Just put some 11s on...

Chuffola · August 2013

... to my unloved LTD with the P-Rails.

It has made SUCH a difference. It came with 9s - way too slinky. I swapped for 10s, but with the XJ frets, I still found it too slinky and my left hand technique pushed chords out of tune.

The 11s, though, are great. Nice and firm (oo-er) and still bendable.

Might just be the change that makes me hang onto it.

I'd only ever put 11s on semis before. One lives and one learns...

ICBM · August 2013

"... goes to eleven."

11s are the perfect string gauge, for me.

Chuffola · August 2013

"... still got the old tagger on it"

I might try 11s on the Tele tomorrow. Perhaps I'll be converted!

Sunburst · August 2013

Chuff, keep us posted on how 11s on your Tele works out - I've been meaning to try it myself!

Headphones · August 2013

Might I suggest you invest in some of this:

"left hand technique "

Strings make guitars feel, behave and sound different; but if your basics aren't right big strings is just a big crutch.

equalsql · August 2013

I moved to 10s (from 9s) a couple of months ago and have thought about trying 11s to see if I can cope.
Are you sticking to standard tuning or doing a SRV i.e.Eb?

Adam_MD · August 2013

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this Chuff when you've played them for a while. I've used 10s on everything for years and don't think I've played an electric with 11s. What's the scale length on the ltd?

Lew · August 2013

I love 11s in Eb. Too much tension for me in standard, though - have to use 10-46 for that.

Chuffola · August 2013

Headphones said:

Might I suggest you invest in some of this:

"left hand technique "

Strings make guitars feel, behave and sound different; but if your basics aren't right big strings is just a big crutch.

Jeez! Thanks for that advice. I guess I've been doing it wrong for 33 years.

@Adam_MD I'll report back. The LTD is LP scale length - 24.75 so similar feel to 10s on the Tele. I'm playing in standard tuning. Feels good.

Not sure what the Tele will feel like, but worth a blast. A little nut work might be required though - 10s to 11s ... not sure whether the strings will bind a bit.

Cirrus · September 2013

11s all the way. They take it when you dig in, I respect that. They're good men, strong willed with deep character.

jimmyd · September 2013

11s? Jeez. I can't go any higher than 10s on 25.5 scale guitars. My weedy wrists can't take it.

mcsdan · September 2013

Went to 11s on my Les Pauls about 3-4 months ago. Tried 11-48 D'addario pure nickels but found the balance between wound and unwound strings uneven. Then tried DR pure blues - lovely sound and feel but too inconsistent and many problems with intonation. Settled on Gibson VR 11-50. Balance is spot on and easy enough to bend. Still have 10s on my strat but will give 11s a go on next string change. All in standard tuning and no problems with bends.

For the price of a set of strings it is worth trying. However do give them a few weeks to get used to. I tried to move from 10-11s about a year ago and they lasted about 30 minutes before going back to 10s.

Headphones · September 2013

Chuffola said:

Headphones said:

Might I suggest you invest in some of this:

"left hand technique "

Strings make guitars feel, behave and sound different; but if your basics aren't right big strings is just a big crutch.

Jeez! Thanks for that advice. I guess I've been doing it wrong for 33 years.

Sorry wasn't aiming to be rude.

However, if you're having difficulty keeping chords in tune then you've probably got a technique problem - either pressing too hard or misplacing the fingers as you set them down, wrist/thumb arm position can all contribute to such a symptom. It's entirely possible you have been doing it wrong for 33 years, or that it's a recently arisen problem - only you can know that.

Perhaps try a teacher for a bit - there's always something to learn, if not this.

Heavier strings will disguise this issue rather than solve it.

Or it maybe a poorly intonated guitar which heavier strings align better...

Chuffola · September 2013

I was going to reply to @Headphones ... but probably best if I don't.

Next!

IanSavage · September 2013

Chuffola said:

I was going to reply to @Headphones ... but probably best if I don't.

Next!

This. :-S

Evilmags · September 2013

I've got everything from 10s on solidbodies to flat top twelves on the archtop. Different guitars all have their ideal sounding string gauge. On a Jem 9s sound fine. On an archtop they are silly.

benvall · September 2013

I put some 11's on one of my strats that lives in the corner of the living room. I felt that my right hand pick speed was faster than it was with 10's on it (obviously, more tension, less string flap). I've not been brave enough to put 11's on my gigging guitars though, not sure I could do a 2/3 hour set with them.

Moltisanti · September 2013

11s on a 25.5 scale would make my joints ache like crazy, 9-46 is the perfect balance for me of enough beef on the low strings (in std tuning) and enough give up the dusty end to bend up and have decent vibrato

ICBM · September 2013

Evilmags said:

I've got everything from 10s on solidbodies to flat top twelves on the archtop. Different guitars all have their ideal sounding string gauge. On a Jem 9s sound fine. On an archtop they are silly.

I'd agree with that up to a point - I've never found a guitar which sounds better with 9s on than 10s, although some sound good with 9s. And some guitars do like very specific gauges - I find 10-52 suits a Tele better than anything else including 11s. But generally, 11s sound somewhere between good and best on anything

. I also like a wound G string on most semi-acoustics and a plain G on solidbodies, you can get 11s most easily with both options.

Finger pain is a different issue, if it's too much tension then you can't use them no matter what the sound is like. I can't use 13s on an acoustic and not even 12s on some guitars, they're just too stiff. I also think they seem to sound stiff even when I'm not trying to bend anything, but that may be just perception.

Chuffola · September 2013

@ICBM Sounds to me that your technique is poor and a few sessions with an acoustic guitar teacher would benefit...

:P

thatbliss · September 2013

I'm of the opinion that real men use 11s, anything else is for babies

I switched to 11s years ago, all because I was breaking 10s really easily. I can't play with anything lighter now, bends are not a problem for me and I find they hold their tuning better on my guitars.

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