9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

[Little Pigbacon]

9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

In the past I’ve used a 10-46 set on most guitars with a 24.75” scale in standard tuning. I thought the heavier plain strings were needed to keep them sounding fat in the upper registers. Now I’m seeing some guitars like this are coming from the factory set up with 9-46. What say you?

 

[Aceman]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

meh. insignificant difference to me. I think you need to go to 12 before your really hear it.

 

[chadd]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I used to use 9-46 on everything but we tune a half step down and I've settled on 10-48 for most of my guitars

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I hate to say it, but you need to buy a few different gauges and mess around until you find what you like. I think most guitars come shipped with 9s just so they play effortlessly at the store. There are probably two main schools of thought when selecting string gauges, similar to selecting pickups on similar guitars. You can select different pickups to make a few Les Pauls all sound as similar as possible or you can exploit the differences.

Using www.stringtensionpro.com you can select gauges so that the tension is constant across all strings across all guitars across all tunings (using half gauge strings will help) or you can simply use a single gauge across all guitars expecting a Les Paul to feel different from a Strat.

For me, 9-42 is the absolute smallest I could go on a 24.75" scale, anything less feels too slinky. Something like 10-49 would be perfect, but I usually end up with 10-52. That was Drop D isn't too flabby and I can easily bend the high strings. I like to hit the low strings and prefer to not have them flub out.

Also I'm inclined to agree with Aceman, it's about feel more than tone. If it feels good you'll play you best.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

My Green Gibson Custom Studio in my signature came with the 9-46 set
When I looked the is a hybrid set with three strings from a set of tens and three from a set of nines

I like them on mine

I have a 9-42 set on my Florentine LP

All my other Ibanez and Fender use 9-42

I probably couldn't tell if it were bad or not
I like the slinky feel on the short scale

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I think I like it. It makes bending the plain strings more like my Fender scale guitars with 9-42, and for the opposite reason it also makes playing aggressive rhythm parts on the wound strings more like those 25.5” guitars.

 

[greekdude]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I like the slinky feel on the short scale

who doesn't ?

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

My favorite set on almost everything has become DAddario 9.5 gauge. It gets rid of the buzziness of thin 9 gauge strings, but retains the playability. I even use it on my 7 string by adding an individual .056 low B string.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

The last two new Gibson L.P.'s I've bought have come from the factory with 9's & I was actually surprised by how much I liked them. I'm running 10's on them now but mostly because I buy in bulk. I think the next time I go to buy strings I'm going to switch???

It takes me a couple days to adjust to not having to push down so hard but once I have its almost like playing nothing!!!

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

9-gauge strings suck. No tone. No feel. These are highlighted when using a thick plectrum.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Let’s leave that for the courts to decide.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

"9-gauge strings suck. No tone. No feel. These are highlighted when using a thick plectrum." Yea I know, thats why some of the greatest ever used 9s, 8s or some even 7s. Two Jimmies and a Billy. But hey, what did they know?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I don’t care what strings a guitarist uses. I care about what comes out of that speaker when he plays.

When I’m playing, I also care about the feel and the experience, about the strings supporting my efforts by promoting the best possible combination of tone and playability — as I define them. If I’m responsible for what comes out of that speaker, I want to be able to choose the tools that help me deliver, not somebody else.

 

[Diego]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I don't think I'd like my Les Paul or my 339 with such light strings. You kinda miss out on a few things, namely bashing the **** out of them strings.

I use 11-50 in my 339 tuned to E and 11-54 in the Les Paul tuned to D.
I'd never use 11s tuned to E in a Strat or something, though.

I recently dropped a set of 9-42 strings in my Jackson Kelly and it's so light.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Yeah - I play with a fairly heavy hand. 9's are ok - but the feels is best for me with 10's.

I can and have played 11's on a number of guitars - blues too - so lots of bending. But the sound between 9, 10, 11? meh. 9 vs 11 - maybe on a loud clean amp.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

"9-gauge strings suck. No tone. No feel. These are highlighted when using a thick plectrum." Yea I know, thats why some of the greatest ever used 9s, 8s or some even 7s. Two Jimmies and a Billy. But hey, what did they know?

In fairness, when Billy was playing his best stuff he was using 11s.

Eddie is another famous user of 9s.

 

[dave74]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

That's perfect IMO for E on a gibby.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

String size is kinda like pick type to me- really up to you, and I don't care what anyone else uses, or what they think I should be using. Part of the fun is experimenting until you find something that works for the guitar and tuning you use. Then, of course, it is your right to change it at whim.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

I am just making the point that some may prefer this or that, but to make a statement that tone sux with certain strings? Imho, the pick thickness, angle of attack, force of attack are far more important for tone. Unless you are playing in drop FFF with strings flopping around so much that buzz cant be avoided.

 

[Ben1962]

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

Re: 9-46 Strings in Standard on 24.75”

In fairness, when Billy was playing his best stuff he was using 11s.

Eddie is another famous user of 9s.

What was his best stuff? I always like Tres Hombre myself. Have you Heard and Beer Drinkers and Jesus ...... For me, by far his best stuff. The top 40 stuff was ok Sunglasses was a killer groove. Some of the other top 40 stuff? Ehh