I have a Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster that, at present, is strung with a set of .010's (i.e., 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, and 46). I want to move up to a set of .011's (i.e., 11, 14, 18, 28, 38, and 50).

My question is: do I have to have the nut groves filed a little wider first, or can I just change the strings?

_________________
Ibanez Artwood 200vv
Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster

Change the strings and then do a complete setup.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


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

I have been using heavier string lately (.011-.048) and i like the tone they produce. More metal = more tone. I takes some getting used to when it comes time to do some blues bends. The ole fingers have to work a little harder to get the note, but that is okay. The trade off in tone and sound is worth it. Besides, whenever I go back to other guitars that are strung up with .009s, they feel like nothing, and light as a feather, a CA Feather!!

If you were going down a size would you consider a nut change?

Thats the way i look at it.

_________________
No no and no

+1

It'd be in your best interest to give your guitar a setup with any guage change.

+2 'Riding with Chet and Toronado.

Let a serious pro do the setup. Don't go the cheap route on eye care, parachutes or guitar setups.

With one size down, the nut really doesn't become an issue.

_________________
You dig?

I'm planning to do the same when I change my pups on my hwy 1 this weekend...going from a set of 9's to 10's. Also gonna add 2 more springs to the trem to keep the bridge from going up too high.

I'm also curious about the OP's specific question.

Whether the pro, or the owner would have to do it... Would the slot in the nut for the E string have to be made wider to accomodate the larger string (.50)?

Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to know, but since no one actually answered my question, I went ahead and changed the strings.

I did move up to a set of .011's, and added two more tremolo springs (for a total of five). I did such a good job with my last set up, that I didn't need to make any other adjustments. P/U height, string height, and string length are right where they need to be. The neck has just a hint of concavity. It is intoned and plays well.

However, strings five and six straddle their respective nut grooves, as opposed to actually sitting in them. I'm going to leave it this way and see what happens, but if it becomes a problem, then I'll have to have them filed out a little wider. That's a job for a pro.

_________________
Ibanez Artwood 200vv
Fender Deluxe Player's Stratocaster