Really Great String Gauge Video...

[Gahr]

I used up my remaining stash of 3 sets of 10’s over the weekend, just replaced the strings on the three guitars that had the oldest sets. So now, stringless, I plan to buy a case of 9’s and start working them in. It’s been over 20 years since I strung a guitar up with 9’s so kind of curious how this will go.

I plan on doing the same thing. I've got a couple of 10 sets left, but next time I get a new supply, it will be 9s. Just for the hell of it really. I might stick with 11s or 10s on my slide guitars though, because the added tension makes it easier to avoid fretting with the slide.

 

[gball]

I plan on doing the same thing. I've got a couple of 10 sets left, but next time I get a new supply, it will be 9s. Just for the hell of it really. I might stick with 11s or 10s on my slide guitars though, because the added tension makes it easier to avoid fretting with the slide.

I'm going to wait until, basically, all of my guitars need to have new strings. I'm gonna go all the way in and just spend a Saturday afternoon changing them all out at the same time.

 

[smitty_p]

These are the go to:



However, I'm not happy with my G-string, so I'm gonna do something there, not sure what, but I'm gonna fix it; maybe nut action, maybe string gauge change, maybe both.

Try a set with a wound G string. I use that on all my guitars.

On my guitars with 10s, I buy a D’Addario set with a wound .018 G string. On my guitars with 9s, I swap the stock, plain G string with a wound .017 string.

 

[jjudas]

I've tried 9s, 10s and 11s. I have 9s on one of my 25.5 scale guitars and the rest are 10s except for acoustics which are 13s. 10-46 strings just feel right to me. 9-42s are like spaghetti. I use to play with 8s in the 70s and 80s. I just recently switched some of my guitars from 9s to 10s because I really did not like the feel of 9s.

 

[syscokid]

Too bad this thread wasn't created just a couple days sooner. A friend gifted me a $50 Amazon card for this past Christmas. One week ago I finally decided that some guitar strings would be a good idea to get with this deal. So, I ordered 4 sets of the Ernie Ball Paradigms in my usual 10-46's...

 

[Thatbastarddon]

Too bad this thread wasn't created just a couple days sooner. A friend gifted me a $50 Amazon card for this past Christmas. One week ago I finally decided that some guitar strings would be a good idea to get with this deal. So, I ordered 4 sets of the Ernie Ball Paradigms in my usual 10-46's...

That’s a bummer...if you really want to try 9s.
Are you unhappy with your usual string gauges?
Do you feel a need for a softer feel?
Do you need to “lighten up”?

 

[syscokid]

That’s a bummer...if you really want to try 9s.
Are you unhappy with your usual string gauges?
Do you feel a need for a softer feel?
Do you need to “lighten up”?

NO

NO

YES

 

[gball]

I think I switched to GHS Boomer 10's because I read an article about Randy Rhoades and that's what he used. Really. And I liked them and never looked back or thought again about it other than occasionally trying a different brand of 10's and not liking them compared to the Boomers.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

I think I switched to GHS Boomer 10's because I read an article about Randy Rhoades and that's what he used. Really. And I liked them and never looked back or thought again about it other than occasionally trying a different brand of 10's and not liking them compared to the Boomers.

I was late to the party with Boomers for guitar(I had used them on bass occasionally), but I’ve gotta say...they’ve been excellent.

 

[eSGEe]

Mr. Grumpy here's the cure for your nut action and G-string problems, buy a Godin guitar. problem solved.View attachment 37615

No THIS is the cure for my NUT action and HER G string problems

 

[bea]

Depends on the guitar. Some sound great with thick and fat strings (LaBella '015 flatwounds on an old Tele with a thick neck), some definitely need thinner strings. My SG for example plays best with '010 or maybe '011 rounds, our chinese SG copy plays great with '012 flats. Such thick strings on the thin neck of the Gibson would need to massive resonances of the neck itself. Which You don't want.

 

[Pissed Plexi]

Try a set with a wound G string. I use that on all my guitars.

On my guitars with 10s, I buy a D’Addario set with a wound .018 G string. On my guitars with 9s, I swap the stock, plain G string with a wound .017 string.

what does having it wound do for you? I've never tried this...

 

[smitty_p]

what does having it wound do for you? I've never tried this...

It mellows out the G string just a touch and, to my ear, makes for smoother chords. This is especially apparent on Stratocasters with vintage stagger pole pieces. Using a wound G softens out some of that Strat spikiness. It's also worth considering that wound G strings were normal when the Strat, and other early electric guitars, were made. However, Fender kept the vintage stagger, even when the guitar-playing public transitioned to a plain G. However, strings are cheaper than pickups, so that is the easiest approach! Also, there is a more consistent timbre between notes on the D string and the same notes on the G string. I feel like the overall tone is better balanced.

Switching to a wound G was the single largest tone improvement I've experienced with my Strat. I liked it so much I made the change to the rest of my guitars, too (well, I haven't done it to the '74 SG, but I will at my next string change on that guitar). I like the effect on those guitars, too. I even have a wound G on my Jackson Dinky! But, the effect is most notable on Strats.

I buy my strings from Juststrings.com. I also buy about half a dozen D'Addario wound .017 strings at a time, so I can customize the sets of 9s on my other guitars.

One other thing, I feel like a wound G string stays in tune better. The core wire on a wound G is much thinner than a plain G. The core wire is more like the high E in thickness.

Keep in mind, if you use a wound G, you will need to re-intonate that saddle. In most cases, the G saddle will end up even with, or just slightly ahead of the D saddle. This is unlike the usual result when using a plain G string where the G saddle is set back behind the D saddle.

 

[Col Mustard]

Great video, I've been using tens on one SG and 11s on
the other. I might try a lighter gauge next.


"Size does matter, Mr. Bond..." --Holly Goodhead

 

[Pissed Plexi]

It mellows out the G string just a touch and, to my ear, makes for smoother chords. This is especially apparent on Stratocasters with vintage stagger pole pieces. Using a wound G softens out some of that Strat spikiness. It's also worth considering that wound G strings were normal when the Strat, and other early electric guitars, were made. However, Fender kept the vintage stagger, even when the guitar-playing public transitioned to a plain G. However, strings are cheaper than pickups, so that is the easiest approach! Also, there is a more consistent timbre between notes on the D string and the same notes on the G string. I feel like the overall tone is better balanced.

Switching to a wound G was the single largest tone improvement I've experienced with my Strat. I liked it so much I made the change to the rest of my guitars, too (well, I haven't done it to the '74 SG, but I will at my next string change on that guitar). I like the effect on those guitars, too. I even have a wound G on my Jackson Dinky! But, the effect is most notable on Strats.

I buy my strings from Juststrings.com. I also buy about half a dozen D'Addario wound .017 strings at a time, so I can customize the sets of 9s on my other guitars.

One other thing, I feel like a wound G string stays in tune better. The core wire on a wound G is much thinner than a plain G. The core wire is more like the high E in thickness.

Keep in mind, if you use a wound G, you will need to re-intonate that saddle. In most cases, the G saddle will end up even with, or just slightly ahead of the D saddle. This is unlike the usual result when using a plain G string where the G saddle is set back behind the D saddle.

Thanx for that as well as where to order them. Gonna do it see what happens. What you've said makes sense. Sometimes a guy just has to try something different. Now to learn how to intonate...