How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

I'm using 9s right now, because I'm practicing Satriani stuff.

I usually use 10s because there is a big tone difference and playability difference between the two. 10s just feel solid to me - you can dig into them. But 9s - just pick very lightly and bring the action down - and you can get speed. But with 10s - you can play hard and get speed too I like 10s better because of the tone also. I usually play with pick and fingers - and do some snapping and plucking - with 10s it works fine, but with 9s they are too light and choke out when being smacked against the fretboard.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Once you get a string gauge that is comfortable for your playing style, you adjust your amp & effects to get your desired tone. You can get any strings to sound good. But can you play at your best with thick strings? If the string gauge impedes your playing, loose or tight, what's the point?

Exactly. You gotta do what works. I can't play worth beans on anything thicker than 10's - they feel like telephone cables to me at that point and my playing is sloppy and clumsy.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

I want to record some SRV videos. So I want to put 11s on my red HW1 and tune down a semitone, and see how that feels again. Maybe I'll sweat it out and use 12s with 1 ST down... Never tried 12s before.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

I want to record some SRV videos. So I want to put 11s on my red HW1 and tune down a semitone, and see how that feels again. Maybe I'll sweat it out and use 12s with 1 ST down... Never tried 12s before.

My friend's used 12's for years and I can't stand playing his guitars. He hammers the hell out of them though, and I don't.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Yeah that's what SRV did - he really whacked the strings to get that percussive smack. Can't do that with 9s...

 

[wanmei1]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Yeah that's what SRV did - he really whacked the strings to get that percussive smack. Can't do that with 9s...

And talking of whacking the strings.

If you own an acoustic or a hollowbody electric or a semi hollow,
the idea is to get the top to vibrate.
Light gauge strings won't get the top moving ( vibrating ) much at all
Heavy gauge will certainly do that and give you not only a richer fuller tone, but it will give you the all important acoustic overtones that are so much a part of the hollow body sound.

You may have read or heard the common advice for anyone with the above guitars to play with as heavier set of strings as you can.
Not only do you get less fret buzz, more volume, tone and overtones, but you also stay in tune a lot better.

I grew up playing many classical music instruments including piano, hence my fingers are relatively strong however I think it would be difficult to do extreme bends on a Strat scale guitar with 13's.
Must give it a go sometime.

 

[Diego]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Now you got a point that I agree 100% with; string gauge in acoustics is extremely important. Did I say the difference with gauge is "just a bit" on electrics? Not so on acoustics; my acoustic is a cheapo with poor resonance, so I refuse to put anything below 12-52 on it. It's the only way to make it sound acceptable.

However, on electrics the difference is not so evident IMO, and I even find some benefits with lower tension strings; they sound more airy and bright.

 

[Frantic_Rock]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

And talking of whacking the strings.

If you own an acoustic or a hollowbody electric or a semi hollow,
the idea is to get the top to vibrate.
Light gauge strings won't get the top moving ( vibrating ) much at all
Heavy gauge will certainly do that and give you not only a richer fuller tone, but it will give you the all important acoustic overtones that are so much a part of the hollow body sound.

You may have read or heard the common advice for anyone with the above guitars to play with as heavier set of strings as you can.
Not only do you get less fret buzz, more volume, tone and overtones, but you also stay in tune a lot better.

I grew up playing many classical music instruments including piano, hence my fingers are relatively strong however I think it would be difficult to do extreme bends on a Strat scale guitar with 13's.
Must give it a go sometime.

Hmmm.. I have a cheapo chinese 335 (SX). I wonder what happens if I'll use 11s or 12s on it. Might sound better. It feels like a plywood guitar though But the fretboard plays pretty nice ! And it looks cool. I'm gonna vibrate that top when i get home. LOL

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

I thinnk the string brand can make as much differance as the guage to some degree.I have recently went back to 10s so i can have the same feel from guitar to guitar since i can't get a 7-string set around here in 9 guage. Which is lame since i only live a about 2 miles from a guitar center.What i am wodering IF ANYONE VEIWING THIS KNOWS. Can i pull the strings to a sharper pitch with 8 guage?

 

[Diego]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Hmmm.. I have a cheapo chinese 335 (SX). I wonder what happens if I'll use 11s or 12s on it. Might sound better. It feels like a plywood guitar though But the fretboard plays pretty nice ! And it looks cool. I'm gonna vibrate that top when i get home. LOL

My plywood Strat's sound doesn't even resemble a guitar with 9s. Put some 11s on it and it became alive. Try it on your SX! You will be surprised, guaranteed.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Wow, lots of good info and opinions in this thread. And no petty bickering either!

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Depending on the guitar, 9s or 9.5s are the best. Some guitars 10s. You need to experiment.

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Yeah that's what SRV did - he really whacked the strings to get that percussive smack. Can't do that with 9s...

True, but Page and Beck are 9 fans. I have heard Santana uses 8s!

 

[Diego]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

True, but Page and Beck are 9 fans. I have heard Santana uses 8s!

That explains how he manages to plug a PRS into a Boogie and still sound like arse. :1:

*runs for cover*

Actually, you can get great tone with 8s! Brian May is a winner on this. Santana just doesn't!

 

[blueman335]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

My plywood Strat's sound doesn't even resemble a guitar with 9s. Put some 11s on it and it became alive. Try it on your SX! You will be surprised, guaranteed.

11's? You're clearly not bending enough, young fella.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

11's? You're clearly not bending enough, young fella.

It's all in the finger strength, brother...using 11s in standard, I can bend the 15th fret "d" on the b string up to an f# without straining.

It's all about using what works for you...until it gets too floppy, and then you move on up. if it never gets floppy, you're there.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

It's all about using what works for you...until it gets too floppy, and then you move on up. if it never gets floppy, you're there.

Just like with girls. Right?

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

^^^Well, if they live long enough, it's gonna get floppy. :lmao:

 

[Diego]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

11's? You're clearly not bending enough, young fella.

My Strat's scalloped from the 12th fret and up. :naughty:

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: How do people play with 9 gauge strings?

Yeah I meant do you tune the High-A down to Ab or something.

Tuning down a full step will definitely help with the tension.

Are you gonna go HARDCORE & get a 9-string, or even the Halo XSI?

http://www.haloguitars.com/tenstringguitar.html

Halos blow
Waylon try to build a new facility in Texas ,and try to clear the bad rep.
I wish him luck!

Anyways ,actually I wanted to jump on a 9 instead of 8.
The problem is ,everytime I play low F# or F.or even G ,it feels not right.
And the 27Hz is nowwhere comfortable for me.
So i stay at A as the lowest and go with 8 string.
The high G will be giving me more sustain and new arpeggios without lacking definition and sweetness. The neck is scalloped ,so the bendings will b so nice nad sweet....Yummieeee:friday: