Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

[sosomething]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

The reason the 10s buzz and don't intonate as well on your SG is because there is less tension pulling against your neck, which affects the amount of neck relief.

If you want your SG to sound like it does with 11s when you switch to 10s, loosen your trussrod about 1/2 a turn and re-intonate at the bridge. That will let the neck come forward a millimeter or two and solve your problem.

That's what would work on my SGs, anyway.

 

[symptom]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

The reason the 10s buzz and don't intonate as well on your SG is because there is less tension pulling against your neck, which affects the amount of neck relief.

If you want your SG to sound like it does with 11s when you switch to 10s, loosen your trussrod about 1/2 a turn and re-intonate at the bridge. That will let the neck come forward a millimeter or two and solve your problem.

That's what would work on my SGs, anyway.

I'll try this evening or tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. Now I realize how stupid am I. I remember the neck was calibrated to 11's before I put 10's... Maybe I'll get the right intonation now. And with the new bridge the guitar will play and sound amazing. Thanks.

 

[tc]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

An audience can't tell your string gauge, but they can tell who can bend deeper and more accurately, and for longer.

I actually wasn't going to say anything since this thread has seem to have gone bad real fast...but I just have to add I'm sure a LOT of audiences wouldn't even notice that at all.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I'll try this evening or tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. Now I realize how stupid am I. I remember the neck was calibrated to 11's before I put 10's... Maybe I'll get the right intonation now. And with the new bridge the guitar will play and sound amazing. Thanks.

No problema mi amigo.

You wouldn't think going up or down one gauge would make much difference in how your guitar behaves, but it really really does.

Hope you get things playing the way you want!

 

[bigheadood]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

As a rule, I use 9s on 25.5 and 10s on 24.75.

But there are some anomolies.

My Schecter C7 (25.5) plays best with .10-.48 + .60
My Ibanez RG7321 (25.5) plays best with .09-.42 + .56
These two guitars have approximately the same tension.

My Ibanez RG321mh (25.5) currently has 9s on it, and plays like a wet noodle. I will be going up to 10s on this one.

IME, each guitar is different, and should be set up to what the player is comfortable with, and not relying on some mythical magical number that "StevieRay VonHalen" might have used.

 

[symptom]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I'm still thinking about giving 11's another chance, but I still don't know. If I decide to stay with 10's, I'll adjust the truss rod, just like you said.

But, to contribute a little more to the topic. I think you really should try those 10's.

 

[B2D]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I used to play 9-42 sets until about 2006s, when I switched to 10-46 sets and now I use 10-52s in Eb.

Chopstherocker (who uses 12-56 in standard said that the jump from 9s to 10's was much more noticeable and took more getting used to than going from 10's on up to anything else. I have to agree with him in that aspect. I was using 11-48 sets for a brief period and I almost didn't notice the difference in feel.

If I was in a setting where I was in standard and not doing a whole lot of solo work I'd use 10-52 sets still, but if I needed to be doing solo work I'd probably go to 9-46. Larger bass strings ALWAYS sound better for to my ears.

 

[Invader09]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

Like I said earlier in the thread. I normally use 9-42. But I recently got a 10 pack box of GHS ROCK-ITS (they are 9, 11, 16, 25, 33, 43...) from GC for 20 bucks ! They are really nice strings, intonate well, and are great for bending. I am currently using the 9-43 ROCK-ITS on my SG and Les Paul, and I tune Eb. I don't have any issue with them being flobby at Eb. But when I go to D it gets alittle bit floppy. But it's easy to get used to.

Just wanted to share my thoughts on the GHS ROCK-ITS. I think they will be my new "strings' for now on. They are cheap. You can get deals on them, and they sound great.

 

[Lux84]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I am going right now from stock 9 - 42 gauge in e standard strings to:

Stratocaster: 10 - 46 just for e standard and

SG: 10 - 48 for e standard and drop d . 9 - 42 on both of guitars in standard tunings feels a bit loose for me, and i think i want to sound stratocaster a little bit warmer, so higher gauge strings can repair that...

i am not to scared for the change, i think i am gonna get used to it. in the past i already played 10 - 46 on cheaper ibanez guitars and i think i am gonna get used to it.

The only thing i am scared is, if it will be good if i go sometimes to drop d from standard e on SG with 10 - 48, because i now i cannot have 52 gauge for low e, it's way to much... but i think 48 for drop d will just work fine.... anyway,i will take those two guitars to luthier service, cause i also want to change stock pickups on SG with some Distortions...

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

Years of 11's at standard have done a number on my hands. I'm down to 10's but am probably going to switch to using a 9-46 set from now on.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I just went to 9's on my Goldtop Les Paul. I bought a set of Thomastic Infeld Blues Sliders. The gauges are 9, 12, 15, 25, 33, 43. Had to reset my pickup heights and intonate but it sounds just fine....not thin or whimpy at all

See how my hands feel after a 3 hour jam tonight

 

[James Rock]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

I changed from 10-46 (ernie ball slinkys) to 9-46 (Ernie Ball Hybrids) and was amazed by the change in feel just by having slightly less tension makes bends as easy as my J&D Les Paul with Slinkys on it. Wish Ernie Ball made some 10-48 for when I get my Squier Jag but I think I will be ok with 11-48 (power slinkys).

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Going from 9 gauge strings to 10 gauge?

Thomastic makes a set of 10-48 strings. They are expensive but excellent. I use them on my V