My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now. Check it out below! flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course

@Sig721Tau

3 жыл бұрын

Where's the hyperlink to the guitar website?

@gregrhodes203

3 жыл бұрын

Did you have to make any bridge or neck adjustments.?

@jimshorts6751

3 жыл бұрын

Months old, I know I know. But what does your pick-ups magnetic field do to string gauge ?🤔 I have my old pal 1965 Vox Lynx that I installed 1971 Mighty-Mites into and it is unplayable with light strings (9's or less). I'm not talking about the zero fret, I'm talking magnetic field power, 9's on this guitar will stick to the pick-up if i get too froggy. My rule of thumb when choosing strings is to install the thinnest possible that don't cause any mechanical issues and feel good to the hand. Its inconvenient as all get out to keep all those different sizes on hand but if it allows the guitar to sound "better", or just feel better, why not ? 👍

@harshtruth9148

3 жыл бұрын

after watching your video with rick and now yours i went ahead and changed my strings to 9's. I have the same tremelo with a string through body on my schecter omen 6. With the 9's i feel the GBE are just too slinky. it also interferes with my fingers when im playing chords. I prefer the 10's because it forces me to focus harder on my vibrato and bends. Also i find my guitar hates the 9's....it goes way out of tune very easily. i don't have locking tuners so its just too much. honestly the 10's just feel better for me but in Ricks video i definitely heard a huge difference in tone with the 9's...they sounded way better.

@gosman949

3 жыл бұрын

@@harshtruth9148 you need a good set up if you change to 9's.

I'm using the wrong hands.

@xNARCx

4 жыл бұрын

Naw. You definitely just need to buy at least 3 more guitars.

@redhugh123

4 жыл бұрын

NARC perhaps 5 new pedals too??

@aidanzimmer9482

4 жыл бұрын

andddd 16 more amps

@michaelskelton18

4 жыл бұрын

Me too, maybe you have mine. Sorry but I scarred the left one up a bit.

@carlhansen4837

4 жыл бұрын

Haha there is no laughing emoji only like..hahaha

Play nines, date tens and use amps that go to 11.

@srogers500

4 жыл бұрын

Make that T-shirt!

@JohnnyGuitarRocks

4 жыл бұрын

@@srogers500 excellent thought!

@diatonicjon

4 жыл бұрын

Ayyyyy~! Sounds like something Russ Parrish would say if Satchel weren't as reliably dumb

@StevenCasteelYT

4 жыл бұрын

I like how you didn't use the same word more than once.

@MetaphysicalMusician

4 жыл бұрын

👍🤘😎

I have always been a believer in heavier gauge strings. Recently, however, I had occasion to switch from .011s to .0095s on my Tele due to an ordering error. Thankfully I tried out the .0095s before sending them back. There was a profound tonal difference and now I’m a believer.

I dropped my string gauge from .010 to .009 a few years ago and every single benefit you mentioned is the exact same benefit I noticed. I even tried to go to .008 to see if I could improve it that much more, but it was way too light for my touch. I also dig in and play pretty heavy-handed. My vibratos are much more controlled with 9s and I'm hitting 2-step bends with very little effort.

I like 9’s. I think my guitars are using the wrong person. 😂

@roytofilovski9530

4 жыл бұрын

I was gonna write the same thing about my guitars. You beat me to it.

@jabberdouche

4 жыл бұрын

Yep ... mine too.

@zhaoxu05

4 жыл бұрын

Same here

@yunyun508

4 жыл бұрын

You need new guitar

@Rangechick

4 жыл бұрын

I keep fighting the urge to give up. I practice and am improving, but I do s...

in my 30 years of experience: don't go for the sound, go for the feeling! Go for the ones that make you play better, that let you feel comfortable, that make your bends more accurate... you can always change the sound with pickup balance, or even an Eq in front of signal chain (which also works to match guitar sounds)!

@venadoazul7663

3 жыл бұрын

exactly just use a compressor

@muhammadnajril5603

3 жыл бұрын

Aaahhhh finally someone with same opinion. I use 11 because i frequently overbend with thinner string, and you know how horrible a solo with overbend. But speaking about comfortable no doubt 9 or even 8 is the best.

@thatez

3 жыл бұрын

thats a great point but i see it differently - go for the sound because you will get used to anything. if you learn to be staying in your comfort zone - especially as a guitarist, that will be fatal for your progress. and most importantly, if you play live a lot, you will get the reward of the best sound possible that could come out of your gear!

@muhammadnajril5603

3 жыл бұрын

@@thatez i disagree with you. The difference of the sound is just a little, doesn't worth to sacrifice the playability IMO. But SRV do use a very tight string. So i think you win this time.

@joelkeane3160

3 жыл бұрын

Couldn’t agree more my man. Feel is absolute paramount over sound. Feel gets you the best sound. Perfect example for me, I will always feel at home on a rosewood neck as compared to maple. Doesn’t matter how good an amp or pick ups are on the maple neck, I’ll 99 out of 100 go to rosewood

For most of my playing life I used 10s with varying degrees of success. For the last 7 years I’ve been using 11-52 on my electrics (tele, strat, SG, Lp). Being very heavy handed I found it kept me from pulling notes out of tune. I got a new Lp studio recently that came with 10s. I kept them in awhile and played them. It felt so good I’m switching almost all my guitars to 10s. ps- we have matching Timmys, same color, bought from the same place at roughly the same time!

Went out after Rick’s video yesterday and got a set of 9s. Yup. It feels like a different world. Thank you, this video confirms it’s not just in my head! I’ve been playing 10s, or even heavier, for over 25 years, and the 9s feel and sound “new”, and actually exciting. One thing that struck me, though, is my muscle memory still wants to push down on the frets harder, which actually raises the notes slight out of tune. Anyone else finding that after switching from a heavier gauge? Just got to get used to pressing lighter! EDIT!! Ha, I thought the video was over after the first guitar. You spoke exactly about pushing too hard like you’re still playing heavier gauge strings! Too funny. So it’s not just me. 😀

Been playing 9’s since the mid 70’s. I like heavy metal, but not in my strings.

@thestrangefox

2 жыл бұрын

I totally agree to that.

@nazmoking3171

2 жыл бұрын

Exact same here. I've been using 9's since the '70's when I always played Fenders. Now that they have come out with 9.5's I use them on my Gibsons and short scale guitars for a slight normalization between the two.

@PNNYRFACE

Жыл бұрын

Heavy Metal You silly

@mknomad5

Ай бұрын

9s are my sweet spot since the 70s too. Sometimes heavy bottom, and I like 10s for metal because huge hands 🙌🏼 But yeah, always come back to 9s. Tried 8s, too much effort being careful not to squeeze. I don't like any distractions from the groove 😎

Billy Gibbons also believed in heavy gauge strings. He shared his story from many years ago that he and BB King played each other’s guitar. Billy was surprised Lucille had light gauge. He asked BB about it and BB asked him, “Why are you working so hard?” Billy has played light gauge since.

@Wikdone

2 жыл бұрын

Read the same story. Billy has been using 8's ever since. He produces some killer tone with the skinny little things too.

@bikerrider4845

2 жыл бұрын

How come you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish?

@jdfolbre

2 жыл бұрын

Billy promotes some .07 gauge strings. Hella light.

