The GAUGE PAGE

[Dennisthe Menace]

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......008s........

[64sunburst]

GHS 9 1/2's. Lighter than 10's without going all the way down to 9's. I like 'em. I don't feel that my hand strength has increased at all in all the years of playing. I quit fighting it and went from years of using 10's down to the 9.5's.

Byron

[thunderhead]

After years of playing the Blues on Strats and using 12's and 11's I finally got the chance to play the instrumental Surf and Rock Music I've Loved for years. I made the switch to Mosrite and Mosrite style Guitars. I found out in a hurry that the heavy strings and speed frets would not work for me. After throwing on a set of DR 10's I was on my way to Nokie Tone!!! The lighter strings to my ear lend themselves to more Twang for the Bang!!! http://www.myspace.com/thethunderheads

[64sunburst]

After years of playing the Blues on Strats and using 12's and 11's I finally got the chance to play the instrumental Surf and Rock Music I've Loved for years. I made the switch to Mosrite and Mosrite style Guitars. I found out in a hurry that the heavy strings and speed frets would not work for me. After throwing on a set of DR 10's I was on my way to Nokie Tone!!! The lighter strings to my ear lend themselves to more Twang for the Bang!!! http://www.myspace.com/thethunderheads

It's good to see that players are realizing that bigger is not always better. If you like 11's and 12's and can handle them, then more power to you. I spent years playing 10's because I refused to go any lower as a matter of principle. The 'real men don't play 9's (or 8's) attitude' really did a number on me. I was amazed that other players were using 11's, 12's and even 13's. I've been playing for 30 years and I still could just handle 10's. Then I started playing in a country band and went lower to 9.5's to facilitate string bending, and guess what? - playing got so much easier and I was able to put more 'oomph' into each note .

I really believe there is no ideal gauge, and that everybody finds their own comfort zone. So don't let anyone say that 8's are too light - after all if somebody like Albert Lee can get killer tone out of 8's, then string gauge ain't the issue.

Byron

Byron

[KRamone27]

I made a discovery today. I took a chance and bought some of those First act guitar strings from Wal-Mart and to my surprise they have amazing clarity and feel. And for $3.50 can't beat them.

[Dennisthe Menace]

After years of playing the Blues on Strats and using 12's and 11's I finally got the chance to play the instrumental Surf and Rock Music I've Loved for years. I made the switch to Mosrite and Mosrite style Guitars. I found out in a hurry that the heavy strings and speed frets would not work for me. After throwing on a set of DR 10's I was on my way to Nokie Tone!!! The lighter strings to my ear lend themselves to more Twang for the Bang!!! http://www.myspace.com/thethunderheads

It's good to see that players are realizing that bigger is not always better. If you like 11's and 12's and can handle them, then more power to you. I spent years playing 10's because I refused to go any lower as a matter of principle. The 'real men don't play 9's (or 8's) attitude' really did a number on me. I was amazed that other players were using 11's, 12's and even 13's. I've been playing for 30 years and I still could just handle 10's. Then I started playing in a country band and went lower to 9.5's to facilitate string bending, and guess what? - playing got so much easier and I was able to put more 'oomph' into each note .

I really believe there is no ideal gauge, and that everybody finds their own comfort zone. So don't let anyone say that 8's are too light - after all if somebody like Albert Lee can get killer tone out of 8's, then string gauge ain't the issue.
Byron

Byron, Point Well made
signed,
An 8 gauge Guitar player.....the only 12 Gauge I use is my Shotgun ......

[LOSTVENTURE]

I have been following Albert Lee since I saw him with Emmy Lou back around 1980. I have never heard him mention playing with any gauge less than 9's. Where did you guys hear that he used 8's ?
Don

[Haole Jim]

Overall fave seems to be .011 D-R flats on a couple instruments (including Mk I and Jazzmaster) and D'Addario .011 rounds, always with a wound 3rd, on others.

No interest in coated strings; look at some played ones through a microscope; they look like wildly frayed clothesline.

[Captain Thunder]

Was curious, what type and gauge strings y'all use. I use medium gauge strings (.11 high e) for the surf stuff. Just never got used to the heavier gauges. Of course when I break out the acoustic, I don't seem to notice a difference and just go to town until my fingers are reeeeeamed haha!

[Veenture]

There's been some discussions here...> viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2489&p=25846&hilit=string+guage#p25846