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Post subject: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:44 pm
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Hi

I have a fairly new Highway One Texas Telecaster, which I love very much. Pricewise it's somewhere between the regular HW1 and an American standard. Whether that matters for my question I don't know. Until now, I've had it strung with .010 strings. There is some fret buzz, so I'm going to have it set up. I'm trying out different string gauges before I get it set up, so I know what gauge I prefer. The store clerk assured me it was safe to string it with .011 strings without getting a truss rod adjustment just to try it out, but I'm overly anxious about this thing, so I'm asking in the forum to be on the safe side: Even though it was probably set up for .009 strings in the factory (can't find the model now in the products page), can I safely have it strung with .011-.049 strings for a few days, to see if I like it? Or would I have to get a truss rod adjustment to avoid bending the neck?


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:05 am
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A proper setup would be a good idea with the new set. Try them out and see what you like. I personally like 10s better, and converted all my guitars from 9s upward. Experiment and see what suits your style best.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:31 am
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Yes, that's what I intend to do. It's just that I was worrying whether having the .011 set on for a few days to try it out, without getting a truss rod adjustment could damage the neck permanently. If I like it, I'll get a new setup, but I'll get a pro to do that, and it'll be expensive. So to try it out, I couldn't get an adjustment for each gauge I tried. It is, after all, over 15 kg tension difference between an .011 set and an .009 set, an .011 set has about 40% higher tension than an .009 set. I thought perhaps that might bend the neck out of shape. But the guitar store guy says it's okay, I guess I'm just too worried about my new guitar????


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:37 am
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Sure , your neck will have too much curve with 011 strings if truss rod is set for 009 . This could take few hours or days to see. You'll notice action will be too high with more neck curve.

An intonnation set up is needed too.

No danger to damage your neck if you live it with no truss rod adjustment.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:52 am
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+1 to last post..

about 11s,... 11s start to put a bit of resistance on the hands when bending, to me 10s on a guitar with a strat and/or tele scale is just about perfect.

are you getting A LOT of buzzing? some of it cannot be avoided when you are playing un plugged.

How does it respond when plugged in?


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:08 am
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You'll be fine testing out gauges,

As long as you're doing some experimenting the strings I've found to work really well are the Slinky Heavy Bottom/Slinky Tops. They're 10-52. You get easier bends on the top and nice solid chords on the bottom.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:00 pm
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Thanks a lot for many good suggestions. I have barely had time to play it with .011 strings, but so far I agree with you, I gravitate towards .010. I actually think I also prefer the bass string gauges from the 10-set (26-36-46) over the thicker gauge of the 11-set (28-38-49), because the lighter strings seem to make it easier to get the chugga-chugga sound when palm muting. Don't know what it's called. I think the razor sharp attack of the bass strings are a main strength of the Tele, and it seems best preserved with the 10-set. But then again, my bridge pickup is very hot. It's not a purist Tele. The treble strings seem to get a bit harsh on many amp settings. But I think maybe that can be a force when there's some bass in the mix.... I'm a bit undecided on that. Only on early Mark Knopfler-like stuff do the 9-set sound better, but he would turn in his grave if someone tried to play his stuff on a Tele...... :D

KidBlast: Thanks for the info. I didn't know some fret buzz was unavoidable when playing unplugged. It's not a LOT of buzzing, it's enough to be annoying on the bass strings when playing unplugged. I think it affects the plugged sound, I think it makes a harsh secondary sound sometimes on the bass strings. I'm not quite sure of that, actually. I might take it to the guitar shop and ask what they think. It doesn't destroy the playing experience, but of course I want to get the best out of my guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:28 pm
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Beautastin,

A good setup should resolve all your problem ....if a really good guitar tech do it , not anybody in guitar store.

Guitar with normal action and normal playing won't buzz if playing with no amp.

If action is very very ( too ) low, strings will buzz
OR
normal action and playing very very hard , string will buzz. But if you like it this kind of set up , that's ok . If you don't like , a proper setup will fix it.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:19 pm
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I have tried 8's, 9's, 10's and 11's and decided I definitely prefer the 11's. In fact, I am using 11's with a wound 3rd (G) string. I am used to playing acoustic, so 11's still seem pretty light to me. For some reason, the bare G string never sounds quite right but the wound G sounds good.

But if you want to bend the strings a lot you will probably like 10's better. I tend to play a lot of open chords, and those just never sound right to me with the lighter strings, even after a lot of tweaking.

In the end, it's a very personal thing and it's good that you are trying a variety of strings to see what suits you best.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:47 pm
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Hallo, Bautastein!
KidBlast wrote:
+1 to last post..
are you getting A LOT of buzzing? some of it cannot be avoided when you are playing un plugged.

