Agreed. The problem is where does it stop? If heavier string are “better” then why not 9 over 8 10 over 9 11 over 10 12 or 11 13 over 12. But Robert does make a good point on aggressive picking hand does make a difference. I use 9 hybrid with thicker lower strings....but yeah I whole heartedly agree that guitars will “tell you” which strings they want. And Robert’s example is a little over exaggerated when he is striking with his Gibson but good points all the way around!
@@dbltap3332 I suppose the next step would be to switch to a bass guitar :) I don't know about string gauges and how they contribute to the tone. People who favour heavier strings always say bring up Stevie Ray, who had amazing tone (for his style of music), but then there are a lot of players with a great guitar tone who use light strings. Just yesterday I learned that Rory Gallagher used 9-40 set and I've always loved his tone. They say that tone is in fingers and I'm beginning to think that it must be true ;)
You have to find the right strings for your playing. Hendrix, Kim Thayil, and Tony Iommi are all really light touch players so they use thinner gauge strings. Angus Young and David Gilmour are more medium gauge players. SRV and Malcolm Young are heavy handed and play unusually heavy strings. Personally I'm a touch heavier handed on the bass strings and regular on the treble strings, so I play a lite top heavy bottom set. It does change the relative output of the various strings though, with the heavier ones being louder than they normally would. A word of caution: heavier strings when tuning down can produce a lot of excess low end that your amp or the engineer may not react well to. I use an EQ or something with a hi-pass filter to lop off that extra bottom before it hits the amp.
Tim Penfield Jimi was the master of dynamics whether he picked lightly, heavily, close to the bridge, over the pickups... it all has an impact on your sound and he constantly would switch these up even within one song which is why he is by far better than any “technical” player with no dynamics
Wow...I never realized this. I'm very heavy handed both right and left hands and so I have to be really careful to not put myself out of tune while playing...just switching from 9's to 10's really helped! I wish I'd have known about this 30 years ago...
I use 9-46 in E flat. love the effortlessness of light gauge strings, makes me play with much more confidence. Heaviest i can do is 10, heavy is just not for me.
10 is good for 25.5 guitars, so that makes sense. Most huge string users weren't on Fender guitars by that time, it's because the Les Paul and shoter 24.75 scales and smaller like Mustang by Fender, are the reason I think all those people though thick was the only way.
*It’s true* .Once you play enough getting from 9’s, 9 1/2’s, 10’s, and then 11’s is pretty quick. When I was touring year round in the 90’s my fingers got so strong that I had to beef up my strings. My axes stayed in tune a lot longer under the hot stage lights and my tone was juicer as well. I read about SRV doing that and it worked. 😎 🎸👍🏼. Anytime I played a guitar that wasn’t mine the strings (9’s) were like over cooked spaghetti. My left hand turned green with the power of the Hulk. 🤣 My health declined and I had to stop playing live. Eventually my hands got weaker and I ended up back with 9’s. So you have to keep playing a lot to keep that strength. 💪🏼😎🎸
When I switched to a 9 gauge it was quite hard at first to pick aggressively because of how flimsy the strings are but I managed to get rid of most of it by lowering the action as much as I can, I actually prefer lighter gauges now because the more aggressive I pick the smoother the picking seems to be, which was opposite on 10s. Vibrato and bending are a lot easier now, I get that some people say it doesn't matter because you're supposed to develop strength for that, but my vibrato is extremely wide and I try to have a very light left hand anyways like most shredders so it wouldln't matter Edit: this might work for me because I use jazz III picks and can afford to use a lot of edge picking, almost 45 degrees. If I do the same with a flatter pick it slides a lot and just doesn't work. Without edge picking, light, flimsy strings would definitely be harder to go across.
Nice vid as always! I have a very light right hand. While SRV is my primary influence, I use Billy Gibbons 8’s, and have never looked back. I crave the slinkiness that 8’s give me. I would still play if 10’s and 11’s were my only option, but it would take a lot of joy out of playing for me.
Hey Robert, listen back to your playing when you are comparing the 335 to the LP - You have more pick noise with the 335, it almost sounded like a metronome at first lol. You can hear a little of it on the LP but the 335 is louder. I remembered a video Scott Grove put out a few years ago about properly tuning your guitar and I got to thinking about that while listening to you talking about the strings sounding out of tune when you strike them. According to Scott, and it makes sense when you think about it, when you are tuning your guitar how are you picking it? I noticed at that time that I was just picking as if I was only tuning and not playing. What I mean is when I play I strike harder and quicker, I think most of us do this, but when I'm tuning I strike each string lighter. According to Scott just strike the string like you would when you are playing along with a song or just noodling around and that will be a more accurate way to tune. I for some unknown reason bought a ten pack of light top/heavy bottom (10-52) and when I was finished refinishing a Les Paul I bought from Austin I put a set of those on and I absolutely HATED them! ALL of the strings felt like I was using heavy cables instead of strings lol. I could barely bend any of them, even the supposedly lighter ones. I did have to do all the setting up of the neck and string heights and all that jazz but even once I did that I just could not get comfortable with them and since I wanted to change the nut to a bone nut I just replaced those with a regular set of 10's and now it's fine. I'am going to give the hybrid set another chance but on a different guitar to see if that matters.I have an Ibanez Iceman I think they might be a good fit for. On my Gretsch 5420T, a big ol jazz body style, I may use the hybrid on that one because I want that fatter tone for my bottom but the set on there right now I believe are 11's and they are too stiff.
Totally agree with you on what you are saying. However the one drawback to using 11gauge strings is they will eat up your frets. When I played 11's I had to get a fret job about every 6 months. Can get expensive. That's the main reason I went back to 10's.
I think it just comes down to style and personal preference. I grew up playing heavy strings... 11's/12's. I liked heavy metal and figured they would just sound better. Now I play 9's. I personally like them so much more. Much easier to bend and play all around. They feel so much more comfortable to me. With heavy strings I feel like I have to fight the guitar strings to get them to do what I want. When I play my guitars with 9's then pick up an old guitar of mine with 11's/12's the difference is night and day to me. I imagine the difference really stands out if you do a lot of bending.
