Heavy strings and why?

[dave74]

I'd just add that those hammers/pulls that jump-out more with heavier strings also take a lot more work/strength with heavier strings, and can sound much less fluid until one builds the hand strength to match.

Like many of us, I went from standard 9's when I started, all the way up to ridiculous, then over many years back down to where I'm at now for keeps, which is basically about the same tension as a 9-44 set at E,,,,,,, but for me it's 9.5-46 (Eb),,,,,,,,,10-48 (D-std),,,,,,and 10.5-52 (C#std).

 

[gsammo79]

I started off with standard 10's and liked them fine. There really wasn't a solid reason to change gauges, other than experimentation.

Jumped to 11s to see if they would improve tone. They sounded a little louder and a little more full, at the expense of playability and more hand fatique, which made me a little less confident as a player. I decided that making my guitar easy to play was priority #1 when it came to string gauges, so i now play 9-42. They never sound "thin" to me, like my friends and i always swore they did when we were growing up, so they're my string gauge now

 

[GuitarStv]

Off the top of my head:
Disadvantages of heavy strings

1) a little harder to play faster

I find it much easier to play fast on a Gibson with 11s than with 9s. The floppy strings don't stay in the right place while you're picking.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I really only use heavy strings at the moment for my down-tuned guitars. So 11/48 for E flat, 11/52 for D (both Gibson-scale guitars). But like I said earlier, I might throw some heavy strings on an E standard guitar for jazz.

 

[Artie]

I use heavy strings on shorter scale guitars. Keeps the tension about the same as thin strings on a longer scale.

Good info. That's what I was looking for. I have a Peavey T-30, with a 23.5" scale length. These 12's might work well with that.

 

[dave74]

I find it much easier to play fast on a Gibson with 11s than with 9s. The floppy strings don't stay in the right place while you're picking.

There is a sweet spot for all of us on this, depending on style, choice of pick, and individual right-hand touch more than anything.
For me a 42 at E on a 25.5" is a bit floppy. I get along better with the 44 or 46, but for E I prefer 44, but on a LP-style the 46 would feel perfect.

Those slinky hybrid sets are awesome, especially the hybrids of hybrids sets.

 

[NegativeEase]

I find it much easier to play fast on a Gibson with 11s than with 9s. The floppy strings don't stay in the right place while you're picking.

yeah, thats dependent on how light or heavy of touch you have naturally, it's the same for me too -but I was generalizing for the thread.

 

[Sirion]

I find it much easier to play fast on a Gibson with 11s than with 9s. The floppy strings don't stay in the right place while you're picking.

I agree. I tend towards light strings, but as far as simplicity of playing goes I think heavier strings have them beat.

 

[Top-L]

I'm pretty sure that larger strings create higher output, more gain to the amp. Some amps that need boost pedal with light strings don't need with heavier strings. The tone seems more fundamental.

I also think there is less pitch variance on attack. For fast rhythm playing, everything sounds and feels tighter with heavier strings. All that said, I play 9s.

 

[formula73]

I like 11-49 in standard. I like pounding the strings for rhythm.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Go easy with those heavy wires. I just discovered this 3 days ago...lol...I don't even use the trem.

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