The Switch to 11's

[Zona Mona]

Yeah, I walked into my local music store the other day and asked for a set of 11's because I feel I need a fatter sound and the guy is telling me I need all of these adjustments and a new nut and a bunch of other stuff. Is this all true? When I asked him I was plaing on a Strat but now I have an S101 LP copy.

 

[Farview]

You might need the nut and saddles cut so the strings will fit in the slots and you will need to adjust your neck to make up for the tension of heavier strings.
This is all common stuff, it shouldn't worry you.

 

[Milkbomb]

It's no biggie

Should be very easy and inexpensive to do. I play a Fender Mustang with 12's on it and needed the slots widened on it. I played with 13s for like, a minute and had to have a truss rod adjustment done. All said and done, $15. (not counting strings)

 

[Light]

Yes, anytime you change the gauge of strings you are using, you need a setup to make your guitar play right. You are changing the tension on the neck, which is a long, thin piece of wood, after all), and so the truss rod will need adjustment, the action will need adjustment, and the intonation will need to be adjusted. When I make a nut for an electric, it can handle anything up to .012's, but this is not the case for all factory nuts. You should not need a NEW nut, unless there is something wrong with the one you have, but you may need to have it adjusted.

Believe me, a well setup guitar sounds better, is more in tune, and is a lot more fun to play.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Zona Mona]

Thanks, now if I decide to switch back to 10's does it need to be readjusted back?

 

[Farview]

Yes, any time you change string gauge or tuning (drasticly) you will need to have the guitar set up again. Once the guitar is set up properly, you should learn how to do small tweeks and general maintainance yourself so you don't have to have the guitar in the shop every time the humidity changes.

 

[Zona Mona]

Thanks for all of the info

 

[Zona Mona]

Sorry, but I have another question, would it still be kosher if I used a set of 10's on the rest of the guitar and an 11 for the high e?

 

[AaronK]

yes. your guitar probably wont even need to be adjusted if its just that one high string.

 

[Zona Mona]

Thanks a bunch

 

[apl]

I just went to 11s, too. My hands have gotten stronger since I've been taking lessons and practicing more.

 

[bileshake]

I play my main guitar dropped-b (10-54) and my baritone dropped-a (11-62). You get used to syncro bending these heavy strings on a regular basis then play an E-tuned guitar speed is no object. I've heard this myth for many years and never really bought into it. This might sound like relativity but there's no way. I was blown away, I couldn't play that fast when I was actually trying to get faster.

 

[Zona Mona]

What is "syncro-bending"?

 

[whattaguy]

"...these go to eleven!" -Nigel, Spinal Tap

Sorry...that was the first thing that popped into my head.

 

[Sloan]

What is "syncro-bending"?

I think he's talking about bending two strings at the same time?

You guys should try playing bass to build finger strength. Acoustic as well.

 

[Light]

I think he's talking about bending two strings at the same time?

You guys should try playing bass to build finger strength. Acoustic as well.

Better known as a double stop.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Zona Mona]

Oh, I know what those are.