Does thicker gauge affects tone?
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It does, but not entirely. Thicker the string, the more tension it needs. And I also believe that they sound louder when unplugged. However, that really doesn't matter, to me anyways. I'd say play what's comfortable and what's best for you. I say this because heavier gauge are pretty hard on the fingers.
relinquish69
New member
heavy gauge strings make your guitar sound louder & in simple words, they just sound better. the biggest drawback is the fact that it makes it harder to play and you get tired very easily. some people can deal with it while others can't. even the most seasoned gigging musicians who use gauge 10 strings switch back to 9s.
if you are using a guitar with a floating bridge, please do not try different gauges of strings.
if you are using a guitar with a floating bridge, please do not try different gauges of strings.
kernelsalonpas
New member
SRV uses 13s. and just listen to him play. 
jimi uses different string from different gauge sets in his guitar coz he said it evens out the balance of his neck or something...
10s are pretty much a standard. 11s would be ideal but it takes time to get used to it.
jimi uses different string from different gauge sets in his guitar coz he said it evens out the balance of his neck or something...
10s are pretty much a standard. 11s would be ideal but it takes time to get used to it.
relinquish69
New member
takes time to get used to heavier gauges. you'd notice yourself making a lot of flat bends in the beginning.
CyanideJunkie
New member
Thicker string gauges are more ideal for detuned turnings too. However, I feel that the type of string play a bigger role in tonal shift(eg. Flatwounds vs roundwounds vs pure nickel vs stainless steel).
Brenkoh
New member
The use of thicker string gauges will make your guitar sound fuller and more defined. Let's take a Fender stratocaster for example. If you were to string it with 10s, it will definitely sound more twangy and fender-ish. If you were to string it with 9s, the sound will be lacking to a very obvious degree. To sum this whole paragraph up, it's Balls-ier Tone VS Playability.
Speaking of tone, I think the brand and type of strings matter too. Some strings sound brighter, some more mellow. The best way to find out is to try the gauges out yourself because everybody will definitely have differencing opinions
Speaking of tone, I think the brand and type of strings matter too. Some strings sound brighter, some more mellow. The best way to find out is to try the gauges out yourself because everybody will definitely have differencing opinions
subversion
Moderator
with all due respect to SRV, thicker gauged strings do not equal better tone- different tone more like it, which some of us might like. the late Mr. Vaughan needed that kinda string gauge; he could only be himself with those. there are other fantastic players out there who do not rely on thicker string gauge. google will tell you who they are.
kernelsalonpas
New member
Tone is the sum of all parts thus strings are only one part of the equation. And one man's tone heaven can be ice pick to someone else.
In the end, listen with your ears and not rely on google or corksniffers on TGP or anywhere else for reference.
Peace
In the end, listen with your ears and not rely on google or corksniffers on TGP or anywhere else for reference.
Peace
marlonmm
New member
To the TS - 10's on a 25" scale guitar sounds tight enough. It sounds flabby on short scale and lower tuned settings like drop D.
11 onwards on standard tuning yields more volume and tighter sound at the expense of playability.
I think people who likes to play on dropped tunings use 10-52. It gives just enough amount of tension on these settings but still sounds tight.
11 onwards on standard tuning yields more volume and tighter sound at the expense of playability.
I think people who likes to play on dropped tunings use 10-52. It gives just enough amount of tension on these settings but still sounds tight.
Munak
New member
I moved to 11 and never looked back. My guitar sounds much more fuller and the feel is definitely different from 9, but it is true that it feels less comfortable, especially when you try to do bending at the first few fret, it's killing me. Oh, and I snapped a lot of strings back when i still use 9, now i don't snap any strings anymore.
but as always ymmv, the tone aside just play whatever you feel comfortable with, that's the most important. Tone is subjective.
but as always ymmv, the tone aside just play whatever you feel comfortable with, that's the most important. Tone is subjective.
Khai HeadrusH
New member
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I beg to differ. I use 12-56s on drop-B tuning. Perfect, imho..
I beg to differ. I use 12-56s on drop-B tuning. Perfect, imho..
Ized
New member
Malmsteem and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top played 8s, and I don't remember anyone saying their tone sucks.... lol
I feel nowadays with so many options for guitars, amps, pedals and technology- any tonal differences in string gauge can be easily negated. Strings are just one part of your signal chain although I would admit they play an important part. Most importantly its how comfortable you are with a certain string gauge on your axe.
For me? I used to be a .9s advocate for the longest time until I switched to .10s. I play pretty hard and playing .9s was like being superman on the guitar for me as I would go overboard with out of tune bends and horrible intonation from whacking the strings too hard. Switching to a heavier gauge made things alot better, but I may go down one gauge again in future depending on how my hands hold up over the years.
I like my guitars to have a little bit of fight to them when I play, as quoted by the man Slash himself. Scale length plays a part too. On longer scale lengths like Fender I usually stick with .10s, but on a 24.75 like a LP i would go up one gauge to .11s.
I feel nowadays with so many options for guitars, amps, pedals and technology- any tonal differences in string gauge can be easily negated. Strings are just one part of your signal chain although I would admit they play an important part. Most importantly its how comfortable you are with a certain string gauge on your axe.
For me? I used to be a .9s advocate for the longest time until I switched to .10s. I play pretty hard and playing .9s was like being superman on the guitar for me as I would go overboard with out of tune bends and horrible intonation from whacking the strings too hard. Switching to a heavier gauge made things alot better, but I may go down one gauge again in future depending on how my hands hold up over the years.
I like my guitars to have a little bit of fight to them when I play, as quoted by the man Slash himself. Scale length plays a part too. On longer scale lengths like Fender I usually stick with .10s, but on a 24.75 like a LP i would go up one gauge to .11s.
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