@stevetruth2696

2 жыл бұрын

@@jdfolbre Damn 7's? He was a top wrapper when he was playing his Les Paul. Crazy sick tone. Love Billy's playing!

@macinfloydvolk

2 жыл бұрын

Light gauge? I think Ernie ball created .07’s specifically for Rev Gibbons

I’ve been using light tops and heavy bottoms, for years, which suited my heavy play style at the time. But now I’m looking for a solid set of 9s that can allow me to hold chords better. This video gave me that reassurance

@nvjohansson9741

5 ай бұрын

I use light gauge on all my guitars except one that I have for doom and sludge. Light top, heavy bottom but I tune it in C standard, so it still easy to play.

@Austin_Bourque_

3 ай бұрын

My set I use a 7 string super slinky set on my 6 string so it’s 52,42,32,16,11,9 I play thrash so I like the low strings thick to chug and the high light for harmony sections

@lepanzon

3 ай бұрын

Same, I’ve been a Skinny Top Heavy Bottom guy, but now I want to try something tighter and lighter, so I’m thinking about using some 9s

Very interesting. I was just considering switching to 9s and had this same question. Thank you for the insight!!

Unrelated to the topic of strings, I love it when people say they've been wrong about something and changed their minds. Because it's a true show of character and strength, and represents a small betterment of the world as a whole. We, collectively speaking, are not doing enough of that by far. Thanks, Rhett!

@user-pd1oc2zs9q

2 жыл бұрын

Very good point!

@putheflamesoutyahoo1503

Жыл бұрын

Society and definitions evolve with wholesome conversation/debate. The spice of the Human race, great point.

I've found that picks change tone more than strings, but no one seems to care. But seriously, grab a bunch of different styles of picks, swap through them quickly and listen objectively - you'll notice that picks make FAR more of a difference in tone than strings.

@mirandaklemes470

3 жыл бұрын

I like playing with change quarters dimes pennys

@shumailkhan7205

3 жыл бұрын

I play with my fingernails. Sounds the best to me

@marvinstarr2811

3 жыл бұрын

@@shumailkhan7205 beer tabs

@astaschak

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, Picks are a big factor for sure. I have a pile of different styles and materials. My favorite material is tortex and shape is the jazz 3.

@Gin132456

3 жыл бұрын

Pick angle also has a huge effect on tone

I've watched the Rick's video a few days ago and now I've watched this. It's so nice to be able to hear the difference brtween different gauge strings. I've been playing electric guitar for over 30 years and for me it's totally backwards. I started playing 0.09, then 0.08, then 0.09 again, then 0.10, then 0.11 and every change to a thicker gauge has been a massive improvement on my sound and how I feel playing, it also helped me to improve both hands technique and gain lots of speed and cleansiness (for what I always heard before... at first I thought that I would always play a little slower vs using thinner strings, but in fact it was the opposite way... so don't always listen to others to take your own choices). I play mainly jazz and metal, and I like every style between those, and for my specific needs 0.11 gauge strings are far better than thinner strings. For jazz they are absolutely perfect, and for metal it couldn't sound more brutal, the riffs sounds amazing and the solos couldn't sound more clear and clean... although you may have a fuller bottom end sound but there's a magic weapon called EQ that can solve that in a second.... if there's a problem there, but if you record and mix you have to EQ your guitar anyway. I've used thinner strings some times but I just can't get use to them. Although I'm thinking on getting a stratocaster, and I think I will use 0.10 or 0.09 on that guitar, because the sound I'm looking for I think would be easier to get with thinner strings on that specific guitar. Be aware that every string gauge has pros and cons so there's no such thing as "better string gauge than other"... and the best way to find out what's better for you is if you try it by yourself.... what's the best combination for some people, may be the worst for some other people.. so give it a try to see what's better for your particular needs. Have in mind if you change string gauge maybe is a good idea to try different picks shape/size/thickness too, to match better the combination with the new strings. Cheers!!!

I found this and Rick’s video both really useful, and had switched to 9 gauge strings on all of my guitars of all scale lengths. The only guitar this didn’t work for is my EVH Wolfgang which is in Eb, once you drop tension I think 10s are required otherwise notes go out of tune too easy. Thanks Rhett for a very educational vid!

Im glad you did a clean/cleanish test here. That was one of the things i felt was missing in the Beato video

@stk7778

4 жыл бұрын

yeah that and no leads

@danablett

4 жыл бұрын

@@stk7778 Imagine doing a video comparing string gauges, using the high string as the reference, (11, 10, 9, 8) AND NEVER PLAYING THAT STRING

There’s always a way to sculpt your sound, for me it’s all about feel. I need the right tension for a solid picking feel. Flop is out.

@MindsetMastery75

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly!

@juanpanchoec

4 жыл бұрын

I agree with you, and there's other ways to brighten up the sound of heavy strings, like using pure nickel wounded strings and/or higher value tone and volume pots.

@thahacksaw

4 жыл бұрын

I'm kinda landing here myself. Tension. I literally just got a Novo. And those stock 10s were killing me!! So. Much. Flop. Gonna have to do an honest job of testing this myself. But two days of playing 10s on this Serus and I was begging for a little more tension. 11s on last night. We'll see how it goes.

@garystackhouse5787

4 жыл бұрын

Who said you need to "fight" strings? Why?? Tell that to most of the guitar heroes of the 60's, 70's & 80's, who used .009s, .008s, and even .007s! Much of it is in how you play. If you're a ham-fisted slammer, sure, the .008s are going to sound weird (and maybe even out of tune) but they will help your touch to play and get used to them. I've been using .008s and .009s for years. Go tell Billy Gibbons, EVH, Clapton, Beck, Gilmour, Zappa, or Frampton that their tone sucks because they're using light strings.

@countstoneula

4 жыл бұрын

tha hacksaw sounds like what happened to me when I got my Jazzmaster. I had to get 11s so the tension felt right. From the vibrato tailpiece to the tuners the overall string length is much longer than say a Tele/Strat. So I needed a thicker string gauge to yield a similar tension. Let me know what you discover when you get the new set of strings.

I know this is 4 years later, but this and Rick Beato's videos were such an eye opener! I was seriously just this week planning to change one of my 5 guitars from 9's to 10's. I was also of the impression I needed to replace the nut to do that. This saved me a lot of unnecessary work. Now I am instead going to switch my four 10's to 9's (I read very little adjustment needed). My one guitar with the 9's does feel better to play. Thanks you guys!

I watched the video when you were at Rick's, I wanted to cc my comments here too. Great work guys !! I totally agree !! I'm 53 and have been playing guitar since I was 11. I only started to play electric about 10 years ago. I chose to put 11's on my tele and 12's on my 355 because I found I had a strong finger pressure having played acoustic all my life, usually with 11's on my acoustics, and I had a tendancy of sharpening some notes on my electric if the string gauge was too light. I recently dropped my tele down to 10's, my 355 down to 11's and my acoustics to 10's and I am very happy with that. I especially found my acoustics sounded louder and had a fuller sound with the 10's. Having dropped gauges on both my acoustics and electrics, my finger pressure has adapted.

