Any Big Benders Like Them Thick?

RocknRollDave

Strings that is. Toying with going up from 10's a gauge or two. I play a Telecaster, in standard tuning, looking for that extra bit of warmth and body. Only catch is I'm quite the bender, and am worried they'll be too much hard work. Thoughts from any benders out there with experience of thicker strings, please....?

meltedbuzzbox

Gassage will be most disappointed when he clicks on this thread 

menamestom

I'm a big bender and really like a heavy bottom. Gauge 10 with a heavy bottom, kind of like a set of 12's on the bottom and 10's on the top. I use gauge 11's on Gibson scale lengths and even Strats, but on tele's I like those country unison bends. Bending 2 strings at once anything above 10's gets a bit much.

guitarfishbay

Not worth it IMO. I bend loads and it is fine when you're playing regularly but take a couple of days off, or don't warm up, and you could injure yourself with thicker strings. The tone payoff is only worth it in certain situations too IMO, works nicely on mid gain single cool/P90 type stuff but if you play higher gain and or with humbuckers thick strings sometimes sound duller rather than fatter. If you did do it I'd recommend a low ish action to stop the tension getting too high on bends.

I might sound overly cautious but injuries are a pain in the backside.

Trotter

For me, tele's are made for 11's. I use them on all my live guitars, anything lighter just feels fragile to me now. I have no issue bending with them either but can see why people do if they are used to lighter gauges. Initially it can be quite a big change to get used to.

DulcetJones

11's allowed me to get through a set without breaking a string while I hammered away trying to be heard over our loud drummer.  Once I got used to them I really liked the tone and feel.  During times when I didn't get a chance to play for a few days I used "stress balls" to keep my hands in shape.   I had them on a Les Paul, an SG and a Fender Mustang.

jellybelly

11s all the way - I use them on my jazzmaster, can bend no problem. That 'double country' stuff mentioned above might be a but much but you can really hammer 11s with no breakage, and they seem to keep pitch better while doing it. I have 12s (with a wound G) on my yamaha 335-thing and that's NOT great for bends, although it's not impossible like some people make out. Be warned: I tried a guitar with 9s in a shop and was fretting embarrassingly sharp, so watch out - there's no going back!

rocktron

I've strengthened my fretting hand fingers with a VARIGRIP, but I still use 10s. 

I've tried 9s and found them too elastic, and 11s are too heavy for my liking.

I've been advised to put 11s on my semi-acoustic ES-335 copy to get a nicer tone.

equalsql

I've just discovered the wonders of using 11s. No turning back for me now cos it feels like I'm playing a stringed instrument instead of pushing wires across a wooden board.. if that makes sense(?)

Mind you I play a lot of acoustic, so I find the heavier gauge has the response that I prefer.

Pete24v

11's on all my guitars, and Tele's are my main gigging guitars.

I went from 10s many years ago, never break strings on 11's.

Acoustically I noticed that the guitar was louder and a bit beefier on 11's, not a big difference through an amp though.

The tension feels right for me, bends are ok. The odd country bend has given me am initial bit of grief, but a few practices and it's there.

RocknRollDave

Thanks all, real food for thought there.

vasselmeyer

I play 11s on my Tele. Wouldn't use anything else now. However, why not try a set of 10.5s as a compromise and see how it feels before you go to a full set of 11s?

57Deluxe

rocktron said:

I've strengthened my fretting hand fingers with a VARIGRIP, but I still use 10s. 

<SNIP>

you should ALWAYS bend from the WRIST!!

DrJazzTap

11s on all my guitars, imho I think you can comfortably bend a tone maybe a tone and a half at a push. Anything more than that, and I'd go for a lighter gauge

FelineGuitars

Many of our customers use 10-52s which is like half a set of tens on the unwound strings with the bass strings from a set of 12s

I sometimes find that the bass strings are a little bit too heavy on this set , and developed a set we are trialing with the bass strings from a set of our 11 gauge.

So the string gauges go :  10,13,17,28,38,50

Liking them a lot so far.......just need a name for the set and a cool picture from Vince Ray to go on the packet.

ThePrettyDamned

FelineGuitars;635094" said:

Many of our customers use 10-52s which is like half a set of tens on the unwound strings with the bass strings from a set of 12sI sometimes find that the bass strings are a little bit too heavy on this set , and developed a set we are trialing with the bass strings from a set of our 11 gauge.So the string gauges go :  10,13,17,28,38,50

Liking them a lot so far.......just need a name for the set and a cool picture from Vince Ray to go on the packet.

Ooo I'd be interested in this for my jazzmaster! I have tens on it atm, but the low strings are just not quite there so I put on a 52 and it became a bit woofy and overpowering, even lowing the bass side of the pickups a bit. Was amazed at how different it was really...

So for now, I'm on tens but would try that set.

bingefeller

menamestom said:

I'm a big bender and really like a heavy bottom.  

Are you in to leather?

bingefeller

I went from 8s to 10s and it was hard at first but I got used to it after a week or so.  I don't find them that harder to bend now that my fingers have got used to them.  I think 11's would be great.

Catthan

I like 11s, tuned down to Eb for strats but can't bend properly so I avoid them. 
No biggie as the sound I'd get would not be 100% suited for the band

jeztone2

God I use 009-046. I must be unfashionable now. I think if I was playing full time I'd be on 10's but I'm a child of the 80's. Amazing to think 30 years ago 009-042 was what everyone seemed to use.

DrBob

FelineGuitars;635094" said:

Many of our customers use 10-52s which is like half a set of tens on the unwound strings with the bass strings from a set of 12sI sometimes find that the bass strings are a little bit too heavy on this set , and developed a set we are trialing with the bass strings from a set of our 11 gauge.So the string gauges go :  10,13,17,28,38,50

Liking them a lot so far.......just need a name for the set and a cool picture from Vince Ray to go on the packet.

I think this sounds like the dream string set for me, let us know when you have them available !