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koogie2k
Well-known member
The difference is in the tone I believe. The smaller strings tend to bend much easier than a thicker one, however, I feel the thicker ones hold better tone. I use 10's and have for many years. They are easy for me to bend because I have gotten used to them. They just sound better on my guitar than smaller ones. I have played other guitars with smaller gauge strings and when I bent the note, I literally popped the string. I guess I am stronger than I realized...lol. But really, play with what is comfortable for you. Just make sure your guitar is set up for the size you are using.
There is a difference in tone: all other things being equal, thicker strings generally give you a thicker tone - and you may notice some differences in what you can do with your setups depending on the string gauge you're using... However, tone is a combination of many, many things, and if you use light strings, you can still generate a monster tone with the right guitar and equipment... I think it's more important to find the strings that match your playing style: if you're a hammer-fisted, aggressive player, you may find that heavier strings give you more control and feel (feedback) where light strings just flop about buzzing all over the place. If however, you are like me and have a light touch, you may find that heavy strings inhibit your playing style. It's really a very personal choice... like "tone" itself.
I will say this: as someone who has suffered the results of Repetitive Strain Injury, I hate to hear people tell young guitarists that they "need to use heavy strings for good tone"... That is simply untrue, and many great guitar tones have been realized using very light strings. To quote Eddie Van Halen (who uses extremely light guage strings): "Why make it hard?". And no offense meant to Koogie2k, but his sig - to whit: to play until it hurts and then play some more - is just plain bad advice. Spending 12 weeks without being able to play guitar at all, and months afterward on a heavily restricted palying schedule while I continued to heal, taught me that it's better to have a little respect how hard, how fast, how long I can play before the machinery of my hand just starts to break down....
I will say this: as someone who has suffered the results of Repetitive Strain Injury, I hate to hear people tell young guitarists that they "need to use heavy strings for good tone"... That is simply untrue, and many great guitar tones have been realized using very light strings. To quote Eddie Van Halen (who uses extremely light guage strings): "Why make it hard?". And no offense meant to Koogie2k, but his sig - to whit: to play until it hurts and then play some more - is just plain bad advice. Spending 12 weeks without being able to play guitar at all, and months afterward on a heavily restricted palying schedule while I continued to heal, taught me that it's better to have a little respect how hard, how fast, how long I can play before the machinery of my hand just starts to break down....
koogie2k
Well-known member
Hey JimiD...no offense taken at all. Just quoting Mr. Nugent. Your advice is great especially coming from someone who has suffered an injury that takes away from what they love to do. At the end of my post, I simply told him to play with what is comfortable. I hope I did not imply bigger strings, better tone. Your insight was great. 
bing4sons
Well-known member
Jimi,
Great advice!
Great advice!
jimi D your collection of EBMM's is just superb! i can't find a single axe in there that isn't just beautifull and have its own style and purpose....well other than that damn PRS thing jk thats a sweet one too i'll admit it.
on the strings note, i tend to like heavier gauges mainly because i use low tunings, but i find myself bending the string slightly outa pitch when playing chords and stuff on lighter strings. normally on my 7 i'll use a set of 10's with a .59 on bottom for low B. on my 6 stringers in standard i like custom light sets, usually like 10-.52's i find the treble strings bend real sweet on the upper frets. lighter gauge strings tend to be a bit brighter thus being a little thinner sound that heavier guages. but its all what you prefer. most people love the sound and feel of new stirngs and change their strings as often as they can afford. i like broken in strings so they sound a bit duller and feel nicer to me. i play a set on average 2 months or more before i change. so you should just try out alot of different sizes and brands till you find what works for you.
jk thats a sweet one too i'll admit it. on the strings note, i tend to like heavier gauges mainly because i use low tunings, but i find myself bending the string slightly outa pitch when playing chords and stuff on lighter strings. normally on my 7 i'll use a set of 10's with a .59 on bottom for low B. on my 6 stringers in standard i like custom light sets, usually like 10-.52's i find the treble strings bend real sweet on the upper frets. lighter gauge strings tend to be a bit brighter thus being a little thinner sound that heavier guages. but its all what you prefer. most people love the sound and feel of new stirngs and change their strings as often as they can afford. i like broken in strings so they sound a bit duller and feel nicer to me. i play a set on average 2 months or more before i change. so you should just try out alot of different sizes and brands till you find what works for you.
Sorry koogie, I didn't mean to imply that you had made the "bigger = better" assertion, but re-reading my post I can see it kinda comes across that way... I just wanted to point out to hat that he may want to take it with a grain of salt if he runs across that advice elsewhere (and I've seen it advocated on some other forums - usually they cite Stevie's allegd preference for .013 guage strings)...koogie2k said:
Estin ~ thanks for the complement... strangely enough, I've been trying to trade my PRS for a nice Morse or Petrucci for a while now, but so far no takers...
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thats odd, usually the public just eats up the PRS stuff. maybe if you try selling it outright you'd get enough cash for a new morse or petrucci, depending what model the PRS is oh BTW, your red quilt top axis SS is exactly like mine. great peice.
kbaim
Well-known member
JIMI D,
Didn't the doctor that recommeded not playing for 12 weeks also see a concert of yours?
Kidding, not funny, sorry.
KEITH
Didn't the doctor that recommeded not playing for 12 weeks also see a concert of yours?
Kidding, not funny, sorry.
KEITH
kbaim
Well-known member
On the issue of strings. 9's work best for my playing. Easier on the hands.
A thicker pick may add a bit of oomph if you're using light gauge.
But being a fan of light gause strings has always made it a tough adjustment switching to an acoustic guitar.
Thank god for the piezo EB's.
KEITH
A thicker pick may add a bit of oomph if you're using light gauge.
But being a fan of light gause strings has always made it a tough adjustment switching to an acoustic guitar.
Thank god for the piezo EB's.
KEITH
i use really tiny and rigid picks. the dunlop Jazz III's a buddy gave me one when i started playing 5 years ago and i've used them since. i can't stand playing with those full size picks, especially the flexible ones, it feels like i'm strumming with a peice of bread! LOL
koogie2k
Well-known member
Hey JimiD....no problem at all, as I said, I can see where you are coming from...by the way, your collection is wonderful. I especially like the natural finish Axis. Killer guitars man, I'm jealous...