Decades ago I was a bassist with a clamp of a fretting hand. When I took up electric guitar I ran 9’s on purpose to force myself to lighten my fretting and picking. Worked. I’m much more relaxed. Funny thing about guitarists figuring out the mid and low end response regarding gauge. Bassists have known this for decades. :)

@18JR78

4 жыл бұрын

David Henson Hahaha 👍🏽

@TheChadPad

4 жыл бұрын

We're proud of you for knowing something ;)

@JEAG

4 жыл бұрын

This hits right home with me; I'm figuring out gauges for a 7 string baritone guitar I'm planning on setting up.

@GerryBlue

4 жыл бұрын

"Bassists have known this for decades. :)" Yeah, but we get all the girls ;)

@JEAG

4 жыл бұрын

Guitarists also knew about it, there's just a big rock'n'roll scene where things aren't known I guess.

I have been playing since i was 14. I have had arthritis since I was 15. I switched from 11s to hybrid slinky 9-46 on my electric and from 13s to Earthwood extra light 10-50s on my acoustic. I had gotten to the point that I could barely play and now, after years of relearning and making adjustments to accommodate my joints, I can play because of lighter strings. I barely even touch the guitar, fretting is light, strumming is lighter. I wish i had learned a decade ago to stop beating on the guitar so much and stop trying to manhandle heavy strings into submission, I wouldn't have had to quit playing.

@MrPhotonjockey

3 жыл бұрын

When I was in my teens (early 70’s) there were two phenomenal guitarists at my school. The one thing both had in common was their light touch. They just seemed to float over the fretboard and barely touched the strings when fretting. I tried, but was unable to duplicate their style.

@bednar23

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrPhotonjockey duplicating someone's style is a really hard thing to do because naturally you will always lean more into your own style.

@5000rgb

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you could pick it back up.

@iainmcguire7190

3 жыл бұрын

You've been playing 11s with arthritis since you were 15? damn ...

@GregStraub42

3 жыл бұрын

@@iainmcguire7190 from 15 till nearly 30 years old. My hands are worse now at 35, but my playing, though still not fast, is better and while you may think that's practice and I'm some ways you're right it is also due to the change in strings, it doesn't hurt like it used to.

Thanks for posting this. God only know why, but I've used 11s forever. On the strength of this and Rick Beato's video about string gauge, I switched over the weekend to 9s and I love 'em. Your comment about lighter strings forcing you to lighten your touch is absolutely true. I'll never go back to 11s.

Thank you. This follow up was really helpful. I play down-tuned (usually open D) but this does make me think a lot about my preference for heavier strings. (I sometimes even add a couple proper bass strings into my equation) Kudos

I switched up from real string to metal strings and I've never looked back. The sound isn't so woolly anymore and sound comes through the amp now. Thank you.

@aelarlightbringer6372

3 жыл бұрын

You definitely got a laugh XD

@whitmore-project

3 жыл бұрын

As a connoisseur of tone, I prefer real strings

@DoktrDub

3 жыл бұрын

My real strings come through the amp but all I hear is sheep’s bleating

You’re missing a trick. Ernie Ball make a Hybrid Slinky string. The top 3 strings 9’s and the low 3 are 10’s. Perfect.

@patmccrotch5373

4 жыл бұрын

100% agree that that's about as perfect of a set that I personally like for my playing. Great point man.

@stugeh

4 жыл бұрын

i like 10-52 personally.

@ballofsnow2778

4 жыл бұрын

Custom light I use 9-46

@bentackett6299

4 жыл бұрын

9-46 for life

@danielstein5290

4 жыл бұрын

I use 11-52 (EB's new BURLY SLINKY, used daddario equivalent before (and still will if EBs arent available))

Good video Rhett, your point is there are so many variables...but feel is everything. I use that same set of strings myself, but shy away from light gage, I break em to often.

Just came across your channel, love it. As for this video I've gone back and forth mostly using 10's. I always think 9's are going to work for me, because it is easier to play with less effort. Then I go back to my 10's because on my strat I'm just to aggressive on the neck, and it's easier for me to not over compensate bends or just strangling the neck to hard. I'm a dad rock blues man, so 10 just suit me. Not to mention I feel my guitars tune up better with 10's, idk that could just be my mind playing tricks though lol. Beautiful les paul you have ❤

Jimmy Page was asked years ago what is the best way to improve guitar playing. He said, "Use lighter strings."

@David-uq2uk

3 жыл бұрын

Yep less finger probs . Like most say start on a acoustic guitar that's well set up .your get the feel of the tones and will be harder but going to electric it will be easier .

@adisadis6313

3 жыл бұрын

Page....not us...

@morganghetti

2 жыл бұрын

@@David-uq2uk start on an instrument that is more difficult to play because it's more difficult to play? That's an awful suggestion. Start on the kind of guitar you want to play.

@Johnnysmithy24

2 жыл бұрын

@@morganghetti Personally I like practicing picking exercises on the acoustic because it forces me to put more effort to make it sound correctly, then when I come back to the electric, everything feels easier

@jcott9735

2 жыл бұрын

@@morganghetti i started on a squire strat 17 years ago, so i have no say in this.. however, I've been told by multiple people that they think its best to start on an acoustic.. the idea is, if you can master the acoustic, you can master the electric. in theory its a good idea. However, in practice, the player must be very committed for it to work

My girlfriend asked 'is he holding instant noodle packets?'

@godfreydaniel6278

3 жыл бұрын

Of course! Put 'em on and you can start noodling instantly...

@GrumpyMJK

3 жыл бұрын

Ha! Ramen noodles baby! Now I’m hungry...

@bestboy897

3 жыл бұрын

Lol

@benjapizarro981

3 жыл бұрын

@@godfreydaniel6278 lol youre right

@qua7771

3 жыл бұрын

Your eating the wrong gauge noodles.

I think I always used 11's when I played. I finally got back into guitar after a 5 year hiatus and I'm gonna go with 9's! I really liked the way the 9's sounded in the video you did with the other guys!

A guy once told me that he based the guage of strings he needs on how they perform while gigging, so if he finds that he's breaking strings really often he would have went up a set and that's how he found the set that suited him, but I think this concept is super important for recording especially because you want the best tone possible. Awesome video, really appreciate it man thanks

@AsleHelseth

4 ай бұрын

Funny thing: I used to break 2-6 strings each night when I played 11-58 on my Strat Plus using a 1 mm Tortex pick. Swapped to 10-46 and broke 1-2 each night with the same pick. For the last 8-9 years I've played 09-42 with V-Picks Nexus 5.8 mm and haven't broken a single string live since the swap. They last 4 full gigs without any issues, and I swap them when the bass strings get too dull sounding.

Awesome job!! Now I want to try this myself!!

@electropicks

3 жыл бұрын

omg tomo’s here

@user-vf8nh1ib5e

3 жыл бұрын

@@electropicks My boy Tomo really needs to get verified man.

@dimitris9724

3 жыл бұрын

How did that go Tomo ? Whats your preference ?

@ryanewalters

2 жыл бұрын

I decided to not only try 9 s, but to tune down half a step also. Im in love with it I should have done this 10 years ago my wrist and fingers are eternally grateful, and my tone.

@EricsGuitarCorner

2 жыл бұрын

I recently started using 8's and I love them. I feel like I play better because my guitars are easier to play. To me they sound just as good as the heavier guage strings I was using.

