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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 8:27 am
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jmattis wrote:
Lightnin MN wrote:
when a relative newbie is given advice by someone who's been playing 60 years, with the kind of resume Walter's racked up through all that time, it's probably prudent to take it.
The trouble here is, which of the great players you trust/imitate. Great players for every gauge.


Indeed so. I like 008's but think I should go to 009's, due to popular thought/recommendation, but then think "Hell, I like 008's. What does anyone else have to do with it. They are my fingers."

I don't play acoustic; however, if I did, I would probably go for a heavier gauge on my electrics to try to get some consistency. 008 would be way too light on an acoustic.

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After all this time I should be better.


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 8:49 am
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Hi there,
When I picked up again my electric 5 years ago, I starter with 009. I play in E Flat. Then decided to move forward to 010 two years ago, after 2 hours of playing I was used to the new string gauge. Much better feel. Then I moved to 0.11, what a nice feeling. Solid rock strings with plenty of sustain. I plan to experience with 0.12 in the near future!
This is my experience, I never looked back.

Alberto


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:41 pm
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guitarman1984 wrote:
Hi there,
When I picked up again my electric 5 years ago, I starter with 009. I play in E Flat. Then decided to move forward to 010 two years ago, after 2 hours of playing I was used to the new string gauge. Much better feel. Then I moved to 0.11, what a nice feeling. Solid rock strings with plenty of sustain. I plan to experience with 0.12 in the near future!
This is my experience, I never looked back. Alberto


My experience was similar, way back when. Having played only acoustics for many years, I was surprised at the light feel of electric strings-at that time, most players I knew were using 8's and 9's-they just didn't feel like "guitar" strings to me.
I experimented with many different brands and gauges. I found I usually needed at least 10's of most brands to get a feeling that seemed familiar to me. I've never found a reason to go lighter than that since, tho' on some of my guitars I use 11's, or even some mixed sets.
My Strat choice was settled long ago, however, and hasn't changed in well over 20 years. Still using good ol' Dean Markley Regular Electric 10's. Know they aren't chic, trendy, or the flavor of the week, but I've never found any brand/gauge I thought consistently sounded better or lasted longer.


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 3:56 am
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fenderfan wrote:


Haven't had any problems going from 9's to 10's. Been wanting to try 11's but haven't yet.
Try the 11's my friend....you will NOT be disappointed.

I started out with 9's because that is what my first guitar came with...and I didn't have a clue that I could even use anything else. I thought they were like batteries...if something required AAA batteries, you can't put AA or C batteries in it. LOL, I was young.

But once I found out I COULD use other gauges, I switched to 10's and loved it. From that point on, as I acquired more guitars, I used to immediately remove the 9's and put on 10's.

About 6 months ago, I decided to try 11's on my MIM Strat. AMAZING!!! I will never, ever look back---I am stuck on 11's.
I must be one of the "lucky" ones that have been spoken of on this thread....because I didn't have to do ANYTHING to make the switch from 10's to 11's. No adjustments to any part of the guitar. None. The guitar holds tune whether I beat it or baby it. Neck stayed true, intonation didn't change (if it did, it changed for the better, because I have more sustain), nut didn't pinch or grab the strings. The 11's added more of the Fender "quack" than I was ever able to get with my playing style.


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 12:55 am
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White Dog wrote:
fenderfan wrote:


Haven't had any problems going from 9's to 10's. Been wanting to try 11's but haven't yet.
Try the 11's my friend....you will NOT be disappointed.

I started out with 9's because that is what my first guitar came with...and I didn't have a clue that I could even use anything else. I thought they were like batteries...if something required AAA batteries, you can't put AA or C batteries in it. LOL, I was young.

But once I found out I COULD use other gauges, I switched to 10's and loved it. From that point on, as I acquired more guitars, I used to immediately remove the 9's and put on 10's.

About 6 months ago, I decided to try 11's on my MIM Strat. AMAZING!!! I will never, ever look back---I am stuck on 11's.
I must be one of the "lucky" ones that have been spoken of on this thread....because I didn't have to do ANYTHING to make the switch from 10's to 11's. No adjustments to any part of the guitar. None. The guitar holds tune whether I beat it or baby it. Neck stayed true, intonation didn't change (if it did, it changed for the better, because I have more sustain), nut didn't pinch or grab the strings. The 11's added more of the Fender "quack" than I was ever able to get with my playing style.


I haven't had any issues going from 9's to 10's without any nut work, etc but thought that 11's would require widening the neck slots. Then what I if didn't like the 11's and wanted to go back to 10's? Was worried that 10's might just float around in the wider slots. Been wanting to try 11's on my MIM Roadhouse Strat but didn't want to have to replace the nut if I wanted to go back to 10's.


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 3:54 am
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fenderfan wrote:
I haven't had any issues going from 9's to 10's without any nut work, etc but thought that 11's would require widening the neck slots. Then what I if didn't like the 11's and wanted to go back to 10's? Was worried that 10's might just float around in the wider slots. Been wanting to try 11's on my MIM Roadhouse Strat but didn't want to have to replace the nut if I wanted to go back to 10's.
I completely understand. Like I said; I may have gotten lucky, because I didn't have to file my nut to go to 11's, and the strings do not jump the groove regardless of how much I bend or beat it. No doubt, different guitars will be different, so I can't blame you for being reluctant.
If you're anything like me you will have no desire to go back to 10's; the 11's were such a step up (to my ears) with my MIM Standard Strat that I couldn't even consider anything else.


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Post subject: Re: String guages
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 1:18 am
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Well chaps, I have read all your comments and see where you are all coming from. I am all for experimenting but also don't want to just go against design for the sake of it which has made me come back to the early post about nut spacing. There must be a gauge in mind when the nut was originally cut and although the 10s I tried sounded fine and I set up the guitar accordingly to their size I may go back to 9s and start all over again to keep in line with the fender choice. Learned a lot from this, thanks to you all.


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