String gauge for E flat metal-only guitar, Gibson scale

[weepingminotaur]

Metal players. If you have a Gibson-scale guitar tuned to E flat that you plan to use to play fast metal (contemporary thrash) almost exclusively, what string gauge would you use?

.11/52?
.11/48?

Something else? I want to get your opinions.

 

[Demanic]

10-48 Dunlop Heavy Core. Or a 10-52 hybrid set from any major manufacturer.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[weepingminotaur]

10-48 Dunlop Heavy Core. Or a 10-52 hybrid set from any major manufacturer.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

Interesting. Thanks! I've got some D'Addario 10-52s packs kicking around so that may be the easiest option. If I don't vibe with them, I'll check out the Dunlop 10-48 strings.

 

[PFDarkside]

10-48 Dunlop Heavy Core. Or a 10-52 hybrid set from any major manufacturer.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

I think these are fantastic recommendations.

 

[bigcupholder]

9-46 should be fine. 10-48 or 10-52 would be plenty of tension

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

 

[JOLLY]

I use 9-46 for standard all the way down to drop C.

 

[Securb]

I use 9-46 for standard all the way down to drop C.

+1 ^ The same

 

[weepingminotaur]

I use 9-46 for standard all the way down to drop C.

Whoa! On a Gibson-scale guitar?

I don't think I'm ready for that level of slinkiness in E flat, lol. But I appreciate the response. This thread is giving me a nice range of options.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I tend to like Ernie Ball slinky 10-46 for e flat or drop D the best. They sound great and are plenty tight for even thrash.

 

[NegativeEase]

I'd do 11-52 personally. but 10s are fine for that.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Thank me later >

 

[weepingminotaur]

Thank me later >

Yeah, but I'm looking for E flat, not D. Those would be a bit on the thick side for me, even for D lol. Thanks though.

 

[dave74]

Trust me! You want the Ultra Slinky 10,13,17,28,38,48.
I use the Ultra sets for D-standard on 25.5", but on a 24.75" they are perfect for Eb.

 

[PFDarkside]

Just an easy mental guide, each half step is about half a gauge and Fender to Gibson scale is about half a gauge. So if you like 9s in standard on a Fender, 10s on a Gibson in Eb are close in tension. If you want to go from E to D on the same scale, 9s to 10s or 10s to 11s is about the same tension.

 

[AlexR]

Asking other players string gauge questions is useless. Either you're getting irrelevant suggestions (as they aren't you and don't play with your touch and rig) or you get every gauge suggested and then you might as well have not have asked in the first place.
Do what you have should have done at the start and try ones out yourself.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Asking other players string gauge questions is useless. Either you're getting irrelevant suggestions (as they aren't you and don't play with your touch and rig) or you get every gauge suggested and then you might as well have not have asked in the first place.
Do what you have should have done at the start and try ones out yourself.

Those are some pretty big, silly statements, starting with your assumption that I haven't actually tried different gauges out myself.

I asked this knowledgeable community for guidance, and I have found the answers very helpful. What you think of my process is as irrelevant to me as basic courtesy and civility seem to be to you. That will be the last time I reply to you, by the way, so don't bother to reply, since I won't read anything further that you have to say.

 

[Demanic]

I think these are fantastic recommendations.

Cough cough...

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Clint 55]

My first guitar was an Epi LP. I had 8.5s in standard on there for a while which is the exact same tension as 9s down a half step. They will not be too flimsy for you. You can, however, manhandle them. 10s will feel normal more or less. While 11s will be playable but still kind of stiff. So it all depends on what you prefer for feel. For metal, since you're always using distortion, you don't need thick strings, unless you actually prefer that feel. So I would eliminate 11s first. Then it would be if you want a slinky feel with 9s or a normal to easy feel with 10s.

 

[DCikes88]

^^yup.
I used 11-52 sets for metal on an LP tuned down half to full step. Took me a couple of years to realize - no. I do not like the feel of these. I was wrestling with the thing.
I'm hard on the right hand, but the left has a gentle touch.
Now I do everything and every electric on 9-42. I'd go to 10-46 for tuning one and a half step eventually.
But hey, it's a personal thing.

 

[Erlend_G]

I'd go no lower than 12-52 in Eb, on a 24,75" scale guitar .

I use 11-49's in standard E on my Epihone Wildkat, and in Eb standard on my 26" Peavey.

rock on! \m/