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String gauge sets, help please.

9/4/1999 6:20 PM
JohnC	String gauge sets, help please. Hello! I need some help with string gauges on Fender Stratocasters. After some search of sound and feel, I got stuck with 9,11,13,26,36,46 (telecaster's deluxe 70's shaped neck on a Fender Bullet) But now, I'm trying to get used to 11,13,17,26,36,46 on my Strat (I would probably change that 3rd. 17 to something a bit lighter, as is the string I like to bend more, and it seems to be a bit to heavy for my own anathomy for the moment) My question basicly is: do stock strats support a limit in string gauge? (this is important, as my strat really noticed the heavy strings, but it sounds so neat this way that...) Is it suposed to be obliged to "accept" commercial string sets "tightly"? I mean, a custom heavy-top light-bottom set could be dangerous for the guitars neck integrity? Warp risk, or both bow and warp (( etc Probably everything should be ok if I choosed a standard 9-42 set for the strat, I supose, but once getting used to those top 26,36,46, is hard to get back. Or should I accept it? And, appart the guitar itself, should I get used to normal set gauges for playing matters, or can I go on using lighter bottoms compared to the more heavy tops? Thanks a lot. JohnC

9/4/1999 6:20 PM

JohnC

String gauge sets, help please.

Hello!

I need some help with string gauges on Fender Stratocasters.

After some search of sound and feel, I got stuck with 9,11,13,26,36,46 (telecaster's deluxe 70's shaped neck on a Fender Bullet)

But now, I'm trying to get used to 11,13,17,26,36,46 on my Strat (I would probably change that 3rd. 17 to something a bit lighter, as is the string I like to bend more, and it seems to be a bit to heavy for my own anathomy for the moment)

My question basicly is:

do stock strats support a limit in string gauge? (this is important, as my strat really noticed the heavy strings, but it sounds so neat this way that...)

Is it suposed to be obliged to "accept" commercial string sets "tightly"?

I mean, a custom heavy-top light-bottom set could be dangerous for the guitars neck integrity? Warp risk, or both bow and warp

(( etc

Probably everything should be ok if I choosed a standard 9-42 set for the strat, I supose, but once getting used to those top 26,36,46, is hard to get back.

Or should I accept it?

And, appart the guitar itself, should I get used to normal set gauges for playing matters, or can I go on using lighter bottoms compared to the more heavy tops?

Thanks a lot.

JohnC

Replies:

Hi Just personally, I think you "shoul... -- 9/5/1999 4:23 AM