What String Gauge Do You Use?

[Blaze]

10 for some guit..

9 - 46 for some other

11 -12 for slide ..

 

[DrumBob]

It depends on the guitar. On the Gretsch Anniversary and the Les Paul Junior, it's 11s. On the Fenders, it's 10s, although I'm thinking about going to 11s, because I'm over bending. I think I'm getting to the point where I can handle 11s pretty much all around.

 

[Tig]

Good to see you again, DrumBob. Do you have any recent articles at Premier Guitar or other publications we should read?

 

[deeaa]

Gettin' back to the thread, I just played a training session last night with a semi-eleven set on a strat scale guitar...I could play quite OK, bends and all, but boy my playing sucked.

I'm thinking, I should really always play at practice with at least tens, and then when I record leads or play a gig, switch to nines. Playing fluidity and bending vibrato improves 300% or so. I like to bend every note a little when I play leads, and the best thing is to do a full bend and then a wide vibrato on the bent note...that's very hard or impossible if you have thicker strings. Also, I noted that with 11's it's nigh impossible to do a two-step bend which is also something I enjoy doing.

 

[DrumBob]

Unfortunately, not at the moment. When the new editor-in-chief came in last year at PG, I, along with several other stalwarts who helped build the magazine into what it is today, were swept out in order for him to bring his journalistic buddies in, most of whom wrote for Guitar Player. The way they did it was horrendous. I have yet to hook up with another guitar magazine, but I will soon. Thank you for asking.

 

[Eric]

Gettin' back to the thread, I just played a training session last night with a semi-eleven set on a strat scale guitar...I could play quite OK, bends and all, but boy my playing sucked.

I'm thinking, I should really always play at practice with at least tens, and then when I record leads or play a gig, switch to nines. Playing fluidity and bending vibrato improves 300% or so. I like to bend every note a little when I play leads, and the best thing is to do a full bend and then a wide vibrato on the bent note...that's very hard or impossible if you have thicker strings. Also, I noted that with 11's it's nigh impossible to do a two-step bend which is also something I enjoy doing.

What's a training session? Like you were teaching someone or something?

 

[deeaa]

Aaa, I meant the bi-monthly band practice session by that. We play circa 4-6 hours a month with Spookbox.

 

[Tig]

I hate to hear that. It happened to me before.
Hang in there.

 

[BlackAngusYoung]

I want to try 11's but the supplier I have doesn't offer them in their cheap brand. So 10's.
I put 9's on one to counteract a neck that's too thin for me to get a good grip for bending. Seems better now.

 

[BigJD]

GHS Customs 9.5to 46.

 

[Waylanderau]

It would appear I'm the only one who answered 12s in the poll
Currently rocking Earnie Ball 12-56 on my Jackson RR3 tuned to drop C, I was thinking about dropping back down a gauge to 11-54s though. I'll see what sort of mood I'm in next time I buy strings.

 

[kiteman]

I use 30s and I use a bench vise for a capo. :dance

Naw, I use 10s. :socool

 

[gatorbrit]

Just went to 10s from 9s. Find I get a better - thicker tone. Also the electric guitar plays louder acoustically which is nice for those sitting on the couch noodling moments.