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String gauge sets, help please.

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9/4/1999 6:20 PM

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

9/5/1999 4:23 AM

Just personally, I think you "should" do whatever you want. The difference in pounds-per-square-inch pressure on the neck rises pretty dramatically in steps up in gauge, but if the difference between the thinner strings and heavier strings made that much difference someone would have noticed over the years. I mean, if it made all that much difference necks would always warp toward the heavier strings, wouldn't they? But I notice if they twist it (in my humble experience) is usually toward the treble strings. Anybody else notice this?

As for using customized string sets, Hendrix used 9-38s, Gilmour uses 10-50s I believe, so does Eric Johnson. I have known people who not only mix the gauges differently from standard sets but I've known people who will use GHS for particular strings (like the G and A, for instance) and Ernie Ball for another string and Fender for another, etc. There's obviously no hard and fast rule here. Again just personally, I favor nickel-wound strings on strats over nickel-plated, to my (standard disclaimer) ears they just "sound better". It seems more noticeable to me than the difference between 9-42s and 10-46s usually (although some guitars just seem to want heavier strings).

Not an answer at all, was it? Maybe I should give up music and go into politics?

Hi

9/6/1999 1:12 AM

>But I notice if they twist it (in my humble experience) is usually toward the

treble strings. Anybody else notice this?

Yes, I did!

>Again just personally, I favor nickel-wound strings on strats over nickel-plated, to my (standard disclaimer)

ears they just "sound better". It seems more noticeable to me than the difference between 9-42s and 10-46s usually (although some guitars just seem to want heavier

strings).

The pity of all this, is that there is a lot of adjustment and setting involved when changing gauges... And I need some time to decide what I like best (weeks).

But I think that heavy strings, at least on my strat, sound definetely (sp?) better. I'll try a lighter set next change to see if I can notice a difference to better. What I'm sure about is that I like the sound of 26,36,46 on top better than lighter gauge strings. As I used to play "classic" acoustic from the begining I'm used to really use those three as bass strings leaving the treble side for the rest. Maybe it sounds silly or obvious, but if someone has played classic music or flamenco on a concert guitar he'll know what I'm talking about.

>Not an answer at all, was it? Maybe I should give up music and go into politics?

Hi

Yes, to me it was.

Thank you. (again)

No, I'm not any good. Just that I began taking guitar lessons learning/reading that kind of music at the age of 9, that's all. And that was a long time ago. I've forgotten almost everything about that nowadays. I'm happy on the blues now

9/7/1999 4:00 AM
Hi	In thinking twice about it, it occured to me that there is probably more pressure on the treble side of the neck, the strings being thinner have to be under more pressure to give a good tone? I'm NOT a physiciat, I could be wrong about this... Hi

9/7/1999 4:01 AM
Hi	I can't spell, either...

9/7/1999 9:27 AM

Re: String gauge sets - long

In thinking twice about it, it occured to me that there is probably *more* pressure on the treble side of the neck

Not entirely true. The tension relates to pitch, not to tone (well, it does, but that´s not why you tune your guitar, right?). What tension is needed for what pitch depends on a lot of things; scale length (duh), string gauge (more on that in a minute), string composition, weight,...

In one set of (tuned) strings the main difference in tension is determined not by absolute string thickness, but mostly by the string core´s thickness. Plain strings are their own core, obviously. Different brands can feel (and sound) very different, even if they are the same gauge, and composition, because the cores of the wound strings differ.

As an example of tension spread at concert pitch, full scale (25.5 In.)(from the back of a Dáddario pack, no less)

.011 - 8.89 (Kg)

.014 - 8.07

.018 - 8.44

.028 - 9.66

.038 - 9.80

.049 - 8.93

and

.010 - 7.35

.013 - 6.98

.017 - 7.53

.026 - 8.34

.036 - 8.84

.046 - 7.94

This is not a commercial, but I really like these strings (XL´s, nickel wound - very consistent). I tried Fenders, and they sounded rather dead and unbalanced to me (on a Strat! go figure!).

BUT, like every guitarist, every guitar appears to have a strange preference for a certain string. Really! When a friend and I switched brands on our acoustics, both sounded dull and boxy. I swithed back to Martin bronze (Fave choice for that particular guitar) and he to Dáddario Phoshor Bronze both guitars came to life and sounded as powerful as ever. Weird huh? Moral; try a lot of different brands, even all over again when you got a new guitar.

String composition (nickel wound, plated, steel, whatever) is a matter of preference (both player´s and instrument´s). I know someone who will only play with BlueSteel´s, and it really works for his sound, while I hate ´em.

9/9/1999 12:59 PM
Hi	Mike; Thanks for clearing that up! I have piles of statistics on pressure on the neck from different strings, etc., but like a great many things in my house I have NO idea where they are (I have three children, I know they're around here somewhere...) Hi

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