Billy Gibbons plays what....!?

[marnold***]

This is something that every new guitarist needs to know. There's always some blowhard who says you can't have "tone" without playing massive cables. Full disclosure: I play 10s because that's what I prefer. I end up grabbing 9s too hard and pulling chords sharp. That's actually a technique problem more than anything else. No sense in trying massive strings when you are just starting out. Once you've played a bunch and built up finger strength and callouses, try whatever you like! Premier Guitar had an article on this a few years back:

http://www.premierguitar.com/article...g_Myths_Part_1

Obviously here I'm focusing on standard tuning or Eb. It's different if you're doing drop C or something crazy. Then 8s or 9s would be unplayably slack I would think.

[helliott***]

I used to swear by 10s but have converted to 9s, in part because they give some relief to arthritic knuckles. More challenging on slide, but do-able as Warren Haynes has shown for years.

[tjcurtin1]

Full disclosure: I play 10s because that's what I prefer. I end up grabbing 9s too hard and pulling chords sharp. That's actually a technique problem more than anything else.

I use 10's for just the same reason...

[duhvoodooman***]

Full disclosure: I play 10s because that's what I prefer. I end up grabbing 9s too hard and pulling chords sharp.

I use 10's for just the same reason...

Same here. I'm so used to doing bends with 10's that I go way too sharp when I try 9's. I'm sure if I just stuck with them for some time, I'd adjust my technique accordingly. But 10's don't hamper me in any way, so I stick with 'em.