...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 their 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.

Over the years I had tried 11's, 12's, and 13's. They were OK, but just not what I was looking for.
I now use either 9's or 10's on all my guitars (even on my acoustic) and I am very happy with the tone, feel, and playability.

Each guitar is a little different in it's own way so I try different variations of 9's and 10's on each guitar over a period of months. As soon as I am happy with a specific gauge (9-42. 9-48, 10-46, etc) that is all that goes on that guitar.

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Chet Feathers

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

I play 11's. But not for the matcho thing. I like the tone and tuning stability.

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"coretta" '71 tele thinline
"domino" '97 lonestar strat
"marie" squire strat
"lexy" jag-stang
"owa" martin 000

tone=fingers; fingers=tone

Let me add that using heavier gauge strings for tuning stability is a farce. A properly strung and setup guitar should have no tuning issues no matter what gauge strings you use.

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Chet Feathers

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

Yes, I agree. But, it depends on what sounds you want to get from your guitar.
I'm pretty satisfied with 9's on my acoustic, so I am not going to change anything.
Like I said before, I used 10's mostly, but now I am satisfied with 9's. But, that doesn't mean I won't change my gauge again on acoustics. Or that I won't change guitars. It depends on guitars as well! The tone and sound. Some other guitar needs thicker strings to get the sound I have now with 9's. I hope you understand what I mean.

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I would have to disagree. While a well set up guitar wll play better and stay in tune better let's not forget you working with a wooden instrument. Mother nature has no concern if your in tune or not and wood changes.

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"coretta" '71 tele thinline
"domino" '97 lonestar strat
"marie" squire strat
"lexy" jag-stang
"owa" martin 000

tone=fingers; fingers=tone

I play 10s.

Started off on 9s but I heard that Jimmy Page played 8s so I just had to be bigger and harder than him. I could knock that guy down!

It is entirely a macho thing with me.



As if... - C

This macho madman plays 50's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PIownuBmbQ

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

HA! Even his pick is mansized! That is SO macho!

I feel the testosterone a-flowin'...

- C

i guess im a wimp...been using EB extra Slinky's since mid 70s (.08-.38)

as far as strings staying in tune?.....never had troubles there.

i did try super slinky a month or two ago......after about 2 weeks of hating even touching the guitar i changed back.


Jimmie

I usually move up a gage after watching a UFC title fight. Then I take my lady to gigs so she can drool over my huge strings..... and if some guy even looks at her......he's getting smoked, homes.
What a retarted thread.

I guess the tone change was a bit much. My guitar has a fuller tone. It does not sound as "tinny" as it did before. After all, an open G played regardless of guage of string is still a G. Of course I base this on my guitars played side by side without the amp and usung my ear alone. I guess with the amp on there is not much of a difference. It could also be the fact that both guitars are not exactly the same.

RK

That's why I stated I think that 10's in particular are the most overrated gauge esp. when folks say, "The first thing I did was put on some 10's (it came with 9's) and now it really sings." Really? If it didn't sing with 9's it ain't gonna sing with 10's. What you're hearing, in most cases, IMO, is louder, with the tone flaws somehow blurred... Where pickups are the issue or not well-adjusted...or the amp...

In the middle of all of this, it's not really clear when people say. "I get better tone." Usually they mean bigger, fatter, or in the case of Telefolk, some benchmark like a vintahe reissue tone.

Aside from the joke about string gauge, I find myself challenging my own prevous notions of "great tone"...more on the side of a diverse defintion of great tone that includes Buddy Holly and not just SRV...

I never said my guitar did not sing with 9's. In fact it did pretty well with the 9's. I put the 10's on just to see if there was going to be a difference, and I think there was. Could I go back to the 9's...yes. For now I'll keep the 10's on. I like the slight difference.

Again IMO the guage in the strings are a personal choice, not a macho thing.

RK

I think any perceived tonal differences are more to do with the way tension differs. I like a lot of tension for certain styles particularly metal and punk. If I play more of a country style I like elastic bands to play on. I want to be able to bend with absolute ease. Where if I'm playing a extreme style I want to fight the guitar.

I have to go with Captain Feathers on tuning stability. Wood is a natural resource and will move. (M7B5 pretty much negated his own argument in that statement alone.) So why on earth put greater stress on it, how on earth can that possibly enhance stability. Surely greater stress equals more movement not less. Is it possible to get all of the movement out of a guitar, by putting more stress on it? I think you'd end up with a hoolahoop before you were finished.

Unless I get top class tuning stability, regardless of string gauge. I view the guitar as unusable.

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No no and no