Best string guage for hard rock?

[Utero]

I am using Ghs ZW boomers and thinking they are a little light... anything better out there?

[red|dragon]

definately get 13's or 14's hell if you wanna sound really good go for the 15's.

[6942]

Depending on your guitar, 10s or 11s should do the trick.
Eric Clapton uses 10s, hasn't hurt his career any!!
Steve

[GIR unit]

Originally posted by 6942 Depending on your guitar, 10s or 11s should do the trick. Eric Clapton uses 10s, hasn't hurt his career any!! Steve

I hear he's dropped down to 9's.

[Utero]

Originally posted by red|dragon definately get 13's or 14's hell if you wanna sound really good go for the 15's.

 

 

Wouldn't you need different tuners for those guage strings?

[Paladin2019]

Originally posted by Utero Wouldn't you need different tuners for those guage strings?

 

 

Are you being serious?

 

Also, unless you're downtuning to frequencies normally reserved for bassists and tectonic plates there's no way I'd describe the ZW set as "light".

[Utero]

Originally posted by Paladin2019 Are you being serious? Also, unless you're downtuning to frequencies normally reserved for bassists and tectonic plates there's no way I'd describe the ZW set as "light".

 

 

I have never really messed around with my strings before. One of my friends would always say you need different tuners for bigger guage strings, so I just went along.

[ninjaaron]

I like to use 10s for everything.

I think it's all about personal preference with strings if your playing rock. I guess for Jazz your supposed to use heavy strings. I dunno.

[Paladin2019]

Originally posted by Utero I have never really messed around with my strings before. One of my friends would always say you need different tuners for bigger guage strings, so I just went along.

 

 

Well, he's talking complete BS I'm afraid. Tuners are tuners, regardless of strings used.

 

What sort of changes are you looking for? What exactly are you unhappy with at the moment? For rock styles you probably don't want to go any higher than what you have now.

[Utero]

Originally posted by Paladin2019 Well, he's talking complete BS I'm afraid. Tuners are tuners, regardless of strings used. What sort of changes are you looking for? What exactly are you unhappy with at the moment? For rock styles you probably don't want to go any higher than what you have now.

 

 

I want more of a bolder, heavier sound. I liked the difference in souns when I went from 9's to 10's so I am thinking about going to 11's or 12's.

[Paladin2019]

Originally posted by Utero I want more of a bolder, heavier sound. I liked the difference in souns when I went from 9's to 10's so I am thinking about going to 11's or 12's.

 

 

The GHS ZW is already a souped up 11's set. Hell, that 70-gauge bottom E is about as heavy as it gets. Even on regular 12's the low E is only about 54.

 

If you think your rig is too 'light' sounding with the ZW's then the problem is not your strings. Perhaps you should be looking at new pickups, a new overdrive/distortion pedal or something as a simple as tweaking your amp settings.

[Utero]

Originally posted by Paladin2019 The GHS ZW is already a souped up 11's set. Hell, that 70-gauge bottom E is about as heavy as it gets. Even on regular 12's the low E is only about 54. If you think your rig is too 'light' sounding with the ZW's then the problem is not your strings. Perhaps you should be looking at new pickups, a new overdrive/distortion pedal or something as a simple as tweaking your amp settings.

 

 

You may be right. I have the 10 gauge ZW set.

[LucyBasset]

Whatever you're comfortable with. There is no such thing as a particular guage that is best for a typical type of music. That's just rubbish, just concentrate on your playing and not the minutae.