Robert, that was the best advice EVER!! I put thicker strings on my LP and the tuning stability improved SO MUCH, and what's more, the whole guitar vibrates and the tone has become so full-bodied. INCREDIBLE! Gone are the days of the wobbly low E and barely audible high E. This has reinvented my guitar playing. No wonder that Malcolm Young or SRV played these beefier strings! And for Pagey's single-note riffing it's a must!
I like heavier strings for better playability. I find that lighter gauge strings tend to get moved by the pick. Heavier strings are tighter so are easier to pluck. They tent to stay put and the pick just plucks and moves away instead of pushing the string. I hope I made sense.
I've been playing acoustic almost exclusively for the past year. You wanna talk heavy handed, I can't get in tune with my electrics at all haha. I'm putting 12s on my eclipse tonight, though I am tuning to D
I just recently (and reluctantly) went from 10's to 9's. (Macho thing) 9's are for sissies right? Ernie Ball does package them in pink. lol. Seriously, I love them. Everything is easier. Not just bends. Hammer ons and pull offs, fretting chords. It allows for lighter and more precise playing IMO. Also great for "Angus Young" intense style vibrato, where he holds the bend up and shakes it good. Not so easy with heavy strings. Angus uses 9's. SRV plays like the guitar is a percussion instrument. That style lends itself to heavier strings, or tuned way down.
I actually switched from D'Addario 9's to 9.5's on all of my electrics. Was a pain in the ass stringing up strats and PRS with 9's and putting 10's on Gibsons. Now I just buy a big-ass box of strings from Sweetwater. Was nearly effortless to integrate. Highly recommended to try it...
I’ve played 10-46 for a couple of decades , and recently bought an EBMM Cutlass that came with the hybrid 9-11-14-26-36-46. Three weeks later I brought the EBMM Sabre, which comes with standard 10s. I switched it to the hybrid (H Slinkys) and I am sold. I’m going hybrid on everything now. (I’m buying another Sabre too shhh)
I've been using 11-49's on my Telecaster for a while now and am addicted. I love a bit of pushback and fingerpain to push even harder and really put that feel into it
I thought that my les paul needed a new nut because of the fret buzz at the 1st fret. I ripped off the 10s and put a set of skinny top-heavy bottoms on it. Buzz is gone, and it still has that les paul punch in the face tone, but now with a pair of brass knuckles.
One thing that I find is just about everyone says how much more slinky strings are on a Les Paul than a strat due to the slightly smaller scale (24.75 to 25.5) but I do not find that to be the case. Every time I pick up a Les Paul.... I’m talking actual Gibson’s... from Standards and Customs to Historics... I find them to be far more stiff than strats. I’m convinced it’s because the headstock angles backwards versus a strat that is straight the whole way through. So to me, 11’s on a Les Paul or SG is absolutely unplayable. To each their own.
Yup. The strings are not really anchored at the nut (one end of the scale length) but at the tuning pegs. That additional length has an effect. The break angle over the nut has an effect. The break angle over the tune-o-matic (the other end) also has an effect which is why some players might overwrap the tailpiece (kids, don't do this ; ). Changing tuners or trees on a strat that changes the break over the nut can create a noticeable difference too.
So true. I’m very heavy on my pick and even my fretting. 13s were the way to go for me. My poor Strat has so much tension I had to add all 5 springs to the trem. Feels great and stays in tune when trying to solo blues or rock.
I had a similar problem for more years then i care to admit, my solution? keep the .009's , us a thin/light gauge pick, I have trouble tuning heavy gauge strings+worried about damaging guitars as old a myself. Great vid again.
Great vid - I play 10-52 on a prs, that's what works for that guitar Think scale length and right hand make the biggest difference, also having a proper setup when you change gauge makes soo much difference
Hey bro I figured out a way to keep your string in tune. Tune it and then bend it at the 12th fret... it's gonna go a little flat at first tune it in again and bend it... it should go back in perfect tune after the 2nd or 3rd go... enjoy!
11s are the lightest I can deal with! 12s on some guitars and 13s on hollow archtops! thin strings are for sissies! Heavy strings have much better all around feel, tone, and especially tuning stability!!!
Jacob Elam Yeah, my favourites as well 9-46 - Slinky's or roto sound. Great for massive bends on the higher strings but nice low end punch. I started using them after reading an article on David Gilmour who played with these . Not sure if he still does.
Currently playing heavy bottom Ernie ball’s which are 11’s on the bottom and 10’s on the higher 3. I love hitting the low E and chords that won’t go sharp while still being able to bend easily
Are you sure about that? Duane and Dickey, Jimi and Roy Buchanan all used Fender 150s, gauged.010 to .038, back when heavier strings were the norm and readily available.
The big problem with ultralight strings is fret buzz. You either need to increase the string action or decrease your picking intensity, at least on the wound strings. I tried 8s due to soreness in my fretting hand, but much of the improvement was sacrificed because II had to increase the action for the wound strings.
I saw another video where the guy advocated for heavy strings and he made an interesting point, saying because heavy strings require more tension to tune, they're actually easier to play because your action can be lower than lighter strings, which require more space to vibrate freely without hitting the frets. "Easier to play, harder to bend" he said.
I just got a seven string set of Ernie Ball Cobalt strings 10-62 ! I absolutely love them you can tune all the way down to F # and they hold the tune perfectly!!
Out of the 200 or so comments two glaring omissions revealed to me. No one mentioned that your pick and plectrum thickness has a SIGNIFICANT affect on that right hand. Try using a fender thin before you swap all your strings and re set up your guitars. That's not as expensive as changing picks. Robert if I recall always used 2.75 dragonhearts. I have 6 of them and when I want thrash I'll play one. But there is a correlation between the light guaufe player and say EVH who used . 60 yep sixty and mustaine uses . 73. Lastly diff vendors and core type changes tension. Nickel are skinkier than prosteel.
