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Question string gauges

E

EXT37T8UN5ERF1!

Active member
Joined
Apr 12, 2014
Messages
26
Hello again everybody.
I just moved up to a heavier gauge (10;13;17;30;42;54), but in the future, I think ''Not even slinky'' could give something interesting.
My guitar is an ibanez GRG150DXB, but I don't know if it can handle such a heavy gauge. I'm willing to bear any level of string action (I prefer if it's as high as possible, because the sound's better, and I like the feeling.). What does everybody think?
Also, as I like the heavy stuff, what is the gauge limit for my guitar? Does anybody think that it can handle, for example, D'Addario ''Extra heavy gauge'' (12.16.20.34.46.60)? I like dubstep guitar drops sometimes, and this gauge is near perfect for the genre.
 
I don't know if there is a tension limit for your guitar as such - obviously the truss rod and bridge/spring claw may need adjusting. The nuts slots may also need widening (if you have tuning issues with you current low strings, that should be looked at). Remember that tension is not just a function of string gauge but also of pitch - if you are progressively dropping the tuning as you go up in string gauge, the tension might not change as change as much as if you stayed in E standard tuning with heavier strings (in which case I'd be asking if the truss rod and a thin Ibanez neck can handle that much tension without risking the life of the truss rod).

When in doubt, the further you get away from the guitar's original design point, the more reason there is to have a good guitar tech look at it for you. Ask local professional musicians who they trust with their prized instruments.
 
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Thanks for the answer. The D'Addario extra heavy gauge sound's good to me, so if there's no limit, I'll use them at some point. But I agree with you, a string gauge like that in E standard is too much, I'd be too scared to leave the guitar with such tension. The standard for them is C, according to the notice on the string pack. The C tuning's the one I like anyway.
 
Of course you can use any strings gauge for guitar that are on the market, for example i put on my rg 550 set of 12, the only issue with fatter string is that they will spent your guitar frets a bit faster, but again the better and heavier tone is with heavier gauges since always, you can maybe low tuning for half or one step down i recommended it as MUST do for such heavy gauges. IMHO something like 10 or 11 are optimal and perfect with half step down ( or more) for that bluesy tone, or extremely heavy staff playing styles, in addition you need something like jazz 3 or any OK hard pick as must for speed or for good tone control and OK string attack the limit under which you should not go under is 1.14 mm or heavier picks ( experiment with aluminium Dunlap have very thin and hard metal picks, or any of those mentioned jazz serial are perfect expecilly those " max grip" , i also adore Stubby Dunlap- prefect for precise and playing stile with heavy emotions). The only problematic thing with very heavy gauge can be if you are playing some gigs over 2-3 hours, than stay on 10 but if you do not use much bending technique than it aint a problem, i say this due to my experience i do a lot of bindings and with 11 after 2-3 hours my hand /fingers are tired. Also take care of your finger tips skin- put a some OK fatty creme during sleep from time to time, so the skin will be strong and never cracked ( at least very very rearlly). Regards, m.
 
Thanks for the information, especially for the picks as well, because I do have difficulties with picking, and that's frustrating.
I do quite a few bends, but I don't do as much these days, I actually do really small ones anyway, so I think it will be fine. I'm likely to raise the action quite high too, that will (usually) allow me to do bigger bends (the main reason for the action though is that it gives the sound a more punchy side, and it's good training as well).
 
yeah, no problem, if you need any info just pls notify me directly and i will check what you need, i do not manage very well on this forum still i am new as you- actually i guess i am newer. You can find very nice info regarding string high for precise tip of guitar, a bit different is for Start tip with bolt on neck/ neck trough and with Les P. style with 2 tips of neck, i have it somewhere on my PC so if can find it on net i will check it and write it for you, or maybe sent you the link to download the book published by guitar player several years ago more than 300+ pages about how to make your guitar sound prefect, nice book that does not required some strange pro tools, but with several basic tools that for sure you do have somewhere in the house you can do a lot. Just keep it with hard picks and do not forget that slow is fast, play simple excercises or what you want to play fast extremely slow with movement from the hand/pam joint ( never move the joints of your thumb and first finger, except when you use circular picking that is the only excuse), like tick tack tick tack, you do not need metronome i know a lot of people recommended it but i never used it and i always play in prefect time. Also form those mentioned picks jazz 3 you have small one and XL size, tray them both and red one are from nylon - black one are from harder material stifo, i use black one or black one jazz 3 "max grip" with finely x ribbed, the red one are good were you wish to play without that attacking sound-smooth. Also regarding Stubby you can tray normal they have some great texture and Big Stubby they have in the middle dent/recess for the fingers so they are extremely slip resistant. Can you tell me what problem you have with picking i can help, do not hesitate to ask me i will at least sent you some OK links for good free books+ reply to you for sure with explanation how to solve the problem or any issue regarding playing, friendly regards m.
 
The biggest limitation with higher gauges is the nut, the heavier strings might not fit the nut so you need to make the gaps wider or purchase a nut with more wide openings. Next you need to adjust the guitar due to the change to more rigid strings resulting in a different tension where you need to adjust the rod based on how you want the action to be. Then it's important to adjust the intonation as that will most likely be totally our of whack.

If all this sounds gibberish, take the guitar to a technician that could fix all this in less than 30 minutes unless he or she needs to fix the nut or order one.

In general you get a more flabby but rougher sound with higher string sizes and especially down tuning like D-tunings. Most likely you also need to shop around for the right kind of string for the stiffness you want to preserve.

As for 9-42 versus 10-46 string sizes, me thinks the sound difference is marginal at best.
 
