View Poll Results: What String Gauge Do You Use?

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  • 8s

    1 2.63%
  • 9s

    6 15.79%
  • 10s

    23 60.53%
  • 11s

    2 5.26%
  • 12s

    1 2.63%
  • Other (please specify in thread)

    5 13.16%
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Thread: What String Gauge Do You Use?

  1. #1
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    Default What String Gauge Do You Use?

    I use 10's.
    The Law of Gravity is nonsense. No such law exists. If I think I float, and you think I float, then it happens.
    Master Guitar Academy - I also teach via SKYPE.

  2. #2
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    I sometimes use 9s on a Tele though, so I can do country style bends easier...
    The Law of Gravity is nonsense. No such law exists. If I think I float, and you think I float, then it happens.
    Master Guitar Academy - I also teach via SKYPE.

  3. #3
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    I used 11s for a couple of years, but now I have 10s on both of my electrics. I think I still have 12s on my acoustic. And I have 8s on a different electric. I'm still deciding, I guess.

    But for the moment, I use 10s on the electric guitars that I actually play seriously.
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
    Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
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  4. #4
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    10's
    "I love being alive and I will be the best man I possibly can. I will take love wherever I find it and offer it to whoever will take it... seek knowledge from those wiser and teach those who wish to learn from me."
    "Develop your talent, man, and leave the world something. Records are really gifts from people. To think that an artist would love you enough to share his music with anyone is a beautiful thing."
    Duane Skydog Allman

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  5. #5
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    I've also just loaded 10's on the acoustic (Elixir Nanoweb Extra Light Phosphor Bronze). I got tired of the suspension bridge cable sized 13's and I wanted to match the feel of my electrics. So far, I love it!

    Why are acoustic strings so heavy?

  6. #6
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    I have 10s on most of my ten guitars, but I do tend to use 9s on the super-strat style guits. I think my acoustic has 13s or something, because that was the lightest gauge I could find at the time. I think I have something in stock that's lighter, but I haven't swapped strings yet. I find that 10s have a nice "chunk" on the wound strings, and the unwound seem a little brighter than 9s do.
    -Sean
    Guitars: Lots.
    Amphs: More than last year.
    Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.

  7. #7
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    10's and only 10's. I tried some 11's on my agile LP but for blues they were too tough on fast bends. Back to 10's.
    Dave
    Guitars: Ibanez AF-75, Schecter Solo-6 Custom, Douglas SG
    Amps: Fender Princeton 65, Marshall AVT50
    Pedals: Metal Muff, MXR Smart Gate, EHX Cathedral Reverb, Digitech RP-255

  8. #8
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    For Standard tuning I use 10s on electric and 12s on acoustic.

    I use heavier strings most of the time though as I drop-tune a lot; I'm currently using 12-60s in C Standard although I'm swapping to 11-54s in Drop-C next time I change strings.
    http://soundcloud.com/tarasque

    Guitars: Encore Strat, No-Name Les Paul copy, Cort Acoustic, Vintage VRS100AW, Schecter Tempest Custom, Cort VX-4V, Dean Inferno V.

    Amphs: Ashdown Fallen Angel FA 60 DSP, Harley-Benton GA5.

    Pedals: Zoom G2.1U, Digitech Screamin' Blues, Electro-Harmonix Stereo Electric Mistress, Dunlop Crybaby 535Q Wah.

  9. #9
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    I actually play a few different gauges lately...10's on most of my guitars but I have 11's on my green strat and 12's on my AS73 and the 1979 The Paul.

  10. #10
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    I have always used 10s. I still have the original 9s on my tele, and have been enjoying the ease of play. I tend to overbend with the 9s though.
    Steve Thompson
    Sun Valley, Idaho


    Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
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  11. #11
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    I've started using 6's and tuning down a full step. They sound really heavy and I can totally shred!

