Has your setup changed?

[JB_From_Hell]

I used to go with moderately heavy strings, high-ish action, and a lot of relief. I’d also set the radius with a gauge.

Currently, I still prefer the 10 or 11-52, but the necks are as straight as possible, slightly lower action, and I set the radius by feel.

Still hate light strings and ultra low action

 

[Mincer]

Nah..been lighter strings and lower action for me for quite awhile. Very little relief in the neck, but not perfectly straight.

 

[jeremy]

pretty much 11s, slightly higher action, straight neck which it has been for a long time

 

[Ascension]

With AS and the issues with my hands it's now 9's and action on the lower side but not as low as I can get it. Also am using a radius gauge now to precisely match the board radius to the set up on the bridge. Physical issues are forcing changes if I want to keep playing sadly.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Tried EB Skinny Top/Heavy Bottoms 10-52 on the PG Mikro, to make sure I'd get good tension for a short scale. Since I had to flip the guitar, the headstock is no longer reversed and I guess that solved the tension issue for me, because those bottom strings were tough. I could've got a thicker pick, I guess, but I don't really like them.

Flipping the guitar also meant that it was like it was getting new strings for the very first time. So, since I hadn't technically intonated or adjusted the action, I figured I'd get a setup down by the local, and have somebody else fix my stupid mistakes.

I had them restring with EB 10-46, and it's great. There's way more "bounce" to these, I don't feel like I have to clamp my fingers down to play chords, and the slight buzz I had on the 5,6, and 7th frets is gone completely. Should've stuck with those strings from the beginning.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Physical issues are forcing changes if I want to keep playing sadly.

Sorry to hear that man. Making my guitars easier to play (straighter neck, lower action) was largely inspired by trying to avoid any injuries. Might go down to straight 10s for awhile and see if I can get used to it, but I love the beefy wound strings.

 

[weepingminotaur]

With AS and the issues with my hands it's now 9's and action on the lower side but not as low as I can get it. Also am using a radius gauge now to precisely match the board radius to the set up on the bridge. Physical issues are forcing changes if I want to keep playing sadly.

I'm sorry to hear that. I think that time and age will compel most players to use lighter strings in the long run. I used to be into heavy-gauge strings. Now I use 10/46 in standard tuning, and I like the slinkiness. My hands aren't quite as strong as they used to be. Plus I have what I suspect is some nerve damage that occasionally results in pain in my fretting hand in certain positions. So I have to be careful.

 

[Securb]

9s slammed to a true straight neck since I was 17

 

[nexion218]

A few years ago went from 9-46 to straight 10s and ditched the multi effect processor stuff for pedals. But thats about it. Always preferred low action and straight necks.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I use different gauges on different guitars. So I would say I've "expanded" my setups over the years, but I still have some guitars with 9 slinky's.

Really liking the skinny top beefy bottoms these days on the low tuned stuff.

 

[NegativeEase]

Yeah, I'm still 11-52 in D Standard. and 10-48 in E

I don't have a light enough touch to do the 8s or 9s -I need the resistance -plus I like the tuning stability.

Straight ass neck preferred here as well.

Although neck profile is serious thing for my tastes -I've found out surprisingly that width isn't really a factor if the profile is good -so less picky on that than when I was younger.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Although neck profile is serious thing for my tastes -I've found out surprisingly that width isn't really a factor if the profile is good -so less picky on that than when I was younger.

It’s all about how much shoulder there is. My ‘74 Strat has a really chunky neck, but it’s not uncomfortable because it’s really round and deep. My CE24 has a much thinner neck, but there’s not a lot of shoulder, so it feels good, too.

The only exception in my bunch is my 8 string, which is really wide, really flat, and almost uniform thickness across. I wear it a little higher and hold my hand in a more traditional thumb on the back posture to play it, though, so it feels good.

 

[Synapsys]

Standard .009 sets on 25.5 scale necks, standard 10 sets on 24.75 necks. Low action, bit of relief.

Playing like this for 30 years.

 

[PFDarkside]

My playing style is a weird amalgamation of James Hetfield, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Ness and SRV. The setup I’ve narrowed down to is 10-52, a little relief. Medium to medium-low action, 5 springs and a float that allows an up/down vibrato but stays really stiff so palm muting doesn’t move it.

I experimented a lot with gauges, relief, action, trem setup over the years and this works for me.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I used 10-46 D'Addarios for four decades. Consistent tone and reliable quality.

I pick with a wide range of dynamics from light to fairly hard, so I can't use a very low action.
Used to be considered medium, but by 21st Century standards it's a good bit higher than average.

As my hands age and finger strength decreases I'm in the process of switching string gauges.
Tried .095s on one guitar and was surprised - difference in tone/output was minimal, less than expected.

So I'm going to 9.5s on all my 24¾" scale guitars and 9s for 25½" scale.
This might also require a switch from heavy picks to medium.
(Still not sure on that one - it would limit my dynamics but may turn out to be necessary for the lighter strings.)

 

[solspirit]

It's been light strings with low action for me, all of my life. I just recently switched to a heavier guage on one electric and most of my acoustics.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

It's been light strings with low action for me, all of my life. I just recently switched to a heavier guage on one electric and most of my acoustics.

If you setup your acoustic with medium strings (13-56), you can get away with much lower action than lights. If you lived nearby, I’d let you try my Gibson SJ, and feel that it’s not hard to play at all.

 

[solspirit]

13-56 is what I got for the acoustics but I'm waiting for a nut file before I change them just in case. Lol.

 

[Clint 55]

How do you set the radius

Jk. Yes, I've been with 10-49 for general playing for a couple years and gonna stick with that. Recently sat with 11s for a few months as a fat set and decided they weren't fat enough so went to 12s and 13s. I like a lot of bow, enough so the action feels high in all areas of the neck.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I like a lot of bow, enough so the action feels high in all areas of the neck.

One of the things I like better about less relief is that the action feels the same across the neck. When there’s more than necessary, it always feels different up and down.