10-52 in Drop C, 9-46 tuned to standard.
For blues you want to do bends with authority and control, right?
It won't happen if you put huge strings and you're not used to them.
So when in doubt, go for the lighter gauge.
I find that bending with 10s and 11s is much more satisfying.
9-42 on all my electrics. I don't have an LP, but Rachel has a 24.75" scale neck and I still like the light strings for her. I used to like heavier strings when I was younger, but have gotten wimpier as I've aged! Used to run 13s on my acoustic 25-30 years ago, but recently had to get rid of the 12s I had on because they hurt my fingers too much... acoustics are now 10s and my fingers are much happier.![]()
9-42s on everything... standard tuning... including the Les Paul. Got plenty of Classic Rock and Blues tones from it.
10-52 in Drop C, 9-46 tuned to standard.
For blues you want to do bends with authority and control, right?
It won't happen if you put huge strings and you're not used to them.
So when in doubt, go for the lighter gauge.
Depends on your physiology - literally how strong your fretting hand/arm is. Classic rock and blues requires bending (LOTS of bending) so your hand has to be able to do that with accuracy (which includes knowing when to overbend). For all my electric guitars, I have 11-49 D'Addario or Ernie Ball as standard - and I have for nearly 30 years, so I'm used to them. Put me on a guitar with 9s or even 10s and I have to work hard to calm myself down - even fretting and keeping tune is tough because of finger pressure issues - I can do it, just have to work at it. I would try an extended period at each gauge (3 months or more) to see how you settle with each gauge.
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ZZ Top Billy Gibbons uses .008 Gauge strings...
I just saw Billy on 'Live at Darryl's House'. He said he uses 7's, and that BB King used 8's for decades.