I agree that the string goes sharp when you hit the string if its too thin! I went to drop A with a 11-64 on my 26.5 scale guitar...the A goes sharp if you use a tuner while you play...need thicker strings
I brought my LP in for an EVO Gold refret, and the tech/luthier asked me to play for him. He said, "Have you ever tried 11s?" and I was like "No, I've actually started moving to lighter strings recently." He told me I was heavy-handed and to give them a try. (I am also a bassist and acoustic guitarist.) I just played them for about an hour and noticed a few things. I feel like I can really dig in with both hands and some of old the issues went away. (Ex. fretting out of tune with my left hand during barre chords, and string buzzing from my right hand.) He was able to get the action REALLY low, way lower than I've ever had on any guitar, without the typical buzzing or choking out of notes. The tone is great, the only issue right now is it feels pretty stiff when bending above the 12th fret. That's probably just going to take a little time to get used to. I use round cores and they generally loosen up a bit after a few hours of "dive bombing" and chugging on them. We'll see... And yes, my LP has a Floyd Rose system. It's the new Lifeson, Epiphone Custom.
I use tens on the high E, B, and G strings. Are use 11s on the low E, A, and D. Our flight a strap and through a fender Deluxe tube amp. I have been very happy with the tones. I can get a killer SRV tone with my tube screamer or even straight clean.
I use 52-12s with a wound 3rd. D’addario Jazz Lights. On my Gretsch with some overdrive it is a rock monster. Perfect on my other guitars too. They DO sound better and stay in tune longer.
Totally agree, but one thing I've done to mitigate my overly heavy right hand is to use light picks. Like 0.5 range. That way, when I pound the strings, my pic doesn't transfer all the energy, and it mitigates my power. Also allows me to strum through a chord quickly, and evenly, where a heavier pick would dig in to the strings, and really thwacking them all out of tonality, into fret buzz, and just weirdness. The light pic averages everything I need to do, and that is awesome. And a PS - if I need to play relatively quick, for me (aka really slow) lead lines, I can choke up on the light pic, reducing flex, and it allows more accuracy and finesse, varying attack strength, etc. like a Jazz 3 pic, which was my first favorite pic, I just find it too difficult to use such a small and thick pic for rhythm playing. I write lines that go lead, chord, lead, chord, I'm switching in the flow. A light pic lets me get wild with the rhythm, then choke up on the tight lead stuff. And I use 10-11's, but a heads up, if you have joint issues, the 11's and even the 10's may cause you trouble, they cause me trouble. Like a lot of pain ttyppe trouble
I used to go dummy thick with strings. On my Soloist and Schecter (which I kept in standard tuning) I used 52, 48, 32, 28, 18, and 14. With a good set up, it plays really well and makes the guitar sound even more massive in the mix. Plus, the clean tone was super big and punchy.
I prefer 12 gauge strings. Nothing to do with staying in tune. Piano players often say if a piano has a very light touch one cannot fully develop the fingers. I believe 12 gauge is at the right touch for finger, hand development. My fingers and hand have an elasticity to them. The attacks are deliberate and movement is quick. I know one needs to be careful not to damage the hand. I will take a day or two off if my hands feels stressed.
I recently started using the EB Hybrid Slinky strings over the Super Slinky set for this exact reason. I like the lighter top strings for the shredy bits but if I played in drop D or C# I was getting that nasty "WOW' on the low E. Solved everything for me! Great video!
Hammer hands over here too. I made the switch to 11s years ago for this exact reason. Even have a set of 12s on my LP Jr. It’s all about finding what complements your playing style and what’s comfortable
On my strats I used GHS big core 9.5-.048 and my tele I used the same but 10.5--.048 for years and also on my mustang I used 10.5--.048 and Dunlop flow picks 1.0 and 1.5 and also 2.0 depending on the music that I am playing 🤔🤔🤔🧐🧐🤨🤓🤙👍🤘🤘🤘
I think for legato players a thinner gauge is better because you can have a lower action therefore speed but for pickers a heavier gauge is better because you get less movement before the pick strike release and that enables speed too. Thin for the left hand players, heavy for the right handers.
I've used 11's forever for several reasons. The main reason is they just feel better and sound better to me, personal preference is always the impetus for anything on guitar, strings, picks, pedals, amps, etc.. The second reason is I also play steel string acoustic and bass, so having 11's made the transition to a medium acoustic string which is much thicker and stiffer than electric strings, then to a light bass string, much more bearable and allows you to keep your same technique and feel between multiple instruments. Third, drop D tuning and playing hard rock begs for a little heavier, bass centric tone, which is inherent in 11's. They tend to hold tune better as well.
My right and left hand are both heavy hitters. Anything below a 11 gauge and I'll knock it out of tune every time. I'm trying to lighten up, but once the juice gets pumping, I just beat the hell out of it.
One thing I’ve noticed using 16s on my baratone is that you can grip onto the neck for grim death and you won’t go sharp. I’ve played baratone for about 6 years and I’ve realised when I play my old standard tuning crafter everything I play sounds sharp, this may be just a me problem but something worth noting.
I use 10-52's on fixed bridge guitars, and my PRS custom 24's, but the other guitars with trems I use 10-46. When I got my Jackson, it had 9-42 strings on it, but I just couldn't get the feel with them, and I kept bending them sharp, so up to 10-46 with that aswell now! M
Ive got mix feelings on heavy strings. I don't seem to enjoy electric guitar with them haha. Anything higher than 10-46 feel like crap under my finger and it's just weird to me. I play lead most of the time so for me an electric should have a kinda "bouncy" and slick feel. I think that lighter strings force you to relax your right hand and be more precise when you pick. I just don't care about the "hit your strings as hard as you can" thing.
