Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

W

Westley

New member
I'd like to ask a question regarding string gauge. Presently, I own two Heritage guitars, a 150 (LP style) and a Prospect (semi-hollow) that are both 24.75" scale. I string them with 10's. I have a 25.5" scale acccoustic that I string with 11's. The more I play my accoustic, the more the high E and B strings on the Heritage guitars feel very thin. That said, G through low E feel great.

My understanding is that 9's on a 25.5" scale will kinda feel like 10's on a 24.75" scale. So if I move up to 11's on my electrics, won't they feel like 12's?

If it were you, what would you do?
A. Continue to play until you adjust and are comfortable with the 10's?
B. Throw on a set of 11's, tweak the truss rod and make sure the nut is ok?
C. Other?

I welcome everyone's thoughts, insights and suggesstions.

Thank you very much!

Westley
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

I've never heard such scale and gauge comparsion..
But I'd say it's more of a tension issue than how thich the strings feel..

What I would do is:
Put the e and B strings from a .011 set to my other Heritage, and thest the feel, and compare the 3 gutirars. If it would feel good to me, I'd be using that custom gauge set on my Heritages from there on.
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

Yeah, heavier strings will be sore, but will make you a better player. Probably help your tone a bit, too.
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

Jimbojsr said:
Yeah, heavier strings will be sore, but will make you a better player. Probably help your tone a bit, too.
Click to expand...

Could you explain what you said? I don't understand what you mean by "sore"; and how will they make you a better player? I'll accept the bit about tone...

btw, I play 11's and I like them. 9's and 10's felt like they were cutting into my fingertips - and I was breaking strings a lot - but that was before I got my GraphTech saddles - and I'm trying to play a little lighter.

Rick
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

they're harder to bend, and will make your hands tired more quickly - but they do sound different (i wouldnt say better, i like 9s on a strat)..

i used to string my beater with 12s, for practice.. it builds stamina

tom
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

I play with heavier strings on shorter scales. Shorter scale requires less tension to tune to pitch, so you go with a heavier string to combat that (given that you have to increase the tension in the heavier gauge to tune to standard pitch). I string all the 25.5" scales with 10s, while the LP recieves an 11 set.

That said, I also don't like comparing acoustic strings to electric, since I play nothing lighter than 12s on acoustics.
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

I use 11's on ALL my electrics and 13's on all my acoustics. The primary reason is I was having difficulties keeping my electrics in tune after playing my acoustic (which had 13's on them). I use 13's because I use a lot of altered tunings. When you start dropping the pitch you need a string that will behave normally so heavier to me is necessary. Scale length will affect the way the string tension feels under your fingers. 24.75" will feel easier to bend than 25.5" scale. In your case I would say to put a set of 12's on your acoustic and maybe move up to 11's on the electric. For me this has never been a difficult transition. I do not play the same music on both. I hardly ever attempt to bend strings on acoustic...... it has a wound G. I hardly ever attempt to play music suited for acoustic guitar on electric. Set the instruments up for there intended uses and they will perform well.
 
Re: Advice requested regarding string gauge...thank you

Imp said:
they're harder to bend, and will make your hands tired more quickly - but they do sound different (i wouldnt say better, i like 9s on a strat)..

i used to string my beater with 12s, for practice.. it builds stamina

tom
Click to expand...
That's what I was meaning. Your fingers will be sore, as you need more effort to push the strings down. However, as you use them, you'll develop stronger fingers (and hand), which will make light strings seem much easier to play.
 
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