I have always thought about strings: You can't EQ the feel of them, but you can certainly EQ the sound

@lithiumgo7487

4 жыл бұрын

AttakaiMusic True and lighter gauge strings just feel bad for me

@jimlund4845

4 жыл бұрын

I'd rather stick with a gauge that feels good and turn my treble/tone control from 7 ...to 8....;)

@tonymac2634

4 жыл бұрын

i always just thought about string gauge in relation to tension and stability depending on the tuning i was using for particular guitar

@nthapa13

4 жыл бұрын

Amen

@davidkdanielson

4 жыл бұрын

AttakaiMusic This 100%

I always used 9 -42 strings. I've tried 10's and 8's but always went back to 9's. Love the D'Addaro nyxl Love your guitar sound btw ❤

I've always played 11s on electric and 12s on acoustic, as I was also told in the early days that thicker strings had more tone. This has been an eye opener, but the problem I have is, it's not actually so much about the sound, I actually dislike the lack of tension on light strings, that would be the biggest issue for me. I hate strings that I feel are flopping around under my fingers! So this would be an interesting experiment to try for myself, but I would need to learn to enjoy playing with the light tension, which would take some work...

@sEaNoYeAh

5 ай бұрын

You get used to it really quickly in practice. I always felt that higher tension helped me play fast because the strings felt like they reset position faster. But after hearing Paul Gilbert make the admission that sometimes for difficult parts he'd switch to lighter strings, 10s to 9s or 9s to 8s depending because they're easier to play fast I retried, committed a bit and unsurprisingly the shred god was correct. There's a limit obviously, and I'm not sure 7s for instance are ideal for shred, but 8s and 9s are incredibly playable, and as soon as you're used to it it's amazing how dynamic your playing feels. Now my absolute favourites are 8.5s (Ernie Ball Mighty Slinky), which is the ideal gauge for me.

@jokermaan1

3 ай бұрын

That's my view on light gauges too. I've used Ernie Ball 10s for years and also tried 9s anda while back I tried some Billy Gibbons Mexican Lottery 7s out of curiosity. They sound OK, stay in tune and of course allow for huge bends, but I hated that 'soft' feel and lack of resistance. I like to feel I'm having to work a bit when I play!

I've experimented with this a LOT myself. Generally speaking, there is little tone difference, almost none when using heavy gain. Where I see the big differences are in four areas: 1. The lighter the lower strings, the more sharp they go when I hit them hard. So really picking the low E on a set of .009s makes that string go way sharp for a short moment. 2. Bending, micro-bending, with lighter strings definitely does not gives the same degree of body. Picking a .013 versus an .011 not such a difference. Playing quite clean doing a lot of sustained bends, it's a world of difference. 3. Fretting chords with lighter strings tends to make them go sharp. not all chords are as practical for using a feather touch for chording. 4. I can speed pick way easier on heavier strings. To me it seems that I can feel them better. With the really light ones it's as if there is no solidity there to give my brain the feedback that the string has been picked.

@alexanderbprice

4 жыл бұрын

Agree on all points. In both Beato's video and this one, everything has a ton of gain/distortion. If you primarily play clean and don't bend a lot (like a jazz player), heavier strings sound better and play better too.

@franciscodanconia3551

4 жыл бұрын

@DurdyClaude when I was 14 I used the Zakk Wylde signature GHS Boomers in 11-70. Then I grew up and became a real man so now I play bass. I'm 42% kidding, so don't be mad.

@inquisitivenessandcontempl9918

Жыл бұрын

My impression exactly. The 9th just seem to lack "structure" that the 10s have. And I always have to pay attention in order not to press too hard with the 9s, which may get annoying at times.

@joeltunnah

2 ай бұрын

Well said. I would add that note attack and decay is completely different on 11s vs 9s. People saying you can just EQ the sound are missing a lot of the nuance.

It’s more or less the tension for me not so much the tone, tend to go over bend and play out of tune on 8s or 9s on a les Paul scale. 10s have that sweet spot for me

@Burnt_Gerbil

4 жыл бұрын

Zyn Tear - Agree on the tension thing. I over bend too. I think of it as using a Bigsby versus a Floyd Rose, if that makes sense. I fell more in control with the heavier strings.

@PurpleKangaroo4

4 жыл бұрын

yeah, stability is the main reason i play 10s/11s. anything lighter i have to tune every 2 minutes

@primeDecomposition

4 жыл бұрын

I really can’t even fathom putting 9’s on a Gibson scale length, even on some of my 25.5” scale guitars they can be too slinky at times.

@minimoogle3335

4 жыл бұрын

would like to hear your thoughts 22 frets vs 24 frets.. what string gauge would be you be using?..

@keithpadden8684

4 жыл бұрын

Zyn Tear yup I had 9's on the junior I had to change to 10's as I play acoustic predominantly and I was out of tune with chords all the time on the junior with 9's

I dropped to 9's on my tele a couple years back to help compensate for a warped in over-bow, hoping the reduced string tension would encourage the neck to return to true over time. I'm just a little guy and though I do notice a small improvement in clarity, I find I tire a lot less quickly and my pick accuracy has improved immensely. Now, if I could find 9-42 in an acoustic string and an 8-38 would be interesting as well. Thank you for an awesome channel, Rhett. I too found you through a few of the video's on Rick Beato's channel and I like that you're not afraid to write a song that includes a solo, they really need to come back into fashion again soon.

good comments... I have long believed in the lighter gauge v tone...both your videos confirmed what I have always thought to be the case... thank you for your efforts

Went between 9’s and 10’s for years.... then I found the ‘hybrid’ slinkys... 9- 46. Never been happier.

@ehMMMKay

4 жыл бұрын

I play that combination for years. 9 are too soft for top 3 three string. 10 are not comfy enough for low 3. 46-9 ernie ball hybrid stainless for the win.

@JaggieMoMo

4 жыл бұрын

PaulPauliePabloPaolo i think eb and daddario make a 9.5 set if that’s something you wanna try.

@MarkPritchardGuitar

4 жыл бұрын

Same here 👍🏻

@Shaun32887

4 жыл бұрын

I messed up and got used to the D'addario 9.5s. Now my string choices are significantly limited. Great strings though!

@trajtemberg

4 жыл бұрын

Upvote this man.

The whole focus on this experiment is tone and feel. But I think you're missing another important factor that string gauge affects. Sustain. I have experimented myself with gauges for years and have definitely noticed that lighter strings don't vibrate as long as a heavier gauge and therefore have less natural sustain. This may not be as important if you"re main source of sustain is electronic, such as compression or distortion, but I prefer the sound of a my Gibson 335s natural sustain and there is noticeably more with heavier stings. Also if your pickups are set close to the strings, the magnetic poles will stop a lighter string from vibrating faster than a heavy one. I have tried 9s and even 8s but have always gone back to 10s and it wasn't for tone. It was for the sustain. Just my opinion.

@justinyoung595

4 жыл бұрын

This. The other part of this that's not mentioned, is yes the heavier gauge strings lack clarity in the lower end that the lighter gauge strings provides. However, this is because there's more going on in the low end. There's more resonance.There's more of the low end frequencies present. Get a 10-band eq - you can easily take some of that low end out precisely where you want and tame the low end yourself even better than the lighter gauge can on their own. Also, you can cut those frequencies out of the heavier gauge strings much better and much more easily than you could add in any frequencies that might be missing entirely in the tone on the lighter gauge strings.

