I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

[appar111]

First off, let me preface this by saying that most of my fellow guitar playing friends are all light string users (9's), usually tuned down to Eb. I'll also say that they're all way better players than I am. I'm a realist that I'll never play like them, but I'm ok with having more in common with the stylings of Malcolm Young than Randy Rhoads, Yngwie, etc.

Over the years, stuff like old AC/DC, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, and other stuff that's more about music and tunes, and less about just guitar playing/solos is just way more interesting to me. I just connect with it better, although I love me some shredding.

I've found that I'm enjoying heavier strings on my tele and strat, but at the expense of being able to do the bends that I'm used to, or any of the traditional blues rock noodling that I tend to do. I don't want to be that "heavy string guy" who's always sayin' stuff like "it's all about the tone, and not how many notes you play, man..." But it seems I'm headed that direction. Like I said, I've never been a shredder, so it's bothering me less and less if I give up that sort of playability for a setup that's better suited for rhythm and really railing on those strings.

I thought I should forget this crazy heavy string, rhythm oriented "thing" and slap 9's back on my strat. I tell ya, I couldn't get them off there fast enough! Going from 11's down to 9's, I seriously thought something happened with the wiring on my guitar it sounded so weak.

Anyone else here come to a similar realization? An almost involuntary steering towards a certain setup or style of playing that you just say "hell with it, I'm going to let it take me that direction"?

I may just be rambling at this point, but wanted to get it out there...

 

[NevermindUs]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

when me and my rhythm guitarist ordered new 7 strings, they came with 9 gauges on them. normally on my 6's i played 11 gauges so i had a similar realization as you, the higher strings just felt weird and like you said, it may just be in my head, but i just feel like i like the sound of thicker strings better

 

[CTN]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

just call your friends p*ssies and limp fingered nancy boys.

that'll sort your problem right out.

 

[appar111]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

when me and my rhythm guitarist ordered new 7 strings, they came with 9 gauges on them. normally on my 6's i played 11 gauges so i had a similar realization as you, the higher strings just felt weird and like you said, it may just be in my head, but i just feel like i like the sound of thicker strings better

The other thing about the 11's is that they're harder for me to do bends on (I still do a fair amount of bends with my blues rock playing), even though I've got the guitars set up really well, action and relief-wise.

But that difference in tone and volume is so obvious, I think I'm just gonna have to eat some wheaties and keep at it until I get the finger strength up.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Instead of worrying about the drastic change from an 11 to a 9, play on some 10's for a while as a stepping stone.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

pyramid 14's flatwounds. Trust me, they don't sound like ernie ball 9's. String gauge will make that note attack drastically different, the right hand>pick>string gauge balance is key. I like the uber thick flatwounds with hard jazz picks, just the right articulation and the notes have just the right complexity that I like.

Choose gauges that EXPLOIT your skills. If you have an unmistakably unique vibrato and blues style, get the light gauge that lets you tear that up. If you have amazing note choice and stacatto lines, heavy gauges might be better to beef up the tone. Try those gauges, and focus on what brings out what you're best at.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

and regarding finger strength- I used 11's in 2010. I moved to 12's feb of 2011, same set of strings lasted me until recently feb 2012 i moved to 14's.

I experienced tons of stress in between. I started taking glucosamine with chondroitin for the joints, doing clean warmups really slow, re-developing my technique, adjusting the guitar to gradually accomodate the pyramid 14's. It was worth it, and my strat is effortless to pick up and tear up set after set of music right now, not to mention almost any other decent guitar.

Good technique on well set-up high gauge strings gets a superlative sound and if you want it, go for it. If you can 'make your music' more effectively at a lower gauge, go right ahead, so many greats played on lights. I like a specific 'feel' and 'feedback' from attacking the strings and that is achieved with proper pick and strings.

 

[appar111]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

I used to do alot more bending and vibrato, but where I'm at now is focusing on tighter rhythmic playing, more quick, tight attack on full chords, and the skinny strings just don't hold up to that. Even if I end up using lighter picks, I just lose all the attack and volume.

So far, 11-49's at pitch, with either .88 or 1.14 tortex picks (standard pick shape) work well. Playing at pitch instead of Eb feels alot better too.

So Quench, you're playing a strat with 14 gauge flatwounds? Are you playing at A440? Flatwounds sound interesting to me, I'd like to give them a try sometime.

 

[papersoul]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

All my guitars have 10-52 and 11-54. I could care less what others use!

