8-48 gauge...tuned down?? 1.5mm picks?!

[carlygtr]

I've used his gauges in standard tuning and it was too light for me. The only reason I guess he does it is he's been using threads for strings his whole playing life. He's used to it.

 

[dfrattaroli]

Doesn't Mark Day do something similar? Light strings, drop D or something?

 

[maddnotez]

Sounds like an expensive habit.

 

[Mark Day]

Doesn't Mark Day do something similar? Light strings, drop D or something?

9-42 standard and or 1/2 step down.
Not that I'm even on the same planet, but same gauge and tuning VH uses.

I played 10-52 standard for years and developed some tennis elbow issues, so it was gauge down or stop playing I chose to gauge down.

Lately I wake up with incredibly stiff, sore knuckles on my thumb(right) and baby finger(left)...not good at all.
Being Mr. Thick Strings has not been kind to me.

Mark

 

[MrDan666]

Same here Mark... Used to play heavy strings and high action, then one day got tendonitis..

Been playing 9-42 in Eb ever since and my hands feel much better.

 

[Shark Diver]

Exact opposite for me. 12 or 13s standard. When I try and move to lighter gauges that's when my elbow starts to hurt. Weird I know,

 

[racerevlon]

If you're not a beater this isn't a problem. I have a set of Billy Gibbons. 007s on a Les Paul -- they play great and you can get MAD bends out of them. Never broken one...

 

[chumbucket]

Lately I wake up with incredibly stiff, sore knuckles on my thumb(right) and baby finger(left)...not good at all.

Mark

Likewise, I hope it isn't arthritis setting in.

 

[Rob R]

Have carpel tunnel woes from my last job, Now i use 8s, i wont go back, Even with the Floyde Rose trem i hardly break a string!!

 

[racerevlon]

If you're not a beater this isn't a problem. I have a set of Billy Gibbons. 007s on a Les Paul -- they play great and you can get MAD bends out of them. Never broken one...

what if your a master beater?

Keep it to yourself -- don't want to scare the children...

 

[shredhead7]

It seems like they would play like spaghetti, way too flimsy. I moved up to heavier string gauges, because I didn't like how the pick felt like there wasn't enough resistance. I was at 11's in standard, still emulating Yngwie's whole step vibrato. For giggles I put 9-42's on a guitar and I was over bending like crazy. I suppose it is something that you would get used to, but it was hard to play for me.

 

[Blix]

I have my 88' Fender YJM set up with period correct Yngwie strings: 008-011-014-022-032-046 and tuned down a half step.
And after getting used to it I'd say it's a key part of his sound.
Takes a really relaxed left hand to not play out of tune with the scallops and spaghetti strings for sure

But after a while it's just awesome, and I love the quick attack and feel. Doesn't sound thin at all IMO.

Here's a quick clip, excuse the horrible clipping backing track (which came clipped)

https://soundcloud.com/amund-blix/strat-5150-hack


I'm obviously no Yngwie, but at least I got that last high E note right!

 

[Tones]

Your elbows hurt? hm I never had that problem ever while playing guitar. With my playing style, I never go under .011 - .054. i've played guitars okay with .009's but it's a pain in the ass. I can't imagine .008's feel like

 

[crankyrayhanky]

8-48? Is that a custom set? I never saw that before. I had thicker strings on my Ystrat and it just didn't react the same way...I think I went back to 9-46 in standard E (my only guitar I have setup to E, lol)

 

[Shark Diver]

Your elbows hurt? hm I never had that problem ever while playing guitar.

Your lucky. It doesn't just effect guitar, but everything. Can make simple task painful. Not fun.

 

[Zap]

Not for me. 10s on Strat and LP and I wouldn't be opposed to putting 11s on the LP because of the shorter scale.

 

[JDwyer]

Light strings/heavy picks work for Malmsteen as he has a very light touch.

 

[Ventura]

I use 10's and 11's on my usual tunings (standard, half-step, and drop D) and drop tunings (full step down Drop C or further) respectively.

It's nice that Yngwie uses what he uses. Also really nice that Billy G. uses 7s. SRV apparently used up to 12s, and that dude from FFDP uses 12s as well.

I guess we all get used to what we get used to.

 

[IndyWS6]

9-42 in standard and Eb with .46mm picks (old school Dunlop Delrin). Even at that, I can easily "squeeze" chords and single notes noticeably out of tune.

.007's and .008's are out of the question. I have the finesse of an ape