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Question Changing string gauge to 0.10 to 0.12

I

Ivo

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
18
Dear Music Man fellows,

I am a happy owner of a MM Steve Morse Model and I do have a question for you.

I am currently using D’addario strings EXL 140 0.10 ~ 0.52.

I am considering going a bit heavier and start using D’addario EXL 145 0.12 ~ 0.54 or D’addario EXL148 0.12 ~ 0.60.

I am concerned with the following points in order of priority:

Nut / Bridge
Are these strings going to fit in the nut/bridge? If I decided to go back to the current set will I have any problems?

Tuners
I believe I’ll have to create a bit of room using a drill; it isn’t a problem for me. However, I am concerned if I’ll have problems in case I decide to change to a lighter gauge strings, a 0.09 for example. Will I have any issue?

Overall neck stability, I don’t have any issue with this guitar neck. It is indeed quite stable, however, I don’t know if it will hold these sets well. Will it be just a matter of truss-rod adjustment? Do I need to do something else?

Another detail, I am using standard tuning and I intend to continue using it with this new set.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts on these subjects.

Cheers,
Ivo
 
DrKev

DrKev

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Joined
Jul 8, 2006
Messages
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Location
Somewhere between Paris, Dublin, and Buffalo
Nut - will need work. If your guitar has a compensated nut, I would get in touch with EBMM and buy a new one that a luthier can install for you to take the new strings (the nut slots will have to be filed to the right width, depth, and angle). The luthier can put the old one back in if you go back to the lighter gauges, though it may not be necessary.

Tuner - To the best of my knowledge you only have to drill the tuner for the low E string. The rest are the same size hole (1.5 mm = 0.059"). That nominal specification suggests that a 58 gauge string should just about fit without modification, but with manufacturing tolerances allowing a little above or below, for both the string gauge and the hole size, anything from 56 to 60 is the "try it and see" zone. And as I'm sure you know you can also simply remove some of the low-E string winding and correctly lock the tuner on the core. No issues going back to a smaller string gauge.

Neck - you will definitely have to tighten the truss rod against the increased string tension, but the neck should otherwise be fine. (at least I don't recall anyone having a problem. However as you'll have a luthier fitting a new nut and that will involve a full setup, so they will adjust the truss rod at the same time.
 
kestrou

kestrou

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Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
1,773
Location
Danville, IL
Ivo,

DrKev hit the high points - so I'll only ask: are you SURE? :)

That's a "double step" going to 12s - and going to require some modification to the guitar - so will be a big adjustment in technique if you're not already accustomed to heavy gauge strings. I'm guessing you don't play much blues for two-step bends! :)
 
Gio_Force_One

Gio_Force_One

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2010
Messages
1,249
Location
Rhode Island
kestrou said:
Ivo,

DrKev hit the high points - so I'll only ask: are you SURE? :)

That's a "double step" going to 12s - and going to require some modification to the guitar - so will be a big adjustment in technique if you're not already accustomed to heavy gauge strings. I'm guessing you don't play much blues for two-step bends! :)
Click to expand...

I was using 12's in eflat for quite a while it wasnt too bad.
 
I

Ivo

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
18
DrKev thanks for the nut suggestion.
I'll get in touch with them.

Cheers,
Ivo
 
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