Re: String gauge

jimmy wrote:
On Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:15:37 -0700, Rufus <not@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

ed s wrote:
On Aug 1, 9:22 am, Sac Dave <diac...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Aug 1, 6:42 am, TD <topper.dog...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:





When I started playing many years ago, my teacher advised me to use 11s on a
Les-Paul scale length, and 10s on a Strat-scale. I'm currently using 10s on
my Brian Moore (25.5"), and about to buy some more strings.
Rather than just going for the normal Ernie Ball Regular Slinky, I might try
the 11s (Power Slinky). I fancy the improvement in tone, and I think I can
get used to bending the heavier strings. I'm quite capable of tweaking the
truss rod and action to suit.
However, are they likely to have any impact on *speed* of playing? I first
thought no, as it's the same distance to push the string to the fret, but I'm
not sure.
I'm not a shredder but I don't want to make my life unnecessarily difficult.
;)
I'm alse interested in what people think of the coated EBs (I live in a humid
climate), and pure stainless, and reinforced ones as well. Marketing
gimmicks? I've had the same set on for over a year, and I haven't broken any,
they're a bit dirty and dull but that's it. I'm old enough to know I don't
need to smash the strings to get a big sound. ;)
Anyone here have any interesting thoughts?
--
TD
I use tens and elevens on all my guitars except my acoustic. Now
when I change strings I replace the tens with 11’s. As for coated
strings I use 12 elixir on my acoustic. On my electrics the few coated
ones I tried I thought were lifeless and a waste of money. What brand
to buy I like DAddario just because of the deferent colored ball
ends. If you move up to a larger string gauge you might encounter
problems with your nut slots being to tight. As for bending I went
from 9’s to 11’s I had no problem doing bends. If I play a guitar with
9’s now it just feels flimsy Myself I don’t see a significant
dereference in tone from 9’s to 11’s IMO tone is 90% amp.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
I agree - tone is mostly amp/ (electronics) chain. As to playability
well that really depends on you but the extreme example would be a
bass guitar. So yes is my opinion it makes a diff. as to wether it
effects you is up to you. I like 9-46 Blue Steel CL on my LP,Strat&
Tele. ed s.
Ditto. I think gauge has zero effect on tone and it's all about the amp/speaker in combination with your pickup configuration - but that the feel of the gauge certainly affects how you play, and that's more of what you hear.

Dunno man. I tried 8 - 48s and they sucked tonewise and yes, they
definitely affected the way I played. I could hardly NOT bend
everything.


....did you adjust your pickups?

I tried all sorts of different brands of .009s made of all sorts of different materials before I settled on d'Addarios.

Yeah, I find 8s to be a bit sloppy, but they don't sound any different - just break easier. But I also like really low action and use a pretty light touch...back to "feel" affecting tone.

--
- Rufus
.

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