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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 9/12/2007 8:07 AM
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| Last week, my thin E string broke. The strings haven't been changed for over a year, so I finally got around to buying a new set at a guitar store. D'Addario's 0.010 - 0.046. Now, I have a Gibson SG, but I've been reading around other websites that 0.009 - 0.042 is the way to go. Will going a step up like this from the recommended strings change the sound by a lot?
I didn't open the package yet, so if I should return this set and trade it for the recommended set, I'll do just that. But what sized strings do you all think would be a better set to use on a Gibson SG?
Thank you! |
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| | | Supreme Being
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Supreme Being
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| | Generally, thinner strings sound tinnier/more trebely (is that even a word???), and have less sustain. On the plus side, they bend easier and cause less pain to the ends of the fingers on your fret hand. There is no "right" gauge of strings for a particular guitar. On an SG, I would use 11s or 12s. That's not because its an SG, its because I use 11s or 12s on everything! Your guitar was (hopefully) set up, that is the intonation and truss rod were adjusted for, a particular gauge of strings. If you know what that was (most likely the gauge you're removing from it now), go with that. If you're unhappy with the way your guitar feels, i. e. too hard to bend, too easy to bend, can't play for more than 10 min without pain, maybe you should bring your guitar to a tech and get his advice. The setup changes required to change your string guage up or down aren't rocket science and could be easily done by such a tech or even a more experienced guitar player (I do all my own work, for instance). Good Luck! SG ( but not a real one like yours  )
Hey - Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket?
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| | | Supreme Being
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Last Login: 11/13/2008 6:25 PM
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/16/2007 3:47 PM
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| Dude, it all depends on what your sound is and what you want your sound to be like. Obviously your technique has more to do with your sound more than anything, but, changing strings and tunings are elemental.
If you've been using 9's then maybe stay with what your used to. If you want to experiment, which is what any true artist should do, I'd suggest go with the 10's. In my opinion 9's are way too bright and depending on which set of 10's you get, so are they. I personally play 11's, and this did require a quick guitar setup and it's purpose was to support a lower tuning (Drop D and C).
I say try the 10's. Experiment. It won't change your sound too much, and if it does it may be something you like. You won't know unless you try.
Good luck w/ that.
PuroRock
PuroRockMusic
The Judas Kiss
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Supreme Being
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| | 10's on a Strat or Tele, 11's or 12's on a Gibson. Rule of thumb from the guitar players I know.
God wants spiritual fruit, not religous nuts! |
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/16/2007 3:47 PM
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| Yeah, I guess that's a rule of thumb, but don't go by rules when you're looking for tone. I love Billy Gibbon's sound, and despite the fact he uses a quarter or a metal pick, he uses 8's on his Les Paul and gets one of the best tones ever heard. You can find that here. Brian May uses 9's, while most modern guitarists like Slash and Dave Navarro and so forth go heaver to 11's and up.
And personally, I attack the hell outta my strings, so a thicker gauge holds up better for me. When I used 9's and even 10's I'd break strings left and right... it used to piss off my band all the time, lol. I can attribute the thicker gauge and the fact that I switched to D'Addario's to virtually no string breakage. As a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time I broke a string.
My main point is to go ahead and experiment and find out what works and feels best for you. But again, you'll never know if you don't try. I think I'm gonna try the EXL115W's myself.
PuroRockMusic
The Judas Kiss
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