@iuchilton

4 жыл бұрын

BB had sustain for days and played 8s

@HomoChomsky

4 жыл бұрын

@@iuchilton you manifestly missed the point.

@LanceJordan

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah clearly this video thinks that everybody wants a brighter tone. Completely rules out jazz which goes the opposite way, 12s 13s flat wounds etc.

Excellent vid Rhett. Watched Rick Beato's vid as well. TY

tommy emmanuel once said: "the best strings are the ones that your guitar likes". i also went up and down. 8s to 11s and back, but recently i discovered that my tele and my 335 felt the best when strung with 10s. this depends so much on your picking hand, the pick you use, but also on the volume you're playing. it's all higly subjective

@Kevin.Kelly.

4 жыл бұрын

That’s exactly right. My SG prefers 11’s but my ESP prefers 10’s. My Universe prefers a 54 on the bottom. It’s all in math and measurements on the build.

@gingerbeer914

4 жыл бұрын

Tommy's right. LISTEN to what your guitar likes.

@TheGrandmaMoses

4 жыл бұрын

Aren't all guitars basically set up from the factory for a specific string gauge? I know it's true for acoustic guitars. Correct me here if I'm wrong, but that does mean that a guitar set up for 10s will never play as good with 9s without an additional setup, doesn't it? There is a different force exerted on the neck, which translates to a different ( and, in case of a good setup before, a worse ) action, fret buzzing or too much space between the strings and the pickup in case of electric guitars, depending on which gauge you chose. So at least give your truss rods a whirl if you change string thickness - and even better, check the intonation when trying out new string gauges - otherwise your guitar will always play best with the string gauge it had on when it was last set up, assuming you had a competent setup done. In the same vein, a full setup will get a good guitar to play well with any string gauge. I firmly believe there is no such thing as the 'optimal' string gauge for a guitar, there are just two possibilities: the gauge your guitar is set up for and all the other gauges ( and tunings, for that matter ).

@gingerbeer914

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheGrandmaMoses They put strings on them, but they don't give them a real setup. If you have a good distributor with luthiers knowledge and skills, HE does that job. Then the cheap OEM strings are often replaced by an A brand.

@billbobson3144

4 жыл бұрын

Came to write the exact same comment. It’s dependent on your guitar for the most part.

I'm a relative guitar newbie. I had been using 9s on my strat, just because that's what it came with, so I kept replacing like-for-like. (I had just re-strung the day before seeing Rick's electric guitar string gauge video). I watched the acoustic string video last night and I've been down to get some 10s today. I'll get that re-strung tonight, down from the 12s that I'd been using until now. Checked with my guitar tutor, who said we'll just need to check/adjust the truss rod afterwards. Thank you for arming me with a bit more knowledge!

I usually use 12s or 13s on my acoustic. I’ve tried lighter ones plenty of times. I think I have 7s on my electric right now. But I really prefer the heavier gauge, they feel better to me. Definitely works your hands harder though. When I switch to lights I find I’m less stable on the strings because I’m used to the heavier ones at this point lol

I went through this same "ah ha" moment not too long ago - I ended up switching all my Telecasters to 8's... I just make sure that I always carry at least 2 guitars to every single gig, breaking a string in the middle of a set sucks, having another ax you can just grab has saved me more than once. Great video!

I had a fella (who's an exceptionally good player on acoustic and electric) tell me once that he let's the guitar tell him what gauge strings it wants. That sort of makes sense to me and I find that I've kinda always done that without really considering it very much. Heavier strings _do_ make more "voice", but it seems to me that it's sort of a balancing act: how much tension (for the level of accurate-to-your-playing-style and facility-of-hand) vs. what size strings give the particular guitar you're playing the right midrange voice you need/want to hear, without too much lower midrange rucking up the low end and making it muddy. For instance, I string my strats with .009, .012, .015, .024, .032, .042, and I string LP scale guitars with .009.5, .013, .016, .024, .034, .044. For me, with some nerve damage in my neck and left arm & with not-so-large mitts (curse you Rhett, lol!), I still get plenty of not-muddy low-end 'kong' and my high strings don't sound 'twinkly' & are still very bendable for the amount of strength I have. My opinion is: let your guitar, your ears, your style, and your own level of strength and facility tell you which strings to use on any particular instrument that you're going to play regularly. Great video Rhett, and thanks!

@TheChadPad

4 жыл бұрын

I literally just commented something about this. It has to do with proportionality of the strings to guitar characteristics

@AbcDino843

4 жыл бұрын

I don't give shit what guitar wants :), smaller strings are easier to play for me, so I win. I paid for her, not the other way around :).

@sugarkitty4777

4 жыл бұрын

Same here - I have a Strat Junior that seems to be happy with some 10's, a Hamer V that SCREAMS at me to use 8's, and an original Jackson RR Pro with EMG's that wants 12's. (but it hurts me too much and I can't get the spring tension low enough and do 11's)

Wait till you try the 1vs string set, turned my strat unit a crystal clear base... LOL Good timing on yours and Rick's video. Both are eye opening and well done. You both erased 30 years of guitar and musician snake oil myths, legends, SRV isms, and bullcrap. Thank you for making the guitar world a better place. Good timing in your video. My e string just broke. Had 9s on, only had some 10s in my stash, put those on kep adjusting my pups to increase clarity, now I know why. Ordering some 9s and eights now.

I've been using 9.5's for 20 years on my PRS Custom 24 and various Gibsons (Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V). They are fantastic! I still like playing 9's on my Strats, with the longer scale length being the difference. If you're unsure about going with 9's or 10's, do yourself a favor and give the 9.5's a try. I strongly recommend D'Addario. I think you'll love them!

@frankstetka7206

2 ай бұрын

I think that’s the ticket for me as well. It’s taken me several years to learn how to be light handed on guitar after playing bass for so long. 9.5 hmmm 🤔 I wonder if I can use this tuned low instead of 10’s ??? Great idea!

I know this is a two year old video, but I'm glad I found it. I'm getting back into electric after a 20 year hiatus. I always played 9's as a teenager/twentysomething because I found them easier to bend and play with. I kind of thought that now that I'm an adult, I should switch to a more "serious" gauge of string - figuring they'd sound better. I no longer feel like I have to do that. Which is good, because these days my wrists, tendons and fingers are not as strong as they once were. Nice channel.

@bobellis2912

Жыл бұрын

I’m in the same boat, 20 years away from music, no getting back into it. Kicking myself that I ever left.

@damightyshabba439

Жыл бұрын

I'm 49 and returning. So... I'm curious.... did you stick with it? how is it going?

@bobellis2912

Жыл бұрын

@@damightyshabba439 yep, sticking with it, as soon as time allows, thinking of lessons. Biggest problem is time, but really enjoying when I can play.

Ive been playing guitar 35+years, started out on 9's, and on my quest for tone and feel ive experimented with 10's,11's even 12's but i always go back to 9's. I love them.

@PaulJonesy

4 жыл бұрын

David Carter same for me, although I use 9s on a strat/tele and 10s on a shorter scale.

@davidross5630

4 жыл бұрын

45 years for me its always been 9's for me...