You are so right about that. Since I started using 11-48 I can't use 10-48 on most guitars. Easier to set-up too. Only guitar with 10's now is my Suhr Pete Thorn.
I use whatever feels good and sounds good. I remember playing a Gibson 335 that had 12 s on it and was difficult to play and extremely uncomfortable in every way possible. I use 11s on all my guitars and am happy with the feel, control and command it gives me, plus it sounds glorious on all of my guitars regardless of the scale lengths I play- 24.75 and 25.50. If I can ever find a nice used Hamiltone with 26.5 I'll see if I can tolerate 12 s and maybe 13s like SRV. I've tried 12s on my strats and just can't enjoy playing that gauge string.
I've been playing 011s and 012s (only on some guitars) for years, since the switch I never had tuning problems and generally they feel nicer to play to me
That's actually a very cool find and explains a lot. On my G&L Bluesboy, switching to Medium gauge made a massive difference for me, especially when it came to comfort. For my metal guitars, I find HBLT sets work much better for me.
I went up to a .058 on that low E and it still goes sharp when I hit any harder than a very light touch… So I accepted this phenomenon and use a .052 now 🤷♂️
As for the gauge, Malmsteen himself chimes in, “People have an illusion that heavy strings will give them more sustain-bulls**t,” he says. “I use a hybrid . 008-. 048 set because thicker unwound strings don't make much of a difference, yet they're harder to play.
Unfortunately, heavy gauge strings tend to aggravate my already easily aggravated tendonitis. I have to play as light and easy as possible. I use Dean Markley Blue Steel 9s.
Awhile back I found out that Derek Trucks uses mixed sets, 11 and 17 from a heavy set and 3-6 are mediums. I decided to give it a try, and for me I found it to be the best of both worlds. I still get plenty of punch in the low end, but on the high end I get so much better feeling and perceived control.
Derek trucks uses open e tuning (a lot tighter than standard tuning) and plays slide so this is not a usefull comparison I believe.. (Still if you are happy with your strings than it's ok).
Ok, one last comment. Side by side, that ES had way more attack and sounded redic more heavy than your KM. Based on the design, specs and hardware, I thought it would’ve been the other way around. Wondering if it sounds that way in person too?
I have a heavy hand and I’m way more of a rhythm player than anything. 10s are perfect for me playing power chords and open chords in standard tuning. 9s are what I like Hendrix like for barring and triads and stuff. Everyone talks about tone of heavy gauge strings being better, but if you listen to a guitar in a mix with other instruments, I think lighter strings sound better. You’re a very good guitar player and you sound great, but I wish you’d play with other musicians to see why heavier strings sound in the context. For heavy metal, I see why you’d have to go heavier just for tuning.
Actually I come to the opposite conclusion: Aside from the fact that lighter string gauges have more prominent mids (which I appreciate), they kind of force me to play more dynamically and sensitively, therefore they give me a broader range of sounds that I can create with less effort. Also I tend to make less mistakes by playing light handed than by playing heavy handed and I am more persistent.
I keep my guitars tuned to D, and lights don't provide enough tension. and mediums provide a more stable sound that cuts better and is more tonally stable. On my acoustic, same deal. I think the difference in gauge is a lot more noticable on an acoustic in general.
There's an Original Metal song at the end of the video for anyone who wants to hear it :)
Robert Baker awesome 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
RAAAWWWKKK
I could not recognize Robert style, what the f*ck
Men that was awesome \m/ yeah !!!
Has a Lamb of God vibe to it
Sometimes, I think the guitar wants to choose the string gauge.
Man..... Ain't that the truth!
Agreed. The problem is where does it stop? If heavier string are “better” then why not 9 over 8 10 over 9 11 over 10 12 or 11 13 over 12. But Robert does make a good point on aggressive picking hand does make a difference. I use 9 hybrid with thicker lower strings....but yeah I whole heartedly agree that guitars will “tell you” which strings they want. And Robert’s example is a little over exaggerated when he is striking with his Gibson but good points all the way around!
I use 9 on strat and 10 on les paul
Dwaine Brosemer you should see me when I play an E power chord.
@@dbltap3332 I suppose the next step would be to switch to a bass guitar :)
I don't know about string gauges and how they contribute to the tone. People who favour heavier strings always say bring up Stevie Ray, who had amazing tone (for his style of music), but then there are a lot of players with a great guitar tone who use light strings. Just yesterday I learned that Rory Gallagher used 9-40 set and I've always loved his tone. They say that tone is in fingers and I'm beginning to think that it must be true ;)
"Why work so hard?" - BB King to Billy Gibbons.
@mango tree A wise man once told every great guitar player finds the easy way for themself to play. And That’s why BB used light gauge and you don’t
yes but bb king NEVER HIT the strings HARD his music was all over very SOFT get it?
@@turhaapuuhaa5205 watch more bb king lol
@@Jaycuubb why? i have my style whats your style?
I am just a Flamenco guitarist trying to figure out what strings to choose for my electric guitar lol
You have to find the right strings for your playing. Hendrix, Kim Thayil, and Tony Iommi are all really light touch players so they use thinner gauge strings. Angus Young and David Gilmour are more medium gauge players. SRV and Malcolm Young are heavy handed and play unusually heavy strings. Personally I'm a touch heavier handed on the bass strings and regular on the treble strings, so I play a lite top heavy bottom set. It does change the relative output of the various strings though, with the heavier ones being louder than they normally would. A word of caution: heavier strings when tuning down can produce a lot of excess low end that your amp or the engineer may not react well to. I use an EQ or something with a hi-pass filter to lop off that extra bottom before it hits the amp.
