San Dimas - How slinky is too slinky?

[Flask28]

I recently resetup my San Dimas with 9's tuned down a half step. I was using 9's before and I knew it would get a little looser feeling but woha, it's looooose at Eb. Not too much so, but on the edge of too much so if you know what I mean.

After a few weeks with it I've grown to like it, most aspects of it at least. Galloping and fast riffing is a little harder to pick and I'm working harder to keep fretted notes in tune. I feel like I have more control now, sorta, but my control needs some work. Like I stepped up in weights or something.

Am I crazy, should I be using 10's or 9/10 hybrids?

 

[Briman24]

I use 10's and have 7 charvel with some in e flat and some standard. I find e flat picking feels different and more challenging for speed picking. Funny though i have been using heavy pics for decades and by mistake picked up a medium and noticed it was easier to control so now i use mediums only. I dig in alot to so mediums are forgiving and comfortable.

 

[Briman24]

I used 9's a long time ago and was always breaking the high e string after string got old. Very rarely do i break a 10 now.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

On a 25.5", I use 10's for Eb. 9's would be way too slinky for me.

 

[stratjacket]

I love 9's in Eb. It's what I used to play as a teenager. I went through just about everything and came back to 9's in Eb. It's just like a comfortable pair of jeans and sounds great.

 

[Nigel]

Try pure nickels, like Fender 150's. Ed used pure nickel tuned down to Eb.

 

[311boogieman]

On my pointy guitars I kept dropping in tuning and playing heavier stuff to where now I'm in Drop C and running .11s and thinking of moving to .12s lol but I found my happy place. Going back to .09s now would be hard for me. I can bend fine with the thicker strings so that's all that matters to me.

 

[Flask28]

I love 9's in Eb. It's what I used to play as a teenager. I went through just about everything and came back to 9's in Eb. It's just like a comfortable pair of jeans and sounds great.

Ok, yeah, I should have commented on that part - the axe has never sounded as good as it does right now. Part of why I've been making an effort to adapt to it. And outrageous 80's vibrato is pretty effortless. But doublestops are landing sour more often, for sure.

 

[Nigel]

Fender 150's have higher string tension than nickel plated steel, like Ernie Ball slinky's.

>Let that sink in<

>Unpacked enough for you?<

hehehehe

I kid, I kid.

 

[Shask]

That is why I like the 9-46 set. Still slinky, but a little extra on top for riffing.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

I prefer 10s at Eb.

I wish there were hybrid sets that were the reverse of the usuals ones - thick tops, light bottoms. The Pam Anderson model.

 

[psychodave]

I use GHS boomers tunes to Eb on my Charvels. I love it.

 

[paulyc]

Shit I’ve used .009s in Eb for years and years, sometimes I use .008s if I can find them !

 

[Flask28]

Fender 150's have higher string tension than nickel plated steel, like Ernie Ball slinky's.

>Let that sink in<

>Unpacked enough for you?<

hehehehe

I kid, I kid.

Yeah, no, I caught it the first time. I would have slung it back if you weren't on to something.

 

[Flask28]

I wish there were hybrid sets that were the reverse of the usuals ones - thick tops, light bottoms. The Pam Anderson model.

I think you have opportunity by the tail there, sir!

 

[kunos]

Get a set of 9.5 and live happy in Eb! Pretty much same feel as 9s in E standard.

 

[SpiderWars]

^ This is what works for me.

Strats in standard tuning get 9s.
Strats in Eb or Les Pauls in standard get 9.5s
Les Pauls in Eb get 10s.
They all have about the same level of slinkiness.

 

[Racerxrated]

That is why I like the 9-46 set. Still slinky, but a little extra on top for riffing.

This. I had the same issue with my 09 Plum SoCal. Plays so effortlessly but at a bit of a cost until I went with a hybrid set.

 

[Devin]

I like em as slinky as possible. As long as it stays in tune I'm good

I personally always use Hybrid Slinkies (9-46) in drop D on my 25.5" axes

 

[stratjacket]

A few days ago I did try a set of 9.5 - 44 in Eb in one guitar. It was good too, not a drastic difference. Now that it’s been in one guitar for a few days I can’t tell much of a difference when I switch between guitars.