String Gauge

[Avidaxis]

Hello fellow softies, would like to know whether u guys actually bring ur guitar for servicing(neck adjustment) if suddenly one day decide to try a slightly heavier gauge of strings.
I am currently using d'addarios .009 to .042 and would like to try a .010 to .046
I dont see much in the difference of the gauge but it is advisable to get the neck adjusted so that it doesnt end up warping if the string gauge gets changed. 8)

 

[Whitestrat]

it won't warp, but your action will be affected, and your nut might not be slotted to take 10s. put the string son 1st, and then see what happens.

 

[Avidaxis]

hmm i see whitestrat, personally u changed different gauges on ur own guitar??
im using a mustang but still shall try **keeping fingers crossed** actions not really the prob for me haha, mezor good at adjusting. seen a lot of jaguar/mustang users all using the .010 to .046 gauges on their guitars...only wondering if it will warp if not adjusted heh.
thanks for the reply whitestrat!

 

[Whitestrat]

I've always used 10s. Most of the guitars I have come with 10s from the factory, but yes, I have changed guages before... Quite a bit, actually.

Your neck will bow SLIGHTLY, but if the action isn't so high, then it's ok.

 

[zax]

if you have a fender , chances are YES it will warp , it just happens cause its set to 0.009 -0.042 . get beez to do an adjustment for you , 15 bucks i think . happened to me on both my strats

 

[bockscar]

whoa.

i just got new strings.

im using a samick strat. and i just fixed 0.10s - 046s

do i have to adjust the truss rod etc?

btw, how do i knw if my gutiar is meant for 0.09s ?

 

[loldude333]

Guitars aren't actually meant to fit a certain gauge per say. Its up to the player. That's why there is such a thing as a truss rod. I'm currently using DR Tite-Fits 9-46s and they're extremely long-lasting and they've got excellent tone too.

 

[bockscar]

so, lets say, a guitar that originally comes with 0.09s - 0.42s...if wanna change to 0.10s, must adjust the truss rod?

 

[loldude333]

Not necessarily..........if the string tension is the same as ur 9s there shldn't be any prob. But then again, any set of 10s with the tension of 9s is prob gonna be super loose......so yea u might wanna look into that.

 

[bockscar]

how do i check

i just fixed it. and tuned. if theres no buzz. should that be a green light to show its ok?

 

[zax]

fenders come with 0.009 - 0.042 , gibsons come with 0.010 - 0.046

 

[loldude333]

Check ur intonation. If the open string and its 12th fret equivalent are off, u got a warped neck. Absence of string buzz does not necessarily suggest a ramrod straight neck.

 

[Avidaxis]

o.0 man so is it actually theoratically safe to say that if one changes .009 to .010 and the intonation is correct. Then its okay?

 

[subversion]

if you upgrade to a thicker gauge set:

*action might need to be raised to avoid excessive fret rattling

*there would be an increase in relief (warping is a little too harsh a term for slight neck curvature due to an increase in tension)

*intonation might be off: you can rectify this yourself

these are not severe effects, if they are, your guitar would be unplayable.

 

[matt-muser]

heavier gauge will cause floating bridge isnt it?

 

[Marius79]

no problem with me at all

I think , i dont have any problem with the different gauge. I play .09 to .11 but i never try to tune .10 and .11 to standard E tuning. I normally play drop D and C. On the other hand, i don't play drop tuning with .09. i feel that it is loose.

When i try tune .10 or .11 to standard E, the string tension so tide and then stopped tuning to E. because i have a bad experience with the strings.

Mostly i use .10 gauge strings.

 

[Whitestrat]

fenders come with 0.009 - 0.042 , gibsons come with 0.010 - 0.046

MIA Fenders come with 10-46 strings.

 

[Whitestrat]

Check ur intonation. If the open string and its 12th fret equivalent are off, u got a warped neck.

No you don't. Do you know how serious a warped neck is? It doesn't affect string length. It doesn't mean a curve either. It means out of shape. And a warped neck needs to be sorted out either by steaming the neck, or re setting the board and dressing down the neck first. It's a major thing. Please don't anyhow scare ppl hor...

Oh, and warped necks don't affect intonation. Sometimes, but not all the time.

 

[Whitestrat]

o.0 man so is it actually theoratically safe to say that if one changes .009 to .010 and the intonation is correct. Then its okay?

Well, put that way, yes. BUT it's rarer than finding a diamond in a pile of shit. Because with increase string gauge, you have increased tension, which gives a slightly more enhanced bow to the neck. String tength is affected. How can intonation be the same then?

 

[Whitestrat]

Guitars aren't actually meant to fit a certain gauge per say.

Yes they are, unless they're locking nut equipped. Other nuts made of plastic or bone are slotted for a particular string gauge. If it's slotted for 9s, then putting 11s on them would be a problem. The extra stress can cause the nut to crack.