String gauge question

[EyesOfTheSouth!]

All my guitars are tuned E standard and have 10-46 strings. Been thinking about dropping a gauge since my hands are not what they used to be.

Before I move to 9’s, I think I’m going to adjust by using 9.5-44’s for a bit. Will moving from 10’s to 9.5’s require setup/truss adjustments? Or is it too minor of a change to affect anything?

 

[ChurchHill]

Probably, but not a huge adjustment, nothing more than I have to make due to seasonal changes in temp/humidity.

Edit: When I went from 10s to 9s years ago, I went with a heavy bottom, 9-46. For me, that seemed to keep the bottom tighter, give it a little more weight.

 

[Clay K]

I’ve always used 9-42 except when I drop tune. I replace the 42 with a 50. Keeps tension about even

 

[Geo]

Same here, I tried the 9's. Felt and sounded thin except when heaped with distortion.

Actually sounded better, tighter, with heaps of distortion but that's not how I play now.

So I went back to 10's and lowered the action.

 

[LP Freak]

9.5 to 44 feel great. I use those on my Strats and 10- 46 on my LP’s

 

[ZEN Amps]

All my guitars are tuned E standard and have 10-46 strings. Been thinking about dropping a gauge since my hands are not what they used to be.

Before I move to 9’s, I think I’m going to adjust by using 9.5-44’s for a bit. Will moving from 10’s to 9.5’s require setup/truss adjustments? Or is it too minor of a change to affect anything?

Unlikely, but worth checking the relief before and after.

Unless you're really unlucky there will be nothing else to look at (bridge, nut etc).

 

[Floyd Eye]

Change the strings individually. You’ll be fine.

I can’t imagine regular Slinky’s being too much, but everything ain’t for everybody. I don’t think I’ve had 9s on a guitar in a few decades.

 

[tjnx]

If your action is low it may buzz a little bit as the neck straightens but for just trying it out you'll be fine. If you like the gauge and need micro-adjustments the truss rod cant hit try different brands as they can fill in the gap tension-wise

 

[ChurchHill]

Exactly, whether truss rod adjustment is necessary depends on several things, including your preferred action. Higher actions are more tolerable of minor tension changes where super low action can require frequent adjustments. Also depends on how stable the neck is. For instance, I've got a few necks that bend really easily and would require adjustment, and a few others that are solid as a rock and never need any changes. Quarter-sawn, flat-sawn, multi-piece construction plays a big part in that and one is not better than any other, just different.

Ultimately, changing from one gauge to the next, like 10s to 9s, is roughly the equivalent of changing from standard tuning to Eb.

As pointed out, it's a good idea to check the relief before and after, if for no other reason than to know where you started from and can adjust to get back there. And it'll take a day or so for the neck to settle in to the change in tension.

Trying out a new gauge isn't going to hurt anything and at least you'll know if you like it or not. Just remember, when adjusting the truss rod, don't turn more than about a quarter turn at once without rechecking. It shouldn't take too much effort to turn, so don't force it. Finally, some vintage style truss rods, only tighten, so if you need to loosen, it will take longer for the neck to settle. Modern truss-rods can adjust either way. Don't over adjust and recheck after a day.

 

[Little B]

Youll probably need a slight neck adjustment. Especially if you use a floating trem.Th bridge will probably need releveled,adjust springs accordingly.
I'm 10-46 in eflat and 9.5- 46 in a440.

 

[gibsonash]

All my guitars are tuned E standard and have 10-46 strings. Been thinking about dropping a gauge since my hands are not what they used to be.

Before I move to 9’s, I think I’m going to adjust by using 9.5-44’s for a bit. Will moving from 10’s to 9.5’s require setup/truss adjustments? Or is it too minor of a change to affect anything?

Go 09/42 you will like it more than you think .

 

[Kelly]

Some guitars are touchier than others and might need a slight trussrod adjustment. I dropped back to 9s a couple of years ago for the same reasons, except on my Strat (feels fine with 10s). The humbucker guitars sound tighter now, and I have more control.

 

[stratjacket]

I made this to quickly see tension options between 24.75", 25" and 25.5" scale lengths over different sets of strings. I wanted to be able to change strings and tuning and keep the tension in the same ballpark.

String gauges in Yellow along the sides with tunings and scale lengths across the top.
NOTE: These measurements are from the D'Addario website, their string tension calculator. I went through each scenario and wrote it down in this document

Example for the OP: 10-46 Standard E on 25.5" scale guitar has 102 lbs of tension, if you drop to 9.5-44 that equals 91 lbs and 9-42 equals 84lbs

 

[dave74]

I prefer 9-44 at E,,,,,,,but I currently have nothing tuned above Eb with 9.5-46 turbo slinky.
You have to occasionally make adjustments even when not changing a thing, just because humidity changes, unless you have great climate control year round.