I just put 10-52 coated slinkys on my Silo...

[RocketRalf]

Previously I had RPS9s. So far the differences are:

On the lower strings:

-Improved dynamics and precision. The strings do exactly what I want. Well almost. Except alternate picking, I suck at it.
-HUUUUUGE sustain. It's crazy, a completely different instrument. The chords ring a lot, the fundamental is very clear, and it fades away very slowly into a beautiful feedback even at moderate bedroom levels. It gives a new definition to Power Chords
-Darker tone overall. I don't think it's due to less harmonics, but simply much more fundamental coming out. It's less twangy and more ballsy.
-Strings are rough on the fingers. You can really feel the texture when sliding, almost like a stainless steel bass string. It allows for a great jet effect when sliding the pick along the string.
-Bends are harder, but still perfectly feasible up to a whole step on the 5-7 positions. There are sweet spots where you can go for one more half step.
-Softer vibrato. I was overbending on my previous set, specially on the low E string
-The reason I got this set: the lowest string can be tuned to C and still sound as well as an E (I sometimes do D-A-D-G-B-E and C-G-D-G-B-E)

On the higher strings:

-Improved dynamics too, I don't have to pick so light anymore, which made me miss sometimes
-More sustain, not as big as the other strings but it helps the chords sound balanced.
-Sweeter tone up the neck, much clearer tone when playing the open string.
-No more dead spots! I can finally play the 24th fret and let it ring like it should.

Overall I like it more now, but I can't say one set is superior to the other. The stock RPS9 set is definitely more stratty and more versatile, probably contributing more to the unique character of the guitar. The new set works better for the kind of sounds I go for, which are pristine cleans and heavy distortion, where I then roll back the volume knob for the in between. I still have to see how well the new set lasts.

Next mod in line: Dimarzio D Activators

[the24thfret]

That's heavy low end. If you're at all like me, you'll enjoy them for a while... then move back... and then back again... and then to something new Believe it or not I had 13s on a Floyd-equipped guitar a few years back... that thing pwned!!! But it wasn't as versatile as I needed so I moved back.

[B2D]

I play tuned to Eb standard or Drop C#. A .010-.052 set feels awesome for that tuning.

[larryluke]

Believe it or not I had 13s on a Floyd-equipped guitar a few years back... that thing pwned!!!

[balance]

Once you get used to playing on the 10's, move to 11's...they feel and sound so good.

[B2D]

Once you get used to playing on the 10's, move to 11's...they feel and sound so good.

I tried .011-.048 strings once and I didn't notice anything different from .010-.052 except that I wanted more tension on the sound strings and soloing in the upper registers made my hands cramp up.

It's all personal taste. Plus, I've also found that some guitars (as in individual instruments) sound better with lighter strings... My old Mexi Strat never really sounded very good with 10s but always sounded nice with 9s. Granted, that was in standard tuning, it might have been a different story with another tuning.

Sometimes guitars sound best in not only in a certain gauge, but in a certain tuning as well. Don't know why... probably has to do something with how well the wood resonates in certain frequencies.

[ScoobySteve]

played 9's almost exlusively for my entire guitar playing life.

Made the switch to 10's with the JP and 25th.

WOuld only consider 11's on a D-C range tuning. Wouldn't be my alley though, I would just end up getting a Bari or 7.

Not a drop tuning fan as they might say.

[RocketRalf]

I just adjusted the action, gave the neck a little relief (moved the truss wheel from one hole to the next) and lowered the saddles aprox one turn on each screw. It now feels on the left hand like it still had 9s, but the picking is easier to control.

To be honest I never touched the factory setting when it had 9s, it might have been adjusted lower but I was happy with it. Now it rawks!