devilflanders
New member
I love the thickness of the 52s, but I like the tension level of something in the mid to high 40s
is this possible?
is this possible?
Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
- Thread starter devilflanders
- Start date
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Yah, shorter scale has lower tension. And while it doesn't technically reduce tension, break angle over the bridge & nut and/or a locking nut can make bends slightly easier, so that the strings feel as if they're less tight.
Yah, shorter scale has lower tension. And while it doesn't technically reduce tension, break angle over the bridge & nut and/or a locking nut can make bends slightly easier, so that the strings feel as if they're less tight.
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
correct, but double locking trems create a stiffer effect.
correct, but double locking trems create a stiffer effect.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
One of the reasons for all the different string gauges is so that players can pick the tension they're comfortable with. Thicker strings have a warmer/deeper sound and to bring them up to standard tuning pitch, have to be tighter. That's why a lot of players use lighter gauges. In the words of EVH regarding thick strings: 'Why make it harder than it has to be?' A lot of players use 9's. I think he used 8's as did BB king. Billy Gibsons said he uses 7's.
One of the reasons for all the different string gauges is so that players can pick the tension they're comfortable with. Thicker strings have a warmer/deeper sound and to bring them up to standard tuning pitch, have to be tighter. That's why a lot of players use lighter gauges. In the words of EVH regarding thick strings: 'Why make it harder than it has to be?' A lot of players use 9's. I think he used 8's as did BB king. Billy Gibsons said he uses 7's.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
What's really fun is using 8's in C# tuning on a shorter scale guitar like Tony Iommi. You don't need big strings to sound good - Iommi sounds HUGE with the thinnest strings possible in a low tuning. You just need a decent ear to know how to dial in the sound you have in your head.
What's really fun is using 8's in C# tuning on a shorter scale guitar like Tony Iommi. You don't need big strings to sound good - Iommi sounds HUGE with the thinnest strings possible in a low tuning. You just need a decent ear to know how to dial in the sound you have in your head.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
What's the tailpiece?
Could top-wrap if it's a LP-style...
What's the tailpiece?
Could top-wrap if it's a LP-style...
johnthomas
New member
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Now that we have internet I find that Stevie Ray Vaughn played .12s or .13s...
Evidently so did Jimi Hendrix, explaining why they both tuned down a step...I am glad to hear B.B. King used lighter gauge..for myself I find that anything lighter than .10 to .52 does not allow proper voicing of open chords...I do not recall seeing Billy Gibbons, EVH, OR even BB King ever go down to 1st position voicings though it surely must have happened occasionally. If ya wants serious tone I think ya gots to get some strong fingers or forego a whole area of the fretboard. I was always able to fake it with .09s but I am much happier now.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
For years I subscribed to the Eddie Van Halen approach ("why make it harder than it has to be")
Now that we have internet I find that Stevie Ray Vaughn played .12s or .13s...
Evidently so did Jimi Hendrix, explaining why they both tuned down a step...I am glad to hear B.B. King used lighter gauge..for myself I find that anything lighter than .10 to .52 does not allow proper voicing of open chords...I do not recall seeing Billy Gibbons, EVH, OR even BB King ever go down to 1st position voicings though it surely must have happened occasionally. If ya wants serious tone I think ya gots to get some strong fingers or forego a whole area of the fretboard. I was always able to fake it with .09s but I am much happier now.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Thinner cores is what you're wanting.
http://www.ghsstrings.com/products/11496-thin-core-boomers?category_id=1964958-thin-core-boomers
Thinner cores is what you're wanting.
http://www.ghsstrings.com/products/11496-thin-core-boomers?category_id=1964958-thin-core-boomers
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
All that being said, I agree that larger strings are a bit more suited to 1st position chords, especially if you have larger frets. I'm the end, it's all about your preference and playing a bunch of different gauges and setups to find what works best for your style.
Just to clarify, SRVs set was a lot closer to .011s with a .012 or .013 high E based on the situation and a .058 on the bottom E. Jimi used a ton of different sets but the one ducumented the most was .010-.038. Additionally they tuned down a half step.
All that being said, I agree that larger strings are a bit more suited to 1st position chords, especially if you have larger frets. I'm the end, it's all about your preference and playing a bunch of different gauges and setups to find what works best for your style.
Last edited:
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Now he's apparently switching between 9-42 and 9-46.
Billy Gibbons has a signature set of 7s.
Just to clarify. EVH used to use Fender 150XL strings, gauged 9 to 40.
