Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

evh_slash

evh_slash

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Wondering what you guys generally prefer??
(people who've tried both preferably)

I'm used to slightly lower action but hearing Yngwie using 8s for the plain strings with higher action has got me curious because even with low action, those high E string Bends are still a bit of an effort with gauge 10s...

Wondering if anyone has tried using a super light gauge strings but raise the action to avoid the slop?
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I use high strings on all my guitars. 11s are my go to set, and I run them about 1.3 to 1.5 times as high as factory settings. I go even higher with lighter strings. My Page Mirror Tele, which is my only guitar that I keep 9s on, is approaching twice the factory string height settings. Plays great to me, and it's the only way I can tolerate 9s.

Higher strings will make bends easier, not harder. They make fretting harder, but bends get significantly easier IME.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I like medium guage 11-48s or 10-52s on all my guitars. My action is set as low as I can get it so that there is no buzzing at all when I pick hard. Usually about 3-3.5 mm at the low E and 2-2.5 mm at the high e. Agree with itsabass, slightly higher action is easier to bend with than slightly lower action . . . but harder to fret.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

My stuff is all over the place, height and gauge wise. I used to advocate that heavier strings and higher action was best. Anymore, I have all my instruments strung and setup differently, whatever sounds and plays best.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

There was a test done recently on string gauge and tone by Rick Beato. It seemed to indicate lighter strings gave more of a focussed mid tone rather than being thicker in the low end. The 11's-10's was the bigger change in gauge/tone than 10's - 9's.

Personally I tend to set the guitar up to what it wants. Some guitars just seem to like certain strings better than others, and often some like different tunings better too.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

lower+lower for me.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

TMD said:
Why is that?
Click to expand...
I think he's talking higher action, not higher gauge. I too find bends more difficult with very low action; there isn't enough downward pressure to keep the strings secure under my fingers.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I've been considering a switch to lighter gauge strings. But not lower action.

Low action deprives me of nearly half my dynamic range. And it's distracting; I have to concentrate on picking very gently just to keep the strings from splatting out.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

Something to think about.... With heavier strings, you don't have to bend the string as far to raise the pitch.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

TMD said:
Why is that?
Click to expand...

More of the meat of your finger gets into the string. You don't have to press as hard to keep the string from slipping, or attempt to get "under" the string as much. The middle of your finger tip lands on the string. Faster to seat your finger, more sure grip once you do, not as much finger pressure needed to keep the string from slipping (less joint strain, less fret wear).

High action + high frets + skinny frets make the best bending guitars. High action = as described above. High frets = finger doesn't drag on the fretboard as much. Narrow frets = you're dragging less string across less fret, i.e. less friction.

Scalloping simulates very high frets. And the higher your frets, the less of a benefit higher action becomes, because the higher frets also make it easier to get "under" the string.
 
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Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I use 9s and low action on everything
why try so hard
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

ICTGoober said:
Something to think about.... With heavier strings, you don't have to bend the string as far to raise the pitch.
Click to expand...

True, and that might make avoiding noise from other strings when bending easier. However, you still have to use a fair bit more force with thicker strings; the underbenders almost always use relatively thick strings.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

To my ears, thicker strings never really sound right. There is a certain muddiness and lack of detail to them that I don't care for for my purposes. I try not to raise the action too much on the guitars I use when playing with other people (I have one set up with higher action for practice), but given the choice I would go for thinner strings and higher action for tonal reasons.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

Guitars are different...

I've always liked 0,11's because they gave me a thicker tone,

but I once owned a Yamaha SA-5, 1966 model (sn. 374), that sounded the best with 009's!! :o
(guitar was stolen).

So,

To answer your question;

it depends on the guitar, and use-
but nowadays, 011's and quite high action. ;)

I get more dynamics out of higher action;
and playability is seldom an issue, as I'm of the "slow hand" type, and never learn't how to "shred" :)
 
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Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I’ve never understood the debate on string gauges. I just looked at Ernie Ball, they have 17 different gauges under standard Slinky 6 string gauges. Everyone has a different preference. Strings are so cheap, buy a set of 9-42, do a setup high and low, then get a set of 10-52, do a setup high and low. You’ll have some preferences that you can use to dial in where you want to be. I’ve been running my main Strat with 10-52, sight relief and low action with a stiff Trem for a few years now, it works well for me. I could see how others want higher or maybe even lower action, and higher/lower gauge.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

You can set up a guitar with most string sizes to play well. Some people like to fight the guitar, some want things to be super easy. Good thing is that we don't all have to share a guitar, so in the end, it is up to you. Learning how to do your own setup will allow you to do some experimentation for the cost of a few sets of strings.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

I played at my dad's service today, then we had a memorial jam afterward. I played his Gibson F-5 mandolin, which I set up with lighter strings than I typically use and MUCH lower action than I usually use. I was glad it was like that during the service, as I was nervous as hell and needed all the help I could get. About an hour into the jam, I got to thinking about how it didn't have as much punch as I wanted. I'm going to raise the action some, and probably go back to the heavy gauge strings.

My wife's cousin came up, and brought his acoustic guitar with him. It's setup 11-50, with EXTREMELY low action. My Gibson is 12-56 with what I'd call medium action for an acoustic. For fingerpicking, his sounds good and is super easy to play, but if you want to flatpick and really dig in, it falls apart.

Point is, different setups work for different things.
 
Re: Lower Gauge + Higher Action vs Higher Gauge + Lower Action

i play slide a fair amount and switch between fretting and slide in the same song all the time. i have 11s on all my electrics and the action is higher than id guess most people would like but it works well for me. "a little too high for solos, a little too low for slide" or whatever warren haynes said. for acoustics i have a tayor that plays like butter but if you hit it hard, it doesnt give you anything more and doesnt sound great. my martin on the other hand has higher action and isnt as easy to play but gives you something back if you lay into it. different setups for different things like chris and others have said
 
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