Thinking of putting 9s back on the JEM (A Personal Adventure)

[Mewcenary]

Hi,

I've been playing with string gauges a bit recently...

I'm definitely happy with having 10s on my PRS Custom 24 (25" scale length) and on my Strat (It just 'feels right' on that guitar).

I did the same change on my JEM - put 10s on it. I got used to it, but am thinking of going back to 9s. Why? Well, when I bought my RG1XXV it had 9s on in the shop -- and I was flying over the fretboard! It just had the total RAWWWK feel to it, especially with vibrato, pinch harmonics etc.

In other words, it just seems to be that 10s just don't 'suit' a JEM, but they do a Strat. I guess I tend to go all out on a JEM, whereas the Strat use is more, ahem, 'thoughtful'.

A personal story, I know, but just wondering if this rings a bell with any of you?

[mag8]

I have a JS and a premium S model with a Wizard neck. I wouldn't put 10s on my wizard, but I would do that on the JS.
Some necks have a shape that's better suited for different gauges. It's definitely personal, and it depends on your taste/tone, but imho a jem/wizard neck deserves .09s

[Swirltop]

I like 9's on a floating trem guitar for standard e tuning. Fretting and bends are definitely easier, and setting up lower action seems easier also than on higher gauge strings. I mostly play with high gain so there's really no loss of tone or anything like that IMO...

[metalhead52]

I played 9's for years and recently switched to 10's for my new band since. Everything is tuned down a whole step and the 9's were way to floppy. Other than having to add another spring and trem adjustment, I don't really feel any difference in playability. Did this on my JEM VSBL, RG750 and RG770.

[Mewcenary]

I guess 10s down a whole step are probably pretty equivalent to 9s at standard pitch? Is that what you are saying?

[satchmo72]

Your dead on with the Custom 24 feeling better with 10's, it feels like a noodle with 9's, about to change back to 10's on that but my Herc Wizard necked beast definetely likes 9's and they feel just right.

[Mewcenary]

Glad you agree My Custom 24 is just the SE (Korean) version but am very impressed with how it came out the factory. Got it to a .010" relief and great action with zero buzz without any luthier (fret levelling etc) input required. Very playable!

[metalhead52]

Yeah. Has the same feel as 9's in E standard. If I tuned back up, I would go back to 9's.

[Mewcenary]

I actually changed my mind on this.

At home, I played on my Shadow super-strat which is loaded with 9s. Felt way too spaghetti-esque for me. My hands must really have gotten a lot stronger with all the work with 10s I have been doing recently!

So, I've stuck with 10s, but have adjusted the action to bring it down to 'dead on' 2/32" rising to 'sitting on' 2/32". It equates to 'Low' on the Ibanez Rules setup site. Much more playable now for me, and am very happy indeed

I think what led to this thread was that my fingers were sore after a lot of playing, which meant the guitar was feeling stiff... when in reality I just needed a break!