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Post by digs57 on Apr 7, 2016 13:44:00 GMT -7
The older im getting I just cant seem to endure the strings im using now...love the tone...probably the most tonefull string ive played in a long time...was a daddario (11-49) guy for yearsss...
Going to try 10-46 burnished nickel rocker's (from 11-50) same...less tension, same feel...arthritis is a sob...but I just cant move the metal the way I used to...
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Post by Paul (TRANE) on Apr 7, 2016 13:52:46 GMT -7
I made the same move myself a while back. Love 11s. But when my band was not playing much 4 hours of blues bends on 11s was painful. So I went to 10s. I like the Burnished Nickel strings but I love the Pyramid strings best.
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Post by ME on Apr 7, 2016 15:25:25 GMT -7
Using 8's. R8 and R4. Feel light, but not like rubber. Currently using Ernie Ball Classic Pure Nickel Extra Slinky. Like the tone vs brighter strings. ME
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Post by BritInvasion on Apr 7, 2016 16:36:07 GMT -7
Back in the day all I used was 8's. I moved up to 9's and now most of my guitars (My SG being the exception) are 10's. I did this a few months ago , I'm tempted to go back to 9's but I am also toying with the idea of stringing the SG with 8's. Could be interesting.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 7, 2016 18:40:01 GMT -7
Love the thread title!
I started learning on 9's. Went up to 10's a few years later and adjusted quite well to the tone & feel. Got my Les Paul and thought I could do 11's... no sir! Back to the 10's for me. Honestly, I'd try 9's again but they just feel so darn slinky and I love the tone I get with 10's (even better than the 11's tone). Goldilocks syndrome, I guess.
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Post by digs57 on Apr 7, 2016 18:42:31 GMT -7
10 is lowest...I do think that the 10's burn nick rock are going to have the tension i like...enough...
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Post by walt on Apr 7, 2016 18:55:46 GMT -7
I also have arthritis issues-been using the D'Adarrio bottom half 9's top half 10's to work around that.And I don't like diet beer either.
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Post by Ben on Apr 8, 2016 7:29:21 GMT -7
This thread reminded me of an article I read on Premier Guitar a while back so I had to dig it up.
Part 1 of it can be found here.
The way I see it, if The Reverend can get away with .007s and still sound as loud a Mack truck coming at you full speed, then there's no reason not to try lighter gauge strings and adapt your gear to tweak some of the (perceived) tone loss.
I think what's really missing in a lot of string gauge discussion is the type of music each plays (or not mentioning it) when they opinion that X is much better than Y gauge. I couldn't see myself playing double stop vibratos and fast full bends on 11s all night long - just wouldn't suit the Texas rockin' blues I love so much. For someone who's strictly a rhythm guitarist in a style that suits his needs, 13s may be the ticket!
In the end, whatever feels good and you aren't struggling against the strings and ultimately playing with a death grip on your neck is what's most important.
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Post by purpletele on Apr 8, 2016 10:06:41 GMT -7
This thread reminded me of an article I read on Premier Guitar a while back so I had to dig it up.
Part 1 of it can be found here.
The way I see it, if The Reverend can get away with .007s and still sound as loud a Mack truck coming at you full speed, then there's no reason not to try lighter gauge strings and adapts your gear to tweak some of the (perceived) tone loss.
I think what's really missing in a lot of string gauge discussion is the type of music each plays (or not mentioning it) when they opinion that X is much better than Y gauge. I couldn't see myself playing double stop vibratos and fast full bends on 11s all night long.
In the end, whatever feels good and you aren't struggling against the strings and ultimately playing with a death grip on your neck is what's most important. I like the advice from BB King to Billy Gibbons, 'Why you working so hard'? I like 10's on the e flat strat and 9's on the Tele. That's my slinky story and I'm sticking to it.
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Post by Ben on Apr 8, 2016 10:10:40 GMT -7
This thread reminded me of an article I read on Premier Guitar a while back so I had to dig it up.
Part 1 of it can be found here.
The way I see it, if The Reverend can get away with .007s and still sound as loud a Mack truck coming at you full speed, then there's no reason not to try lighter gauge strings and adapts your gear to tweak some of the (perceived) tone loss.
I think what's really missing in a lot of string gauge discussion is the type of music each plays (or not mentioning it) when they opinion that X is much better than Y gauge. I couldn't see myself playing double stop vibratos and fast full bends on 11s all night long.
In the end, whatever feels good and you aren't struggling against the strings and ultimately playing with a death grip on your neck is what's most important. I like the advice from BB King to Billy Gibbons, 'Why you working so hard'? I like 10's on the e flat strat and 9's on the Tele. That's my slinky story and I'm sticking to it. That pretty much sums it up.
I just hate fightin' the heavier gauge.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Apr 8, 2016 20:35:28 GMT -7
Love this thread title!