@rolandlemus203

4 жыл бұрын

We can start the 9 club lol, NEVER ever have liked anything else, 8's are ok, but too light, and I hate 10's, or god forbid even heavier. For me, it about what I like, not anything else.

I use 9's on all my Strats, 10's on my Les Paul and 10s on my 24" Scale Jaguar and 10's on my 24.75" scale 335 style semi-hollow body. It's a scale length thing to me, lighter gauge on 25.5" Scale Guitars, a heavier 10ga on 24.75" scale length guitars & ditto for the 'extra' short scale Jag. There is mathematical reasoning behind this 'madness' it relates to string tension in foot-pounds / scale length inches. There are KZread videos on this 'somewhere' ;-) (ps: Dump the Slinky's, use real strings, D'Addario (kidding)

@vausemike

4 жыл бұрын

Cuthbert J. Twillie I agree with you. Use one gauge heavier on a shorter scale. It evens out the feel. So if you are going to go lighter then go lighter but keep the size bump the same.

@jeffmancuso2715

4 жыл бұрын

Same

@Mark_Ocain

4 жыл бұрын

ditto...same gauges same guitars

Great video. I've been playing acoustic 09 strings for a couple of years and I'm very satisfied

Great video and in terms of sound that is important to know. But there is also another perspective and that is not unimportant: the playability is a much more individual subject. The fact that Gibbons, Malmsteen, BB King or Brian May achieve a solid sound with thick strings is great, but their thing. I played 9s when I was a kid, and in the '80s, everybody played 9s anyway. In studio sessions for clients I continued to play 9s, but privately I went more and more towards jazz/bebop and the strings became thicker and thicker. That also felt good because I originally came from the classical guitar. Today I’m back down at 10s, but that’s the minimum down. 9s feels like I have butter in my hands and just can’t get a grip. Thinner strings are also a problem for people who have a harder right hand. So: not so easy and in case of doubt, go for the feeling.

Thanks Rhett, I haven’t had “nines” on a guitar in almost 50 years. I tried it on my fenders and your right!

To me, it seems as though the missing piece has always been stating the explicit context where something is 'better'. Yes, you hear more experienced producers saying something is 'better' but that implies it's ability to cut thru a mix (or something more than that), and that is probably not understood by most players, especially younger players who've never dealt with music at that level. When I just want to jam, or write, or play along to my heroes, I couldn't give two craps about the mix. I just want to enjoy a great tone in isolation. The takeaway is that there are different and very important contexts to consider in music where we can have two or more 'rights'.

@caspermaster-com

4 жыл бұрын

Interesting, and what also can be happening is experienced ears are binding not mix friendly sounds to an emotional and deeper subconsious (and consious) level, so its an aquired taste to dont like what other people would like or accept in isolation, probably dont sound as right to someone experienced.

@rocknrollmouseuk

4 жыл бұрын

Fantastic comment! Something I've often thought when I listen to a video about right ways or right components, answers (opinions) are often biased to that persons circumstances, and or playing style. What is "right" for one doesn't have to be "right" for all. "Right" is right for you, and how and where you're playing.

@baldersackthethird768

4 жыл бұрын

This is why people have live guitars and studio guitars. I swear guitar mags used to be more informative when I was learning.

I've always gravitated back to 9's mostly for the feel, but I like how you guys are also approaching it from a tone perspective. Would love to hear your thoughts on it from the perspective of different musical genres as well.

@stefangranberg9319

Жыл бұрын

9's for me too, and I play ambient, jazz, blues rock and heavy rock

@100degreefever7

10 ай бұрын

@@stefangranberg9319the only issues I’ve had with 9s is when you need to tone down for metal you can only go so far but from my experience I like 9s on electric and 11 on acoustic

@user-lv7ph7hs7l

5 ай бұрын

Same. I learnt from a shredder so it was 9s but Beato made me want to try 8s.

Switching gauges means more than changing strings. You have to set the guitar up for that gauge i.e. Neck relief, action, intonation. Also the nut slots may be too wide/deep if going from heavier to lighter.

@StockportJambo

3 жыл бұрын

Underrated comment right there.

@billyboy1093

3 жыл бұрын

@@StockportJambo So true, it's absolutely critical!

I watched Rick's video and also another video from Musiciswin(thanks to the makers of those videos), to me the difference from thicker to thinner strings is comparable to hearing the sound through the wall from the next room to hearing the sound from the doorway. So depending on what kind of sound you want out of it should determine the size you need. I've only just begun playing and these videos gave me an insight I'd probably never have on my own, so thanks again to all involved! Cheers!!!

I watched Rick's video and then this one and found the experiment pretty interesting. I don't think I've ever played 8's but did play 9's for a time before switching to 10's which I've stuck with for many years. My band played a mini tour in Italy where all the instruments were provided by other bands (never again!) I'll never forget being handed a Strat fitted with ultra light strings and breaking 3 of them in short order. I don't have a particularly heavy hand but I think they'd take a lot of getting used to for me.

I played standard 9s for pretty long but the past 2 years I've been playing 10-52 sets and I absolutely love the tension in the lower strings and soloing is great, as 10s aren't too tense for 24.75 inch scale length. I've been thinking about trying a 9 hybrid set maybe, but I've such a good setup on my guitar, that I really don't want to touch it and potentially ruin the setup.

@davisdeen-ty4so

9 ай бұрын

SRV used 13s because they sound better ! Stevie Had No SKIN ON HIS FINGERS ! NOT KIDDING 😮

@stell4rt

6 ай бұрын

@@davisdeen-ty4so Not exactly true. He came back to 10-46 at the end of his carrer and he stated that 13s were very hard to play with, that's not because they sounded better. That's because he wanted tunning and intonation stability...

I to have learned this many years ago. Nines are most suitable for my playing style as well as the guitars they are mounted to. I thought this was a very informative video and appreciate that the upcoming Guitarists can benefit from.

The Beato vid made me switch, too: All my electrics went from 10's to 9's indeed, and for that low end clarity. Most beginners think lots of low end is good for bedroom stuff when you don't have a bassist playing with you, but those tones don't sit well in mixes with a full band at all.

Been a Skinny Top Heavy Bottom user since like '03 and it's cuz I tuned down but only a semi-tone and I also thought it sounded heavier. I'm also a heavy-handed player, then arthritis kicked in... I did a 67 day tour recently and even with stretching beforehand my hands would go numb mid set, it was rough. Now I started focusing on practicing & playing with a lighter touch, honestly just taking my playing more seriously instead of going through the motions and now I'm looking into lighter strings as well. I work at GC so I get to try all kinds of gear out and lighter stuff does feel great from time to time. The other stuff will be addressed in time but this was a great moment to stumble upon these two videos. Thanks 😊

Rick's video was awesome and this is a perfect follow-up!

I agree with this! Like you I started with 11s on an SG believing that the tone was better. I dropped to 10s a few years later and then when I ran out of strings got a pack of 9s (the shop was out of 10 sets that I use) Recording extensively with the the 9s I really noticed the difference in playability and how the guitar was cutting through in the mix

I’ve been playing 8’s since my early days of learning guitar and have always primarily played Lea Paul’s, and much like you said, I feel that the lighter strings feel a lot easier to get down on. I’ve tried various sizes but always end up back on light strings. Glad I’m not the only one who feels the same way lol

@nunziobusiness1509

Жыл бұрын

I started with 8s but found that my playing style was a little too rough on them. Been playing 9s forever.

