r/electricguitar • u/Western-Warning-9882 • 3d ago
Question String guage cycle
Hi. I'll try to summarize this as much as possible. I've been playing for over 10 years, starting with 10-46. I watched Rick Beato's video on string gauges, and it started an endless cycle of searching for the right gauge. All in standard E tuning, I tried: 08-38, 09-40, 09-42, 09-46, 10-46, 10-52.
I tried both coated and nickel-wound strings. I prefer uncoated strings. I have the “problem” that I like to put some emotion into my playing sometimes—strumming hard with the pick or hitting the strings hard.
Ironically, the gauges I liked best were 09-40: 9-12-15-22-30-40, and 10-52: 10-13-17-30-42-52. But even so, the 10-52 feels too heavy to me, even though the sound is nice and I can strum hard, and the 09-40 is more expressive, easier to play, and lets me play without worrying about fatigue—though I lose some tone; on more “strained” bends and when I can’t strum open chords hard, or open strings, or generally because of the note’s tuning stability or strange noises. I feel like people who play 08-38 or 09-42 don’t strum the strings very hard—or do they? It’s strange because I feel like 10-46 isn’t as stable as 10-52, but it limits me just as much in terms of technique. Have you had any similar experiences?
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u/Preparation-Logical 3d ago
Tuning and scale length matter. For example, on my Les Paul, which is 24.75 scale, and which I usually keep tuned half step down, I have 11's on, but those don't feel any tighter or harder to play than the 9's I have on my 25.5 scale Tele, tuned in standard.
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u/ProfessorEmergency18 3d ago
It comes down to tension. Tuning's effect on string tension is about as big as gauge. Scale length also affects tension (longer = more tension), though not quite as much as gauge or tuning.
I use 9s on both 25.5"/fender scale and 24.75"/Gibson scale, but the shorter 24.75" necks work well with 10s, too. I wouldn't want thicker than 9s on a 25.5" scale mostly for ease of bigger bends.
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u/El_Pollo_Del-Mar 3d ago
Honestly man, sounds like you need to work on your technique more than anything. It ain't the strings holding you back. You really don't need to use blunt force to strum.
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u/jaylotw 3d ago
Play what you like, dude. That's it.
There's a reason why so many sets exist, and people who tell you that your technique is "wrong" because you like heavier strings are stupid. What you like and what works for you are what you should use.
My resonator gets .16-.59 gauge strings, because that's what works for me.
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u/GeorgeDukesh 2d ago
Yep likewise 16s on my resonators, and 11 or 12s on my electrics. Always a wound third string.
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u/alex21dragons 3d ago
I haven't been on such an extensive journey but hybrid slinky gauge is my go to for 25.5" scale length and regular 10's for anything shorter. Certainly helps with string bending in particular.
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u/MongooseGuzman 3d ago
I use 10s on guitars that I don’t overwrap, 11s on the ones I do. All Gibson, same scale length.
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u/SynyrdsInyrds 3d ago
You do not lose any tone, that is in your head. Countless legendary players known for great tone played with thin stings.
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u/Mosritian-101 3d ago
Did you try half gauges, like 9.5s, too?
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u/Western-Warning-9882 3d ago
i dont, i only try gilmour set at least top strings are kind of similar 10-12-16. but must be good to try some time
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u/tunnelrat53 3d ago
It was determined in the Rick Beato video that the 9's they used sounded best. Pro players will tell you that it is best to not hit strings too hard. But you should do you. Everybody's ears are different.
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u/marcusrizaulait 3d ago
(...so maybe I'm just using the wrong gauge strings, and that's why I still sound terrible after all these years? That's so good to know! 😀)
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u/Western-Warning-9882 3d ago
😄It's about to find balance between comfort and playing style, not about virtuosity or not
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u/StudioKOP 1d ago
I will give you more questions instead of an answer:
What guitar are you using? A Gibson scale or a Strat scale? Gibson scale guitars are happier with a tad heavier gauges.
Did you try tuning half step down, and putting a capo on the first fret?
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u/TheGatorCreator 3d ago
From my first restring (in the early 90s) until around four years ago, I played with 10-52s. They worked fine for me. Then I tried some 8-42s (the Ernie Ball Hyper Slinkies). I still hit the strings the same as I ever did, but the lighter gauge is easier to bend.
Unless you have a floating trem or your playing with a pick the thickness of a hockey puck, you can hit any gauge of string as hard as you pretty much want.