Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
- Thread starter unleashthejay
- Start date
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Wow, I see I replied to this thread in 2007.
As in 2007 I am currently playing 10-46 on all my guitars (including Les Pauls), but over the years I have switched between 9-42, 9-46 and 10-46. They're all good. I like the easy bendyness of 9s and the better tuning stability of 10s. 9-46 is a good compromise for chunkier wound strings and bendy plain ones.
I do like the 13 second string of a 10 set though. I bend the second string a lot and I find a 13 stays in tune better than an 11. It's worth a little effort to get used to a set of 10s IMO.
But ultimately there are pros and cons to lighter vs. heavier strings and whatever works for you is good!
Oh, and Jimmy Page - epic riffing with 9s on a Les Paul
Wow, I see I replied to this thread in 2007.
As in 2007 I am currently playing 10-46 on all my guitars (including Les Pauls), but over the years I have switched between 9-42, 9-46 and 10-46. They're all good. I like the easy bendyness of 9s and the better tuning stability of 10s. 9-46 is a good compromise for chunkier wound strings and bendy plain ones.
I do like the 13 second string of a 10 set though. I bend the second string a lot and I find a 13 stays in tune better than an 11. It's worth a little effort to get used to a set of 10s IMO.
But ultimately there are pros and cons to lighter vs. heavier strings and whatever works for you is good!
Oh, and Jimmy Page - epic riffing with 9s on a Les Paul
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Extremely different, especially on a Gibson, which uses a medium scale length.
Personally, I don't go below 11s on Gibsons, and I use 9s on only two of my Fenders (rare exceptions to 10s or 11s that I normally use on Fenders).
The lighter your touch, and the higher you run your strings, the more you can "get away with" extra light strings.
Extremely different, especially on a Gibson, which uses a medium scale length.
Personally, I don't go below 11s on Gibsons, and I use 9s on only two of my Fenders (rare exceptions to 10s or 11s that I normally use on Fenders).
The lighter your touch, and the higher you run your strings, the more you can "get away with" extra light strings.
LLL
New member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Used 9's on electric for almost 2 decades, then tried 10s for about 5 years, then back to 9's for the last decade.
10's have a thicker tone, last longer and slightly more tuning stability.
I went back to 9's because:
- when studying tone, I found out that (for ex) Iommi, May, Gibbons, Page, EVH all used 9's or 8's and got fantastic tone
- bending & vibrato is a breeze
- easier to solo/shred on 9's than 10's
- I can get any tone regardless of the string gauge
So, currently at 9's with med-hi action... and I'm sticking to it.
Used 9's on electric for almost 2 decades, then tried 10s for about 5 years, then back to 9's for the last decade.
10's have a thicker tone, last longer and slightly more tuning stability.
I went back to 9's because:
- when studying tone, I found out that (for ex) Iommi, May, Gibbons, Page, EVH all used 9's or 8's and got fantastic tone
- bending & vibrato is a breeze
- easier to solo/shred on 9's than 10's
- I can get any tone regardless of the string gauge
So, currently at 9's with med-hi action... and I'm sticking to it.
Last edited:
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
My Gibson LP shipped with a hybrid set of strings
9-46
Currently I use 9-42 EHR320 half wound Daddario on everything save the acoustics
The acoustics have
Elixir Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Extra Light (.010-.047)
My Gibson LP shipped with a hybrid set of strings
9-46
Currently I use 9-42 EHR320 half wound Daddario on everything save the acoustics
The acoustics have
Elixir Strings Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Extra Light (.010-.047)
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Tried 11-52 on my Epiphone Les Paul, but went down to 10-46 this year. E standard tuning. I love the 10-46 feel and doubt I'll change any time soon. My action is fairly low so bending and vibrato are easy. I don't hear any loss of tone, and I play a wide variety of styles on this particular guitar. I'm sure 9s would be great to play, but I have no need. I'm not a shredder either so there's no incentive to go super-light.
Tried 11-52 on my Epiphone Les Paul, but went down to 10-46 this year. E standard tuning. I love the 10-46 feel and doubt I'll change any time soon. My action is fairly low so bending and vibrato are easy. I don't hear any loss of tone, and I play a wide variety of styles on this particular guitar. I'm sure 9s would be great to play, but I have no need. I'm not a shredder either so there's no incentive to go super-light.
playas
Well-known member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
I currently use 9s on my Hamer Monaco Elite but will be changing to 10s next change of strings.