@spidgeb3292

Жыл бұрын

I was captured by the idea (myth?) that anything lighter than 10s wouldn't deliver enough tone. As a result of this video, I'm experimenting with lighter gauges and finding I do play better and with more confidence.

Good info, Rhett. Thanks for sharing!

I've wanted to do a similar test for my Jazz and Country playing. You saved me time and money! Thank you. With Country guitar, in particular, it's similar to funk and blues, with lots of clean voices, strange bends, etc. I was using 11s, and a guy at the shop was like try nine's - you're killing your fingers. He was right, and now this video seems to back it up.

Having played live for too many years to admit to: 8s are great for bends etc however I found that the breakage rate during live gigs made me settle on 9s or 10s for chords!

@MarkProffitt

4 жыл бұрын

Try 8s with a 9 high E

@countstoneula

4 жыл бұрын

Same. 10s & 11s for me.

I always use a thicker gauge 10 or 11 because i am heavy handed and always thought the thicker gauge strings worked better for a player with a heavy hand.

@flemdisch8690

3 жыл бұрын

When I’m playing chords I tend to bend them out of tune because I’m pulling them, gripping hard. I use elixir light top/heavy bottom and it seems to work best for lead and rhythm.

@leejarvis6841

3 жыл бұрын

I've moved from 11-52 to 12-54 they seem much better for me on 58 junior.....

@budzmanson2747

3 жыл бұрын

9s way to flopppy. Your probably right I use earny ball regular slinky always on electric

@budzmanson2747

3 жыл бұрын

@@flemdisch8690 try earny ball Regular slinky there are best no joke

@VapnFagan

3 жыл бұрын

@@leejarvis6841 12s on a junior? OUCH damn you got some strong fingers lol

The same is true for my acoustic Martin D-18. I bought it new in 1966 and started with medium gauge, 13-56. The action was high, so I first had the bridge shaved down. Then I switched to light gauge, 12-53, then to 11-52. The result was more playable with a much less low-end boom. This difference is true for finger picking as well as with a pick.

I had nearly always use 9-42s on my electric guitars. My touch is a little heavy since I go back and forth between acoustic and electric. I thought I would try 10-46. I had less trouble pulling them out of tune but found them much harder to bend. I went back to 9s but I use custom light 9-46 now and pay more attention to keep my touch a little lighter.

I just decided to try 8's, learned on 10's because my father insisted that 10's would be good for building hand strength, then I switched to 9's. My friend always insisted tuning half-step down like Jimi, I think he did it to make the strings feel lighter and easier to play. I'd rather be in standard tune like most music is and a lot easier to jam with someone when not asking them to re tune their instrument. The 8's are nice and silky on my SG, going to see how they feel on the strat, tele, and lp later. Kind of a perspective change in a positive way that is refreshing and invigorating. Thanks for making this video and participating in the one Rick made, I watched both of them, Rick's first and this helped me see and hear things in a new way. I think I'm going to be an 8's kind of guy from here on out.

Been there, I played 10's for decades, switched to 9's(for standard tuning) and will never go back. I also noticed that the temperature difference effects less on neck with ligher gauge strings.

"Darker roast is better" Me after drinking light roast: "Man, f*** dark roast..."

Cool video. I'm a newer player. Not very good as i am still learning but i def picked up in the tone difference. The 9's hit the mid range sound i've been looking seeking. Thanks for posting and sharing.

I have used #11's for a couple decades and also switched to 9's lately. I'm loving them.

If you enter a discussion without considering the possibility that you might be wrong, than there is no point in talking about it at all. So good on you for changing your mind.

I recently switched from 10s to 9s on my Strat, and I realized everything you and Rick said is true about tighter low end and more pronounced midrange. Plus I can do rapid legato runs much more effortlessly. Makes me wonder, why was I making it harder on myself?

@mr.buzz-e7223

Жыл бұрын

same here, a couple of hours ago I recived my strato with a 09 set strings, I always play with 10-46, use 09-42 just blow my mind, so light and beauty...

@sr60030

Жыл бұрын

since im a bass player and i have to take some songs on guitar i prefer to play 10's or 11's just to not feel my guitar so loose and bending too sharp

@poopyfinger8748

9 ай бұрын

@@mr.buzz-e7223I feel like this only works cause you’re so used to bending with 10s. 9s feel like your gliding on heaven. Making you feel like the guitar is singing. I feel like going from 11 to 10 would result into the same effect.

@mr.buzz-e7223

9 ай бұрын

@@poopyfinger8748 yes, Could be!

I agree, the most important conclusion is keeping an open mind (or getting it back).

years back before my table saw injury i used 13-56. i then after healing 3 years later i started back on 9's and have used them since the accident in 1999. The store 2 weeks ago was out of stock on 9's so i strung all my guitars in 10's. I found my speed was hampered by the tens they just had less give. 9"s also vibrate better in the magnetic field of the pole pieces. I also found that the 10- 52 the bass sounded very flat even on untouched strings and it showed up on recording. I will be a 9-42 forever. go to Dylan talk tone youtube page he builds hand made pickups but also explains everything about the sonic connection of pickups and strings.

@Mexxx65

4 жыл бұрын

Hint, try 9.5 set :)

@davidwile1277

4 жыл бұрын

My dad always told me to never trust a man who cuts his finger with power tools

@TheEchelon

4 жыл бұрын

David Willey And I don't trust unfounded statements made by random people on the internet :)

Billy Gibbons talked about this on 'Live from Daryl's House'. He actually plays with 7's. He learned it from B.B. King, who played with 8's.

@donaldtrump2078

3 жыл бұрын

Always used 9's on everything but i tried a pack of the lottery 7's on a strat i have and the effort of playing is amazingly easy and the strings are very resilient and now that i'm leaving the WH i have more time to practice. lol

@ianaintsaying1625

3 жыл бұрын

I believe Billy said B.B. asked him, "Why you working so hard?"

@esmfotoz

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, he used 7s by Rev. Willy's Mexican Lottery Brand made by Dunlop; they're pretty nice strings, I tried some 10s.

@JP-hs6ii

3 жыл бұрын

Billy used to use 11-50s from the 60s to the 90s.

@JP-hs6ii

3 жыл бұрын

B.B. King Signature gauges: 10-13-17p-32w-45w-54w.

Interesting and thoughtful take on the subject, thank you. I recently started rolling strings/gauges and find that I play differently depending on gauge. I'm settling on 9's on my Fenders, 8.5's may stay on some others. 8's are interesting, quite a big step away from 10's, but I may keep one axe strung w/ 8's just for days when finger fatigue/arthritis kicks in. Going all Slinky's as well.

This is where I have done some research for a long time. The first set of dimebag Darrell signature strings I bought opened my eyes. To many people stick with the old 9s,10s,11s get you a hybrid set 10s on the top the larger strings and is on the bottom the smaller strings. Even the. Though I always break my high E strong when I get into it every time! So I have dove into the hybrid string theory

Makes a huge difference, longer scale guitars like a strat I prefer 09, .011, .016, .026, .032, .038, a slight variation on Hendrix gauge, and on Les Pauls' 009, .011, .015, .024, .032, .042, with an added old string end and top wrap for the wound strings to lengthen them. String height and truss rod tension also have a huge bearing on tone along with pup height and screw pole adjustment for humbuckers. Every little tweak can make a significant difference imo. Capacitor material and values are another very significant factor for me. Thanks for the post, I thought it was intriguing to revisit the subject. Cheers. Almost forgot, string material. I always use pure nickel as opposed to steel or a cobolt composite, much warmer tone.

