Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

T

thunderlung

New member
I typically play Gibson, Gretsch, Hamers, even PRS, and I just love 9.5-44 gauge strings. However, I can't stand them on my strat. I now have 10-48 and am even thinking of going to 11(this one goes to eleven). I seem to just want to wail on my strat and the lighter strings feel like spaghetti noodles. Anyone else play heavier strings on their Fenders than their Gibbies? I always thought it was supposed to be opposite due to more tension on the 25.5 scale necks.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I've got 11s for both my Lester and my stratty. I think 11 is fine for the strat, but the Lester could go with 12s, but I'm too lazy to go out and hunt for 12s for electric and get it set up again. 11s will do, I can bend 12 steps on that guitar no problem hehe. I guess it's the longer scale length on the strat that makes bending harder than the lester, but I love the way my strat is now.

So to answer your question - I like thick strings in general, but if I could go thicker, it would be with my gibby, not with the fender
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I have 11's on two guitars that are 25.5 scale and 10's on the 24.75 scale. It is easier to play on the SG but I don't shred and I like the different sound I can get from the bigger strings under more tension.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

Man, for me, to get the strat tone, I really need 9s on there. I don't know if it's psychological, since I have heavier guage on everything else, but that's all that goes on the strat.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

.12's on the strat, .13's on the SG. The Strat really fights back with those heavy strings on there, ideal for loud twangy blues.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I like lighter gauge on longer scales. My strat has 10s and I'm gonna go back to 9s like whats on my carvin dc135 (super strat style). My lps OTH, I rock 11's in standard and 12's in drop c. I've found out lately that I don't like tons of tension like I used to, my playing style is starting to evolve and improve as a result.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

phil_104 said:
Man, for me, to get the strat tone, I really need 9s on there. I don't know if it's psychological, since I have heavier guage on everything else, but that's all that goes on the strat.
Click to expand...

+1. I'm going to be tryin 9.5's though.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

i play mostly strats... i can't use sets lighter then 10's very well... i'm a huge guy with big hands and arms and i always end up over hitting the strings with my strumming hand... makes the really thin gauges sound like rubber bands...

I have 9's on one MIM strat and love the slinky feel... i just have to be more careful with it...
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I like 10's to 11's with spring-tension tremolo guitars (like Strats) regardless of scale.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

13s before I realised they were killing my hands, then I went to 11s and use them on all electrics.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I use 10-52's because I flail so bad at shows that I need strings to be under control. Gives a heavy sound but I can't go heavier without getting a twang sound from them hitting the frets.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I play 11s on my electrics, but I'm vaguely thinking about dropping back to 10s on my strat :-\
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I use 9's on most of my guitars, including my Strat with the HotRails. However, on my stock MIA Strat I use 10's just to beef it up a little more. I play a different style of music on that Strat (the other guitars are mostly metal).
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I was using 9-42 strings on my Strat until a few days ago. Thought everything was OK and liked the jangly tone.

But I got my new steel acoustic a month ago, started to play a lot on it everyday, then grabbed the Strat and thought "WTF am I doing with these rubber bands?" Went to the store, got some 11-52 strings, and haven't looked back since. Now it sounds jangly and thick at the same time!

BTW, having a steel acoustic helps inmensely with heavy strings! A few months ago I couldn't think of using 11s. Now they feel like 10s did some time ago. So get a steel acoustic if you don't have one, and play it a lot! My hands got a lot stronger in NO time. :D
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I like some slack in my strings on my strat, more-so now that I have the fretboard scalloped... Ernie ball hybrid slinkies tuned down a half-step is just right for me.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

I waffle between 9's and 10's on my Strats but actually prefer the sound of 9's. I find that it's easier to do some of the trills and tricks with 9s and that leaves more left over for getting a good tone while doing it.

To me, it's one thing to just hit a note, but to really stick it, well, that makes a bigger tonal difference to me than simply changing string guage.
 
Re: Strat string guage. You guys like heavier?

9s, always. i play very lightly, so i never really gained any benefit from larger strings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top