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

  12. #12
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    LOL! ^^^^^

    I've tried everything from .008s to .010s on my guitars... Stuck with .010s for years, but decided that for me the difference in tone was negligible, and have been playing .009s for the last 3 or 4 years.
    Guitars:
    Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
    Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
    ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
    Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
    Blackstar HT Club 40

  13. #13
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    10's (D'add EXL-110 or equivalent Light gauge sets) on electric 6's. I used to swap the .017 3rd for an .016 to facillitate wide range bends doing double-stops. For my style of play, mainly a rhythmer, anything lighter is just too weak and wimpy and tend to stretch out of tune/wear out too fast.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tig View Post
    I've also just loaded 10's on the acoustic ... I wanted to match the feel of my electrics. ...
    I use 10's (D'add EJ-15 or equivalent), typed as 'Extra Lights' for an acoustic, for the same reason on my Ovation Celeb CS257, as other than the 3rd/G, they're a close enough match to approximate the feel/touch of my electrics. Since tone/volume on it (or any A/E) can be shaped by its pre-amp and/or whatever it's plugged into, the lighter gauge is fine.
    ...Why are acoustic strings so heavy?
    Unless it's an A/E and playing unplugged isn't your thing with it, then the heavier gauges like 12's (D'add EJ-16 or equiv.), actually typed a 'Light Gauge' for acoustics, serve the purpose of generating more robust tone & stronger volume with a lighter touch than 10's are capable of producing.

    I had been using 10's on my ancient Guild D40 because it's so freakin' fragile, but I just switched back up to 12's because I recently sold both of my Takamine Santa Fe's that, although A/E's, I played them mostly unplugged and used 12's on them to give them a stronger voice. Now that the Old Lady is back to being my main squeeze acoustic, she sings way, way better with 12's than 10's. I brought her action way down to comp for the heavier gauge and do a bit more hand cal's warming up to get my grip up to speed.
    ^^
    AXES: Fender '81 The STRAT, '12 Standard Tele, '78 Musicmaster Bass, '13 CN-240SCE Thinline; Rickenbacker '82 360-12BWB; Epiphone '05 Casino, '08 John Lennon EJ-160E; Guild '70 D-40NT; Ovation '99 Celebrity CS-257; Yamaha '96 FG411CE-12; Washburn '05 M6SW Mando, '08 Oscar Schmidt OU250Bell Uke; Johnson '96 JR-200-SB Squareneck Reso; Hofner '07 Icon B-Bass; Ibanez '12 AR-325. AMPS: Tech 21 Trademark 10; Peavey ValveKing Royal 8; Fender Acoustonic 90, Passport Mini, Mini Tonemaster; Marshall MS-2 Micro Stack; Behringer BX-108 Thunderbird; Tom Scholz Rockman. PEDALS/FX: Boss ME-50; Yamaha EMP100; Stage DE-1; Samson C-Com 16 L.R. Baggs ParaAcoustic D.I; MXR EQ-10.

  14. #14
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    I use 10's but have used 9's on the Strat as it's a bit easier to play but I've since moved the Strat to 10's as well. I like the sound much better.
    On my acoustics I've used 10's and 11's but like the 10's so I can do a bit of bending when needed.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman View Post
    I've started using 6's and tuning down a full step. They sound really heavy and I can totally shred!
    That's nothing. I use 6s on my _bass_.

    Actually I use GHS Boomers .010-.046 on my guitar and DR Hi Beams .045-.105 on bass, both in standard tuning.
    Axen: Jackson DK2M, Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster, Reverend Warhawk 390, Taylor 914ce, ESP LTD Surveyor-414
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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by marnold View Post
    That's nothing. I use 6s on my _bass_.
    I hear ya, but I use 4's on ma base. I can sound just like Steve Harris. dinggagadinggagding

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

  17. #17
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    13's on my Epiphone Sheraton, 10's on my Jackson DNKY, 10's on my Takamine, and I forgot what's on my bass.

  18. #18
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    Welcome to The Fret, JazzFan.
    There are plenty of jazz fans here, so you should enjoy the place. (I grew up listening to and seeing the past jazz greats play live)

    Drop by the Fret Players section and introduce yourself when you get a chance. We're suckers for gear, musical influences, favorite artists, etc.
    Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
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  19. #19
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    I use 9-42 on my longer scale guitars and 10-46 on shorter scale guitars. For years I used 10s on everything but that was when I was playing all the time.

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

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