Wrong String Gauge

[Remolution]

I bought 11's instead of 12's. Will I screw up my neck if I put on the 11's and then go back to 12's later?

[bigby]

I bought 11's instead of 12's. Will I screw up my neck if I put on the 11's and then go back to 12's later?

 

 

No, it shouldn't cause you any problems.

[rjoxyz]

Can't imagine why. At worste, may need to tweak the trust rod a touch if you lose relief to the point of buzzing with the 11's.

[guitarist21]

Won't hurt your guitar but it might hurt your fingers if you're used to 11s! Big difference between 11s and 12s, IMO.

Ellen

[Hamhand]

Well, this may be a little the other direction, but,..... I told the shop when I had my set up done on a used guitar to match the strings on the guitar because I liked the way it sounded. They put larger gauge on and it caused a tuning problem. The strings hang up in the nut for awhile, then twang! Makes tuning alittle tough. I'm going to get lighter gauge strings today.

[DeepEnd]

 

. . . The strings hang up in the nut for awhile, then twang! Makes tuning alittle tough. . . .

 

You have what is sometimes called "string binding." The windings of the strings (probably the G) are catching on the inside of the slot in the nut. A decent shop can file the slots wider and smoother, or you can use graphite or powdered Teflon (a couple of bucks at any hardware store) or a specialized product like Big Bends Nut Sauce or Lizard Spit Slick Nutz (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitar/navigation?q=nut+lubricant, about $13-15) to lubricate the slots. A new nut might help as well. Figure $10 for TUSQ, $50 or so for bone.

[rjoxyz]

I occasionally have the strings hang up on the nut on a couple of my guitars when tuning. Yep, usually the G. I bought some graphite "sauce" but can never find it when I need it. When I think of it, I just rub a pencil lead in the slot when re-stringing.

[Hamhand]

Yep, G string.

[darksun]

Yep, G string.

ya, the old "my G string is stuck in my slot" if i had a dollar for every time,,,,,,, ok, ok, stupid joke,

[RainsongDR1000]

Won't hurt your guitar but it might hurt your fingers if you're used to 11s! Big difference between 11s and 12s, IMO. Ellen

 

 

I think he is saying he is going from 12" to 11's, in which case it will be easier on his fingers... You might have some fret buzz from the lack of tension, though.