String gauge for Strats
- Thread starter Rowan
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Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: String gauge for Strats
They make .08s?!
They make .08s?!
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: String gauge for Strats
10s... bendability but control
10s... bendability but control
RealDeadOne
New member
Re: String gauge for Strats
010s
cause it sounds better than 09s, it feels more comfortable, more in-control, and low chances for broken strings
010s
cause it sounds better than 09s, it feels more comfortable, more in-control, and low chances for broken strings
stratsandaks
New member
Re: String gauge for Strats
I think your poll is missing a decimal place.
I like .009's
I think your poll is missing a decimal place.
I like .009's
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: String gauge for Strats
.011 for tone and feel.
.011 for tone and feel.
GoDrex
Riffologist Extraordinaire
Re: String gauge for Strats
tens are as high as I can go - I started using them on my strat because I thought it would help with string breakage. I think it has helped, but I usually like nines the best. I use nines with regular bottoms (mixed set) for my LP. I like to really bend a lot on the LP. On my strat I use the bar more so I can use tens.
tens are as high as I can go - I started using them on my strat because I thought it would help with string breakage. I think it has helped, but I usually like nines the best. I use nines with regular bottoms (mixed set) for my LP. I like to really bend a lot on the LP. On my strat I use the bar more so I can use tens.
Re: String gauge for Strats
I've gone from .009-.042 to .009-.046 to .009-.042 then changed to .010-.046 then .011-48 then back to .009-.042.
I've had fun with all of them really. No thicker than .048 for me though. I really got tired of the .011-.048 (call me a wimp) and just went back to good old regular .009s, but they feel like rubber bands since in college I have soo much time to play.
So after some thinking I've come up with a system of sorts.
When I don't play a lot and I'm not in real good shape I generally use 9-42. When my fingers get in shape I'll switch to 10-46 and stay there because that's really my favorite set. I have to fight them more since it's a hardtail but I really like the balance they give me, tonally and feel-wise. They're not thin sounding and they have some balls to them, but they're not as fat and boomy as the 11-48s. They don't feel like rubber bands like the 9s or the 8s, which I haven't even bothered with, yet they don't feel like the tendonitis/CTS/insert repetitive strain injury-inducing 11-48s and god help me 11-52s. The guys that play Teles with these kinds of gauges are truly to be admired.
All of this in standard though. In Drop C on a Superstrat I roll with 11-56s and that's about just right. D standard would be 11-52 but I'd rather fight it a bit with a 56 low D that is tight for dropping into a C than having a flabby 52 C. I've pretty much hung up my downtuned high gain chugga chugga flag though.
BTW, for me at least, with a properly set up nut and bridge (which means no sharp ends on either of course) 9s don't break. I'd dare say the same for 8s only I've never had a set so I can't really say. Yngwie (uses a .008-.048 set) live doesn't break strings a lot (I've never seen it in any DVD but he does say he has broken quite a few) and he really does go berserk with them and is a really aggressive string bender, and I don't see him breaking strings live. I wouldn't know since I haven't seen every concert he has ever given in his life.
I've gone from .009-.042 to .009-.046 to .009-.042 then changed to .010-.046 then .011-48 then back to .009-.042.
I've had fun with all of them really. No thicker than .048 for me though. I really got tired of the .011-.048 (call me a wimp) and just went back to good old regular .009s, but they feel like rubber bands since in college I have soo much time to play.
So after some thinking I've come up with a system of sorts.
When I don't play a lot and I'm not in real good shape I generally use 9-42. When my fingers get in shape I'll switch to 10-46 and stay there because that's really my favorite set. I have to fight them more since it's a hardtail but I really like the balance they give me, tonally and feel-wise. They're not thin sounding and they have some balls to them, but they're not as fat and boomy as the 11-48s. They don't feel like rubber bands like the 9s or the 8s, which I haven't even bothered with, yet they don't feel like the tendonitis/CTS/insert repetitive strain injury-inducing 11-48s and god help me 11-52s. The guys that play Teles with these kinds of gauges are truly to be admired.
