I switched to eights and...

[Bro Blue]

The world has not come to an end. All my Strats got eights and my shorter scales got nines. I have been having problems with my left wrist and this has solved the problems of pain and stiffness after I play. The only changes I had to make were setting the intonation on the Strats, raising the pickups a tad and tweaking amp EQs. Tone/sustain-wise, there's really not much of a difference going down a gauge.

 

That is all.

[benzem]

Yup. Good on ya for not buying the bs.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same if I was having any pain. I want to play til I die so causing undue stress on my hands is just stupid.

 

I tried 8's once and agree the sound was good but I find 9's to be just right, tension wise as I do a lot of wide bends.

[mrbrown49]

For setups playability always comes first, and that includes string gauge.

[C-4]

I went to 8's after arm surgery, and no one hears them sounding any different then the 10's I used to use.

[JohnnyRaincheck]

I would break an 8 just by looking at it. I had to move to 9's

[MuyLoCo444]

Weak hands, huh?

[EADGBE]

8s can be fun.

[jds22]

Weak hands, huh?

 

There's an exercise for that ya know.

 

Just sayin'.

[ArKay]

"Why work so hard?" - B.B. King

[harold heckuba]

I prefer 8's but always use 9's because I found and bought several boxes of closeout 9 strings for $1 each. I think I will go back to 8's when the 9's are used up.

[photon9]

Never tried 8s. Played 9s and they feel too limp for me so I switched to 10s.

 

Glad they feel good to you though. In the end that is what is most important.

[mrbrown49]

I use 10s because I was always bending strings out of tune when bending chords. That was a while ago and my technique is worlds better now than it was when, but it's one major reason I haven't tried lighter strings again.

 

So, how do you light string guys deal with that? Is it much of an issue for you or do you simply adjust your technique?

[faberbz]

 

I use 10s because I was always bending strings out of tune when bending chords. That was a while ago and my technique is worlds better now than it was when, but it's one major reason I haven't tried lighter strings again. So, how do you light string guys deal with that? Is it much of an issue for you or do you simply adjust your technique?

 

 

I used to use 10s, or heavier, as I am more used to acoustic.

 

But switched to 9s and 8s. I was afraid of tuning problems, but, honestly, once the new strings stretch out, they're fine. (keep a well lubed nut) And I punish my strings, but they last me as long as a set of 10s did.

 

And, yeah, they feel great.

[mrbrown49]

I used to use 10s, or heavier, as I am more used to acoustic. But switched to 9s and 8s. I was afraid of tuning problems, but, honestly, once the new strings stretch out, they're fine. (keep a well lubed nut) And I punish my strings, but they last me as long as a set of 10s did. And, yeah, they feel great.

 

It's not tuning I'm worried about, it's accidentally bending strings when fretting chords. The light strings are so easy to bend it's hard to fret them straight down to the board with out pushing them sharp from either too much pressure or moving laterally across the fret. I 'spose it's another one of those 'you'll get used to it' things.

 

I've got the too much pressure thing sorted now, i have a fairly light touch.

 

FWIW, my formative years were spent on acoustic as well. It's taken me years to adapt to the touch sensitivity of electric.

[knotty]

It's not tuning I'm worried about, it's accidentally bending strings when fretting chords. The light strings are so easy to bend it's hard to fret them straight down to the board with out pushing them sharp from either too much pressure or moving laterally across the fret. I 'spose it's another one of those 'you'll get used to it' things. I've got the too much pressure thing sorted now, i have a fairly light touch. FWIW, my formative years were spent on acoustic as well. It's taken me years to adapt to the touch sensitivity of electric.

 

Yup. Me too. If I dont have the tension I tend to push them out of the way when I try to fret.

[vonbladet]

 

I went to 8's after arm surgery, and no one hears them sounding any different then the 10's I used to use.

 

 

Of course not: any gauge lighter than Stevie Ray Tone Cables is bound to lack a certain rugged manliness whether it's 10s or 8s. Also you risk getting your bends in tune, and then where are you?

[Guitar God]

I'm glad to hear that you found a way to play guitar without being in pain.

 

:]

[cratz2]

I've never put 8s on a guitar so I won't knock it until I try it.... which will probably be never, but still.

 

 

Yeah, I broke my wrist about 5 years ago and that's what got me back into playing. I've got all my strength back, but some of the subtle skills are just gone and I can't seem to get them back. I used to be very decent at bending up a half step or a whole step, then vibratoing that note. GONE. Can't do it.

 

But yeah, if I had an injury or pain, I'd try a lighter gauge in a heartbeat.

[Metalrulez]

I never bought into the bull{censored} about needing to play on steel cable to get good tone.All my guitars are strung with 9's and have been since I started playing.8's are a tad too lite for me.

[scuzzo]

mass= tone..

i will stick with 10s at least..

its a choice.

although if it was a injury.. yea i would go lite..

what ever gets you there..

[smorgdonkey]

[benzem]

String gauge - For those who compensate for penis size.

 

[Angry Tele]

sorry about your penis, bro.

 

I use 10-52 because, well, Im a Man.

[benzem]

Wuddaya bench?

[ashasha]

You may want to check these out:

 

 

 

http://www.theguitarcolumn.com/2010/02/dunlop-billy-gibbons-custom-string-set.html

 

And Page also used .008's (actually a banjo string on the high E and then moved the rest of the set up one string and tossed the low E string).

 

Neither one of them can ever be accused of having thin or weak tone.