Lighter strings on a Les Paul?

[Securb]

And then there's this story from Billy Gibbons meeting BB King.

I side with BB, but I don't know if I could go as light as 8s or 7s. I might get a set to check them out.

I played a guy's L5, gorgeous guitar. He had it strung with flat-wound .13s with a super high action. Playing the guitar, I felt like my fingers were doing the tire drills at football camp. I couldn't get anything out of that freaking guitar and felt embarrassed playing it in front of him. The dude picked it up and was all over the neck like he was skating on ice. I would imagine if he picked up my Les Paul, he would be just as uncomfortable as I was with his ax.

 

[DCikes88]

I would imagine if he picked up my Les Paul, he would be just as uncomfortable as I was with his ax.

I'd think he'd have trouble playing a single note in pitch.
It's all personal and a question of what you're used to and what suits you.
But flat 13s? I understand a lot of oldschool jazz players with vintage archtops use thick flats, but to me that would seem like playing on a tow truck cable.

 

[alex1fly]

Did you tune it to F, or were you coming back up from E♭? I don;t think I've never tried tuning a guitar higher than concert pitch.

F with .10s

 

[Securb]

But flat 13s? I understand a lot of oldschool jazz players with vintage archtops use thick flats, but to me that would seem like playing on a tow truck cable.

The guy is a monster jazz player, tons of chops. I had the same experience with my old boss' Johnny A. Beautiful guitar. He also preferred heavy strings and high action. I couldn't get anything out of it. He would play my Les Pauls and his touch was too heavy for my light strings and low action. He loved the look of my Les Paul but hated the way it played.

 

[dave74]

For years I've been wanting to setup a guitar for F# with 8-38. I just need another guitar for it. (buying excuse!)

 

[GuitarStv]

For E standard tuning I like .11s on Gibson scale stuff myself . . . but it's really all about personal preference. The .11s don't necessarily sound the best to me, but they are what make my fingers happy as far as control goes.

 

[LRS]

Usually 0.011” for both my 25.5” and 24.75” guitars. But when i rehearse and practice too much, the strings fight back too much and I get sore finger tips. When that happens, I fall back to 0.010”. After a while my fingers feel better again and I wind up some elevens again

 

[GuitarDoc]

Doesn't Billy Gibbons play 7's?

 

[ErikH]

He does now. He used 8’s as well. Might still depending on the guitar. His sig strings come in 3 or 4 different gauges.