string gauges
- Thread starter domonizo
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theblueark
New member
Heavier gauges generally are percieved to give a fuller, bigger tone, whereas lighter guages sound 'weaker'.
By theory, because a heavier gauge has more mass, if affects the magnetic fields more and thus produces a stronger signal.
Lighter guages have the advantage of being easier on the fingers and easier to bend.
The general recommendation is to use as heavy a guage as you are comfortable with. Jazz guitarists usually are able to use very heavy gauges as they do not perform wide bends. Of course, as the trends in music change this is becoming increasingly untrue.
By theory, because a heavier gauge has more mass, if affects the magnetic fields more and thus produces a stronger signal.
Lighter guages have the advantage of being easier on the fingers and easier to bend.
The general recommendation is to use as heavy a guage as you are comfortable with. Jazz guitarists usually are able to use very heavy gauges as they do not perform wide bends. Of course, as the trends in music change this is becoming increasingly untrue.
DarknessFury
New member
You'll also have to press harder for heavier gauges, right? 'Coz I'm thinking of changing to 10s...
theblueark
New member
Yep sort of. Yngwie uses .8s though I believe, and on scalloped necks with his fat fingers, I don't know how he does it. He has to have a feather light touch.
On the other side of things, SRV used to use .15s (or was it .13s?) which is extreme madness and explains why he looks like he's in pain whenever he performs bends.
On the other side of things, SRV used to use .15s (or was it .13s?) which is extreme madness and explains why he looks like he's in pain whenever he performs bends.
G
Guest
Guest
Strings with higher gauges are thicker and have more tension when tuned standard pitch compared to lighter gauges. Yes it does give a fuller tone at the expense of ease of playability, but the tension's something you get used to after a while.
Generally going anything higher than .11 string sets gets problematic 'cos there's a chance that your wound third string will fret out when you do bends. Also it'll put an extreme kind of strain on your neck, unless you're planning on using a detuned tuning. And you'll probably need to redo a nut to fit gauge .11 and above strings.
Going from .9s to .10s alone will change the feel of your instrument considerably. Try it out, you might like it. Just remember to setup your axe (truss rod) to accomodate the new gauge.
Generally going anything higher than .11 string sets gets problematic 'cos there's a chance that your wound third string will fret out when you do bends. Also it'll put an extreme kind of strain on your neck, unless you're planning on using a detuned tuning. And you'll probably need to redo a nut to fit gauge .11 and above strings.
Going from .9s to .10s alone will change the feel of your instrument considerably. Try it out, you might like it. Just remember to setup your axe (truss rod) to accomodate the new gauge.
DarknessFury
New member
Yea, we all gotta try new things though...but I'm not going anywhere near the truss rod...I don't even know where it is! My string life's up so 10s are coming in!
subversion
Moderator
for those of you who wants a tighter feel but thinks that .010set is a little too taxing, check out the .0095 set, available from D'Addario/ PRS.
NewGuy said:
No need to change nut, but need some adjustment of truss rod. as for neck wrapping im not sure. Actually the adjustment of truss rod, depends how "niao" you wan, if you wan a perfert buzz-fret action low i guess u need to adjust. Your originally using 0.09? 0.09 to 0.11 its quite a big jump i think, not too sure
trianglebiscuit
New member
will thin strings or OLD strings affect sustain? my sg with old .9s has kinda crappy sustain in the upper register. could be the pickup heights though..
thor666
New member
well adjust your pickup heights first then... too high, too much string pull. too low, not enough output.
i won't even go to whether thick/new strings increases sustain - theorically you should use a 0.56 high E string to maximize sustain if that were practically possible. every player has his own unique playing style, and it really depends on a lot of factors.
my guess is that your old SG might need a set up. See if your notes mute out when you play on the upper registers.
i won't even go to whether thick/new strings increases sustain - theorically you should use a 0.56 high E string to maximize sustain if that were practically possible. every player has his own unique playing style, and it really depends on a lot of factors.
my guess is that your old SG might need a set up. See if your notes mute out when you play on the upper registers.
G
Guest
Guest
U might find this site useful:
http://www.pacificsites.net/~dog/StringTensionApplet.html
http://www.pacificsites.net/~dog/StringTensionApplet.html
trianglebiscuit
New member
thor666 said:
*off topic - might start a new thread soon
my sg isnt exactly old. also its only an epiphone g400, not a gibbo. the bridge pickup is pretty close, like the e string 1/16" away from the screw poles.
yea the notes kinda mute out really really fast esp with the bridge pickup. the only setup ive done before is only adjusting the action.
even my bolt neck ibanez sustains better.
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