Which Strings Would Be Best For C Std?

TSJMajesty

Rock Star
Messages
6,453
I use 10's on 25.5" scale guitars, and am considering stringing one up in C std. Which would be closer to keeping that same tension feel under my fingers, do you think, 11's or 12's?
 
12-68

20250323_164246.jpg
 
And with the same tension, or at least pretty close, I'd expect I shouldn't have to do much with the floating trem springs.
 
I use 10's on 25.5" scale guitars, and am considering stringing one up in C std. Which would be closer to keeping that same tension feel under my fingers, do you think, 11's or 12's?

I am a recent convert to the half gauge increments. Maybe worth checking out. :idk

I can safely tell you that .068 is way too thick. You'll be divebombing that Trem. :LOL:

Something like .011 to .052 and .012 to .056 is where I would start. Maybe grab both.
Start with one and go from there.
 
Last edited:
These work great in C# or C standard. I prefer C# personally.
You'll most definitely need to adjust intonation and trem, etc.
ds_exl145_main_transparent.png
 
I have 11s on my 25” scale in D standard and that is a bit too floppy compared to 9/10s in E standard to me. I’d definitely try 12s first for C standard even for 25,5” scale.

I usually check a string tension calculator to get a grip at all and see how it could potentially transfer over but I don’t trust them that much.

I’ve used this one just for getting some approximate numbers, probably off quite a bit so YMMV: https://rodrigocfd.github.io/string-tension-calc/
 
Didn’t you just get a 7-string? See what comes on that, and decide if the B is too floppy. That’ll give you somewhat of an idea. 7-strings at 25.5” usually feel best to me at .56 to .60, so I’d say C would be good at .54 to .56.
 
Idk, everyone is different of course, but I'd vote for Fractal VC, or if that's not good enough for you, a physical drop pedal.

I went down the thick string rabbit hole a few times and always came back to 10's - or 10-52's (thanks @FuzzyAce).

I thought the FM9 VC did well enough for me, and now the QC Transpose, as well. Just super simplifies everything and lets me use any guitar to play anything.
 
Back
Top