Electric Guitar Strings

[D. Churchland]

So here's my question to you all who like to dabble in the electric side of things.

Since acoustic guitar strings tend to be MUCH heavier in nature than electric guitar strings, considering that a 12-53 in acoustic strings is considered a "Light" set, and lights in electric strings are typically gauged in 10-46.

Do you find that as an acoustic guitarist you're drawn more towards heavier strings for your electric guitar so it'll play more like your acoustic?

Only reason I'm asking is because I have a strat that I refurbished from a near death experience and I find that I just can't play well on strings that are any lighter than 11-50 or 12-56.

[JimLin]

It depends ... I've been playing electric guitar for a long time so I'm comfortable with lighter strings. I find that heavier strings sound fine on some electrics and for certain types of music. When I tried heavier strings on my tele I REALLY didn't like the sound ... especially on the bass end. It sounded too muddy and I just couldn't get the sound I wanted. However, I like 11-50+ on my strats ...

For a classic jazz sound, I like/prefer heavier strings.

[brian a.]

I play Medium .011-.050 strings on all my electrics -- Strat, LP and ES-335. And Light .012-.053 strings on most of my acoustics.

[backliner]

Yes, I don't feel right fingerpicking on anything too light.

My Strat (and my semi-hollow) get 0.011" - O.050", which I can still bend for blues easily, and my archtop jazz box gets 0.014" - 0.053" (I don't generally bend on it).

My flat-top acoustic is strung with 0.012" - 0.054", generally.

I can fingerpick on 10's, but it takes concentration to stay even and is no fun. I'm just not used to them anymore.

[Glennwillow]

Hi Will,

No, I use 10's on my electrics and mostly 12's on my acoustics. I do have a jazz guitar strung with 0.011 flat wounds that is the one exception. I have to play my electrics differently or I bend everything out of tune.

Regards, Glenn

[geetarman]

I use what works in general 10's on all electrics except for shorter scaled guitars like a Les Paul I use 11's.

For smaller bodied acoustics I use 12's and 13's for dread and jumbo.

[zombywoof]

Nope - like 'em heavier on both acoustic and electric. 11s on the electrics and 12s or 13s on the acoustics (with a heavier high E) depending on the guitar.

[harmonics101]

Will Kirk, what an excellent question !! Never thought about it until now !

Now you got me wondering if the string manufacturers make a phosphor bronze for electrics ? I do believe i have been using 80 / 20 on my good old trusty Les Paul Firebrand but now that you mention , why not slap some phosphor bronze mediums on my Les Paul.

Definitely lots of adjustments if you are mainly playing acoustic and then pick up the electric.

Very interesting thought !

Harmonics101

[mcsmyth9]

Originally Posted by harmonics101

Will Kirk, what an excellent question !! Never thought about it until now !

Now you got me wondering if the string manufacturers make a phosphor bronze for electrics ? I do believe i have been using 80 / 20 on my good old trusty Les Paul Firebrand but now that you mention , why not slap some phosphor bronze mediums on my Les Paul.

Definitely lots of adjustments if you are mainly playing acoustic and then pick up the electric.

Very interesting thought !

Harmonics101

Greetings, Most people don't use bronze strings on electrics because they sound horrible. The pickups are only picking up the core of the string and not the wrap. If you use a heavy gauge nickel set on your LP you'll get a far better sound with far more output. I tend to view electrics and acoustics and different instruments and use 10's on sahorter scale electrics and 9-46 on longer scale.
Regards-Brian

[HudsDad]

I use 9's on my Strats/Teles, 10's on my Les Pauls and 12's on my acoustics. I've never had an issue going back and forth between them. They just feel "right" on those respective guitars.

[jricc]

After playing my acoustic with light, 12-53 gauge, and I take my hybrid Hamer out for a gig, I have to use 11-49 or 50 gauge electric strings or I'll bend them out of tune.

[Neil K Walk]

It was a learning process but I went from .008s to .011s on my electrics. I like to think I've matured! FWIW I prefer to use .013s on my acoustics but also tune down a 1/2 step.

[Bob Womack]

I like acoustic lights (.012) on my acoustics and electric extra lights (.009) on my electrics. Call me a wimp but for forty years my electric bending style has been built around extra lights. I used to run extra lights (.010) on my acoustics so I could carry many of my electric skills across but I learned that they simply don't drive the top enough.

Bob

[RevGeo]

.009s on the Strat and Kay archtop
.011s on the Harmony archtop
.010s on the George Washburn parlor
.012s on the Ventura 000

Rev George

[Doug MacPherson]

Right now I'm using Martin 80/20 Bronze Lights (12's) on my acoustics and 11's on my tele. I like a little heavier string on my tele from strumming, bass and lead parts.