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Post subject: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 2:05 pm
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Ok, I just can't get along with the stock 0.9-42s that came from the factory in my 2013 American Standard Strat. Too much buzz and it feels like I'm playing cooked spaghetti.

My other strat has 0.10s and plays fine.

I wonder if I have to adjust the truss rod or the claw if I just switch the string gauge on my Am std, or if the gauge difference will be too small to be noticed in the setup.

I'd appreciate your feedback, brothers.

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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 2:28 pm
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There should be no modifications to your saddles or nut required. American Standards and Deluxes are equally comfortable with 9s or 10s. The action and intonation will be up to you. The action will come up a little. That's just what happens. Whether you can live with it is your call. I suggest you try it first without adjustment. If you do find you want to adjust I would suggest an extra ¼ turn on the 6th string side claw screw first.

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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 3:14 pm
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And the compulsory second opinion:

The string tension for that .010 set is over 20% bigger than on the .009 set.
(And: you write you have buzzing on your current strings & setup.)

I'd do a full setup; trem springs, truss rod, action, intonation...


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 8:46 pm
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After playing the 9-42's for a year, I wanted to give the 10's a shot. Verdict: action did rise; could not see an immediate change in relief; most notably, the trem/bridge shot into the air definitely requiring adjustment; bending more difficult; overall playability was OK; tone & volume didn't change as much as I thought it would. I changed back to 9's. For me, the trade-off was a negative, but many players swear by the 10's.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:23 am
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jmattis wrote:


I'd do a full setup; trem springs, truss rod, action, intonation...


Bigger gauge or not, guitar need a complete set up.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 3:37 pm
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de Melo wrote:
Ok, I just can't get along with the stock 0.9-42s that came from the factory in my 2013 American Standard Strat. Too much buzz and it feels like I'm playing cooked spaghetti.

My other strat has 0.10s and plays fine.

I wonder if I have to adjust the truss rod or the claw if I just switch the string gauge on my Am std, or if the gauge difference will be too small to be noticed in the setup.

I'd appreciate your feedback, brothers.
Hi de Melo. I know what you mean about the cooked spaghetti. In my case it would be over-cooked spaghetti given that I play with 11s. The fret buzz is another issue. Regardless of string gauge there should not be any buzz.

I went from stock 9s to 11s on all my Strats and didn't have to adjust the truss rod or nut but my trems are decked so it's possible YMMV. In any case I would suggest, as others have done, to do a complete set up on your Strat when you change to 10s.

HTH

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 7:33 am
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the 10s are going to pull your bridge off the body more than the 09s will.

I set mine up with 10s and I also deck the bridge, so it's a matter for me of adjusting the claw screws.

I don't like 09s either by the way, but years ago, that's all i used.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:45 am
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stratele52 wrote:
Bigger gauge or not, guitar need a complete set up.

This is true even when changing to strings with the same gauge, if they're a different manufacturer or string type. Some are higher tension, and some are more elastic.

That said, you can probably get away with not adjusting intonation most of the time, unless the difference in strings is major. But truss rod and bridge action is pretty much a given, and for whammy bar models, the trem too.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:11 pm
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I went from 9s to 10s on three Strats and "got away with it" on two of them. The other pretty obviously needed an immediate setup. The other two were good until they were ready for a touch up setup anyway. Not sure if this matters, but the one that needed the setup was the AmStd, while the two that didn't were MIMs. None were blocked; one MIM is a 98, the second is an HSS circa 2012 and the AmStd is a 2000 and all had been set up at least once (since I owned them) prior to the string change.

The 98 MIM went from D'Addarios to EB, the HSS was EB to EB and the AmStd was Fender to EB. I have a hunch there are too many variables here to really make a case one way or the other.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 3:34 pm
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Yeah a full setup would be in order. I go about it this way
1.Put new strings on
2. Leave em to stretch
3. Wait for the neck to show its curvature/relief
4. Adjust the trust rod of needed (probably do when switching to higher gauge) use a feeler gauge to set it, around 0.10 is recommended at 8the fret with capo on first fret.
5. Adjust the claw to lower your bridge tilt that would be massive with higher gauge strings
6.check for acoustic buzz
7. Raise the action at the saddle if buzz is there and it probably will be with thicker strings (they need bit more air under them) action is matter of preference
8. When all it's done check intonation at 12th fret adjust if needed
9. Play for few days then recheck everything

Well that's how I do it anyway
:wink:


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 2:26 am
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Quote:
around 0.10 is recommended


Isn't it 0.010 (10 thou)? I always think if you can see a gap at all, it's enough!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 4:31 am
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Peter S wrote:
Quote:
around 0.10 is recommended


Isn't it 0.010 (10 thou)? I always think if you can see a gap at all, it's enough!

Cheers - Peter.


Yeah 0.010


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:40 pm
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WaymoreProta wrote:
4. Adjust the trust rod of needed (probably do when switching to higher gauge) use a feeler gauge to set it, around 0.10 is recommended at 8the fret with capo on first fret.
5. Adjust the claw to lower your bridge tilt that would be massive with higher gauge strings

Shouldn't those two be the other way around? As soon as you bring down the bridge, that gap won't be 0.010 anymore.


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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:42 pm
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ChrisH1 wrote:
Shouldn't those two be the other way around?

No.
Relief should always be set before action.

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Post subject: Re: Switching string gauge to 10-46s
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 8:04 pm
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ChrisH1 wrote:
Shouldn't those two be the other way around? As soon as you bring down the bridge, that gap won't be 0.010 anymore.

The gap for the truss rod relief is measured with the first and last fret depressed (or first fret and first fret after the neck heel starts), so whether the bridge is higher or lower has absolutely no influence on that.
Never ever use the truss rod to adjust action or compensate for a too deeply cut nut. So as BMW-KTM says, truss rod should always be adjusted before the action.

Also give it a few hours after adjusting the truss rod and check whether you have to adjust it again - it can take a while for the wood to settle to its final position.


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