Strings , 10's vs. 09's preference?

[LIA1]

11-52...but w/ a wound G string. Once I found these, there was no going back.

 

[HeimBrent]

Daddario 10s for me. I switched to 11's for a few minutes last week and hated the feel.

I'm actually having that problem to a certain extent right now, just the other way around. After having played way to much on a guitar with 11s for the past few weeks, playing my other guitars that are set up with 10s feels... Wierd. Pretty sure it will pass, though. I'll be on a forced two-week break from playing my guitars soon, and when I come back I'll put new strings on the one with 11s, so all my guitars once again have 10s. Should solve it.

 

[hawkeye17]

10's on my strat type guitars and 11's on my Les Paul.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Daddario 10s for me. I switched to 11's for a few minutes last week and hated the feel.

I'm actually having that problem to a certain extent right now, just the other way around. After having played way to much on a guitar with 11s for the past few weeks, playing my other guitars that are set up with 10s feels... Wierd. Pretty sure it will pass, though. I'll be on a forced two-week break from playing my guitars soon, and when I come back I'll put new strings on the one with 11s, so all my guitars once again have 10s. Should solve it.

But if you are used to the feel of 11's better, shouldn't you stick with 11's?

 

['63-Strat]

You guys playing with 11's actually play any notes above the 5th fret? Or are just chugaluggin'.

I'm junk at improvising, but I play written solos and stuff. Mostly Gilmour, Hendrix, Page etc. The feel of that wound G string is great. I really feel like I can play faster with heavier strings, they don't move as much. You wonder why old blues guys like BB King makes those faces when they play... you try bending that heavy ass string and see what kind of face you make!

BB King's sig strings are 10-54 which isn't that heavy and I've heard that he's used .08s too.

I use 10-52 on both fender and gibson scale length in standard fwiw (a fair bit of Drop D stuff too). I've used up to .13s on my strat in Eb in the past but for higher gain stuff I don't really like strings that heavy for leads. It comes down to personal preference and how much/what type of playing you're doing too. I've had wrist problems in the past that probably wouldn't have happened or been as bad if I was using .09s so that's worth considering too.

 

[jlbaxe]

I use 9s and 10s In standard tuning. I did play a tele the other day that I really liked and believe it had 10s on it. I'm afraid to go back and see, I might buy it.

 

[glpg80]

10-46 in D standard 25.5" scale

currently thinking about going to 10-52 for D standard 25.5" scale and 10-46 for Eb

currently i use 9-42's for Eb

nothing i own is ever in standard tuning.

 

[kasperjensen]

There is something to be said for the difference in tone.

Try one day and compare the sound between 11s and 09s...

 

[IHateRap]

I'm using Elixir 9's for std tuning and DR 10's for E flat and D. I think 10's are kind of pushing it for tuning a whole step down. I might try 11's or 12's next time.

 

[Shark Diver]

12s and 13s for me standard tuning. I keep trying to move down, but God lesser gauges just seem so loose. When I as gigging 4-5 times a week, 4-5 hours a night I had no problems with heavy gauges. Now that I don't play as much it hurts the elbow after a gig. Hence the effort to move down gauges.

Use whatever you like - great tones on all kinds of gauges.

 

[Tawlks]

Wish I could play like that at 16 mate, great playing

Thanks alot man. Means alot.

 

[Schaf]

I use 9's. Always have, always will. I do use 10's on my guitar that is tuned to D. Still feels funny to me.

Schaf

 

[dfrattaroli]

I use 9s and 10s. I prefer the 9s. Why fight the guitar? The best playing guitar I've ever had my hands on is my Blue Drip Suhr Modern and it has 9s on it. I read all these comments about tone being "better" with thicker strings and then I pick up this guitar and plug it in and laugh. I mean the difference between a 9 and a 10 is 1/1000th of an inch.

 

[ke2]

There is something to be said for the difference in tone.

Try one day and compare the sound between 11s and 09s...

There is a big difference in tone.

But an even bigger in feel

I can't play this https://soundcloud.com/knut-e/ke2-rvrdrgn

with 011s

My hands aren't just there

 

[boost]

I think the guitar dictates the string gauge. I have 11's on my Tele and LP Special and I love them. I tried them on other guitars and they feel too stiff. I have an Epi Fiebird that had 9's on it when I got it. I changed to 11's and it lost a certain snap and twang that I dug.

Try different gauges and see what works for each guitar. You may like the tone and feel of 8's! No right or wrong here.

 

[droptrd]

10s feel like dental floss to me. Im afraid to bend on them anymore. It feels like I could push the high E to the other side of the fret board.

 

[srinivassa]

metal and jazz -> jazz strings 12's
blues lead -> slinky 8's or 9's
blues/rock rythm/lead mix-> medium slinky 10's

 

[Dr. Swamp]

I prefer 11's on all my guitars in standard tuning. The only guitar I have a 10 on is my 7, 10-64 on my 26.5" scale 7 string.

 

[MARK1970]

I switched from 9-42 to 10 -46 two years ago. I love 10s. I do feel they have a better tone and it is more evident when playing with less or no gain. I also love the tension. 9s are just too lose, especially with a Floyd.

 

[Atropos_Project]

I've been playing 10's forever.... I've honestly never tried 11's, I would think they'd be a bit uncomfortable to bend for my womanly desk-jockey fingertips

9s just feel too rubbery to me, even moreso if you want to drop tuning for some songs.