Billy Gibbons plays what....!?

[duhvoodooman***]

I've read multiple places that he uses 8's, but haven't ever heard he uses 7's. Maybe that statement comes from the fact that his custom string set from Dunlop is available with a 7-gauge high E (7-9-11-20-30-38), though they're offered in heavier gauges, too.

From a Guitar World Q&A with the good Reverend a couple of years ago:

Q: Do you really use .008 gauge strings? If so, how do you keep them from flapping when detuning? And how do you get such a great tone, since I have always believed the bigger the strings, the better the tone?

B.G.: I, too, once believed in the heavier gauge string as a superior tone source. However, thanks to the graciousness of B.B. King I learned that a lighter gauge string offers superior playing comfort. Detuning requires some adjustment of attack, approach and feel. Try it. You may like it.

[jtees4]

I've read multiple places that he uses 8's, but haven't ever heard he uses 7's. Maybe that statement comes from the fact that his custom string set from Dunlop is available with a 7-gauge high E (7-9-11-20-30-38), though they're offered in heavier gauges, too.

From a Guitar World Q&A with the good Reverend a couple of years ago:

Q: Do you really use .008 gauge strings? If so, how do you keep them from flapping when detuning? And how do you get such a great tone, since I have always believed the bigger the strings, the better the tone?

B.G.: I, too, once believed in the heavier gauge string as a superior tone source. However, thanks to the graciousness of B.B. King I learned that a lighter gauge string offers superior playing comfort. Detuning requires some adjustment of attack, approach and feel. Try it. You may like it.

I have heard that BB King used to tell that to a lot of the rock/blues guys he's played with over the years. Let's face it, Iommi has some of the heaviest sounds around and has always done it with 8's....so obviously string gauge doesn't matter as much as some people think.....I do think heavier gauge is needed for clean sounds aka jazz etc. I generally played 8's in the late 70's when I was gigging heavily, I remember trying 7's at that time (a place in NYC had them)....but I found them too light. Then over the years I worked my way to 9's and 10's. These days I generally find 9's perfect, and I do have some hand problems and they still work fine.