What gauge of string to run on my Les Paul

[weepingminotaur]

There is no answer anyone on this forum can give you that you couldn't get a better answer through personal experimentation. As other's have mentioned, scale plays into. To an extent, neck profile and string spacing effect how different gauges feel too. I like a lighter guage on an LP neck because trying to grip around that baseball bat makes the strings feel a little heavier to push down, but also a little easier to bend.

Yeah, in the end there is no "should" or objective answer that transcends one's own personal experience. I've gone back and forth on string gauge over the past few years based on experimentation with the guitars I have.

For example, I'm going to put 12s on my 24.75 LTD in D standard because I want just a bit more tension generally, and no floppiness if I tune the guitar down to D flat. But that's just what my fingers prefer. I'm sure there are people out there who are happy playing lighter gauge strings even when tuned down a full step or more.

 

[Clint 55]

I do not think there is a general rule; Iommi down-tuned and used .08s. It comes down to personal preferences for feel; anything will work.

I meant the equivalent tensions, not that there is a rule about what you should choose. Gibson and strat scale are about a half gauge apart in tension, and so are tuning up or down by half step. So use that to make ur decision.

 

[jeremy]

thats true. 1/2 step down or shorter scale length seems to have similar tension as using a set of strings one step lighter. that said, feeling comfortable with your string tension is more important than most other things. if you can play better with 9s but the tone isnt as thick as 10s, then use 9s.

I like .11s on a short scale guitar like an LP in standard tuning. You're dropping half a step, so I'd go with 12s myself.

same. i run 11-50 on everything these days. pure blues on my fender scale and tite fits on shorter scale

 

[Sirion]

Those sets will work fine. Jimmy Page, Frank Zappa, Billy Gibbons and Frank Marino all at times used 8's on Les Paul guitars at some point, and seem to have done decently well.

 

[EmiAba]

If I remember well my 2004 standard came with 9-42 from factory. I prefer 9-46 so since day 1 all my les paul have the same string gauge (ernie ball)

 

[Clint 55]

thats true. 1/2 step down or shorter scale length seems to have similar tension as using a set of strings one step lighter. that said, feeling comfortable with your string tension is more important than most other things. if you can play better with 9s but the tone isnt as thick as 10s, then use 9s.

Not a full gauge lighter, a half gauge lighter.

If you have one strat with 10s tuned to standard and another tuned to Eb and want them to have about the same tension, you'd put 10.5s on the one in Eb.

If you have a strat with 10s tuned to standard and want a Gib scale tuned to standard to have about the same tension, you'd put 10.5s on the Gib scale.

Dead ez rule of thumb, but people prefer to screw it up.

 

[Mincer]

Not a full gauge lighter, a half gauge lighter.

If you have one strat with 10s tuned to standard and another tuned to Eb and want them to have about the same tension, you'd put 10.5s on the one in Eb.

If you have a strat with 10s tuned to standard and want a Gib scale tuned to standard to have about the same tension, you'd put 10.5s on the Gib scale.

Dead ez rule of thumb, but people prefer to screw it up.

It isn't an exact rule (the actual tension doesn't work out to being *exactly* the same) but it is close.