Anyone else annoyed or amused by the "string gauge statement" guitar players STILL continue to make as we approach 2010?

I mean the whole "I play 11's..." or whatever and then the pause and look of self-satisfaction...I am a MAN...

Machismo will never die so players will continue to assert that the gauge of their strings is an indicator of their testosterone level. I just ignore it.

Don't get me wrong...it makes me laugh...

It makes me laugh as well. I worked in a large music store for almost 12 years and saw a lot of funny things over the years. One of the things I'd see occasionally was a guitarist would come in and "want to play the blues" so they'd ask for some really heavy gauge electrics strings (12s, 13s) because that's what SRV used. After asking them what kind of guitar they had and telling them about how switching gauges would affect their guitar's set-up, I'd sell them their strings and they would go on their way.

In about half of those instances, they would come back to the store to get lighter strings (the usual 9s and 10s) because their fingers were almost bleeding. If I sort of knew the customer I'd say "Well, if you're fingers are sore then you're not happy which is a good reason to play the blues."

I'd find it more refreshing to meet someone who wants to get that Buddy Holly sound...and I'm being serious.

Campilongo plays 9's on his Tele...

As an aside, I think 10's are the most overrated string gauge...and I agree with Camilongo: they do sound "brighter" than 9's...for many they represent some kind of cure...different... but better? I used to think so but not any more.

The only reason I could ever see for playing heavier strings is to help with tuning stability. I use mostly 10's right now and I dont necessarily think they sound better, but there do sound a little different than 9's. I do alot of bends when I play, so I would rather use 9's because they feel so much better. The 10's do stay in tune a little better, so thats what I have been using. I would be curious to try 11's just to see how much more stability I could get, but I dont want to file the nut slots to make them fit properly and then decide I dont like them.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

Who said string gauge selection has only to do with machismo? That seems absurd to me. I have never encountered this and I don't imagine I will ever encounter it unless I start playing with pubescent teens in a punk band. Uncontrollably raging hormones aside, string gauge selection is about personal preference weighing the pros and cons of tone and ease of play. For me, that's where it ends. I'm not going to allow myself to become upset about what others think of my choice of gauge. It's a non issue.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

You're right, not just machismo...guitar prowess.

In my experience, most younger players go with lights unless they tune down.

As far as running into, my own laughs came dipping into a few other guitar forums where the older self-proclaimed geezers would LOVE to share their gauge rating, lol...

And you're right, no need to get upset...

When you think about it, there's probably no topic on this forum worth getting upset about...or any issue or non-issue.

I recently switched from 9's to 10's on my main guitar. I have to admit that I did not feel too much of a difference playing, and I swear that my tone is a little thicker and I have more sustain than I did before. I still have 9's on my other guitar and I can tell the difference when I do bends. I have to hold back pushing/pulling the string just a little more.

RK

As far as more manly-never crossed my mind when I switched guages.

Some folks feel if they use heavier gauge strings, they are more manly. At least that's my take on the people I've interacted with who did it for all the wrong reasons.

Use the gauge that works for you but don't kill your hands and wrist just to try and prove a point.

I find the whole concept of tone change through string gauge a complete joke. The feel of the guitar changes, tone changes not one iota.

The average set of guitar strings these days is a joke too. Its completely unbalanced, all the tension is on the treble strings, the bass strings are sadly lacking. To get an even balance of tension across strings you need to go from a .009" to a .058" or something like that. Note the unwound G string sounds slightly muted or square waved until you get down to a .014. I'm convinced that string shouldn't be unwound unless you go to a .007" gauge. Its harder to hear on lespauls for some reason. The squared tone of that open .016" G string is still present though.

The other great laugh I get is from the endless "I'm changing to .012's, I need my nut slots addressed", statements. When these people change back down, do they somehow fill the gap in the nutslot, or do they just buy a new nut?

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No no and no

I use D'addario 9's. They are the best I have used, and I played a whole bunch of different strings. Manufacturers and gauges alike. On my acoustics I used 10's, but I got back to 9's, and on my electrics I used 10's briefly, but got back to 9's again. So, the 9's are perfect for me. And I played 8's, but they are too thin.
I've never had any "problems" with other players about string gauge that I use, I think that's just a personal preference. Some players did try to talk me into using 8's, but it doesn't fit me.
I like more bass when I play, so I considered playing thicker strings, but they don't feel right. You can make any sound you like with your amplifier, so it doesn't matter what gauge you play.
So...I choose 9's.

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

It's all personal preference. Whatever makes your playing experience more enjoyable.

Anyone who thinks thicker strings are more manly is a blockhead.

The gauge makes a big difference on acoustic. I've tried 11s on acoustic but went back to 12s.

...and that's because 9s and 10s are considered normal to most folks.

If you play 8s, some people think you're a wimp.

If you play 11s, you're a little more virile than most.

If you play 12s, women will throw your panties at you on stage.

If you play 13s, you can part a crowd as Moses parted the Red Sea.

If you play 14s, people ask you where you get pants big enough to hold your testicles.