I've been contemplating going to 9s, so this thread popped at just the right time for me. For many years I played 10-52s. A few months ago I went to straight 10s, but I'm having some pain with even short stints of playing between my thumb and index finger. Perhaps I need a break altogether?
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Post by jbrad on Apr 9, 2016 10:03:50 GMT -7
I've been playing 9s for years and have played 8s a good bit. I love the lighter gauges and get plenty of tone from them. Sure easier on the old fingers.
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Post by zpilot on Apr 9, 2016 22:09:00 GMT -7
I play enough acoustic guitar around the house just figuring out stuff that I still don't have any problems with 10's. The SG I recently bought came with 10-53's. I like those so much I'm thinking about staying with them on that guitar. All of my other guitars are 25.5" scale. I've never been able to handle anything larger than 10's because I'm a big bender.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 4:23:14 GMT -7
I just went back to 9's as that was the only set I had left in my gig bag...I think I'll stay there too. They feel great on my tele! I still want the heavier bottom feel of the 10's so I got 9-46. Currently installed 9-42 Ernie Ball Slinky. And of course I need coated strings...although the regular EB's seem to have lasted longer than one gig.
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Post by LT on Apr 12, 2016 8:58:04 GMT -7
On Fenders I use 9's and on Gibby's/PRS's I use 10's. EB Slinky's (regular non-coated type)
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Post by John on Apr 12, 2016 9:07:39 GMT -7
Learned on 9's in the late 70's. Went to 10's in the mid 80's. I tried a few packs of 11's a few years ago on my tele. Went back to 10's.
I recently purchased a box (10 sets) of 9's, they're going to be for my humbucker guitars. (lots of string bending and vibrato) I'll leave 10's on the tele and strat.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2016 9:40:37 GMT -7
Learned on 9's in the late 70's. Went to 10's in the mid 80's. I tried a few packs of 11's a few years ago on my tele. Went back to 10's. I recently purchased a box (10 sets) of 9's, they're going to be for my humbucker guitars. (lots of string bending and vibrato) I'll leave 10's on the tele and strat. Interesting. I go the other way - 10s on F scale stuff, 11s on G scale stuff. I'm just looking to get the string tension comparable so all my guitars feel about the same. I'd think 9s on a G scale guitar would be really loose feeling, but you never know. I'd love to hear how that works for you.
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Post by daveyk on Apr 12, 2016 9:54:01 GMT -7
I play better with 10's, but get better with 11's.
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Post by digs57 on Apr 12, 2016 10:01:17 GMT -7
Just strung a strat up w/10-46 burn nick rockers...like it...make me relax and play more controlled and best of all easier on the hands...the 11's are a tonefull string with the bnr's...but,String tension is good enough on them if I don't get too heavy handed...I think ill be alright...
Yeah adam I don't think I would ever do 9's...I went with the 10's GHS?BNR because of the nice string tension...11' were just pushing it.
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Post by Baconator on Apr 16, 2016 12:17:17 GMT -7
I've played 10's for years now, but when I started working more on lead playing I found that even when my fingers were in good shape a few hours of bends would leave me sore. I recently tried out a set of NYXL 9.5's and can't believe the difference such a small change makes. Worth a try if you're on the fence between 9's and 10's.
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Post by digs57 on Apr 16, 2016 13:55:08 GMT -7
Got to have a 10 on top at the very least....these 10-46 burnish nickel rockers have just enough tension to not miss the 11's to bad...and I hear you....they are very different animals...
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Post by rcrecelius on Apr 16, 2016 15:37:22 GMT -7
I play daddario 11's but there are times I wish I was using lighter...well, my left hand wishes that...my right hand would appreciate heavier yet!
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Post by fishyfishfish on Apr 28, 2016 13:19:52 GMT -7
I have gone back and forth from 11's to 10's for years. The funny thing is I played my friends strat with 9's and it was a real kick in the pants.
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Post by greenblues58 on Apr 28, 2016 13:33:32 GMT -7
Take a look at this comparing 8,s 9,s and 10,s for tone and feel.
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Post by fishyfishfish on May 7, 2016 20:23:01 GMT -7
Checking out a set of Carl Verheyan 9-46 set on my strat and really like them. Hand issues are making me change the way I play.
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Post by bloozeman on May 8, 2016 9:09:46 GMT -7
I use the thomastik infeld blues sliders 10 gauge. Best string I've ever used. Stays in tune perfectly and lasts for months
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Post by pintail78 on May 12, 2016 16:19:29 GMT -7
try some 10 1/2's especially for strats. the tension is near perfect for all strings.
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Post by Maddog on May 12, 2016 16:45:31 GMT -7
Collings recommends 11's on the I-35, and I'll be darned if it doesn't play and sound better with those 11's.... I play 10's on everything else...
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