Members soc_monki Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 just wondering, i know playing bigger strings makes it slightly harder to push them down, and im assuming higher action does too, but how much harder is it really to play when you have bigger strings (10-52 and the like) and higher action than "normal". ive always played this way and dont see it as a problem, nor do others (Vai for example)...i like it because it makes strings easier to mute, and makes you really concentrate on playing cleanly... what are some other peoples ideas on this? discuss...
Members Eddie Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 I like heavier strings (11-52) and relatively high action. Once I handed my guitar to another guitarist and warned him about my settings, and he told me he used 12s or 13s!!!I think it really depends on the style(s) of music you play. I have a hard time bending 11s 1 1/2 or 2 tones. I like the struggle, but there's a point where it can get in the way of playing. I like 11s on Strat-style guitars, and often use 10s on other guitars.Recently I tried to play some BB King licks, in which he bends with his index finger. When doing those bends I prefer 9s.Dick Dale would probably say 11s are light strings. He uses .018, .038, .048, .039, .049, and .060.
Members Auggie Doggie Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 Heavier strings are great for those who do a lot of picking (like myself) because they don't 'give' as much when you strike them. Higher action means clearer tone (much less prone to buzzing), more consistent intonation, and better sustain.On the downside, slurring is more difficult, as is bending, and it puts greater strength/endurance demands on the fret hand.People always compliment me on how good my guitars sound...and swear at me when they try to play them. I also use 10-52 (sometimes 10-46) strings with pretty high action, and my guitars have pretty small frets (which I would probably change if I had the $$ to spend on refrets).
Members Little Dreamer Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 I just had my Strat refretted and when he was done, the guy stuck a set of 10's on it. I usually play with 9's. I'd say the 10's increase the effort required by a good 10% at least. Sure, you get used to it after a while, but then I pick up my Ibanez (9's) and it's absolutely effortless in comparison - I can play things on there I'd never dream of playing on the 10's. The Strat's going back to 9's next time I change strings. Some people say you get better tone with thicker strings, but I wonder why they don't just replace the pickups or wire up a knob to mix in some middle pickup with the bridge pickup or something.
Members MrSteed Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 I'd agree with Auggie. I think heavier strings are actually a bit EASIER for picking. Depending on the action, the amount of pressure to push them down as compared to thinner is pretty neglible.I have 2 Gibson L5S's. One I have strung with 13's the other with 10's. Action is about the same. I'd say the 13's picks faster than the 10s with absolutely no difference in fretting pressure.Bending is another issue. It's of course MUCH harder to bend 13's
Members Auggie Doggie Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 Originally posted by Little Dreamer Some people say you get better tone with thicker strings, but I wonder why they don't just replace the pickups or wire up a knob to mix in some middle pickup with the bridge pickup or something. Heavier strings have a more definite percussive attack, much as a fixed bridge does when compared to a floating one. There's no electronic gadgetry that can replace that. Also, heavier strings have a greater dynamic range (and thus offer more dynamic control). This isn't very noticeable when using lots of distortion, but with cleaner sounds it's obvious. Those things are simply physics, and unless you're the chief engineer on the Starship Enterprise, there's no way to overcome that. There's always a tradeoff between ease of playability and tonal quality, and everyone has to choose where on that spectrum they want to reside. Distortion covers up a lot of the difference, which is why Yngwie can use 8's and tune them down a half step (rubber band city!!!) without affecting the sound too much. He gets a very fluid sound, but it lacks definition. Of course, really heavy strings are a beast to play on, and tend to suffer in the brightness category, so it works both ways--they have superb definition, but a fluid sound is extremely hard to get.
Members buddastrat Posted September 9, 2005 Members Posted September 9, 2005 I disagree. I think Yngwie has about the best strat sound ever for rock. I find light strings to have less resistance for picking. I mean, your pick doesn't have to push through as far and as hard. It's effortless to play .008's tuned down a half! Burn city. Picking takes on a humming bird kind've effect. But I do agree that distortion helps .008's along. I use .010's cuz I hate anything lower with a clean type of tone. It sounds too plinky. I don't like the darkness of heavy strings though for rock or country, or funk. you lose that snap and instant response. Heavy strings are more sluggish sounding to me.
