Hello gang! I am a wanna be surf rocker... I read constantly aout who puts which heavier strings on their strat... But as anovice I hesitate to do so without some anecdotes first.

1) What exactly do you gain from heavier gauge strings? Other than bloody stumps wher fingers used to be?

2) Will I need to hae my set up/action changed ot alter my hardware?

3) will it jack up my neck?

Thanks and thanks again! Always love to hear tips on surf aesthetic.

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Proud Fender addict! Still looking for perfect amp!
Classic Player 60's, Standard Strat, Highway One Texas Tele, '57 Twin-Amp, '63 Reverb, Blues Deluxe w/ ext cab, Champion 600

1) Heavier strings change the tone to a fuller, bassier one.

2) You will need to do a complete setup.

3) Your neck will be fine as long as you do a complete setup.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Many players radically up their string gauge to increase the strings' depth and response. Usually, it is for the purpose of emulating a certain player and/or style of music. They do not like doing this but they feel that this is the only way they can truly achieve their goal(s). Granted, increasing the string gauge will give more depth and response but it being the only solution for the sake of emulation is a myth.

There is absolutely no reason to go outside of your comfort zone.

To prove my point, I once did an A/B test with a friend of mine who is yet another, "dyed-in-the-wool", "StevieRayVaughnabee". We both used our own Strats and his Marshall. He used a .013 gauge pure nickel string set and I used a nickel wrap .009 set. He got his desired sound with his guitar, I then got the same sound with my guitar. How? after I readjusted the settings on his amp to my guitar. My friend even agreed the sound was identical and immediately switched back to his favored .010 gauge nickel wrap set.

Once again, more, "Infallible Web Dogma" blown out of the water!

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You dig?

Nice to see a fellow skeptic using scientific method, even when it comes to guitars! I'm sold, no heavy gauges needed.

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Proud Fender addict! Still looking for perfect amp!
Classic Player 60's, Standard Strat, Highway One Texas Tele, '57 Twin-Amp, '63 Reverb, Blues Deluxe w/ ext cab, Champion 600

i like to use 12s to practice on it makes playing 10s a breeze and i do believe that there is a difference in tone from different gauge strings more metal for the pup magnets to pick up

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I use .12s on one Strat and .11s on all the rest. I always wanted to try really heavy strings. I like the .12s because they make you play harder. You have to actually work for it, I've noticed on guitars that have lighter strings I tend to play sort of lazy. It's too easy. I can bend the strings right off the neck of a guitar with .8s or .9s and it drives me crazy. And I broke strings more often on my guitars when I used .9s and .10s than I do now. And there is a slight difference in tone. It's not like if you use heavy strings your tone will completely change and you'll automatically get the sought after SRV tone, because you won't. Even SRV sometimes dropped his string gauge to .12s or even .11s when he needed to, so that's not the secret to his tone. Try it sometime, and if you like it keep it. If you don't at least you'll know you don't and you can post your experience for someone with the same question to read later.

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I usually use 12's simply for getting the right tone for playing clean jazz. After a month or two I didn't really notice the heaviness anymore. Though it did seem to me that the ernie ball strings felt "harder" than the D'addario. It also raised my action and bridge quiet a bit, but again after a month I got used to it. I actually kind of like being able to pull up on the whammy bar to raise the pitch, and having a high action helps me bend easier. The strings also seem to stay in tune reasonably well over long periods of time, but I have no idea if it's because of the gauge having more stability.

I like heavy gauge's sound... although I mainly use 9's but I like 10's I cant imagine how good 12's sound but I am sure my left hand wouldnt be happy with 12's so I am happy with 9's and 10's for now

My old Guitar when i had it was set up for 9's and i had a pair of 13's and never understood why it sucked so much...

Now i understand

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~

most likely to make your hands hurt

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Squire Strat
Jasmine Takamine
Cherry Red American Standard Strat

When it comes to the use of 12's or 13's I like the Flatwound strings they are easier to play though I do think they sound a little different the standard roundwound strings.

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I once read that Dick Dale uses a .016 for his high E. The rest of his strings are correspondingly heavy. But he doesn't really bend and he plays very hard. Just listen to "Miserlou." He's really beating the heck out of those strings so he doesn't want anything that is flimsy.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
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I use 12-52s as standard on most of my acoustic guitars. I don't find I notice the difference TBH. I often use 14's on my Hofner Jazzica. George Benson Flats. They have a nice bounce. Provided your not string bending too much, or using full 6 string chord shames once to get used to 12's going up or down a few gauges becomes almost effortless I think. I don't have huge hands either.

THe highest gauge i've strung a Strat up with is 12's (ran out of strings one weekend) and it seemed fine with these. the truss rod needed a slight tweek was all. It made a massive diff. to the sound.