Another string gauge discussion.

[HomespunEffects]

Any quality guitar with no issues will work perfectly fine with very light strings.

Yes, I agree but "perfectly fine" and "perfectly" is a big distinction for me.

 

[Eagle]

unless im playing it but thats a me prob, not the guitar...

People usually play to the strings they are used to. It takes a few weeks of practice to readjust completely to a different gauge . You also need to stick with only that for a decent amount of time to properly get used to it.

 

[HomespunEffects]

FWIW, to me anyhow, 9's arent really heavy strings. wound g sets are heavy strings. i play .12s and have forever because they offer enough resistance, and im used to acoustic mediums. its not a tough guy thing- its just more a playing style thing- and i am not good at playing gently, nor am i surgical nor a big bluesy bender

That's another issue. Once you get into .12s, you get a wound G and the core in them are thinner than a hair. The core always breaks at the saddle and the wraps unwind making it difficult to remove without tools. I find that wound Gs break more often than 9s.

 

[Eagle]

Yes, I agree but "perfectly fine" and "perfectly" is a big distinction for me.

Ok perfectly. But then you would need to readjust too.

 

[Eagle]

That's another issue. Once you get into .12s, you get a wound G and the core in them are thinner than a hair. The core always breaks at the saddle and the wraps unwind making it difficult to remove without tools. I find that wound Gs break more often than 9s.

They also sound thinner than a solid G.

 

[newholland]

That's another issue. Once you get into .12s, you get a wound G and the core in them are thinner than a hair. The core always breaks at the saddle and the wraps unwind making it difficult to remove without tools. I find that wound Gs break more often than 9s.

you aint lyin. only string i ever break, and always at the bridge. but thats the achilles. i restring often enough though that i stay ahead of it usually.

 

[HomespunEffects]

They also sound thinner than a solid G.

Yes. I do like a set of 12s but that's another issue with them. I suppose I'm just an 11 guy.

I'm going to work with these 9s for the next couple of weeks. I'm sure they'll wear out or break by then anyway.

 

[newholland]

They also sound thinner than a solid G.

this i havent experienced myself- but its just part of the landscape of using em i guess. string to string tension makes more sense to my fingers, and prolly on the net, theres more things i LIKE than dont, but every setups gonna be the sum of its parts, pickups, picks strings amp settings accommodate- but the tactile feedback is harder to dial. who am i tellin, though?

 

[laxu]

I typically use 10-46 D'Addario XLs, with 11-49 for guitars that are tuned to Eb, and my Jazzmaster which absolutely needs 11s for the stock bridge to work properly.

My beef with wound Gs are that they are harder to bend than plain ones. They do seem to stay in tune better tho.

 

[Jarick]

I like heavier strings but have been working on legato technique and put a set of 9s on my Surfcaster. I absolutely hate it but I’m going to work with it over the next couple weeks.

Questions:
Do you find that heavier strings stay in tune better?

Do you find that jumbo frets work better with heavier strings and heavier strings work better with bigger frets?

I went from 10's to 9's a few years ago, then up to 9.5's and back to 10's.

I found 10's to have more tuning stability and to ring out better than 9's. My theory is that 9's require a better guitar setup and 10's are more forgiving.

I prefer bigger frets with everything, although I do think the heavier strings and bigger frets do work better together.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I think my biggest problem is I’ve gone from 11s directly to 9s and they just don’t feel good at all.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I think my biggest problem is I’ve gone from 11s directly to 9s and they just don’t feel good at all.

Yeah I was about to say that's kind of a drastic change. Especially to how they're gonna feel to your hands. I'm firmly in the camp of pick a string gauge, and once you're used to it, stay with it. But I'm playing stuff that's right at the outer limits of my abilities, so I don't want to introduce any variables to my technique.

Based on what you've said, I'd switch to 10's, then work on your legato.

 

[Eagle]

I think my biggest problem is I’ve gone from 11s directly to 9s and they just don’t feel good at all.

Just play only those for a week and see if you get used too it.

 

[The-Kid]

Best way to get a heavier feeling set of 9s is to down tune. Me I bring them down to D or E flat.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Best way to get a heavier feeling set of 9s is to down tune. Me I bring them down to D or E flat.

They’re already too loose at standard pitch.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Yes. I do like a set of 12s but that's another issue with them. I suppose I'm just an 11 guy.

I'm going to work with these 9s for the next couple of weeks. I'm sure they'll wear out or break by then anyway.

Have you tried the 12 sets with the plain G? I use them on rare occasions for one guitar, tuned down to D or C# standard.
I never liked the would G except on acoustic.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Have you tried the 12 sets with the plain G? I use them on rare occasions for one guitar, tuned down to D or C# standard.
I never liked the would G except on acoustic.

I’ve not seen a set of 12s with a solid G. I’ll look around.

I used to build my sets from singles at the music store where I worked. I believe i used to get a plain 26 that way but don’t quote me on that. That was with a set of 13s though.

 

[Deleted member 472]

I’ve not seen a set of 12s with a solid G. I’ll look around.

12-54 Heavy Plain Third, XL Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings | EXL145 | D'Addario

Our best-belling electric set, XL Nickel has been revered by players everywhere since 1974. This 12-54 Heavy gauge set is made with a plain steel 3rd/G-string for more flexibility than traditional 12-gauge electric strings. Learn more.

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[HomespunEffects]

12-54 Heavy Plain Third, XL Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings | EXL145 | D'Addario

Our best-belling electric set, XL Nickel has been revered by players everywhere since 1974. This 12-54 Heavy gauge set is made with a plain steel 3rd/G-string for more flexibility than traditional 12-gauge electric strings. Learn more.

www.daddario.com

Thanks. I guess I’ll try Daddy Rio one more time.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Yeah I was about to say that's kind of a drastic change. Especially to how they're gonna feel to your hands. I'm firmly in the camp of pick a string gauge, and once you're used to it, stay with it. But I'm playing stuff that's right at the outer limits of my abilities, so I don't want to introduce any variables to my technique.

Based on what you've said, I'd switch to 10's, then work on your legato.

Funnily enough I tried to be the opposite for so long and always return. Lol

Most of my life I played 9 to 42, about 30 years ago I went up to 12th, after my left forearm wasn't happy I returned to 9th.
About 20 years ago I stayed at 9-46 for a while.
Back to 9-42, felt like coming home.

The last few years 10-52, recently 9.5 to 44 and just reurned to 9-42 and again like coming home.

Now this is for 25.5 scale length.
On the others and acoustics I'm rather agnostic about it.