9s vs 10s

[TheMagicEight]

All other factors equal.

 

[mboogman]

10's, because 9's are invisible to me since I don't believe in them.

 

[colimofsmoke]

13's

 

[The Hoff]

11s for me.

 

[Mailman1971]

I tried 10's.....but been using 9's forever......they just feel RIGHT to me.

 

[spirit7]

Depends on the axe. My PRS's have 9s but you cannot play a Les Paul with 9s...

-C

 

[thiswaythatway]

9's suck.

 

[bananaladonpcp]

13's

+1

 

[rlord1974]

A heavier string gauge will always produce a "bigger" tone.

 

[TheMagicEight]

I'm curious because I notice all these guys are using VERY thin strings and get huge guitar tone (AC/DC is 9s I think; pretty sure ZZ Top & Black Sabbath are 8s or 7s). I used 9s tuned to Eb for a long time, then a couple of years ago switched to 12s when I heard people saying how much bigger they sound. I think I changed pickups at the same time, so I never really got a direct comparison.

Anyway, over the last year or so I've been slowly going back to the thinner strings. Today was the first time in years I played 9s in Eb. And of course there's no standard measure for what sound "big", but for some reason the thinner strings - same brand (and age), same guitar, same pickup, same amp, etc - just sound bigger and better to me. There's definitely more high end, but when the action is adjusted properly, I just haven't felt there's any less low end. Seems like with the bigger strings, they can sustain better, but I always felt the high end was a little choked.

For now, I'm liking 9s

 

[mojotone]

In theory, a thinner gauge string tuned to the same pitch on the same guitar, should vibrate longer with the same pick attack. Thus more sustain.

With that being said, all factors are never equal. I like different gauges based on scale length and tunings.

24 3/4 scale Gibson tuned to E-standard = 10-46, tune the same guitar down 1/2 step to Eb = 11-49

25 1/2 scale Floyd Rose Jackson SL-1 tuned to E-standard = 9-46 Custom Lights

The trick is trying to make all the guitars play somewhat the same.

 

[Mudder]

I like EB slinky hybrid 9-46 for all my guitars.

 

[tripstan]

Couldn't agree more with mojotone and magiceights posts. Glad you brought up all those fellas with great tone. I gradually went up in size from 9-10-11's over the years too.
I think you should really use the right gauge accordingly to the scale length of the neck, style of guitar and accordingly to how aggressive or light your touch is. As of now I use 9's on most stuff usually. If I'm gonna tune down to open D or C. Then I usually use 11's.

 

[reverymike]

A heavier string gauge will always produce a "bigger" tone.

I think it depends on the player. EVH on 9s is going to produce a bigger tone than most of us here on 11s. (I'm guessing many will disagree, but those who have stood next to him while he's playing would back me up here).

BUT, the question is, would EVH sound bigger on 11s as compared to his 9s?

I play 11s, both standard pitch and a half step down. Love the tension on the strings, and I find it difficult to play guitars with 9s.

 

[benduncan]

i use the les paul signature strings, 9-11-16-26-36-46

perfect for me

 

[metalmaniac93]

I use 10-46 on all of my guitars.

 

[drewiv]

I like EB slinky hybrid 9-46 for all my guitars.

That was my answer.

 

[lespaul6]

10-46 is what I have been using on my strats and gibbys... I used 9's all through the mid to late 80's though. I think malmsteen uses 8s as does billy gibbons... no one could rightfully say their tone is thin!

 

[thunda]

Depends on the axe. My PRS's have 9s but you cannot play a Les Paul with 9s...

-C

oh yes I can, since '82

 

[sjk]

Been using 9-42 with standard E tuning for all 27 yrs of my hall of fame basement guitar player career. Sounds plenty big enough to me.