Do you use 9s or 10s on your electric?

[roylor4]

I use 10's for standard E and 11's for open G.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by ewalling

I'm a relatively new returner to the electric world, and. recently, I've taken a stab at learning some classic solos - Stairway, Smoke on the Water. I have 10-46s on my two solid electrics, but I'm realizing that these guys must have been using 9s or even 8s to get some of the huge bends they pull off. I still have enough of a foot in the acoustic world that 10-46s already seem pretty light, but I'm seriously considering going down a step to ease some of those bends.

What gauge do you use on your electric?

I use .010-.046 on my (24 3/4" scale) guitar, playing roughly the kind of stuff you're referring to. Action on the low side of medium, and I play slide on the same guitar with no special strings or setup.

I always found myself "playing through" anything lighter. Honestly, I would rather play .011-.048 or so ; I like the tone a bit better, the G string is harder to press out of tune (which I tend to do no matter how hard i try to avoid it!), and I just like the slightly more substantial; feel. But, after the first couple of days I find them fatiguing.

I think you should play what feels comfortable, as you can get a good tone from any reasonable string gauge.

[pjbelsch]

NYXL 10's simply the best strings.

[Mooh]

10s and 11s

D'Addario Chromes, wound third.

10s

D'Addario EXL110

[ras1500]

Currently I'm using flat wound 11's with a wound G on both of my electrics. Pyramid Gold on the Strat and Thomastic-Infeld on the Guild Starfire. I can't get adjusted to lighter strings and don't like the tone of an unwound G. I'm thinking of going up to 12's on the Starfire.

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by ras1500

I can't get adjusted to lighter strings and don't like the tone of an unwound G.

Interesting. I've gone the other way since I started back on electric. I began with a wound 3rd on my Godin Multiac Spectrum, but even with that I now have an unwound string. I think it has more 'twang' in it.

[harpspitfire]

i use 9's on my cheap strat clone, they didnt sound right on my newly built tele kit clone, so im getting 10's on it with a shop set up this week, tell you truth, i cant see how bending strings would be an issue between 9's and 10's

[Bowie]

Both, and heavier on tuned-down guitars.
Years back, I read an interview with Clapton where he said he used 9's because BB King put him on to them. I found that fascinating.

[clintj]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Both, and heavier on tuned-down guitars.
Years back, I read an interview with Clapton where he said he used 9's because BB King put him on to them. I found that fascinating.

I've heard the same thing about Billy Gibbons. He ran medium to heavy strings till B.B. King asked him why he was working so hard.

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[M Hayden]

11s mostly. Since I play 90% acoustic or jazz-box, this is light and I can bend etc fine.....

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by clintj

I've heard the same thing about Billy Gibbons. He ran medium to heavy strings till B.B. King asked him why he was working so hard.

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^There you go. Though I've drifted away from light strings in recent years, those stories are the type of things that help me keep my mind open to all possibilities when it comes to music.

[tdq]

11s. I used to use 9 or 10s when I was younger, but since I use 12 and 13s now on my acoustics, 10 just feels too light.

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by harpspitfire

... tell you truth, i cant see how bending strings would be an issue between 9's and 10's

If it isn't, I may have to go to 8s!

I was simply guessing that 9s would make the bends perceptively easier, which I think they probably will. I can do most of the bends right now, but one or two full tone ones seem too much of a stretch, and one complete two-tone bend that Page uses is impossible. Differences in gauge, though seemingly small, can make significant differences in playability.

[guitararmy]

I still use 9-42's or 9-46's on my Fender's and 10-46's on my Gibson's. I have a light touch and some carpal tunnel issues.
I also like using 9.5-44's on my PRSi and Hamer's.

[Golffishny]

11's with a wound G string on my Gibson MM LP. I'm not a lead player and try to keep the feel closer to my acoustics. I can't believe I used 13's on my old Kay Twin Thin back in the 60's. I knew nothing about string options back then other than brand.