Thanks for the info, I love this feeling of guitarists who talk about this with precision. I should've come here a long time ago.
The basic idea, is that I'm trying to find the ideal string gauge for the lower strings to give a strong, punchy, explosive sound. I saw this guy on youtube with an 8-string guitar, and it sounded AMAZING! the lower the two lowest strings are approx 64 and 74. I just recently discovered another string gauge for 6 string, I'm surprised that it even exists: ghs 11-70 boomers. The problem though, is that when you use such a strong string gauge, you have to drop down quite far in order to prevent the tension from damaging anything. It sounds too near to a bass when you go over 70. I tell ya, this guitarist I was talking about had an explosive sound, but the 74 sounded to much like a bass, but the 64. was beautiful. I like all styles really, just touching guitar strings feels good. But dubstep guitar with strings gauges like these are mind-blowing :p . I know that it will be hard to play at first, but at least it'll be easier to play at open mics every now and again, because most of the guitars have pretty light gauges (I'll be honest, I'm a rookie, I still haven't played on a stage yet).

Musichanter: I thought you were supposed to move the joints of those two parts of the hand. How do you do it exactly? I was told to prevent myself from using my arm and wrist. I thought it was only the joints that you had to move. As well, it feels less awkward when using those joints. If you give me some tips, I will call you master, because that's another that's been bugging me for at nearly 2 years now :)
 
Also, do any of you know what the limit for string action is? With my current gauge (10.13.17.30.42.54), the action at the 12th fret is either approx 6/7/8 mm above the fretboard. If the string action's too high, it will eventually break the strings (according to the guitar tech). The sound's better when the action's higher. I can't seem to find any info about the limit for this gauge.
 
Ok now for the picking technique i would recommend a book " flying fingers" from Dave Celentano in the first few pages you have very nice explanations of several picking technique and how to hold a hand also very very good is video from Eric Johnson " Total Electric guitar " extremely nice explained, and you will probably like his style He plays thieving from Blues to heavy and what to say when He was 5 times the best guitar player on the planet ( among Steve Howe from Yes , and Steve Morse-also they were 5 times the best by voting just in the different time period of course). The answer for your question is this: (i also practice like that to)
Regarding the movement move your hand in the wrist ( not the elbow, but of course we are live so you will see same small movements but try to not move your elbow joint- only if you play some ritham guitar in stile of punk rock, or if you wish to hit strings very hard or one string)
1- put you guitar as you hold it (no matter on right leg or between the legs- the why you feel more comfortable NOTE : when you put guitar between legs with the neck up a bit to "sky" later on live performance you may play easier and you can hold your guitar more low ( anyhow that is not much important is the guitar low or high-that is an appearance and look))
2 - put your right arm (or left depending are you left or right hand player) on the bridge on the guitar body, so that your edge of the palm is laying over were the strings starts on the bridge. With your palm you can mute the strings or to make feed back-very important for OK sound, just experiment.
3- Make you arm i mean the hand like you wish to punch somebody just softer- in position of fist.
4- your pick have to be between the index finger and thumb, also hold your other 3 fingers in slight fist position, do not straight them up like you see many guitarist are playing, because we now talk about practice- also that fist position is OK later you can learn to use your fingers together withe the pick - the other 3, and that is Hybrid picking- very cool thing to know)
5 - hold your pick not to tight but also not to soft ( it will drop down)
6- so your hand is on the bridge ( on the beginning of the strings), in the position of fist, you are holding the pick, now just move your wrist very slow up-down (alternate picking), and ok exercise is just like this - use each of 4 fingers so that each finger is above one fret play that 4 ton and move to the next string, start from the Low E and then in another direction, then move your fingers down the one fret and continue until you come for example until the 16th fret (or do it all the way up to 22 or 24 th depending from the neck). I say this 16th because many guitarist ( me to 0 like to use just 3 fingers i'm some licks on those fret from 16 till 24 especial when you wish to do many bendings, the small finger is not so strong but practice all)
so the point to move your wrist- just that joint, and remember that slow is fast, practice very very slow and concentrate that you make clear tone and when you pick do not hesitate just hit the string. You will see that later after practicing slow you can play something fast that is the gold rule.
Also listen to your self, learn from each stile and take what you like that you will make your own stile, regards, m:).
 
Just wondering, will the D'Addario EXL 148 STRINGS feel floppy (on the lower strings) in C standard if the scale length of my guitar is 25'5?
 
EXT37T8UN5ERF1! said:
If the string action's too high, it will eventually break the strings (according to the guitar tech). The sound's better when the action's higher. I can't seem to find any info about the limit for this gauge.
Click to expand...

There is no limit other than what is playable and comfortable for you. Higher strings do not equal better sound, IMO. If the distance from string to pickups says the same nobody can tell the difference between high action and low action (assuming the strings are high enough that fret buzz is not an issue, obviously). Excessively high action could result in intonation problems but strings cannot break if action is too high. Certainly in 25 years of both playing and sorting through equal amounts of good and bad advice on the internet, I've never heard that one!
 
Yes never heard or experienced myself that higher string distance will break strings, maybe there's a little bit more tear on the lower strings if they are low and buzz all the time. Then again I've never broken a wound strings. Also helps to change the strings on the main guitar(s) at least once a month.

Typical reasons for strings breaking: old (most common case), bad nut wearing the string down, bridge wearing down the string due to imperfections, excessive sweat from fingers, crazy bending close to Adrian Belew style having fun with a guitar for a very long time... And I'm sure I forgot some other cases.
 
Ok then, thanks for the info.
Btw, what would be the most explosive string gauge for B standard-C standard. As I mentioned earlier, the d'addario extra heavy gauge could be quite good, but could any of you suggest something that's optimal for creating an explosive sound when hitting the lower power chords? Of course, not baritone strings, my guitar can't do that. Anything like 12-62 good? I want to avoid the lower strings sounding like bass strings. I'll be really grateful for any suggestions. :D
 
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