Tele String Gauge ... Again

[Lazarus1140]

I was considering switching from 9's to 10s on my project Tele. My gut instinct is that the larger gauge will just be fatter sounding. However, I am starting to have second thoughts. These old fingers are starting to translate a little pain when bending strings on my Strat strung with 10s ... especially when bending close to the nut. Also, I have read recently about the very thin gauge strings Bill Gibbons uses and his tone always sounds good to me.

I know there are tough guys who play with 11s and even thicker strings ... I'm not even talking about that.

What is your opinion on 9s vs 10s on a 25-1/2" scale Telecaster type guitar?

 

[uOpt]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

After recording very little of the thicker strings arrive on tape, it is mostly a feel thing. The thinner strings have a bit more treble.

Thicker strings are necessary if you hit them so hard that they "give way" and oompf on the attack, which you might or might not be able to avoid doing.

Why not try Custom Lite (009-048 or -046)?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

I'll second the hybrid 9's (9-46). I've been using those for a while on a couple guitars. The newly finished partsocaster is tighter feeling than my other one and I changed it from 10's to 9-46 and like it much better. The benefit if being able to bend and not have any fatique far outweighs anything else.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

i love the rev but his rig is very unusual so the fact that he uses 7's or 8's has little bearing on us mortals.

use whatever strings are comfortable for you and adjust your rig to get the tone you want. i do think heavier strings sound better and use 11-50 in std tuning but if i felt my playing suffered or i was having pain, i would use lighter strings

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

Right, right and right!!!

I do think bigger strings will give a "bigger" tone IF ad it's a BIG IF...if you play clean or mostly clean all the time that said there isn't that much difference between 9s and 10s in regards to tone.

Now, if you were asking about going from 9s to 12's I'd say it'll sound fairly different but just 10's...not much at all.

All that said it doesn't matter how good it sounds if it hurts to play it!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

Another vote for 9-46 here. Comfy bending for lead on the plain strings, something a bit more substantial and less splatty for rhythm on the wound strings. They work great for me.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

I'll second the hybrid 9's (9-46). I've been using those for a while on a couple guitars. The newly finished partsocaster is tighter feeling than my other one and I changed it from 10's to 9-46 and like it much better. The benefit if being able to bend and not have any fatique far outweighs anything else.

Yep, I would do this as well. I use 10-52 on all my Strats right now (and would use them on my Tele if it didn't have a Barden three-barrel bridge) having used 11-49 in the past. I like having the firm snap of the heavier strings on the low side, and the easier bends on the high strings. 9-46 would be the same concept but lighter.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Tele String Gauge ... Again

Thanks for the input, guys. I think I'll go with the consensus and try the hybrid set. I'm having an unbleached bone nut installed and wanted to make a gauge decision before getting that and a professional set-up done. This is my #2 guitar (as I am mildly addicted to the trem bar on the strat), and I definitely want it to kick serious butt.