Author Topic: String gauge (Read 8649 times)

Jonesy · « **on:** May 27, 2006, 12:48:48 PM »

My guiter teacher said that 9 gauge strings are much better on floyd rose bridges, as oposed to 10s?...is there nay truth behind this?

Also, my Maverick came with a liscensed floyd rose...and the nut is screwed in from the top of the neck (rather than from through the back...like ibanez guitars). Im thinking of gettin an edge pro, but they need to be screwed in from the back right?...so would there be any way that i could attach the edge pro nut to my maverick neck?

Cheers...(and hope that wasnt 2 complicated)

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2006, 12:53:16 PM »

The floyd can be set up for any guage strings you want. When I set up TwilightOdyessy's guitar he uses 10-46 and there are no problems whatsoever. I have set them up with 28-38-48 bass strings too.

Why change the locking nut? Leave the floyd one in place.

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2006, 01:25:52 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

The floyd can be set up for any guage strings you want. When I set up TwilightOdyessy's guitar he uses 10-46 and there are no problems whatsoever. I have set them up with 28-38-48 bass strings too.

Why change the locking nut? Leave the floyd one in place.

ah, I think he meant to change the licensed nut to a edge pro nut. As you said, phil there's no need. You're right about the strings, of course. Except for making wusses like me who use the "floyds need light strings" argument to take the bad look off our wussiness! :lol:

What I'd advise you do is this, Jonesy. If you're worried about the quality of your current locking nut, you can normally get replacement ones. As phil says, you don't need to use the edge pro nut with your guitar- just get any high quality nut. the edge pro one screws in from the front. The OFR and Gotoh ones screw in from the back- you can order the Gotoh one from www.wdmusicproducts.co.uk . I think it's £20.

:drink:

Muttley · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2006, 03:40:36 PM »

Floyd's work perfectly well with 10's. Been using them that way for 10+ years. ;)

Actually, IIRC I even tried some 11's once (in a misguided attempt to improve my finger strength by using telephone cables for strings :lol:) on my Charvel and that was fine too. I didn't get on with a wound G though. ;)

Muttley

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2006, 04:14:30 PM »

I've used 9s through 11s on guitars with Floyds.....they all work fine, but you'll need to setup the guitar for them.

Searcher · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2006, 04:17:54 PM »

9s make it easier to play fast runs compared to 10s, but that's about it as far as "better" goes. I tend to use 9s on floyd-equipped guitars, 10s on my regular electrics, and 11s on my heavy-rhythm/jazz/whatever guitars.

Jonesy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2006, 06:46:07 PM »

Cheers for the help.

Um, so Dave, your saying the edge pros screw in from the front?....coz that would be fine.

Searcher, if 9s are perhaps better for fast runs...are there any particular benefits of 10s? (more tone?)

dave_mc · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2006, 08:33:22 PM »

Quote from: Jonesy

Cheers for the help.

Um, so Dave, your saying the edge pros screw in from the front?....coz that would be fine.

Searcher, if 9s are perhaps better for fast runs...are there any particular benefits of 10s? (more tone?)

i think the edge pros screw in the front, but you'd want to check. i think they do, they have a volute (think that's the word) that thickens the neck behind the nut, which makes it thicker, but this means the nut won't screw in from the back. But i'm not sure where you'd get an edge pro nut, other than www.ibanezrules.com (if they even do them).

9's are also a lot easier for bending and vibrato. That's why I like them.

I think the tone is better with 10's, but I find that I lose so much tone and feel as a result of the extra stiffness (worse bends and vibrato) that I actually have less tone. I play mostly lead, though- if you play a lot of rhythm, or aren't a wuss like me, 10's would be fine.

:drink:

Searcher · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2006, 08:41:33 PM »

Quote from: Jonesy

Searcher, if 9s are perhaps better for fast runs...are there any particular benefits of 10s? (more tone?)

Yeah, the sound is a little fatter. I like the feel of 9s, but the sound of 10s--for lead at least. I actually like 9s better for a lot of rhythm stuff, because I like funky, snappy rhythm sounds, which the 9s do well. They'll also get you closer to that Hendrix Little Wing sound than 10s will, IMO.

I recently bought a set of heavy top/light bottom strings (no, not the other way around) to get the best of both worlds for my ears. I'll put 'em on this week sometime and see how they sound and feel.

Oh, and I like 11s sometimes for certain guitars. Usually ones with hard-tail bridges that I use for ska, punk, some blues, heavy stuff, and jazz. I'm not big on the super-heavy string approach of various SRV-wannabes, because I find that they make the guitar sound less like I think an electric guitar sould sound and more like an amplified acoustic (well, I'm exaggerating a little to make a point). And just try to do two-handed tapping and fast legato runs on a guitar with heavy strings!

R/2e · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2006, 08:52:14 AM »

I've fitted 12's to Floyds without any problem.

It's not a coincidence that Ernie Ball 9's come in Pink packets............. :lol:

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2006, 01:13:35 PM »

I can't get on with anything less than 11s as they just feel like elastic bands - when I tune down any more than a whole tone then I need some 12s.

:twisted:

dave_mc · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2006, 04:07:35 PM »

Quote from: R/2e

It's not a coincidence that Ernie Ball 9's come in Pink packets............. :lol:

:lol:

:?

:(

:oops:

:drink:

Jonesy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2006, 05:01:16 PM »

Ahhh, the Gotoh nut screws in form the back...no good

dave_mc · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2006, 07:25:03 PM »

^ yeah, I know- I think I said that.

www.ibanezrules.com

you might be able to get an edge pro nut there. You'd need to check with rich though to see if it'll fit, and just to make sure it screws in at the back.

:drink:

JamesHealey · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2006, 09:16:36 AM »

i used hybrid 9-46's absolutly fine on a floating trem, no problem at all.