Now he's apparently switching between 9-42 and 9-46.
Billy Gibbons has a signature set of 7s.
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Jimi I think had pretty light strings.....a sort of 9's/10's mix
SRV started on 13's, but as soon as he was touring the gauge went to 11's with a heavy bottom as he was killing his fingertips.
Brian May has very light strings too.
Billy Gibbons nowadays has almost no tonal relevance with his gear in a live situation......well apart from the huge parametric eq that simply takes the tone of every guitar he plays and turns it into Pearly out front.
Play what your fingers and feel allows you. Just as many play light string because it suits their hands and style as those who play heavy strings because it suits their hands and style.
Jimi I think had pretty light strings.....a sort of 9's/10's mix
SRV started on 13's, but as soon as he was touring the gauge went to 11's with a heavy bottom as he was killing his fingertips.
Brian May has very light strings too.
Billy Gibbons nowadays has almost no tonal relevance with his gear in a live situation......well apart from the huge parametric eq that simply takes the tone of every guitar he plays and turns it into Pearly out front.
Play what your fingers and feel allows you. Just as many play light string because it suits their hands and style as those who play heavy strings because it suits their hands and style.
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
Besides the thin-core boomers I linked already, Dunlop and others also make models with less core-to-wrap ratio for a looser feel without having to go smaller.
Personally I find that the standard core-to-wrap sizes seem to be the best compromise between tone and feel.
I've tried larger cores and they do have their advantage (less travel per/size = lower action possible,,,,although I always felt you had to pick ever-so-slightly harder to not sound soft than you do with standards or especially thin-core,,,,,so really it just evens out on the low-action potential,,,IMO)
The large-core types (tried a couple brands) seemed to have a stronger fundamental but lacked the liveliness and spread of the standards.
If you can play with a very light pick,, basically just touching the string,,then thinner-cores maybe/might be for you.
If you're attacking with the pick then go with standards or larger-core.
Besides the thin-core boomers I linked already, Dunlop and others also make models with less core-to-wrap ratio for a looser feel without having to go smaller.
Personally I find that the standard core-to-wrap sizes seem to be the best compromise between tone and feel.
I've tried larger cores and they do have their advantage (less travel per/size = lower action possible,,,,although I always felt you had to pick ever-so-slightly harder to not sound soft than you do with standards or especially thin-core,,,,,so really it just evens out on the low-action potential,,,IMO)
The large-core types (tried a couple brands) seemed to have a stronger fundamental but lacked the liveliness and spread of the standards.
If you can play with a very light pick,, basically just touching the string,,then thinner-cores maybe/might be for you.
If you're attacking with the pick then go with standards or larger-core.
Last edited:
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
You might have to make your own hybrid sets here, or accept that you might have to get 'used' to either a shorter scale or lower tuning. Even thinner cores are not going to make 52s sound/feel like 46.
You might have to make your own hybrid sets here, or accept that you might have to get 'used' to either a shorter scale or lower tuning. Even thinner cores are not going to make 52s sound/feel like 46.
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
I'm not sure about BB King, I thought he used 10's, or maybe 9's. In any case, he didn't do a lot of major string bending. Just nice vibrato.
I'm not sure about BB King, I thought he used 10's, or maybe 9's. In any case, he didn't do a lot of major string bending. Just nice vibrato.
wickedmartini
New member
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/String_Myths_Part_1
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/String_Myths_Part_1
EDX
New member
Re: Is it possible to get lower tension with 10-52s in standard tuning
strings break in angle has a really big impact on the feel, i prefer really high tension (sometimes a couple guys cried after playing a pair of chords on my guitar) but then i have sausagge fingers, chunky hands and i if normal people dig really hard i smash the strings like a hammer, so i keep the break angle on my wound strings as near to 90° as possible so that they feel really tight, while i try to keep it the lowest possible for my plain strings (i like getting my fingers under the bends)
so a low break in angle, like the one you can get by top wrapping a stop tail, or shiming you hardtail and lowering the saddles
strings break in angle has a really big impact on the feel, i prefer really high tension (sometimes a couple guys cried after playing a pair of chords on my guitar) but then i have sausagge fingers, chunky hands and i if normal people dig really hard i smash the strings like a hammer, so i keep the break angle on my wound strings as near to 90° as possible so that they feel really tight, while i try to keep it the lowest possible for my plain strings (i like getting my fingers under the bends)
so a low break in angle, like the one you can get by top wrapping a stop tail, or shiming you hardtail and lowering the saddles
Similar threads