@Jacob Molyneux Really? That's interesting, cause I read that Angus Young plays 9-42 gauge, so that's quite a difference between the two of them
I don't know how you can say Hendrix has a light touch.When I watch Jimi, I think a man could lose a hand if it got between jims pic and jims strings,
Tim Penfield
Jimi was the master of dynamics whether he picked lightly, heavily, close to the bridge, over the pickups... it all has an impact on your sound and he constantly would switch these up even within one song which is why he is by far better than any “technical” player with no dynamics
I’m glad you brought up straight facts rather than saying something that’s more opinionated and can change depending on the persons ears
I run heavy gauge strings on my electrics to keep a little continuity in feel switching between electric and acoustic all the time.
Wow...I never realized this. I'm very heavy handed both right and left hands and so I have to be really careful to not put myself out of tune while playing...just switching from 9's to 10's really helped!
I wish I'd have known about this 30 years ago...
I use 9-46 in E flat. love the effortlessness of light gauge strings, makes me play with much more confidence. Heaviest i can do is 10, heavy is just not for me.
That’s the gauge Malmsteen plays.
10 is good for 25.5 guitars, so that makes sense. Most huge string users weren't on Fender guitars by that time, it's because the Les Paul and shoter 24.75 scales and smaller like Mustang by Fender, are the reason I think all those people though thick was the only way.
*It’s true* .Once you play enough getting from 9’s, 9 1/2’s, 10’s, and then 11’s is pretty quick. When I was touring year round in the 90’s my fingers got so strong that I had to beef up my strings. My axes
stayed in tune a lot longer under the hot stage lights and my tone was juicer as well. I read about SRV doing that and it worked.
😎 🎸👍🏼. Anytime I played a guitar that wasn’t mine the strings (9’s) were like over cooked spaghetti. My left hand turned green with the power of the Hulk. 🤣
My health declined and I had to stop playing live. Eventually my hands got weaker and I ended up back with 9’s. So you have to keep playing a lot to keep that strength. 💪🏼😎🎸
When I switched to a 9 gauge it was quite hard at first to pick aggressively because of how flimsy the strings are but I managed to get rid of most of it by lowering the action as much as I can, I actually prefer lighter gauges now because the more aggressive I pick the smoother the picking seems to be, which was opposite on 10s. Vibrato and bending are a lot easier now, I get that some people say it doesn't matter because you're supposed to develop strength for that, but my vibrato is extremely wide and I try to have a very light left hand anyways like most shredders so it wouldln't matter
Edit: this might work for me because I use jazz III picks and can afford to use a lot of edge picking, almost 45 degrees. If I do the same with a flatter pick it slides a lot and just doesn't work. Without edge picking, light, flimsy strings would definitely be harder to go across.
Nice vid as always! I have a very light right hand. While SRV is my primary influence, I use Billy Gibbons 8’s, and have never looked back. I crave the slinkiness that 8’s give me. I would still play if 10’s and 11’s were my only option, but it would take a lot of joy out of playing for me.
Hey Robert, listen back to your playing when you are comparing the 335 to the LP - You have more pick noise with the 335, it almost sounded like a metronome at first lol. You can hear a little of it on the LP but the 335 is louder. I remembered a video Scott Grove put out a few years ago about properly tuning your guitar and I got to thinking about that while listening to you talking about the strings sounding out of tune when you strike them. According to Scott, and it makes sense when you think about it, when you are tuning your guitar how are you picking it? I noticed at that time that I was just picking as if I was only tuning and not playing. What I mean is when I play I strike harder and quicker, I think most of us do this, but when I'm tuning I strike each string lighter. According to Scott just strike the string like you would when you are playing along with a song or just noodling around and that will be a more accurate way to tune.
I for some unknown reason bought a ten pack of light top/heavy bottom (10-52) and when I was finished refinishing a Les Paul I bought from Austin I put a set of those on and I absolutely HATED them! ALL of the strings felt like I was using heavy cables instead of strings lol. I could barely bend any of them, even the supposedly lighter ones. I did have to do all the setting up of the neck and string heights and all that jazz but even once I did that I just could not get comfortable with them and since I wanted to change the nut to a bone nut I just replaced those with a regular set of 10's and now it's fine. I'am going to give the hybrid set another chance but on a different guitar to see if that matters.I have an Ibanez Iceman I think they might be a good fit for. On my Gretsch 5420T, a big ol jazz body style, I may use the hybrid on that one because I want that fatter tone for my bottom but the set on there right now I believe are 11's and they are too stiff.
Totally agree with you on what you are saying. However the one drawback to using 11gauge strings is they will eat up your frets. When I played 11's I had to get a fret job about every 6 months. Can get expensive. That's the main reason I went back to 10's.
I think it just comes down to style and personal preference. I grew up playing heavy strings... 11's/12's. I liked heavy metal and figured they would just sound better. Now I play 9's. I personally like them so much more. Much easier to bend and play all around. They feel so much more comfortable to me. With heavy strings I feel like I have to fight the guitar strings to get them to do what I want. When I play my guitars with 9's then pick up an old guitar of mine with 11's/12's the difference is night and day to me. I imagine the difference really stands out if you do a lot of bending.
Robert, that was the best advice EVER!! I put thicker strings on my LP and the tuning stability improved SO MUCH, and what's more, the whole guitar vibrates and the tone has become so full-bodied. INCREDIBLE! Gone are the days of the wobbly low E and barely audible high E. This has reinvented my guitar playing. No wonder that Malcolm Young or SRV played these beefier strings! And for Pagey's single-note riffing it's a must!
You said it!😀
I like heavier strings for better playability. I find that lighter gauge strings tend to get moved by the pick. Heavier strings are tighter so are easier to pluck. They tent to stay put and the pick just plucks and moves away instead of pushing the string. I hope I made sense.
I've been playing acoustic almost exclusively for the past year. You wanna talk heavy handed, I can't get in tune with my electrics at all haha. I'm putting 12s on my eclipse tonight, though I am tuning to D
Best way to build hand strength
Yngwie's strings aren't as thin as people think.
Yes he uses 8s, but it's a custom gauge.
He plays 8-48 like a damn legend.
