set.

I was also thinking about trying out the Ernie Ball 3120 Coated Titanium Power Slinky Strings 11 - 48 strings?

Does anybody know if I would have to modify the nut on my LP Standard to accommodate either set?

If not, will the use of the bigger diameter strings "wallow out" the grooves in the nut? smile

  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

Re: String Gauge

Have played from 9-42 to 13-56 on my strat and have to say the heavier you can manage, the better. I feel 11's work great on both fender and Gibson scales!!

I've recently just bought some DR Tite-Fit 11-50 and man they rock!! Brilliant string company!!

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website

  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: String Gauge

I'm a wimp.  I use 8's and love the way they sound on my P90 SG Special

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: String Gauge

I think Richie Blackmore plays 8's

The PattyPatrick JBLP in my profile pic has 11's on it, and it felt lighter than the 11's I have on my LesPauls.... not sure why. It was setup for Joe to play in Iowa

hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool