String gauge?

[aaronmcoleman]

Ok, I know the answer is try them both and see what you like...but I'd like to get a little advice.

I've played guitar since I was 9 and pretty much always just used the ernie ball .09s on all my electrics. I don't know why, but it's what I've done.

What do you guys use (.09s, .10s) and why and what's the major difference in sound between the gauges? I'm on a quest for new strings (or maybe I'll end up liking what I have), but I'm mostly lazy and don't want to change a million times.

I mostly play rock (not hard or metal), kinda countryish...teles, strats, SGs...nothing too heavy, just slightly overdriven rock, and no shredding.

Thanks!

 

[guitarplayr82]

I always favor the lower gauged strings. 9s on my Strat, then a custom pack of "light top/regular bottom" (9s on the three highest strings, 10s on the three lowest strings) for the rest of my electrics. This custom pack setup gives extra fullness to the strings I play most of my power chords on, but also allows for easy bending on the strings I play most of my leads on. There was a time when I had 11s on all my electrics, but then I decided that was sort of silly since I wasn't shredding and was only playing moderately hard rock at best. I now play a lot of pop-rock, alternative, and reggae type stuff, so I'd much rather have strings that are easier to play, even if they lack a bit of fullness. I'm not really worried about breaking a ton of strings either, so lighter works for me.

 

[mixsit]

..What do you guys use (.09s, .10s) and why and what's the major difference in sound between the gauges? I'm on a quest for new strings (or maybe I'll end up liking what I have), but I'm mostly lazy and don't want to change a million times. ..

I'd think the common diff from light to heavier is it can be cleaner, and more dynamic.
TNT 10--52 here. But with the balance I get on that set (gibson355) to me leaves the 10 weak.
I had been running an 11 there.. but I just bumped the whole top three up- 12, 14, 18 Yeah now!

 

[MrWrenchey]

I used .12 gauges for awhile... I really liked how thick it made power chords sound, but then it was impossible to do fancy stuff on the higher strings. It was like doing bends on an acoustic guitar.
So I went with the EB Skinny Top Heavy Bottom. Gives a nice, thick sound to the lower chords, but then the higher strings are free to do all the fancy playing I want.

 

[mjbphotos]

If you want to change strings less often, try Elixers or Cleartones. They're more expensive but stay good longer.

 

[aaronaycox]

The difference in string guages will change everything about your guitar (as I am sure you know). A lighter guage is quicker to play and allows for a lighter touch. The downside is that you lose a little bottom end.

The preferance is yours in how you set up your equipment.

 

[Guitargodgt]

For standard tuning I use a .010 for that high e.

For other tunings it varies.

I'm also into trying out different strings lately. Giving the Dean Markley blue steels a try as well as the new EB cobalts.