11s v 10s v 9s v 8s...tone test

[SpiderWars]

You can skip to 11:37 to just hear them back to back. Everything else is same, only strings changed.

I like all my guitars to feel the same so I use 9s on regular tuned Strats and 9.5s on regular tuned Gibsons. But if I lower the tuning to Eb I'll increase the gage by 0.5 (so 9.5 on Strats and 10s on Gibsons). I have enough guitars that I pick a tuning for each one and pretty much stick with it aside from the occasional dropping low E to D. I have several floating Floyds so they always stay as-is.

 

[SoooRad]

I have pretty much always been a 9s guy, though I've gone up to 11s, and down to 8s. I quite liked the 8s after an initial adjustment. Don't really care for going heavier again.

I pretty much play in E and Eb, so its not like I'm getting too crazy with those gauges.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I have pretty much always been a 9s guy, though I've gone up to 11s, and down to 8s. I quite liked the 8s after an initial adjustment. Don't really care for going heavier again.

I pretty much play in E and Eb, so its not like I'm getting too crazy with those gauges.

I’m in the same boat. I was playing out a lot a few years ago. Was using 11’s in Eb. Quit the band, life got in the way, didn’t play as much in the last two years. Been trying get back in the swing, using 9’s in standard. I like it a lot. I honestly don’t notice enough tonal difference between gauges to warrant worrying too much over it. I think you get more dynamics with smaller gauges. They’re brighter, too. Easier to make squeal.

 

[DragonCrestPC]

I've always preferred thin strings. 9's on everything.

 

[CornNutz]

Strangely I like the 8's, and 11's the best. However I've played 11's forever so that might be why I like them here.

 

[Monkey Man]

If that's the old test I'm thinking of then cleans weren't compared, right?

If you distort the fuck out of anything, by definition you remove lows; that's how the physics rolls.

 

[SpiderWars]

If that's the old test I'm thinking of then cleans weren't compared, right?

If you distort the fuck out of anything, by definition you remove lows; that's how the physics rolls.

Correct, cleans were not compared and that's a great point. As mentioned in the video, Dave Friedman had told him to "just go to a lighter gage" to tighten up a distorted amp so that was the original context. I was just surprised at the difference and the amount of difference.

I also wish they would have played single-note stuff higher up the fretboard on the B and high E strings. Would 8s be too thin?

 

[Monkey Man]

Well, Yngwie seems to get away with it IIRC.

Oh, and yeah, thinner strings would "tighten up an amp" for mixing purposes because low-mid and low-end mud would be reduced, which only serves to prove that thicker strings sound fatter.

For those playing solo at home, thicker might be more-satisfying tone-wise, but for mixing, you're gonna high-pass the tracks anyway so not such a big deal IMHO; whatever feels comfortable, I reckon.

EDIT for a brief technical note:
High-passing distorted thick strings won't give exactly the same results as using thinner ones in the first place. You could get close, but the mud inherent in the thicker-stringed signal cannot technically be separated out completely. Both end results will work in a mix, but the thinner-stringed tracks will theoretically contain less undesirable information and therefore a greater proportion of "pure" / "untainted" sound.

 

[Rock Bodom]

Of all the tone things I've obsessed about over the years, string gauge is one of the least important to me. I think you should find the gauge that's most comfy to play, versus somewhat fighting a different gauge because you think you are getting better tone.

I've also long had a theory that even when people think they "hear" the difference in gauges, there's some factor of how they are subtly adjusting their playing style to compensate that's influencing their perception.

 

[Racerxrated]

If that's the old test I'm thinking of then cleans weren't compared, right?

If you distort the fuck out of anything, by definition you remove lows; that's how the physics rolls.

Correct, cleans were not compared and that's a great point. As mentioned in the video, Dave Friedman had told him to "just go to a lighter gage" to tighten up a distorted amp so that was the original context. I was just surprised at the difference and the amount of difference.

I also wish they would have played single-note stuff higher up the fretboard on the B and high E strings. Would 8s be too thin?

Not to me. The only difference I’ve noticed is with the A and low E, and I just put higher gauges on those. Went to 8s last yr and it was a great move. No hand soreness or ‘tightness’ at all.
If it’s good enough for Yngwie and Gibbons, among others it’s good enough for me. I’ve heard Gibbons also plays 7s.

 

[SpiderWars]

Yeah they mentioned lots of other names that used them in the video, he said Dweezil told him Frank used 7's. They said EVH used 9-40 (usually 9s are 9-42).

But regarding using the higher gages for A and E, that was sort of the point of the video and the tone test clearly illustrated it. They think the 8s and 9s sound better on the low strings. Tighter with distortion.

 

[SpiderWars]

Of all the tone things I've obsessed about over the years, string gauge is one of the least important to me. I think you should find the gauge that's most comfy to play, versus somewhat fighting a different gauge because you think you are getting better tone.

I've also long had a theory that even when people think they "hear" the difference in gauges, there's some factor of how they are subtly adjusting their playing style to compensate that's influencing their perception.

Yep, that's why I posted this. If they had said thicker strings sound better and illustrated it I would not even have posted it. It was only because they said, and clearly illustrated that thinner strings sound better with distortion (tone is subjective tho). I never really obsessed over it either, but apparently I should have because of the big difference it makes.

And they also addressed the second part of your post. If you drop from say 10s to 8s your right hand technique might need some adjustment. I liked the analogy of how your playing is affected if your monitor mix is way too hot, you try to compensate by playing differently (and usually not optimally).

 

[RaceU4her]

im really picky about my string tensions, not looking to alter my comfort playing for a minute difference in tone

 

[Racerxrated]

Of all the tone things I've obsessed about over the years, string gauge is one of the least important to me. I think you should find the gauge that's most comfy to play, versus somewhat fighting a different gauge because you think you are getting better tone.

I've also long had a theory that even when people think they "hear" the difference in gauges, there's some factor of how they are subtly adjusting their playing style to compensate that's influencing their perception.

Yep, that's why I posted this. If they had said thicker strings sound better and illustrated it I would not even have posted it. It was only because they said, and clearly illustrated that thinner strings sound better with distortion (tone is subjective tho). I never really obsessed over it either, but apparently I should have because of the big difference it makes.

And they also addressed the second part of your post. If you drop from say 10s to 8s your right hand technique might need some adjustment. I liked the analogy of how your playing is affected if your monitor mix is way too hot, you try to compensate by playing differently (and usually not optimally).

9s were fine for me from age 40-50, no worries at all. Before that i played 10s since I was a kid. I’d have days a few yrs ago where I’d fight to play well..that’s when I switched to 8s. I did notice a change in the high end of my tone; I had to drop my presence and treble a bit. Then there are days when I feel I should jump back to 10s as my left hand is too heavy lol. But once you get used to using a lighter touch it’s all good.

 

[thegame]

I’m going to muddy the water here. Rick only tested with one guitar and amp, right? I’ve always found some amps respond better being fed with a guitar setup featuring heavy strings and vice versa. Ever wonder why the Mark 2C+ needs to have the bass control at almost zero to not flub out? It was play tested with maple bodied super strats setup with 8 gauge strings. This is documented on TGP by one of the actual guys involved in its R & D. With such a lean sounding guitar, that amp’s bass control became useful lol!

In contrast, heavy gauge is a must if edge of breakup SRV or Malcolm Young tones are to be authentic. Thin gauges won’t provide that slamming, authoritative piano like dynamic that thick gauges achieve.

Myself, I prefer medium. 10.5 - 48 on a Gibson scale at standard tuning works for the tone I like and what my fingers can handle.