Switching string gauges?

[kotornut]

Originally Posted by Dee

B, .011" PL == 11.01# <--- even lighter than the high E. Not good.
#

Just tell me one reason it's not good Dee? For everyone or for you? I can see why you might like the feel of it better but the current gauges aren't delivering bad tones.

[ColinMmmmm]

A strat with anything less than 10's is a travesty. I agree with 'cid - keep the 10's and practice a bit more.

[elcid]

Originally Posted by kotornut

Just tell me one reason it's not good Dee? For everyone or for you? I can see why you might like the feel of it better but the current gauges aren't delivering bad tones.

Just look for the "Everything you know about strings is wrong" thread.

[waylay00]

Originally Posted by ColinMmmmm

A strat with anything less than 10's is a travesty. I agree with 'cid - keep the 10's and practice a bit more.

Well like I said, I'm keeping the 10s on the Strat.

It's just the RG that I'm thinking about switching on. A lot of my guitar idols use 9s (or even 8s), like Paul Gilbert, Shawn Lane, Holdsworth, Steve Morse, Satriani, etc...Plus, these Wizard necks are so thin that I always worry about heavier strings. I'm probably just paranoid, but you never know...

[waylay00]

Oh yeah, Schenker and Gibbons for that matter.

[CityofBlindingLights]

Originally Posted by ColinMmmmm

A strat with anything less than 10's is a travesty. I agree with 'cid - keep the 10's and practice a bit more.

I use 9's on my strat, always have. Tried 10's once, for tone purposes, and I just couldn't dig them. I liked the tone on the lower strings, but the higher three just sounded too fat and muddy for my tastes. I might try switching to a hybrid set in the future (especially because I play a lot in drop D, I like the drone sounds I can get in drop D).

But play with whatever you feel comfortable with. If you feel one has a better tonal difference, go with that set. If a set plays better to you, go with those. Everything is up to personal opinion and perception man.

[Rachmaninoff]

Originally Posted by Ayrton

No one ever accused ZZ Top of having a bad guitar sound, and Billy Gibbons uses 8s.

Use the strings you play best on.

The Judas Priest guys use .008, if I remember.
Fat Malmsteen uses .008 (hybrid) on his strat.
And Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin used .008s... on a Les Paul.

[Dee]

Originally Posted by elcid

Yeah but Billy Gibbons only weighs 65 pounds, that's his excuse.

LOL!

Originally Posted by kotornut

Just tell me one reason it's not good Dee? For everyone or for you? I can see why you might like the feel of it better but the current gauges aren't delivering bad tones.

I always say the same thing: if you are happy with your strings, that's great, enjoy! I'm not one of those people who preaches to others about "you got it all wrong because you use X or Y strings", it's down to player preference, of course. For me, a regular 9-42 set doesn't feel as good as an optimized set. I tend to notice when one string happens to be 8 pounds higher in tension than the string right next to it, or when a thicker string that is lower in pitch yet lighter in tension than the previous (thinner) string... it feels weird and affects my playing negatively.

With a regular set of 9-42, the B is a little too sloppy and bends too easily compared to most of the other strings. It's the same with the low E, and it's especially apparent with the low B from 7-string sets (which is always too light and quite muddy sounding). Progressive tension sets feel more uniform, fast picked runs are smoother, chords sound fuller, etc. So basically I was just stating my preference. I have a hard time dealing with "off-the-shelf" string sets, though I do appreciate the convenience, but convenience is not worth sacrificing feel, tone, or playing enjoyment, IMO.

Can anyone tell me the reason why most string sets are all over the place, tension-wise? Why is the B string over two pounds lower in tension than the high E? I can't think of a reason. Why is the low E in a 9-42 set one pound lighter in tension than the D string? It seems rather illogical.

[Pabdala]

I started out using 9's and they sound just great and are really nice on the fingers but i think they break too easily. I had one break on me like once a week. The tone with 10's isn't that different but they don't break nearly as often even if they are a little harder to play on.

[Jean Martin]

Originally Posted by Dee

Can anyone tell me the reason why most string sets are all over the place, tension-wise? Why is the B string over two pounds lower in tension than the high E? I can't think of a reason. Why is the low E in a 9-42 set one pound lighter in tension than the D string? It seems rather illogical.

Sometimes during the first half of the 20th century they established a standard string set 13 17 26W 36 46 56. It is a compromise of several different factors, partly sticking to exact inch scale gauges, but also create the best possible balance and sound.

Eric Clapton wanted to play with lighter strings, so he just changed it to
10 13 17p 26W 36 46. The rest is history.

It was a similar situation on the 17th century. There where great pianists and great piano builders and great piano composers - but nobody seemed to know how this instrument should be tuned. A mathemathic formula was invented and the music changed forever. In music, math and theory is always a good way to go when your instincts fail.

A similar mathematic system for guitar string unit weights should take place. You do not place frets on even scale either, but exactly where they have to be. You want to be able to tune the guitar just right, adjust the bridge for right intonation (and today, the nut as well), so why should the relative string tension be so totally inaccurate as it is today? Why should other strings be too floppy and others too tight? I just don't get it.

[_FR0D0]

I'm trying to get with a custom (or not) set that could be used in all my guitars, something with the tension of the 9 or 10 set but with even tension for regular E tunning and Drop D (25.5" scale) that can also be used (droping the 1st an adding a 6th) for my baritone 28" scale in A and Drop G with a similar string tension...

żAny sugestions?