which strings are weaker?

[blueman335]

Re: which strings are weaker?

Where did you hear gary used 12's?

everything I have ever read noted that he used 10-52 gauge strings

10's. That's what I thought I read in some guitar magazine. Gary did some incredible bending, which would be even more impressive if he was using 12's.

 

[blueman335]

Re: which strings are weaker?

It's clearly a conspiracy...manufacturers making light gauge strings just so you break them often and buy more. Duh.

As has just been pointed out, light gauge strings do not break easier, and if anything, seem to break less often due to the reduced tension. If 9's broke easily, I'd be going thru them like candy.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: which strings are weaker?

As has just been pointed out, light gauge strings do not break easier, and if anything, seem to break less often due to the reduced tension. If 9's broke easily, I'd be going thru them like candy.

I've played 9-46 for over a decade (Blue Steel, then Dunlop, now GHS). Broken two in that time. One high E, and one B. My previous post was in jest.

 

[FretFire]

Re: which strings are weaker?

I can't remember the last time I broke a string, and I'm pretty heavy handed with my attack and bending. I re-string every 3-4 weeks when I notice things starting to sound dull, but I probably haven't broken a string in years.

 

[blueman335]

Re: which strings are weaker?

I've played 9-46 for over a decade (Blue Steel, then Dunlop, now GHS). Broken two in that time. One high E, and one B. My previous post was in jest.

Ah, I get it. My mistake.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: which strings are weaker?

I've broken more strings by bashing on them too hard with the pick than by bending.

And I've broken every string on the guitar at one point or another, including the low E. What do I win?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: which strings are weaker?

I've broken more strings by bashing on them too hard with the pick than by bending.

And I've broken every string on the guitar at one point or another, including the low E. What do I win?

Same here. It's pick bashing a la Pete Townshend that snaps strings for me. Probably happens once every couple of gigs, on whatever string it happens to be.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: which strings are weaker?

Lighter gauge strings require less tension to reach any given pitch. Yes, they will be easier to bend but this is not necessarily a good thing. IMO, some guitars yield better tone if you have to fight them a bit.

This one. Light sets are life saver when there is some problem with the fingers (8 set comes as a blessing when arthritis is on me) but most of the time, tone comes above 10 because of the very same reason that you mentioned.



I tend to break everything rather quickly, with Ernie Ball and Elixir strings on the top. I love the sound of EB, though. D'Addarios last for approx. 2 months. I tried their long-life EXL set on the '51 one year ago. It is still armed with that, no breaks whatsoever.

In a set, I break everything but the G string. It never, ever happened to me. I guess, the G is the winner of the strongest string contest, at least for me.