String gauge for E flat metal in a Gibson-scale guitar

[weepingminotaur]

I've currently got 10/52s but I'm feeling like those 52s are a bit stiff for fast rhythm playing. What string gauge should I switch to?

10/46?
11/48?
11/50?
Something else?

[Rex_Rocker]

I would go for 11's. I think D'Addarios are 11-49.

[Der Oberherr]

If it's only the thicker strings that are an issue, I'd opt for 10-48 (Ernie Ball Ultra slinky, if you want an example). Same gauge e,B,G but a little different on the D,A and E strings.

[Hsb]

I ise 10/46s on my Gibson and Fender scale guitars

[Seashore]

I find 52 too light for E flat on a 24.75" scale, 54 is better under my fingers. I use 52 as the low string in E standard. I guess I like thicker low strings in general.

[GuitarDoc]

Well, string gauge is such a personal preference, but if the higher strings feel good and it's just the 52s that feel too stiff, you can either just replace that string with a 50 or 49 (you can buy individual strings in just about any gauge), or you can get a set like suggested by Der Oberherr. Ernie Ball makes about 20 different sets in different gauges. I've recently tried their 9.5-44 "Primo Slinky" for my Gibson scale guitars and love them (I've used 10-46, 10-52, 10-55, and various 9-xx sets in the past by various mfr...usually Dunlop). I'm getting older and weaker and with more arthritis so the lighter gauge (especially on the lower strings) works perfectly for me.

[weepingminotaur]

Yeah, right now I'm wavering between 11/48 or 10/48. The older I get, the less I want heavier-gauge strings, particularly for metal.

[Rex_Rocker]

The whole "heavier is better" approach is more of a macho thing, I find. I personally always thought lighter strings sound way better for Metal: Crunchier, more lively, tighter, more cutting, etc. While heavier strings just sound duller, thuddy, boomy, and bland. It's just that I have a hard time personally playing strings too light too, so I try to find a happy medium for me.

JMO, of course.

But 11's will be fine both sound-wise and feel-wise for Eb.

I use 11-54's in Drop C on my Fender and 12-56's for the same tuning on my Gibson.

[donaldr]

Try a round core wire E string if you currently have hex core wire.

[donaldr]

I have 11-48 (Ernie Ball) or 11-50 (DR Pure Blues) on my Gibson LP, standard tuning. 11/54 (DR DDT) on my Vandenberg, E flat tuning.

[weepingminotaur]

The whole "heavier is better" approach is more of a macho thing, I find. I personally always thought lighter strings sound way better for Metal: Crunchier, more lively, tighter, more cutting, etc. While heavier strings just sound duller, thuddy, boomy, and bland. It's just that I have a hard time personally playing strings too light too, so I try to find a happy medium for me.

JMO, of course.

But 11's will be fine both sound-wise and feel-wise for Eb.

I use 11-54's in Drop C on my Fender and 12-56's for the same tuning on my Gibson.

Yeah, I tend to agree. Heavier strings work nicely for other styles of music, but for metal, I go lighter these days.

[JMP/HBE]

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Thank me later.

[Seashore]

The whole "heavier is better" approach is more of a macho thing, I find. I personally always thought lighter strings sound way better for Metal: Crunchier, more lively, tighter, more cutting, etc. While heavier strings just sound duller, thuddy, boomy, and bland. It's just that I have a hard time personally playing strings too light too, so I try to find a happy medium for me.

JMO, of course.

But 11's will be fine both sound-wise and feel-wise for Eb.

I use 11-54's in Drop C on my Fender and 12-56's for the same tuning on my Gibson.

I don't get where you're coming from with this. I use heavy low strings because they sound and feel better to me. Everybody I know who knows much about playing picks what they like best. Impressing other people with the thickness of strings doesn't figure into it at all.

[weepingminotaur]

Try a round core wire E string if you currently have hex core wire.

Why?

[GuitarDoc]

Yeah, right now I'm wavering between 11/48 or 10/48. The older I get, the less I want heavier-gauge strings, particularly for metal.

I think you'd be just fine with the 10-48 set. I'm thinking that if you go to the 11-48 set you might start thinking the same as you are now but in reverse...meaning you'll think the the lower strings feel fine but the higher strings feel stiff.