Which Strings For A begginer

[snowy]

Hello every one I am new to this forum & guitars I have invested in a Les Paul Studio Copper Top & have been told that the guitar needs re-stringing I have done some research & Ernie ball slinky strings came out on top, but I dont know which size, my powers of deduction have come up with Ernie ball super slinky strings 9 11 16 24 32 42 custom gauge nickel wound ( 2223) pink packet, are these suitable for a begginer & are they compatible with my guitar, any help would be very much appreciated

Thanks Snowy.

 

[oz_the_drummer]

Yeah, they will be compattable with your guitar. If you have only just started to learn to play, Go with a gauge 10 sting because they won't snap as easly. Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

[RichW]

Yeah, they will be compattable with your guitar. If you have only just started to learn to play, Go with a gauge 10 sting because they won't snap as easly. Oh and welcome to the forum!

Actually, I guess it's just personal preference that matters when it comes to strings. To a beginning player I'd say: start out with a 9 gauge, because then you'll focus more on correct technique and less on 'forcing' bends and such, because you haven't developed the proper finger strength and stamina yet.

10's, to me, sound better and yeah, they don't snap as easily--but obviously, there's more tension on them in E-standard tuning.

 

[oz_the_drummer]

Only a slight difference though Isn't it?

 

[RichW]

Only a slight difference though Isn't it?

I think there's a quite notable difference in tension. 9's in E-standard feels like playing rubber bands to me, whereas 10's are tight and require good technique when it comes to bends that cover more than a semitone.

 

[heavymetaljames]

It is only a slight difference in wire size - but when playing it can be noticable - it is harder work to play using 10's than 9's, and you would notice the difference between the two - there are advantages and disadvantages in using a lighter or heavier set - you can also use hybrid slinky (orange pack) that gives the 3 lower strings at 26,36,46 as opposed to 24,32,42 - this can help with sound and tuning.
As a beginner you would be likely to break a number of top E strings as you develop your skills - hence the previous suggestion to start with 10's so its less easy to break! At the end of the day - your choice will be influenced by a number of factors including experimentation with different guages as you learn and develop your style.

 

[candid_x]

Hello every one I am new to this forum & guitars I have invested in a Les Paul Studio Copper Top & have been told that the guitar needs re-stringing I have done some research & Ernie ball slinky strings came out on top, but I dont know which size, my powers of deduction have come up with Ernie ball super slinky strings 9 11 16 24 32 42 custom gauge nickel wound ( 2223) pink packet, are these suitable for a begginer & are they compatible with my guitar, any help would be very much appreciated

Thanks Snowy.

If the style you want to learn includes lots of bending and vibrato, I think 9's are a good way to go. If you have gorilla hands then 10's may be better as the 9's may feel too "noodly". Though not an EB product, GHS Boomers make a 9.5 set that is a good compromise. I use both EB 9's and GHS 9.5's on different guitars. I've used EB Slinkys for over 40 years.

But I agree that you have to find what works best for you.

 

[Astrofreq]

Go for 13's. It'll put hair on your chest.

 

[peterd79]

i'd use 9's and as you get comfortable with learning to play and technique try jumping up to a 10... and see what you like...

 

[Merck]

Acoustic Guitars

Hi,

I'm new to guitar too. Can I use the nickel, pure nickel and stainless steel strings for acoustic guitars.

 

[guitarafondio]

For me it depends if your going to concentrate on playing lead or rhythm. 9's for lead and 10's for rhythm. But, mostly it's a personal preference. At Ernie Ball we use a lot of 9's. But, a guitar like the Pretucci's both Piazzo and non, we use 10's. It has a fuller richer sound especially when you kick in the Piazzo.
Once you've played for a while you'll find the guages that suite your needs. It took me over 30 years of playing guitar to figure out I like playing the bass! Go figure!

 

[jongitarz]

Psst...Hey you guys, should I tell him it's piezo?

 

[SteveB]

For me it depends if your going to concentrate on playing lead or rhythm. 9's for lead and 10's for rhythm. But, mostly it's a personal preference. At Ernie Ball we use a lot of 9's. But, a guitar like the Pretucci's both Piazzo and non, we use 10's. It has a fuller richer sound especially when you kick in the Piazzo.
Once you've played for a while you'll find the guages that suite your needs. It took me over 30 years of playing guitar to figure out I like playing the bass! Go figure!

Psst...Hey you guys, should I tell him it's piezo?

You factory guys get all the good stuff.. Pretucci's with Piazzo's... custom guages..

Of course, I'm just being an asshat here, so don't get mad, guitarafondio! I thought I'd help Jon pull your leg.

 

[guitarafondio]

You say piezo, I say piazzo.........., baSS player like double leTTers! >p

 

[PocketGroove82]

As a new guitar player, your fingers will probably be bleeding/throbbing so much that you probably won't even notice things like string tension/gauge untill a few months after you get all callus'ed up! Good Luck Bud!