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

[Hurricane]

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

Well I am "That heavy string guy".....

I use 13-62 on 25.5" scales, 14-65 on some Gibson scales or a combination of the two. I use plain G strings not wound.

You get used to bending on those, I bend them all the time, you just have to build the callus. I find them a lot easier to play than lighter strings, they don't bend between the fret or bend when the pick hits them. I also have been known to play quite fast and have been accused of being a "shredder", though not the neo-metal kind; I don't use much gain and often shred with a clean tone.

Don't buy into the whole "well everyone else plays 9s and 10s so I guess that is what I should play" thing. I did that for 20 years and hated it; once I went heavy I never went back. Find what works for you and use it.

======================================

Don't ya just love how fat a heavy " E " string pops with it's beefy sustain compared to brand X Man I do . I use 12s but 13s do sound a TAD FATTER .

Easy man :

Hurricane

 

[SoPhx]

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

I have wound it down from 15-20 yrs ago; I was using .013-.052 or .012-.048 in standard tuning on Fenders because I thought I needed more beef in the sound. I bought some Gibsons that already have some beef, so it's 10's or 11's these days.

 

[blueman335]

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

Well I am "That heavy string guy".....

I use 13-62 on 25.5" scales, 14-65 on some Gibson scales or a combination of the two.

Good lord. Remind me not to shake your hand. :14:

 

[blueman335]

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

I wish I could think of some of the other debate topics we had.

We've had to call in the police to break up fistfights over 'controversial' subjects like pot values. Well known to be a 'hot button' topic that sets people off. Black eyes, ripped clothing, broken furniture, but by the end most of the participants have made up and are ready to have another intellectual debate on a new topic. Never talk politics, religion, or pot values with friends or family.

Remember that Monty Python sketch where a posh women's club reanacts famous moments in history, like Pearl Harbor. They're all dressed in fancy old lady clothes standing in a field, and then they get in the mud and wrestle each other. Kind of like that here, only most of the guys don't wear quite as much makeup.

 

[USAPatriot]

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

I use Zak's 10's on my Les Pauls and it took some getting used to. Besides moving up from 9's, the change in string tension was definitely different. Anymore I don't even notice but I'm sure I would if I went back to 9's or standard tensioned strings. The human brain notices changes but ultimately adapts to them. -Rod-

 

[ItsaBass]

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

I'll trip over the wire; "What kind is it?" :eyecrazy:

De Plain!

hyuk hyuk

Doesn't make much sense as to why it came to mind now that Guitfiddle deleted his post, which mentioned a doughnut as some sort of insult.

 

[Reload in 5]

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

Well I will post the opposite of what everyone else has.
I started out using 13-56 because that's what Stevie used (and I was breaking strings all the time)
I did NOT tune down with them. Then I actually learned how to play. Stopped trying to destroy the strings, and just play them. Still listened to other people too much who said bigger strings were better, but ended up using an 11 set, cause I just wouldn't even try anything smaller. Playing continued to progress, could coax more out of the strings, and finally settled on a 10 set, and was kind of embarrassed to admit I was using 10s. Fast forward, found out MOST of the players I liked and respected used smaller string gauges. Decided I didn't care what other people said, and now I normally use a 9 set.
I get the same tone, same sustain, same everything from the smaller strings. Only reason to use larger is for down tuning. If we are considering only standard tuning, and only electrics, string gauge should match playing style. It has about as much of an effect on tone as different cables do.

 

[guitfiddle]

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

De Plain!

hyuk hyuk

Doesn't make much sense as to why it came to mind now that Guitfiddle deleted his post, which mentioned a doughnut as some sort of insult.

The doughnut was incidental...it was merely a target for the flying fcuk. :lmao:

 

[metalmachine]

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

I like to absolutely pummel my low strings and then want to bend the high strings. My solution has been 10-52s. Those don't really cut it for the high strings though, if only there was a 9-52 set, that would be heaven. Also, would probably be hard to set up.

dr makes a 9-50 set

 

[cohibacris]

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

And elixir makes a nanoweb set deemed "Light-Heavy" that I just bought and will try/report if anyone cares. It's a light set on the steels and a heavy on the wounds. 10-52...
Could be coolish?

 

[ghostmaker]

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

I use 13-62 on 25.5" scales, 14-65 on some Gibson scales or a combination of the two. I use plain G strings not wound.

In E Standard? :eyecrazy:

 

[indie folk guy]

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

hmmm I'm finding that 11's and 12's aren't heavy enough for me, if you are having problems doing bends on 11's then you need to work out your fingers. Maybe I'm just used to playing heavy strings, i don't know.

Most of the guitarists I listen to use at least 12's on their electrics. Even if you are tuned down half a step a 12 or 13 is still going to be heavier than a 9 or 10.

 

[dr. ad]

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

you guys have obviously never actually hit anything with a crowbar.
hammer FTW

 

[appar111]

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

On a slight side note, isn't it funny when something is a choice (ice cream flavors, string gauges) camps divide up and taunt, jeer & throw rocks at one another (figuratively of course!)?

Just thinking aloud...

There's been a bunch of cool stories shared in this thread; thanks apar111 for kicking it off...

Sometimes I'm just looking for validation of my opinion or pickup choice or whatever, but alot of times I just want to get alot of different ideas thrown out there. Glad I could start a useful thread!