I just recently (and reluctantly) went from 10's to 9's. (Macho thing) 9's are for sissies right? Ernie Ball does package them in pink. lol. Seriously, I love them. Everything is easier. Not just bends. Hammer ons and pull offs, fretting chords. It allows for lighter and more precise playing IMO. Also great for "Angus Young" intense style vibrato, where he holds the bend up and shakes it good. Not so easy with heavy strings. Angus uses 9's. SRV plays like the guitar is a percussion instrument. That style lends itself to heavier strings, or tuned way down.
Tony Iommi uses 8's because he has artificial fingertips on his fretting hand! I am 9's user but then I am a tickler not a basher! Lol
I actually switched from D'Addario 9's to 9.5's on all of my electrics. Was a pain in the ass stringing up strats and PRS with 9's and putting 10's on Gibsons. Now I just buy a big-ass box of strings from Sweetwater. Was nearly effortless to integrate. Highly recommended to try it...
I’ve played 10-46 for a couple of decades , and recently bought an EBMM Cutlass that came with the hybrid 9-11-14-26-36-46. Three weeks later I brought the EBMM Sabre, which comes with standard 10s. I switched it to the hybrid (H Slinkys) and I am sold. I’m going hybrid on everything now.
(I’m buying another Sabre too shhh)
same experience, 11s feel relieving to my right hand and give a wider range of dynamics like a piano. thanks for the video 😎
I've been using 11-49's on my Telecaster for a while now and am addicted. I love a bit of pushback and fingerpain to push even harder and really put that feel into it
A year ago I used only 11s and 10s. Now I use 8s on strat and 9s on everything else, including 7 string.
I thought that my les paul needed a new nut because of the fret buzz at the 1st fret. I ripped off the 10s and put a set of skinny top-heavy bottoms on it. Buzz is gone, and it still has that les paul punch in the face tone, but now with a pair of brass knuckles.
One thing that I find is just about everyone says how much more slinky strings are on a Les Paul than a strat due to the slightly smaller scale (24.75 to 25.5) but I do not find that to be the case. Every time I pick up a Les Paul.... I’m talking actual Gibson’s... from Standards and Customs to Historics... I find them to be far more stiff than strats. I’m convinced it’s because the headstock angles backwards versus a strat that is straight the whole way through. So to me, 11’s on a Les Paul or SG is absolutely unplayable. To each their own.
Yup. The strings are not really anchored at the nut (one end of the scale length) but at the tuning pegs. That additional length has an effect. The break angle over the nut has an effect. The break angle over the tune-o-matic (the other end) also has an effect which is why some players might overwrap the tailpiece (kids, don't do this ; ). Changing tuners or trees on a strat that changes the break over the nut can create a noticeable difference too.
Easy, if you’re adult sized (over 6 foot) use heavier strings (unless you have hand issues or think that you may develop hand issues).
So true. I’m very heavy on my pick and even my fretting. 13s were the way to go for me. My poor Strat has so much tension I had to add all 5 springs to the trem. Feels great and stays in tune when trying to solo blues or rock.
Just have to learn to play what you have or pick the strings that fit your style. Like you did!
I had a similar problem for more years then i care to admit, my solution? keep the .009's , us a thin/light gauge pick, I have trouble tuning heavy gauge strings+worried about damaging guitars as old a myself. Great vid again.
I use different gauges depending on the guitar. I play differently on each. I use a lot of hybrid gauge to my liking and taste. Great video, as always
thank you dude and great point
I can barely stand 10 gauge, I'm so weak lmao
try 9's or maybe 8's just be careful if you want to play in low tuning s
Great vid - I play 10-52 on a prs, that's what works for that guitar
Think scale length and right hand make the biggest difference, also having a proper setup when you change gauge makes soo much difference
Let's rock, brother
Hey bro I figured out a way to keep your string in tune. Tune it and then bend it at the 12th fret... it's gonna go a little flat at first tune it in again and bend it... it should go back in perfect tune after the 2nd or 3rd go... enjoy!
i noticed the dop, and they are more corrosion resitant, so they reatain that new string shine more and last more overall
11s are the lightest I can deal with! 12s on some guitars and 13s on hollow archtops! thin strings are for sissies! Heavy strings have much better all around feel, tone, and especially tuning stability!!!
I used power slinky's for many years. These days I use regular 46/10's for standard and 48/11 for e flat or d standard.
For drop b I use daddario XL 11-56. I've used this set for drop c as well. For years I used 12-54 but now I can bend.
I’m up to 12/56 for my guitars, down half step and it’s great, thank you Josh smith for showing me the way!
I use the hybrid slinky’s 9-46 and I love them so much 🤘🏻
Jacob Elam Yeah, my favourites as well 9-46 - Slinky's or roto sound. Great for massive bends on the higher strings but nice low end punch. I started using them after reading an article on David Gilmour who played with these . Not sure if he still does.
Simon JC. Nice yah the reason why i used them because I wanted to be able to bend but like Robert said it’s really good on your picking
Currently playing heavy bottom Ernie ball’s which are 11’s on the bottom and 10’s on the higher 3. I love hitting the low E and chords that won’t go sharp while still being able to bend easily
Are you sure about that? Duane and Dickey, Jimi and Roy Buchanan all used Fender 150s, gauged.010 to .038, back when heavier strings were the norm and readily available.
The big problem with ultralight strings is fret buzz. You either need to increase the string action or decrease your picking intensity, at least on the wound strings. I tried 8s due to soreness in my fretting hand, but much of the improvement was sacrificed because II had to increase the action for the wound strings.
Robert, exactly what gauge strings are you using now?
Im guessing thicker strings will solve string wobble when tunning low for baritone guitar?
I saw another video where the guy advocated for heavy strings and he made an interesting point, saying because heavy strings require more tension to tune, they're actually easier to play because your action can be lower than lighter strings, which require more space to vibrate freely without hitting the frets. "Easier to play, harder to bend" he said.
