KingsXJJ
Rock Star
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I’ve got a couple of sets of 9.5’s. Maybe that would be a good first step.
Putting 10’s instead of 9’s on a Floyd Rose for fuller sound.
- Thread starter KingsXJJ
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unix-guy
Roadie
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Please, no!
Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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I seem to remember. His sound didn't change much, though, so there.
Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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Fwiw, my history of string gauges used is all related to playability (even if for a while I thought of sound being side aspect, which it kinda is, but only because of other reasons...).
Started with 9s (they seemed to be pretty much standard back then) but went to 10s kinda quickly, hoping it'd reduce string breakage (which it did) but also because I liked the tighter feel.
Then, quite some years later, I noticed that my vibrato annoyed myself because it's always been pretty wide. I've also been bending like a mad man (no intonation issues, just too much bends). So I dediced to use something helping me to force some discipline and went for 11s (on all guitars). Used them exclusively on all guitars for a loooong time (maybe over a decade).
Finally, a handful of years back, I got mildly annoyed by things feeling different throughout guitars. With 11s on Fender scale guitars and free floating vibratos, bending strings requires quite some more power than on a Gibson scale guitar, so the overall string feel was noticeably different, especially when swapping them inmidst of a gig.
In the end, I decided to go back to 10s on all Fender scale guitars and kept using 11s on Gibson scale ones. Worked pretty well and I don't notice too much vibrato or string bending on the now easier to vibrate/bend guitars anymore, either.
Should I get a Tele again one day, I will however slap 9s onto it, to enjoy all the country bending goodness.
Started with 9s (they seemed to be pretty much standard back then) but went to 10s kinda quickly, hoping it'd reduce string breakage (which it did) but also because I liked the tighter feel.
Then, quite some years later, I noticed that my vibrato annoyed myself because it's always been pretty wide. I've also been bending like a mad man (no intonation issues, just too much bends). So I dediced to use something helping me to force some discipline and went for 11s (on all guitars). Used them exclusively on all guitars for a loooong time (maybe over a decade).
Finally, a handful of years back, I got mildly annoyed by things feeling different throughout guitars. With 11s on Fender scale guitars and free floating vibratos, bending strings requires quite some more power than on a Gibson scale guitar, so the overall string feel was noticeably different, especially when swapping them inmidst of a gig.
In the end, I decided to go back to 10s on all Fender scale guitars and kept using 11s on Gibson scale ones. Worked pretty well and I don't notice too much vibrato or string bending on the now easier to vibrate/bend guitars anymore, either.
Should I get a Tele again one day, I will however slap 9s onto it, to enjoy all the country bending goodness.
Mikael Dez
Shredder
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The thing I dislike on a 9.5 set are the heavy strings being lighter then I like. When I use 9.5s I’ll usually buy two packs of strings and mix em. Or I’ll go the Stringjoy route!
KingsXJJ
Rock Star
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Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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For me, it never seemed a good idea to use esoteric gauges, let alone slap a set of strings together on my own. 9s, 10s and by now 11s as well can be found in the most rural areas you may all of a sudden need them in.
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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I've been running 10s in standard on 25.5 scale guitars for YEARS by now. I'm kind of tired of it, tbh. Not a tonal issue as much as feel like I am playing bass sometimes the setup and tension is so tight. The GK pickup in my mind facilitated the need for a setup with less give than what you would want on a guitar tasked to do what a guitar should be tasked to do.
I might downgrade my Strat to 9.5-44 Daddario set to see how my hands like the change and see if the synth pickup minds if I go a little lighter.
I might downgrade my Strat to 9.5-44 Daddario set to see how my hands like the change and see if the synth pickup minds if I go a little lighter.
Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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If you go any lighter, we expect you to post some country double bend faux pedal steel goodness. Keep that in mind!
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- 11,811
Depending on how much relief you've got in the neck already, you might be able to just add a pinch more and resolve the bulk of tension issues with an 1/8th - 1/4 turn of the truss rod.
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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I am not a lead player in the first place. And my guitar is setup with the action of a light stringed bass. So those combinations are not ideal for anything but chugging or trumpet riffing
KingsXJJ
Rock Star
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I got a couple of nice black metal rulers with white markings in today. The ST-2 was down 1/32th inch on the bridge pickup. Brought it up to the height of the Horizon. Brought up the poles 1/4 turn for good measure by ear and all is good. The ST-2 has a lighter feel due to the difference of the 9’s but now those Steve Blucher Custom Dimarzio’s are as fat and chewy as my Horizon which is slightly non-stock on the bridge pickup. Density and beef added and I’m happy. Still different guitars with different sounds and engineering approaches but now they sound and feel more like family. I may switch to the 9.5’s custom set I pictured earlier but I think I’ll stay on 10’s for my fixed bridges. That just works really well on my Les Paul and Horizon.
strings2000
Groupie
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- 88
Did the strings feel loose? I come from the acoustic side of things
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