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Post subject: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 12:14 pm
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Have been playing 9's for a while now and heard a comparison recently between 9's and 10's and seem to like the overall sound of the 10's and want to give them a shot. I have never modded or adjusted my American Strat outside the factory setup. After I install the 10's, how much adjusting is required to accommodate the 10's? Does anyone know of a how-to video or guide by which I can learn this simple task?

Many thanks ahead of time.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 12:41 pm
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You may find that switching to the (slightly) heavier-gauge strings has no effect at all on your guitar's set up. However, it would be wise to check each parameter: neck relief, intonation, string height, and tremolo-spring tension. Fender offers a set-up guide in the "support" section of the website -- you'll find all the information there to keep your Strat at its "Strattiest".

And welcome to the forum.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 12:53 pm
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Many thanks. At 40, I just bought my first American Strat after putting the guitar down over 10 years ago and am relearning a few things so I appreciate the point in the right direction.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 1:55 pm
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I have old fingers and I find 10's on a Strat to be too stiff for me. I do a lot of bending.
I also find that the high E and B strings sound too thin when using 9's. I have been using D'Addario 9.5's as a compromise. I also will often put on 9's except I will use the high E and B from a set of 10's. Yeah I have a lot of spare strings because of that.
I find that changing from 9's to 9.5's requires no adjustments usually. Sometimes going from 9's to 10's will require a small tweak to the truss rod. Adjusting the truss rod is no big deal once you do it the first time. It's something that will need to be done about once a year anyway, even if you keep the same gauge strings, because a guitar will move with heat and humidity and buzzing will develop that wasn't there the day before.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:43 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
Adjusting the truss rod is no big deal once you do it the first time. It's something that will need to be done about once a year anyway, even if you keep the same gauge strings, because a guitar will move with heat and humidity and buzzing will develop that wasn't there the day before.


+1

An integral facet of routine guitar maintenance that's easily performed once one learns the ropes.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 3:24 pm
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In addition to the adjustments already mentioned...truss rod, intonation, bridge, etc (in other words, a full setup), you may very well find that you'll need to have the nut properly filed as well for the thicker gauge strings. A lot of people seem to argue against this, but then turn around and have tuning issues later (and will waste their money on graphite saddles, locking tuners and all sorts of other gimmicks). -Sometimes- you can get away with it, depending on the strings and the gauges but remember, you're not just changing to a thicker high E...ALL the strings are thicker. In the case of something like GHS Boomers, you could have an low E that's as much as .010' thicker than your original...you can bet your bottom a string that much thicker can bind in the nut slot.

Just my own $.02 worth.


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 4:59 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
I have old fingers and I find 10's on a Strat to be too stiff for me. I do a lot of bending.
I also find that the high E and B strings sound too thin when using 9's. I have been using D'Addario 9.5's as a compromise. I also will often put on 9's except I will use the high E and B from a set of 10's. Yeah I have a lot of spare strings because of that.
I find that changing from 9's to 9.5's requires no adjustments usually. Sometimes going from 9's to 10's will require a small tweak to the truss rod. Adjusting the truss rod is no big deal once you do it the first time. It's something that will need to be done about once a year anyway, even if you keep the same gauge strings, because a guitar will move with heat and humidity and buzzing will develop that wasn't there the day before.


I recently tried a different string setup on an acoustic by using lighter strings on the middle four and keeping the medium gauges on the high and low Es. I like the lighter feel and I kept the brighter sounding high E and louder low E.

Don't be afraid to experiment by using your own ideas. Some players use a flat wound on the D string. There is all kinds of mix and matches players have come up with.
If you don't like what you change to just go back to what you started with. It's your guitar so do whatever you want with it. By all means do at least a little experimenting. You will find it educational at the least.


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 5:22 pm
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+1,000,000 for all the input and advice.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 5:36 pm
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I've never had any problems going from 9's to 10s but I'm sure there are exceptions. Would like to try 11's sometime but that would likely cause some issues.


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 1:17 am
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I'm a complete wuss and have restrung with 8's on all my guitars - but I have bought a set of 9's with a view to manning up a bit.

I have noticed, on the guitar at my second home, that it goes sharp when left for a time. This was a new guitar last year (my MiM) and was set up for 9's. I changed the trem, and reset the intonation as a result, but haven't touched the neck.

I am wondering if the lighter strings are allowing the neck to pull slightly over time. The guitar lives in Wales, by the sea, so it could also be it is enjoying the different climate.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 2:54 am
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John Sims wrote:
I'm a complete wuss and have restrung with 8's on all my guitars - but I have bought a set of 9's with a view to manning up a bit.



Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top Plays 7's, I would not consider him a wuss. When you play as much as he does you have to go for what is the most comfortable. I bought a used Strat that was strung with 10's or 11's, they had to go. I have always played 9's, that is what I'm use to, trying to bend those strings felt like bending steel rods to me.

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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:44 am
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Hey ShawnB,

Although I cannot predict the adjustments your specific Fender will need after switching string gauges, I thought I'd share some links you may find helpful:

- Stratocaster Setup Guide
- Truss rod adjustment how-to video

I hope you find what you need!

-Mary


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:09 am
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If you find the 10s are a bit stiff, you can always tune down a half (or whole) step. However, you should still check the neck if you're going to stay in that tuning since you've changed the overall tension on the neck.


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:31 pm
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All I ever had to do on mine was an adjustment to the tremolo. I you have yours locked down you should be pretty much good to go.


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Post subject: Re: Changing from 9's to 10's
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:21 am
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You'll find that vintage models [50's]are supplied with 10's. I wonder if that is an original equipment specs factor or something to do with the design of the trem block in those guitars as well. My tech feels that 10's are the only way to fly. As far a Billy Gibbons is concerned, I wouldn't put much stock in the string gauges. At the volume levels he plays, and with all his signal processing, a buttefly's wing brushing those strings could get great tone. I once strung my '58 Strat with 8's, about 50 years ago. They were easily bent, but I don't recall the tone being anything to write home about.

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