I just got a seven string set of Ernie Ball Cobalt strings 10-62 ! I absolutely love them you can tune all the way down to F # and they hold the tune perfectly!!
Out of the 200 or so comments two glaring omissions revealed to me. No one mentioned that your pick and plectrum thickness has a SIGNIFICANT affect on that right hand. Try using a fender thin before you swap all your strings and re set up your guitars. That's not as expensive as changing picks. Robert if I recall always used 2.75 dragonhearts. I have 6 of them and when I want thrash I'll play one. But there is a correlation between the light guaufe player and say EVH who used . 60 yep sixty and mustaine uses . 73. Lastly diff vendors and core type changes tension. Nickel are skinkier than prosteel.
I agree that the string goes sharp when you hit the string if its too thin! I went to drop A with a 11-64 on my 26.5 scale guitar...the A goes sharp if you use a tuner while you play...need thicker strings
Have you tried a 68? I think that should be tight enough.
I brought my LP in for an EVO Gold refret, and the tech/luthier asked me to play for him. He said, "Have you ever tried 11s?" and I was like "No, I've actually started moving to lighter strings recently." He told me I was heavy-handed and to give them a try. (I am also a bassist and acoustic guitarist.) I just played them for about an hour and noticed a few things. I feel like I can really dig in with both hands and some of old the issues went away. (Ex. fretting out of tune with my left hand during barre chords, and string buzzing from my right hand.) He was able to get the action REALLY low, way lower than I've ever had on any guitar, without the typical buzzing or choking out of notes. The tone is great, the only issue right now is it feels pretty stiff when bending above the 12th fret. That's probably just going to take a little time to get used to. I use round cores and they generally loosen up a bit after a few hours of "dive bombing" and chugging on them. We'll see... And yes, my LP has a Floyd Rose system. It's the new Lifeson, Epiphone Custom.
I had the same problem with my 10-52 set, slightly in E-standard but noticably in drop-D. Replaced the low E string with a 56. Problem solved!
I agree with you, I play heavy and will try your advice, also have to reset the intonation. thanks.
I use tens on the high E, B, and G strings. Are use 11s on the low E, A, and D. Our flight a strap and through a fender Deluxe tube amp. I have been very happy with the tones. I can get a killer SRV tone with my tube screamer or even straight clean.
Hi Robert . Thank you
Why I now use thinner picks; 0.73 to 0.88. That way I can keep using 11-50 in D standard without it going too sharp upon attack.
I use 52-12s with a wound 3rd. D’addario Jazz Lights. On my Gretsch with some overdrive it is a rock monster. Perfect on my other guitars too. They DO sound better and stay in tune longer.
Do you think heavier strings make the tone too "fat" or, give it too much bottom end?
I like 11s because I noodle around a lot unplugged. Sounds louder and fuller IMO
I went to 12s for that reason on my hollowbody cause I play unplugged more than I do thru an amp
Lower your tail piece, break over angle will increase tension. Do it on the Les Paul see if it makes a difference.
If i were to move to heavier strings would i need a bigger pick? I use 10s on a lp with a dunlop tortex .88mm and i was thinking of moving to 11s
Born with a pack o’ Power Slinkys in hands.
My mum: Ohhhh the paaiiinn!
Nice vid
Cheers
Totally agree, but one thing I've done to mitigate my overly heavy right hand is to use light picks. Like 0.5 range. That way, when I pound the strings, my pic doesn't transfer all the energy, and it mitigates my power. Also allows me to strum through a chord quickly, and evenly, where a heavier pick would dig in to the strings, and really thwacking them all out of tonality, into fret buzz, and just weirdness. The light pic averages everything I need to do, and that is awesome.
And a PS - if I need to play relatively quick, for me (aka really slow) lead lines, I can choke up on the light pic, reducing flex, and it allows more accuracy and finesse, varying attack strength, etc. like a Jazz 3 pic, which was my first favorite pic, I just find it too difficult to use such a small and thick pic for rhythm playing. I write lines that go lead, chord, lead, chord, I'm switching in the flow. A light pic lets me get wild with the rhythm, then choke up on the tight lead stuff.
And I use 10-11's, but a heads up, if you have joint issues, the 11's and even the 10's may cause you trouble, they cause me trouble. Like a lot of pain ttyppe trouble
I used to go dummy thick with strings. On my Soloist and Schecter (which I kept in standard tuning) I used 52, 48, 32, 28, 18, and 14. With a good set up, it plays really well and makes the guitar sound even more massive in the mix. Plus, the clean tone was super big and punchy.
“Heavy top skinny bottom” my new go to set of strings, super comfortable. But I’ve always wondered how far you could push it? Like how heavy vs light
I prefer 12 gauge strings. Nothing to do with staying in tune. Piano players often say if a piano has a very light touch one cannot fully develop the fingers. I believe 12 gauge is at the right touch for finger, hand development. My fingers and hand have an elasticity to them. The attacks are deliberate and movement is quick. I know one needs to be careful not to damage the hand. I will take a day or two off if my hands feels stressed.
Rob...I changed from 11s to 10-46 and couldn't believe the change in playability...will not go back. I agree with the guitar chooses the string!
I recently started using the EB Hybrid Slinky strings over the Super Slinky set for this exact reason. I like the lighter top strings for the shredy bits but if I played in drop D or C# I was getting that nasty "WOW' on the low E. Solved everything for me! Great video!
I use to buy heavy because they sound amazing but it's harder for me to play solos with alot of feel, and speed
Hammer hands over here too. I made the switch to 11s years ago for this exact reason. Even have a set of 12s on my LP Jr. It’s all about finding what complements your playing style and what’s comfortable
On my strats I used GHS big core 9.5-.048 and my tele I used the same but 10.5--.048 for years and also on my mustang I used 10.5--.048 and Dunlop flow picks 1.0 and 1.5 and also 2.0 depending on the music that I am playing 🤔🤔🤔🧐🧐🤨🤓🤙👍🤘🤘🤘
I think for legato players a thinner gauge is better because you can have a lower action therefore speed but for pickers a heavier gauge is better because you get less movement before the pick strike release and that enables speed too. Thin for the left hand players, heavy for the right handers.