Members soc_monki Posted September 9, 2005 Author Members Posted September 9, 2005 wow...lots of ideas! and Auggie...i know about the refret thing...my PRS's frets are ok (for an 11 year old, played every day guitar!) but my D note (C...im tuned down) on the A string is atrocious...the fret is pitted pretty badly, so im working on getting some money together for a total refret...i love the guitar though.i for one have to say bigger strings = more tone. sure distortion covers stuff up, but ive used 10-46 all the way up to 56 on the low E and bigger strings just have more oomph to them! i put on 46's and was like "whered my tone go!?!?!" and that was with distortion. ive gone back and forth between 52s and 54s and 56's...keeping my first three strings 10, 13, 17 for bending and stuff. my current gauges are in my sig...i am considering going to 10-52's just because it would be easier to play some stuff on the low strings and bend them...and i wouldnt lose too much tone from it. basically, i just really like the way big strings feel. you can whack them hard and they dont whimper and go out of tune. its also easy to ease up and play softly if need be (for cleaner stuff). theyre not as snappy as smaller strings, sure, but i think the dynamic control is well worth the trade off...i can just add more treble to get a tighter sound if i need to right now i need to work more on my picking...im getting out of the habit of really digging in all the time (i used to be a really heavy-handed player...) and gliding more across the strings to make it easier to do sweeps and faster picking with minimal interference. tough habit to break, but im working on it and so far its pulled me back a little, but im starting to see a lot of progress. ive already got my pick motion rather efficient...just gotta work on how much pick hits the strings
Members Terje Posted September 12, 2005 Members Posted September 12, 2005 Some jazz players use really heavy strings for ease of playing. The trick is that with a set of 0.14's you can set the action really low and it will be easier to press down the strings. If you don't do much bending it's OK.
Members physicist-jc Posted September 12, 2005 Members Posted September 12, 2005 I've been using 12s for a good while now, but I recently reverted back to 10s, and found bending and soloing to be much more fluid and easy. Its improved my playing.
Members soc_monki Posted September 12, 2005 Author Members Posted September 12, 2005 Originally posted by Terje Some jazz players use really heavy strings for ease of playing. The trick is that with a set of 0.14's you can set the action really low and it will be easier to press down the strings. If you don't do much bending it's OK. most jazz players also use flatwound strings, and its all to do with tone also...bigger and bigger strings get darker and darker (more mellow) tones, as well as flatwounds...they are extremely mellow. then we can go into stainless steel (very bright) nickel plated (not as bright) etc...i wouldnt mind moving back up to 11, 14, 18 on the high strings, problem is i like having the relative ease of 10's to bend, so i can be more expressive i guess? LOL the bigger the strings, the harder the bend...etc. but i agree, bigger strings make playing faster easier because of less movement. however about the action thing...i dont know about setting the action low with big strings. its possible i guess, but IMO kinda defeats the purpose of having big strings...you use them to get more sound and resonance, then lower the action and keep them from vibrating as much...but its all in preference i suppose our differences make the world go round...if we all liked the same thing it would really be a boring world!
Members Terje Posted September 13, 2005 Members Posted September 13, 2005 Originally posted by soc_monki however about the action thing...i dont know about setting the action low with big strings. its possible i guess, but IMO kinda defeats the purpose of having big strings... That would depend on what your purpose is with getting heavy strings, right? If it is to get a bigger tone, or to play slide with relative ease, then lowering the action defeats the prupose. But if your purpose is that it is going to be easier to play faster bebop lines then very big strings will give you a chance to have very low action without any buzz and for fast jazzy lines the low action is more important than the gauge and the stiffness that comes with heavy strings. All of that goes out the window if you bend a lot. I have heavy strings on my balalajka and pretty high action cause I play a lot of slide and do all my bends with the slide. It's easier and faster for me if I have some resistance.
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