BFR F1 with Gauge 9's

[sudeip]

Hello Everyone

I have been trying to reinvent my tone

For Last 9 years or so , i have been using an Ibanez RG with Gauge 9s (D'addarios).
Around 10 months back , i finally managed to get one John Petrucci BFR that shipped with Gauge 10 (slinkys).

I am an average guitarist
you may listen to this sound sample

Sudeip-Dream Theater-In the Presence of Enemies - Mp3 Download, Lyrics & Chords at Muziboo

I guess over the years my fingers have really gotten seasoned to play gauge 9on my Ibanez . My guitar is immaculate in terms of intonation , action and there is absolutely no fret buzz.

When i use distortion , my power chords never sound clean. They are always a little muddy and i figured a strange work around to it.
If I hit a Em power chord and let the guitar sustain the sound for about 1 - 2 seconds i can easily tell that the sound is a little muddy ( aka not a clean distortion ) . I had immense buzzing between the 11th and 12 the frets ( this doesnt happen on clean at all ) and strangely enough i realized that if i were to use more strength during fretting , the buzz disappears.

Therefore i "could" be conclusive that my playing style doesnt really suit 10's ( or maybe i need more time to get used to it )

Having said that ,
has anyone here faced such similar issues ?
and having explained my problem do you think i have nailed the issue correctly

if that is the case
i am worried that switching from Gauge 10 to Gauge 9 will really send me back to the nintendo tone which i really dont want to get back to

i would love to hear your stories and recommendations
Please advise

i am hitting the studio very shortly and i could really use some help. Being on a job from 9 - 6 really doesnt help much other than keeping me alive !

- Ibanez RG
- EBMM BFR F1
- GT-8

 

[colinboy]

Hang in there buddy and keep practicing.it could be the distorted tone that causes your guitar to sound be muddy.try and experiment with you amp/effects to get a good tone.
I changed my BFR from 9,s to 10,s last year as the 9,s were to light for me,ive never looked back!

 

[TNT]

Sud,

Good question. But here's the answer pointblank: It's all about "guitar setup!! Has nothing to do with string guage (on those issues of which you speak.)

My advice; pick the string gauge you like, stay with Ernie Ball Strings, and set up the guitar around that tension related choice.

#2253's - BEST strings on the planet!!!

 

[sudeip]

Hi ColinBoy and TNT

thank you so much for your response
i called up my dealer today and fixed an appointment for a set up & rented a car as well
so i will probably switch to Gauge 9s and get the guitar set up as well

i need to start my recordings "yesterday" so i am already late
i guess once thats over and **if** i make some money
i will feast myself and hunt a JP6 as well
i still love the JP6 as much as i love my BFR

i guess once i have done my gauge 9 setups i will post an appropriate response as well
maybe someone in the future could use my findings

in all honesty i would love to stay with gauge 10s right now just that i dont have the sufficient bandwidth to practise guitars so much. I am also a keyboardist , vocalist and composer and right now i have the composer hat on and unfortunately time is of the essence

thanks for your prompt responses again
Musicman & Ernie ball totally rock !!!!

 

[frankiman]

both my balls are in 9 to 42, the second ball is a 7 string and I use 56 on the 7th

I still sound beeffy and tight, you just need to take your guitar to a good tech so it is set up properly when changing the gauge

these guitars are so stable that no matter how you set it up, as long as it is done properly, it will get the job done

 

[sudeip]

Thanks Frankiman for the encouragement
hopefully switching the gauge should resolve my technique problems
i really have short fingers !!

 

[sudeip]

sorry to open up this thread...but here are the final results !! lol
so i finally managed to finish recording my album ...
after reviewing all your kind and helpful responses...i found a luthier and changed my guitar set up and gauge to 9's...while i did find my "comfort" zone back...now blame this entirely on my setup...which i do believe is lame but it definitely does my job..i was quite disappointed with the way my tone suffered. i managed to have a medium action on gauge 9's which was very good but somehow the killer tone of 10's was amiss....to make matters worse...i further got another setup done to make my action more lower...which caused a lack of resonance and i further lost another generation of tone

so in the end i just gave up ..went back to my luthier...( was in the store when i got a $115 parking ticket on my rental car !!!!!!!! ) ...and i switched back to 10's....

it was a little difficult call...comfort vs tone...but in the end ..my 2 cents ...when i want some comfort i can stick to other guitars which are designed for a different kind of tone...but after being so used to the musicman factory setup..which IMHO is simply out of this world ...i missed it when i went back to 9's..but now having finished recording...the clouds in my head are much more clearer and i am putting in a concentrated effort to play better on 10's and dont i love the tone !!

its 10's all the way now...doesnt matter how much you bleed ! but this has been my tryst with switching gauges so far...just in case anyone finds me in their shoes..they might find this post a little introspective !

i am now on the road to keep gauge 9's on just one guitar...and i am switching all the rest to 10's !

Merry XMas and a happy new year to everyone !
Musicman Rocks !

 

[azazael]

Not heard anyone call it the F1 for longest time, ever since it was dropped.

 

[panther_king]

I totally forgot it was called the F1 at all

Anyways, not only do I play 9's, but I tune down to Eb, so it's a little looser still. I have a really light touch though; I used to play 10s, but I found if I fall out of practice, it's easier for me to get back on the horse with 9's.

 

[Tung]

i recommend 10s. you can control your picking more with the higher tension, and belive it or not, this came from my guitar tech, you can get better low action with 10s.
I think you made the right choice, JP switched from 9s to 10s for a reason, he's very picky about this sort of thing.

 

[Crimson Sunrise]

Not heard anyone call it the F1 for longest time, ever since it was dropped.

I totally forgot it was called the F1 at all

I guess someone should tell Mr. Petrucci himself, because that is exactly what he calls it in this 2009 video, while talking about his guitar and new pickups:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcEQyCwDX3U"]YouTube- JOHN PETRUCCI DIMARZIO INTERVIEW 2009 DREAM THEATER HIGH QUALITY[/ame]

Apparently, he never got the memo. Or perhaps, with it being HIS signature guitar....he's decided that he'll call it whatever he feels like. Pending trademarks be damned!

 

[tornandfrayed]

Dont forget about the hybrid set 46-9....believe me your way above average...go with your gut!