String gauge for Strats

[Rowan]

Re: String gauge for Strats

Wow this has been an eye opening thread.

I think I'm going to stick with 10s since its what I'm used to. For some reason I had it in my head that strats needed 9s. But now I see that its all personal preference. Thanks for the feedback guys :bigthumb:

 

[Hagbard Celine]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I won't get into the whole thing of "one is better than the other"...I just think the thicker strings have a pianistic quality to the top of the notes that I like. Thinner ones don't have the same attack to my ears.

Feel-wise, I have much less instance of bending too far or gripping a chord too hard and going out of tune, and here's the rub...I don't want to adjust my picking to be light touchy. If that works for some, that's fine, but I like to spank my planks.

:yourock:

There's a post I can get behind. Funny, you seem to be describing the same impressions I hear but prefer the other way around. I think that's interesting and pretty cool.:friday:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I think I'm going to stick with 10s since its what I'm used to.

Every so often, try out a different gauge. It's fun to put on a set of 9s and feel like Superman after using heavier strings

 

[Rowan]

Re: String gauge for Strats

Every so often, try out a different gauge. It's fun to put on a set of 9s and feel like Superman after using heavier strings

Not a bad idea, but I went through a phase where I tried out a bunch of different strings and gauges. I always come back to Diadarrio 10s. I love those things.

What do you keep on your predator JB?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I used to use 8-38 or 8.5-38 on my Strats when I was using 9-46 on my LPs.

When I went to a custom gauge set on my LPs (10.5, 14, 17, 26, 38, 50) or (Dunlop's 10, 13, 17, 30, 42, 52) I felt the need to go up to 9-46 on my Strats.

To me (and I reiterate and emphasize TO ME), Gauge is more about the feel. I can get the tone I want out of any of the gauges I've used from 8s to 11s.

But if it doesn't feel good, I don't feel comfortable and it affects my playing, and if I don't play good it doesn't sound good, no matter how you look at it.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I guess I can take the advice in this thread and apply it to my jazzmaster.....

 

[Bludave]

Re: String gauge for Strats

i use 11's on all my electrics. 13's on my acoustics! i used to use 10's but was having some issues with my acoustics(which I had 12's on). I use a varying number of alternate tunings and the 12's were flopping all over the place so I went to 13's. Problem solved(for acoustic). but once I started playing the 13's on my acoustics it was causing me to press a lot harder and I was knocking my electrics out of tune. I upgraded to 11's on a recommendation from a friend (Wattage). The added benefit in my opinion was a thicker richer and warmer tone. the downside was a little less chime but now I barley notice it. I literally had no adjustment to this at all. I just played as I normally would.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I think 11's are the best feeling strings on most Fenders. Not too heavy, and not too light. On Teles I like heavy bottom 11's. On Strats I like regular 11's. I also keep a Strat with a set of regular 10's on it, though.

With Strats, more so than with other guitars, the string gauge has a very big effect on the tone and on the general feel of the instrument. Probably because of the floating vibrato.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: String gauge for Strats

I use 12's on a Tele. Piano strings FTW!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: String gauge for Strats

STILL ROCKING THE PYRAMID 13's. The ADGB strings are thicker than most other sets on the market, after adjusting my pole pieces for equal dB output the guitar is super balanced and sweet!

I did, however, trash the truss rod in the process....