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

keep practicing how to bend on the .011s and eventually you will be playing everything you could play on a set of .009s. Stevie Ray Vaughan played Stratocasters with .013s, which is the same as a heavy acoustic gauge, and he would bend one and a half steps. He also had huge hands.

Personally I like .010-.052 as you get the best of both worlds: thick bottom end and easy to bend G, B and high E strings.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Stevie Ray Vaughan played Stratocasters with .013s, which is the same as a heavy acoustic gauge, and he would bend one and a half steps. He also had huge hands.

He also tuned down a half step.

 

[appar111]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Fender Punk-- oddly enough, I didn't think I'd like the Ernie Ball LTHB set (10-52) but they were really nice on the strat. I think the slightly heavier E & B strings on a gauge 11 set really make certain chords stand out for me.

I'm going to order a variety of 11's for the strat and tele (some pure nickel wraps, some nickel/steel, and maybe a couple wound 3rd sets to see how things would work out for dedicated rhythm (since there's no bending that wound G! at least not for me...). Might even throw a set of 11 flatwounds in there to taste test.

thanks for the encouragement guys! And a big thanks to Quench for the details of his journey to heavier strings! This has been quite helpful, and a reminder that this is about me and what I like, not what my friends might like to see outta my guitars and their setups.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

He also tuned down a half step.

and did a looooooot of coke.

11s FTW

 

[astrozombie]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

ive wanted to try some light ass strings. 9s.

"better" for soloing.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Over the years...stuff that's more about music and tunes, and less about just guitar playing/solos is just way more interesting to me. I just connect with it better, although I love me some shredding.

I've found that I'm enjoying heavier strings on my tele and strat, but at the expense of being able to do the bends that I'm used to, or any of the traditional blues rock noodling that I tend to do. I don't want to be that "heavy string guy" who's always sayin' stuff like "it's all about the tone, and not how many notes you play, man..." But it seems I'm headed that direction.

Dear Mr. Heavy String Guy: The music more interesting than the guitar/solos? What are you, 65 years old? Yes, you need a solid foundation on songs, but tasty lead guitar work takes a lot of songs to the next level. In my expereince, the guys that say 'It's all about the tone and not how many notes you play' use that as an excuse for not being able to play with any kind of speed or dexterity, and don't have all that good of a tone either. Don't become one of them, at least not until you're ready for a nursing home. :14:

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

the best way is to choose strings that feel good for your picking hand and sound good with whatever guitar you are using them on. Your left hand will learn to accommodate whatever guage you are using.

 

[tonello]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

I did. I share lead and rhythm with the other guitarist in my band, and I still love some thick strings. I have 12's in standard. I love the feel of the big thick E string with a high tension. It's awesome. Then you also get massive tone from each note. But I, like you, am not a shredder, I am a melodic soloer. Most bends I do are done on a Bigsby, and any solo I play is going to have a melody and not just notes.

 

[appar111]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Dear Mr. Heavy String Guy: The music more interesting than the guitar/solos? What are you, 65 years old? Yes, you need a solid foundation on songs, but tasty lead guitar work takes a lot of songs to the next level. In my expereince, the guys that say 'It's all about the tone and not how many notes you play' use that as an excuse for not being able to play with any kind of speed or dexterity, and don't have all that good of a tone either. Don't become one of them, at least not until you're ready for a nursing home. :14:

that may be the case to a certain extent, blueman... (as far as me not being able to play with alot of speed or dexterity), but nope... I'm not 65 years old. I think I'm gonna have to give it the ol' college try with these heavier strings and try to make heavier strings and tasty leads work for my style of playing.

FYI, here are some of my musical interests, so I definitely like the lead work: Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Dio, Alice Cooper, Satriani, AC/DC, Megadeth, etc.

When I said that the song and the rhythm playing were something I've gravitated towards moreso than leadwork, it was in reference to my own playing, not necessarily what I like to listen to.

thanks for the kick in the pants, though!

 

[MasterKtulu]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

I played with 11's on my Strat for over a decade and I'm mostly a Blues / Classic Rock player and I do bends a lot. During those years, all of my friends hated my strat because they were used to 9's. but about four years ago I started noticing that I lost some strength in my left hand (probably because I don't play as much as I used to) and if I played for more that haft an hour, my hand would cramp up. So I started using 10's and I was good for a while, but now I'm reduced to playing 9's and tuning my guitar in E flat. I do miss the tone of 11's but on the bright side, my friends love playing my Strat now...

 

[uOpt]

Re: I don't want to be that "heavy string guy"...

Don't bend