My experience is that I use different gauges on different guitars, as per say all have different scale lenghts. While 10s on Music Man JPX are fine, 10s on Fender 60s Strat are too light and losy to my hands and I need to use 11s. I also found out that, years ago, when I swaped 9s to 10s and back my hands quickly addapted to the "easier" playing part and everything ultimatelly felt same way. First impression has been the same as your's, it is easier to play, it is more comfortable and I feel I am more confident in everything. But after several days that feeling was gone as finger musles adapted to lighter tension of those strings. Buyt the point is solid, lighter strings sounds tighter and are less boomy in the low end,. Great video!

3 years late to the party, but I've been using 9's tuned to C standard for a little over a year now and LOVE it! No one else likes playing my axes, but I find it soo much easier to play and feel every note.

Thanks for your input! I'm an older player, and l play mostly rhythm anymore! I play with a group, and with age, I have some arthritis in my fingers, and I'm using tens, but been contemplating going to eights, so it might help by easing the pressure on my fingers making chords. I love the sustain I get with the tens, I don't want to lose that! I play a Les Paul mostly and love it!

One thing I've learned from the comment section... most people don't know how to properly use an apostrophe.

@brads4606

4 жыл бұрын

DickBurns this would include Apple Corp. whose autocorrect feature keeps putting them where they don’t belong.

@Neilhoh3

4 жыл бұрын

And I only ever put one E string on my guitar, not multiples of them. All these ppl seem to have 6 x 9 gauge strings. That's one floppy low E.

@kevinstewart8120

4 жыл бұрын

sh'ut u'p what'do you kno'w

@MartinMCade

4 жыл бұрын

Frank Zappa did.

@danielnorman8595

4 жыл бұрын

And they just close the " ' " society in England.

I've been using 09-46 "Hybrid" sets for 30 years. My guitars are almost exclusively 25.5" scale, and this gauge seems to strike a perfect balance....

@lukebucket

2 жыл бұрын

Would love to know more about this. I built a guitar with this scale length and maybe this is the holy grail.

@GraveVibrations

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I use hybrids too it works for me!

@cynthia6389

Жыл бұрын

I had been using those for many years, just try the straight nine set for awhile .

@jeffreyquinonez8964

Жыл бұрын

9-52 here lol i can play everything from standard to drop A

in my opinion depends on how much you play and if you do this professional. the slinky's 9's are for one night show or a studio session,you will sound great. if you can afford to change strings every night,they are fine. High E string gets dull really fast and breaks often depending how you play. I had 11s flat wound on a 335 Epiphone and it sounded like a piano. I settle for D'addario 10s on my SG, because of consistency,quality and durability. I learned to wipe off the strings after practice, it helps to prevent premature rust. thank you for the video.

I’ve tried 7’s, skinny bottom heavy tops, 8’s, 9’s and 11’s. Right now I actually really like my optima 11’s. Never have I been under the impression that there is a tonal difference, I merely enjoy the playing experience of the thicker strings, especially on my gretsch which has super low action, the added string tension from thicker strings seems to help prevent getting any buzzy frets. It’s all about different play experiences, I like how it’s harder to bend an .11 gauge set out of tune by mistake. I honestly really like bouncing between my strat which has a set of 9’s, higher action and a more rounded fretboard radius and my gretsch which feels like it has a flatter fretboard. I enjoy having the high action on my Strat paired with lighter strings, oddly it seems to help me and my tiny little fingers actually figure out where they’re going a bit easier, but every here and there I get bored and move to my silky silky smooth gretsch. So yeah, we don’t need to have all our guitars set up the same way to be honest, variety is the spice of life and I sure enjoy the pros and cons of my different guitar setups.

Interesting point, on my electric guitars, I’ve always used rotosound 10’s, I like them because they feel very light,I had 9’s on my tele, again I switched to the rotosound 10,s,& I like that feel, but at some point soon,I’ll definitely try the 9’s

@axe2grind911a

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but problem with rotosounds is that they stretch very differently from say EB's. I tested and they bend easier, but you have to bend MORE to achieve the same pitch change, which is weird and quite surprising. I didn't like having to bend my E string so far into my B.

@ChristopherGrech123

3 жыл бұрын

Nearly every guitar tech I speak to say 10's are the right gauge for a Tele. I can bend two whole steps on mine on the 3rd string with 10's, they sound pretty snappy too.

I've played 10-52s in Standard for the last ten years. I just switched to 9-46 last week. Definitely notices a difference in sound right off the bat but the biggest difference I noticed was the bending. It is mind blowing. Then I just happened to stumble across this video today. Pretty much confirming my own thoughts on the subject.

i have been playing 9.5s recently and its just a crazy best of both worlds.. not loose like 9s and tight like 10s.. just perfect..

I play 12’s and I love them! They’re warm and mellow. It’s what I like. Bringing a jazzy smooth tone. However, I have to admit that 9’s or hybrid sets are freaking amazing and vastly more useful outside my genre. So I make sure to have a rig with those ready to go. It’s pretty cool bending without having to lift 19lbs with my finger tips. Haha

Back in the 60's ( yes, I know I'm an old man) I was blown away by light guage Slinkys. Before Slinkys I was playing Black Diamonds which were one of the only electric guitar strings available in Austin, TX until J.R. Reed Music started carrying Ernie Balls. I was playing in a band 3 nights a week, 4 hour gigs. I started out on 9s but went down to 8's I could set up my guitar with low action and easy on the hands playability. I didn't think about tone back then since you just turned everything to 11 and adjusted the volume on the guitar. Over the years I've bent to peer pressure to go up to 10's. But I long to go back to lighter strings. I picked up a buddies guitar that had 9 flatwounds. Wow! They really didn't feel any different than round wounds but none of the string noise, Interesting. Thanks Rhett.

@Danocaster214

4 жыл бұрын

Did you notice buzz on the 8's when you really dig in though? Light strings tend to bounce around more.

@cmet8280

4 жыл бұрын

Ah, yes Black Diamond strings dipped in diamond dust. purchased mine at a HiFi repair shop in La Mesa Ca. in the mid 60's ( I'm an old man too)

@hillmillenia

4 жыл бұрын

C met small world though I bought mine at... was it Allen’s music in La Mesa? It would have been around ‘72 and on... you could run cable cars on them things 😆

@cmet8280

4 жыл бұрын

@@hillmillenia Damn, it is a small world. purchased my first "quality" set-up there in '72, Gibson gold top Les Paul and a Fender super six reverb. Graduated Grossmont High in '71. Did a quick search and Allens is still going strong.

@mattosmechanics

4 жыл бұрын

Oh man I also got a guitar there (got mine in ‘92 or ‘93)-my first electric. I was eleven years old and convinced my parents to buy me a Stratocaster (Squire) after I had developed some chops on a beat-up old 12 string acoustic I inherited from my uncle.