Yes it can be avoided w a good set up. It is all about tension and balance. I guess the buzzing was less when you tried the 11s? You really should learn how to set it up yourself - as it is not a difficult, big job. Try this:
http://www.fender.com/en-NO/support/art ... etup-guide
And this one- I find it entertaining and useful to watch this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qZ_QGXI4w&feature=plcp
I have 2 pretty similar tele's (thinlines) The one I got new , was shipped from fender w .09s , and I love it. This one will stay on 9s (Has been 3-4 sets on it already) It cuts so nicely through a mix , no ''booming'' :D The other is kept on 10s, love that too :lol: I've tried 11s on a strat - that was not my piece of cake :(
Anyway - congrats on a great guitar - it's an axe -it will last as long as you don't hit a .... bautastein :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 3:02 pm
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Thanks for all your help. I didn't have the 10-set on when I wrote my last post, because I was testing 11's. Now I have the 10-set (my preferred gauge) back, and have had the chance to test the buzzing in the amp. I tried it in Guitar Rig 5.0, and you can certainly hear the buzzing on clean presets, except one preset that is very dark on purpose (can't even hear the treble strings). You can also hear it on presets with a little crunch/overdrive, which is what I play most. I couldn't hear it on presets with a lot of distortion, but that's where all guitars sound the same anyway.... :)

As for the strings testing, here's my verdict:
.009 - Very easy to bend, they react very quickly and precise for fast solo's, which I rarely play. Thin, nasal and brittle sound, easy to bend the strings out of tune when you don't want to. Very easy to get overtones, chugga-chugga palm muting sounds and precise, percussive sounds on the bass strings, but little weight in the bass.
.010 - More meat to the tone, nice spank. Still the sound can be a bit harsh on the highest strings on the highest frets, but the tones are fuller and rounder. Still can get overtones, chugga-chugga etc.... but more weight in the bass.
.011 - Can get some gorgeous solo tones with these. Still alright to bend, but harder. Fuller tone, duller attack, less spank. Less twang. Can get some great weight when playing rhythm, but not much overtones and chugga-chugga. Less precise attack in the bass.

Most people on the forums say thicker gauge is always better sound-wise, and it's a trade-off between sound and playability. As you can see, I think there are also drawbacks to 11's soundwise, so I think it's a bit more complicated than that. I chose the 10's.

asgeirman's input came when I was writing this. Thanks, I'll check that. I'm such a coward, afraid to damage the guitar hehhehhh..... but I'm really good with technical things. I'll look at it.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:23 pm
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OK - I have checked Fender's set up guide now. I understand I'm supposed to check the tuning, then place a capo on the first fret. Then press down the high E on the highest fret, which on my guitar happens to be the 21st fret? Then check the distance between the string and the 8th fret? I don't have the equipment to check the distance, but I can tell you for 100% sure, there is no distance between the fret and the string. There is physical contact between the fret and the string. I didn't know there was supposed to a distance, but what do you know, I checked my other guitars, and yes, there is a tiny gap! So I guess the case is settled, I need a truss rod adjustment?

But the fret buzz was on my guitar when I bought it, and there is more of it, not less with 9'ers on it. And the store say it came with 9's (the guitar is not on Fender's products page anymore). Therefore it must have been set up wrongly in the store or factory. Don't you think they should do it for free then, as long as the buzzing is not a result of a string gauge change?


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:50 pm
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Bautastein wrote:
OK - I have checked Fender's set up guide now. I understand I'm supposed to check the tuning, then place a capo on the first fret. Then press down the high E on the highest fret, which on my guitar happens to be the 21st fret?

21 frets are the norm with Fenders. Some got 22
Bautastein wrote:
I don't have the equipment to check the distance, but I can tell you for 100% sure, there is no distance between the fret and the string. So I guess the case is settled, I need a truss rod adjustment?

Yes - you need a full setup. Wasn't that your plan anyway ? Here is a tip for ''free'' equipment to check the distance : Use a guitar string with a known gauge as a ''feeler''!
Bautastein wrote:
But the fret buzz was on my guitar when I bought it, and there is more of it, not less with 9'ers on it. And the store say it came with 9's (the guitar is not on Fender's products page anymore). Therefore it must have been set up wrongly in the store or factory. Don't you think they should do it for free then, as long as the buzzing is not a result of a string gauge change?

I think there has been some time since they produced the HWY1 tele - that means -it has had some time in the store , where the humidity possibly is not the best. That will change the necks tension , as the neck is made from ''living'' wood - meaning sometimes it shrinks , and some times the opposite . I think the shop should fix it ,as a service to you, but they could claim that you took it home to an environment/temperature/humidity that caused it :(
But why bother - you can do it! Just watch that little italian in the link :lol: Good luck !

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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:57 am
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Yes - after a night's sleep I have decided to do it myself, so I'll learn it and can do it on my other guitars, plus I won't have to live without the guitar when it's in the store.

Currently I can't find a hex wrench that fits. I know I need to check with the long end and not the short end, still I can get any to fit. The adjustment is from the headstock. I have lit up the hole with a flashlight and see there's a little bit of sawdust in there, perhaps that might be a reason? I have to go now for the day, but it raises a few questions:

1) Do I need a US size allen wrench? Are US and european sizes different? It seems you are from the same country as I (Norway), so you might know this.

2) Should this key have been included with my guitar? I have been suspicious that the guitar should have been shipped with some extra stuff that I didn't get when I pruchased it.

For any new readers, the guitar is a Highway One Texas Telecaster, which is a little different from the regular Highway 1.


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Post subject: Re: Overly anxious question about string gauges
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:25 am
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Good decision ! Suck/blow/pick out the sawdust . Get a proper hex wrench - which should be included with the guitar (along with guarantee papers, a ''users manual'' and a tiny hex wrench for adjusting the saddle height) I would definitively go back to the shop and claim for it.
The size is in US style/scale , that means inches. If you buy a set of wrenches in metric system,which is the common in Europe , it won't fit. But since you got more guitars , I recommend you to go and buy 2 small sets of hex wrenches , one for US-sizes , and one metric. Then you're fit for fight with all your axes :lol:

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