Bigger strings help with buzz as well. 12's tuned down to E flat are home to me . I play mostly Strats and like a higher action too.
I've used 11's forever for several reasons. The main reason is they just feel better and sound better to me, personal preference is always the impetus for anything on guitar, strings, picks, pedals, amps, etc.. The second reason is I also play steel string acoustic and bass, so having 11's made the transition to a medium acoustic string which is much thicker and stiffer than electric strings, then to a light bass string, much more bearable and allows you to keep your same technique and feel between multiple instruments. Third, drop D tuning and playing hard rock begs for a little heavier, bass centric tone, which is inherent in 11's. They tend to hold tune better as well.
My right and left hand are both heavy hitters. Anything below a 11 gauge and I'll knock it out of tune every time. I'm trying to lighten up, but once the juice gets pumping, I just beat the hell out of it.
One thing I’ve noticed using 16s on my baratone is that you can grip onto the neck for grim death and you won’t go sharp. I’ve played baratone for about 6 years and I’ve realised when I play my old standard tuning crafter everything I play sounds sharp, this may be just a me problem but something worth noting.
To this day, I can’t get over how twangy and snappy that KM Les Paul is. It’s awesome! Anyway love what you’re doing Robert great stuff as always
I primary play strat, and after experimenting over the years, i have settled on 9s. For the way i play and my style they work perfect for me.
yeah I have that problem too with my 9 gauge strings, thanks for the advice
I use 10-52's on fixed bridge guitars, and my PRS custom 24's, but the other guitars with trems I use 10-46. When I got my Jackson, it had 9-42 strings on it, but I just couldn't get the feel with them, and I kept bending them sharp, so up to 10-46 with that aswell now! M
Ive got mix feelings on heavy strings. I don't seem to enjoy electric guitar with them haha. Anything higher than 10-46 feel like crap under my finger and it's just weird to me. I play lead most of the time so for me an electric should have a kinda "bouncy" and slick feel. I think that lighter strings force you to relax your right hand and be more precise when you pick. I just don't care about the "hit your strings as hard as you can" thing.
That .10 tone was fire
You are so right about that. Since I started using 11-48 I can't use 10-48 on most guitars. Easier to set-up too. Only guitar with 10's now is my Suhr Pete Thorn.
I use whatever feels good and sounds good. I remember playing a Gibson 335 that had 12 s on it and was difficult to play and extremely uncomfortable in every way possible. I use 11s on all my guitars and am happy with the feel, control and command it gives me, plus it sounds glorious on all of my guitars regardless of the scale lengths I play- 24.75 and 25.50. If I can ever find a nice used Hamiltone with 26.5 I'll see if I can tolerate 12 s and maybe 13s like SRV. I've tried 12s on my strats and just can't enjoy playing that gauge string.
I've been playing 011s and 012s (only on some guitars) for years, since the switch I never had tuning problems and generally they feel nicer to play to me
My 10-60s have thicker tone on the bottom and slinky bends on the top
That's actually a very cool find and explains a lot. On my G&L Bluesboy, switching to Medium gauge made a massive difference for me, especially when it came to comfort. For my metal guitars, I find HBLT sets work much better for me.
i use a 62 for e standard, will it be bad for the neck? i have an epiphone les paul special II.
I think you are spot on. I am heavy right hand. I prefer 10's over 9"s.
I went up to a .058 on that low E and it still goes sharp when I hit any harder than a very light touch… So I accepted this phenomenon and use a .052 now 🤷♂️
As for the gauge, Malmsteen himself chimes in, “People have an illusion that heavy strings will give them more sustain-bulls**t,” he says. “I use a hybrid . 008-. 048 set because thicker unwound strings don't make much of a difference, yet they're harder to play.
LP scale I use 10-52. Strat scale 9-42. I play both during gigs and no 'feel' issues at all.
Unfortunately, heavy gauge strings tend to aggravate my already easily aggravated tendonitis. I have to play as light and easy as possible. I use Dean Markley Blue Steel 9s.
Thank you.
Awhile back I found out that Derek Trucks uses mixed sets, 11 and 17 from a heavy set and 3-6 are mediums. I decided to give it a try, and for me I found it to be the best of both worlds. I still get plenty of punch in the low end, but on the high end I get so much better feeling and perceived control.
Derek trucks uses open e tuning (a lot tighter than standard tuning) and plays slide so this is not a usefull comparison I believe.. (Still if you are happy with your strings than it's ok).
Ok, one last comment. Side by side, that ES had way more attack and sounded redic more heavy than your KM. Based on the design, specs and hardware, I thought it would’ve been the other way around. Wondering if it sounds that way in person too?
I have a heavy hand and I’m way more of a rhythm player than anything. 10s are perfect for me playing power chords and open chords in standard tuning. 9s are what I like Hendrix like for barring and triads and stuff.
Everyone talks about tone of heavy gauge strings being better, but if you listen to a guitar in a mix with other instruments, I think lighter strings sound better. You’re a very good guitar player and you sound great, but I wish you’d play with other musicians to see why heavier strings sound in the context. For heavy metal, I see why you’d have to go heavier just for tuning.
Actually I come to the opposite conclusion: Aside from the fact that lighter string gauges have more prominent mids (which I appreciate), they kind of force me to play more dynamically and sensitively, therefore they give me a broader range of sounds that I can create with less effort.
Also I tend to make less mistakes by playing light handed than by playing heavy handed and I am more persistent.
how about wound 3rd on electric: really good if you want to play like an acoustic or pete t stuff
I keep my guitars tuned to D, and lights don't provide enough tension. and mediums provide a more stable sound that cuts better and is more tonally stable. On my acoustic, same deal. I think the difference in gauge is a lot more noticable on an acoustic in general.