Well, I decided to try it. Anyways, I went on eBay for new strings and found some from this one company for $3.89 with free shipping. I decided to go with a set of 8s. Not sure why, but I just wanted to try it. Is it difficult to change up gauges? I've used 9s since I started playing and have kind of grown to know their tone and feel.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Well you changed down a gauge (rather than up). I think you'll find them to be too bendy and have less life and tuning stability, and will soon be changing back.

I changed from 9's to 10's. The 10's last longer and keep tune better, but are a bit stiffer for bends. I expect you'll experience the opposite with the change down to 8's.

I really like thin strings though. I started out thin. My friend made me play a set of 12s on his Ibanez S. I have never felt so uncomfortable.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

As a big Billy Gibbons fan ive been considering trying out 7`s on one of my guitars for a while, but as ive been playing with 11`s on all my electrics for years now i honestly dont think i could handle it! You`d need such a light touch. Two of my favourite guitarists are jimmy page and billy gibbons, so id love to be able to get my head round how they play, but the thicker strings have always felt more natural to me. Frustrating. I guess theres also the issue of whether the guitar would need to be set up again to handle the new cheese wire strings

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

+1 with the .011s here.
The first time I switched from .009s, it took a few hours to get used to the way they play.
I had to adjust the action a little, and they (the .011s) pulled my bridge up so high I had to add another spring.
I liked the sound better too, but that’s just a personal preference.

After these .011s are finished their useful lives, I’m going back to .009s because I suspect the fatties are breaking my guide nuts.

Is it hard to adjust to a new string gauge?
naaaah, not really, I'm sure you'll get used to the new gauge quickly, (if you haven't already)

I've got most of my guitars strung with 9s, but about five of my more recent acquisitions are strung with 10s and going back and forth, I always notice the difference right away when I get up around the 6th fret - noticeably more difficult to get my clean bends. Eventually, I'll be switching everything back to 9s - that's my age-old comfort zone.

Going to a lighter gauge should be a much easier transition for you than going up a gauge or two.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

The way I figure it, each player has their 'natural' gauge. For example, if they have to fight while bending a 10 gauge set, then this is too heavy for them. Conversely, with 8s, if they snap them, can't get a grip on them or their chording is always out of tune, then this gauge is too light for them. It's like the story of the 3 Bears with the porridge: One is too hot, one is too cold, the other is 'just right'. Sure, one can eventually adjust to what would be his/her 'unnatural' gauge for whatever his/her motivations are but the varying degrees of ease tell the story. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

I use 9's on my tele and 10's on my gretsch. The 9's on the tele allow me to get a vibrato effect more easily...I've got the Bigsby on the Gretsch to help with the (slightly) heavier strings.
When I want to really give my fingers a workout, I pick up my trusty Gibson acoustic with a set of 12's.
Each instrument has it's charms - as I'm sure you all know - and I don't find that it's very difficult to switch from one to the others, tho' when I switch back to the tele from the acoustic, I tend to bend a tad too far for a while!
cheers,
Alex

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

What really helps me with string gauge issues is to play bass for a few days straight... I am also a bass player, so its not a big deal for me to pick up a bass and jam....

Not only does it help with your fingers but it keeps you sharp on the bass...

Also keep in mind when you start to using 9's or smaller gauge, thats when (IMHO) the fret buzz issues start to rear their ugly head...

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

10's on my Strat, usually GHS boomers, David Gilmour signature blue pack
10.5's on my SG. usually GHS boomers, David Gilmour signature red pack
or D`addario's if I can't find the boomers in stock locally, I tend to by them by the case when I do find the ones I like.
12's for the acoustic, most often Martin SP's
45's on my bass, Ernie Ball super slinky

Hum I think I see where a lot of my cash is going, except for the bass I change strings fairly often on the ones being played the most.

Try bends on a bass makes any gauge on the guitars seem easy by comparison!

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

One reason I switched down was because my frets are getting pretty bad because of how often and how hard I play. Frets 1-5 already have serious pitting and the fretboard up to the 10th or so has grooves wearing into it. All the way up to the 21st, the little E is worn flat. I've only played on this neck since early November.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Assuming your neck frets had no wear in November.....

lets see here I have an ES-137 that I have put about (me playing) 1200 to 1500 hours of playing on and there is very minor fretwear on it....

so, the fretwear you are talking about would take at least 2000 hours of playing which equates to about 125 hours of playing a week or 17 hours a day...

Well, I guess thats possible...

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In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

It had minor wear. It was made in April of 2011 and I bought it on eBay at a discounted price. And you can't mathematically calculate how hard someone grips (which is also a huge factor) unless you use some scientific equipment. Quit being a dick.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Different frets wear at different rates. They aren't all made of exactly the same thing. After 12 years of life and 6 years of me playing the crazy out of it, my Squier has needed a fret level three or four times and is now down into the vintage fret size territory. Also, different players are more sensitive to fret wear than others. I notice the intonation off on open chords after about a year and a half on constant wear on a guitar. Other players I know who are far better than me, and who have been playing for far longer, sometimes have guitars that I think would need a fret level that they don't notice or care about at all. Everyone has a different definition of how bad fret wear needs to be before something is done about it, whether that be a fret level or a string gauge change.

Personally, I think the lower the fret, the lighter the string gauge. On vintage frets I'll play 9's or 10's, but with jumbo frets I like something more in the 11's-12's range. Maybe not 12's on a Strat, but it feels good on guitars with a short scale length. It's not that hard to adjust to, I usually get used to a change within a week of playing. I prefer 10's or higher, just because I send 9's out of tune when I play chords. But you can do some cool bending stuff on them that you'd really have to grit your teeth for on anything heavier.

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Thanks for the info. But I'm wondering how the step down will be, considering how rough I am and how thin the strings are going to be lighter than usual. I'm guessing I'll have to develop a lighter touch and maybe no more showing off in the few ways I can. (by show off, I mean make a mockery of Ode to Joy by playing it with my teeth)

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic