String gauge w/diff. pickup

[SJ318]

Hi,
Just put my PAF in my S.G. R.I. and fell in love with it. I am 60 now
and no longer have to play only loud but also many soft passages I was not
able to in all the bands I have been in.
I called MJ after asking permission, and she said my description of my pup
made Seth Lover SH-55 nickel cover the best pickup I will find. And there was
No other option anywhere to match what I have, knowing how different each real one is.
The Question: I have been using a custom set 9.5, 11.5, 16, 24,34,44
which I found out D'Addario already makes, just hard to find, easy to order, but my fingers are used to light gauge. Will the tone drastically be hurt to go with my original 9-42 as I really struggle with slightly heavier strings.
To all who may want to chime in and call a pussy, I agree, but there it
it. And you know the question. To those who wonder why don't I go the Guitar Center and buy new strings and check it myself, I cannot hardly walk, nor is there a that bus that goes there, + no car. Have to wait for monthly visits
to ask my step brother for transportation.
Any one want to tell me something I don't know or did not know to ask?
Thank you,
Stevie Buffington

 

[Coma]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I'm not sure I understand you, do you mean you've jsut swpped pickups anda re thinking about swpping strings too, or are you hust inquiring about string swapping? If so, the only effect IMO would be maybe a tad less boom or bass in your tone, but no, you wouldn't get that much of a difference from such a small gauge difference.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I think the tonal difference between a 9.5-44 set and a 9-42 set would be negligible. If not, then easily remedied with a slight tweak of the amp settings.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

.009 gauge strings are NOT for pussies. EVH played(s) .009 gauge... Jimmy Page used .008 gauge... the sound of Black Sabbath is the sound of super light strings & it's the same with ZZ Top.

If .009 gauge helps you express yourself better then go for it without an ounce of hesitation.

Oh and give "Strings and Beyond" a look. I use them for all my string needs... mail order strings are cheaper than going to GC and personally, anything I can do to avoid Sam Ash and or the Guitar Center the better. Mail order strings is the way to go IMHO.

Good Luck!

 

[uOpt]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

Going 44 to 42 and 9.5 to 9 might not really ruin the sound...

 

[jeremy]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

dropping that half gauge wont really make much difference and if you play better then its worth using the lighter strings even if the tone is marginally less good

 

[Coma]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

.009 gauge strings are NOT for pussies. EVH played(s) .009 gauge... Jimmy Page used .008 gauge... the sound of Black Sabbath is the sound of super light strings & it's the same with ZZ Top.

If .009 gauge helps you express yourself better then go for it without an ounce of hesitation.

Oh and give "Strings and Beyond" a look. I use them for all my string needs... mail order strings are cheaper than going to GC and personally, anything I can do to avoid Sam Ash and or the Guitar Center the better. Mail order strings is the way to go IMHO.

Good Luck!

Iommi used thin strings?! I'm amazed there not more flob on those Sabbath albums, considering the downtuning.

 

[jeremy]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

after he lost the tips to his fingers he had to play light strings

 

[hermetico]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I preferred to go the other way myself.
I went from .009 to .010 in all my axes except for the Floyd Rose one.
For humbucker loaded guitars, you don't gain too much but, for single-coil loaded guitars, there is a clear difference in tone, benefiting of a beefer body and more sustain.

It was really hard and painfull, since I am used to bend a lot and, my hands were suffering probably during a month. Now, I cannot go back.

I understand that this is not your case, you are more for quiet stuff and, probably more around struming, arpeggios and so on. In that case, I think a thicker gauge can help you to have "firm & stable" chords, without a finger potentially bending a string and detuning that note.

 

[uOpt]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

Thinner strings have different effects on sound than they appear.

The more meatier tone you get when playing unamplified, or what it feels like, pretty much doesn't appear in a recording. That is why some heavy-hitters are still hitting heavy although they use thin strings.

The only time when you really notice sound from thicker strings is when you play vintage Fender style single coils through low gain dirty sounds without much boosting in between. The thin strings can't drive this. Whether it is as simple as using some booster instead of thicker strings is a matter for debate.

There is some more sparkle on top for the thinner strings that can be heard through the rig.

My main reason for not going very thin is that the wound strings "give way" when hit too hard. They make a noticeably "oomph" of being out of tune on the attack. This is probably fixable by developing a lighter touch, except of course I have too many other things to develop in my playing.

I always liked lighter unwound than wound strings, 9-46 or 10-52 sets. I went away from the 10-52 almost entirely after recording a/b. But going below 44 or 46 low E class strings brings out the oompf for me. I learned classical guitar originally so a given amount of resistance has to be met.

 

[blueman335]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I think the tonal difference between a 9.5-44 set and a 9-42 set would be negligible. If not, then easily remedied with a slight tweak of the amp settings.

+1. I doubt that the vast majority of players could hear a difference. I have yet to know of anyone in an audience that cares what string gauge a guitarist is using. It's a non-issue. Any player using thick strings for 'macho' reasons is trying to compenstate for something missing in other areas. :cool2:

I use 9's because I don't want to fight my strings, and it allows me to do bends and vibrato that I couldn't do with heavier strings. I want complete control over my strings.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

With a humbucker guitar and such a slight difference in strings it'll make little to no differnce.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

Iommi used thin strings?! I'm amazed there not more flob on those Sabbath albums, considering the downtuning.

Yeah, 8-32 for Db standard on a 24.75 scale. I tried it out of curiosity, and there really isn't too much flob. Still very controllable.

 

[Coma]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I used an 11 - 49 set tuned to C and it was just awful, sloppy and messy and the strings were flying all over the place. But then again, I'm no Iommi.

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

.009 gauge strings are NOT for pussies. EVH played(s) .009 gauge... Jimmy Page used .008 gauge... the sound of Black Sabbath is the sound of super light strings & it's the same with ZZ Top

Frank Gambale and McLaughlin also use 9's. FWIW, I use 9's as well

 

[jeremy]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

I used an 11 - 49 set tuned to C and it was just awful, sloppy and messy and the strings were flying all over the place. But then again, I'm no Iommi.

it really comes down to the player. im a ham fisted basher and if i played 8's, let alone tuned down on a short scale axe, itd be out of tune all the time. if the player has a delicate touch then light strings can be just fine

 

[hermetico]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

it really comes down to the player. im a ham fisted basher and if i played 8's, let alone tuned down on a short scale axe, itd be out of tune all the time. if the player has a delicate touch then light strings can be just fine

Totally agree, this is my case!.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: String gauge w/diff. pickup

it really comes down to the player. im a ham fisted basher and if i played 8's, let alone tuned down on a short scale axe, itd be out of tune all the time. if the player has a delicate touch then light strings can be just fine

Yeah I know what you mean. I thought I had a HEAVY right hand because I loved to bash the strings, then I tried the 8s without any problems. I guess any string gauge just works with me.