All of this in standard though. In Drop C on a Superstrat I roll with 11-56s and that's about just right. D standard would be 11-52 but I'd rather fight it a bit with a 56 low D that is tight for dropping into a C than having a flabby 52 C. I've pretty much hung up my downtuned high gain chugga chugga flag though.
BTW, for me at least, with a properly set up nut and bridge (which means no sharp ends on either of course) 9s don't break. I'd dare say the same for 8s only I've never had a set so I can't really say. Yngwie (uses a .008-.048 set) live doesn't break strings a lot (I've never seen it in any DVD but he does say he has broken quite a few) and he really does go berserk with them and is a really aggressive string bender, and I don't see him breaking strings live. I wouldn't know since I haven't seen every concert he has ever given in his life.
Last edited:
VintageToneGuy
New member
Re: String gauge for Strats
Ernie Ball 9-42's for 10 + years. Only one broken string!
vtg
Ernie Ball 9-42's for 10 + years. Only one broken string!
vtg
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: String gauge for Strats
I'm always switching up gauges. Right now my favorite is a .010 set, with a .052 subbed for the .046.
Of all the stock sets, .010s are the closest to making sense, as far as the tension of each gauge compared to the rest.
I'm always switching up gauges. Right now my favorite is a .010 set, with a .052 subbed for the .046.
Of all the stock sets, .010s are the closest to making sense, as far as the tension of each gauge compared to the rest.
Re: String gauge for Strats
9-46 Ernie Ball custom set. I think its definatly the best of both worlds as the heavier gauge does sound a little fuller on chords and rhythm work and yet its still a light enough top end to be able to play without killing your fingers.
9-42 just always felt a little too light to me
On my LP's then its 10-52, basically for the same reasons
9-46 Ernie Ball custom set. I think its definatly the best of both worlds as the heavier gauge does sound a little fuller on chords and rhythm work and yet its still a light enough top end to be able to play without killing your fingers.
9-42 just always felt a little too light to me
On my LP's then its 10-52, basically for the same reasons
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: String gauge for Strats
+11
Once your fingers are used to them, they feel just like 10's, but sound better.
+11
Once your fingers are used to them, they feel just like 10's, but sound better.
Sanford
New member
Re: String gauge for Strats
I use 11-50 on my electric guitars. I ended up at that gauge through trial and error. When I was learning to play my shred-a-holic buddy convinced me I needed to play on 8's and use a locking trem. It turns out I used to have a pretty heavy picking hand and would pop strings quite a bit, so I upped the gauges until I could strum hard and bend without breaking any strings. 25 years later I've gotten better and don't break strings anymore, even on other people's guitars with lighter strings. However, I've gotten used to the feel and tone of the 11s. I could probably play 10s without any issues, but anything lighter than that doesn't feel right to me.
I use 11-50 on my electric guitars. I ended up at that gauge through trial and error. When I was learning to play my shred-a-holic buddy convinced me I needed to play on 8's and use a locking trem. It turns out I used to have a pretty heavy picking hand and would pop strings quite a bit, so I upped the gauges until I could strum hard and bend without breaking any strings. 25 years later I've gotten better and don't break strings anymore, even on other people's guitars with lighter strings. However, I've gotten used to the feel and tone of the 11s. I could probably play 10s without any issues, but anything lighter than that doesn't feel right to me.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: String gauge for Strats
Are we talking about strats as in, actual strats, or can we extend the definition to 25.5inch scale straty-ish body style guitars?
I always just use 9-54 on my super strat 7 string, because the 'buckers and extra size of the neck make it sound like 10s on a 6 string strat.
Are we talking about strats as in, actual strats, or can we extend the definition to 25.5inch scale straty-ish body style guitars?
I always just use 9-54 on my super strat 7 string, because the 'buckers and extra size of the neck make it sound like 10s on a 6 string strat.
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: String gauge for Strats
I play 11-50 myself. Of course, I'm a Paul player so I don't need any wussy trems choking my tone. "oooo burn...oh no he didn't...":joke:
I play 11-50 myself. Of course, I'm a Paul player so I don't need any wussy trems choking my tone. "oooo burn...oh no he didn't...":joke:
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