Hopping from a tele with 10s to a short scale guitar with 9s makes the lighter strings on the Hamer feel loose as hell.
Will probably end up with 10s, ...and 9s on all my 25.5" scale guitars for consistency.
I currently use 9s on my Hamer Monaco Elite but will be changing to 10s next change of strings.
Hopping from a tele with 10s to a short scale guitar with 9s makes the lighter strings on the Hamer feel loose as hell.
Will probably end up with 10s, ...and 9s on all my 25.5" scale guitars for consistency.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
I'm primarily a medium string user as well. But those who play with lights and ultra lights develop a very soft touch. That's how they do it.
.011 to .056 D'Addario's here ..... who plays with .009's lol.
Billy Gibbons plays with .007's which is so wrong.
I'm primarily a medium string user as well. But those who play with lights and ultra lights develop a very soft touch. That's how they do it.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Plenty of guitar players including Dr. Brian May, Ph.D.
Plenty of guitar players including Dr. Brian May, Ph.D.
Sirion
Well-known member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
What is this tuning stability problem you all speak of?
Jokes aside, I use .009s on my strat-scale guitars, almost no matter what. I've found that having a .040 thick E balanced better than a .042 for everything except open G chords, where I tend to apply a little too much force, but .009-.040 sets in pure nickel are pretty much impossible to find these days, after Fender discontinued theirs, so .009-.042 it is. For LP-scale guitars I have used .009s, but i found that .010s normally make for a smoother transition from strat-scales.
In general, use what feels comfortable to you, and ignore the people who insist on thicker strings sound better. Legendary tones have been recorded with every sort of string gauge, from .007 (Billy Gibbons and KK Downing) to .013.
What is this tuning stability problem you all speak of?
Jokes aside, I use .009s on my strat-scale guitars, almost no matter what. I've found that having a .040 thick E balanced better than a .042 for everything except open G chords, where I tend to apply a little too much force, but .009-.040 sets in pure nickel are pretty much impossible to find these days, after Fender discontinued theirs, so .009-.042 it is. For LP-scale guitars I have used .009s, but i found that .010s normally make for a smoother transition from strat-scales.
In general, use what feels comfortable to you, and ignore the people who insist on thicker strings sound better. Legendary tones have been recorded with every sort of string gauge, from .007 (Billy Gibbons and KK Downing) to .013.
JMP/HBE
Well-known member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Ive loved Brian for 40+ years but not in my top 3 of all time.
Not a fan of his guitars or the AC30.
We all different Bro.
As for old school brits gimme Townsend over May any day.
Ive loved Brian for 40+ years but not in my top 3 of all time.
Not a fan of his guitars or the AC30.
We all different Bro.
As for old school brits gimme Townsend over May any day.
Sirion
Well-known member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
Brian even used .008s for a long time. He apparently changed to .009s because the serrated edges of the coins he uses as picks continually broke his strings.
Brian even used .008s for a long time. He apparently changed to .009s because the serrated edges of the coins he uses as picks continually broke his strings.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
String shaming is funny. It used to be heavier string users busting on light string users. More recently, it’s light string users insisting that heavier strings are unnecessary. I’ve tried both, and prefer heavier ones.
For the record, saying that guy whoever used lighter/heavier strings as proof that they can sound a certain way is dumb. That’s the point where the “it’s in the hands” thing comes into play.
String shaming is funny. It used to be heavier string users busting on light string users. More recently, it’s light string users insisting that heavier strings are unnecessary. I’ve tried both, and prefer heavier ones.
For the record, saying that guy whoever used lighter/heavier strings as proof that they can sound a certain way is dumb. That’s the point where the “it’s in the hands” thing comes into play.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
So Connol Hogan, Vee zee zat you are wacky just like zee namesake, ja? Vhat made you select zis ancient thread for zee first post???
So Connol Hogan, Vee zee zat you are wacky just like zee namesake, ja? Vhat made you select zis ancient thread for zee first post???
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Who here uses .009 gauge strings on their les paul or les paul copy?
9-46 on everything (and I have both 24.75” & 25.5” scale guitars) because:
• more convenient than keeping different strings on different guitars
• bending is easier
• the amount of tone difference is negligible and easily offset by other factors in the chain
• my fingertips are wimpier than they were 30 years ago
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
9-46 on everything (and I have both 24.75” & 25.5” scale guitars) because:
• more convenient than keeping different strings on different guitars
• bending is easier
• the amount of tone difference is negligible and easily offset by other factors in the chain
• my fingertips are wimpier than they were 30 years ago
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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