it wouldn't have been the same gauge, probably way bigger, but with reduced tension due to a shorter scale. not really something i expected you to go for, just more of a sh1ts and giggles thing.

I use the gauge 10 GHS Boomers on my Gibson SG. I love those! They really sound bad-ass with the distortion up and you can really bend very good for Santana-like stuff. Really lovely!
I was thinking about getting 9 Super Slinky's on my strat once I get one :D
Is that a good idea?

Now I know why you are GuitarBizarre...because you have, at last count, 57 guitars! :p:

I just use Elixer electric guitar strings, light (0.010 - 0.046), with Nanoweb. It's the only set I have bought since I got the guitar. Not enough playtime, I guess. :( I was actually pleased the first time a string broke!

I haven't played long enough to get finicky about my strings. I will say, though, that I like these Elixers because they are so easy to press down. My electric guitar feels very delicate and responsive to me.

I just got a bass and those big ol' whomping strings don't look like they'll ever break, so maybe I'll never have to change them! :)

Don't attack me for this, but I'm still a novice when it comes to the actual sound of the guitar. When you turn on the amp, and start playing, do the strings actually change the sound. I'm talking electric guitar not acoustic. I use Ernie Ball, but I use them only because they are good on the fingers and could take some strong bends.

All I know, xEMGx, is that thicker (higher gauge) electric guitar strings are supposed to give a better tone than the thinner ones (like the ones I use). Also, I've read online that different brands of strings do affect the experience of playing...someone said somewhere that he felt his pick got caught more on d'Addarios.

And here's an interesting quote about how string structure (how they are wound) affects the sound:

That thing about the pick getting caught doesn't convince me, I've never noticed a difference there. It might be the strings feel a little more 'stiff' to the touch of the plectrum, due to either high tension or stiffer metallurgy (Stiffer metal would me a string at the same tension would be harder to bend too, compared to a softer string)

But honestly, if your technique is good, your pick catching on the strings shouldn't be a problem. If it is a problem, even when you're not digging into the note, then you're playing with an inefficient picking motion.


Also, xEMGx - Yeah, they make a big difference. Brand-to-brand, between the same guages, the differences are slight, and mostly playability is whats affected.

But if you change how thick your strings are, or the type of winding (see above), you'll notice a BIG change in sound.


Of note - Thicker strings are harder to bend but can be set to a lower action without buzzing, whereas thinner strings are easier to bend but need higher action.

Sound wise, thinner strings can sound 'tinny', whereas thicker strings can sound 'muddy'. Which is better depends on the type of music you play. If you want super defined chunky rythm guitars where the sound of a plam mute stops on a pin, you might want thinner strings, but you'll lose the nice chunky tone that comes with thicker strings.

Conversely, if you want a brutal death metal sound, and you want to avoid it sounding 'fizzy' and brittle, you'll want to use thicker strings, but your palm muting technique will have to change to compensate, since the higher mass of the strings means more momentum and thus you'll need more effective methods of muting the strings with the picking hand.

I use Ernie Ball "Not Even Slinky" (.012-.016-.024p-.032-.044-.056) custom gauge nickel wound strings. I like them as I play in D# tuning and because they feel more like acoustic strings, which I like because I started out on an acoustic guitar. They also have more bass and won't break as easy when I play live.

I recently used to use Ernie Ball "Regular Slinky" (.010-.013-.017-.026-.036-.046) custom gauge nickel wound strings, but they don't work well with D# or really any kind of lower tunings.

If im not mistaken didnt SRV use 13/14's, as well as tune down to Eb to help get that fat bluesy sound?

Yes, but I don't have fingers that strong, and I hate Eb.

Edit: Also, have you tried to find a set of 13's in electric? I can't find anything except roundwounds.

I bet your fingers are like little trains. Always moving forward and made of steel. And why dont you like Eb?

Edit Answer: Luckily my local shop has up to 15s that are just like the super slinky 9's. He told me it was because so many people were asking how to get a stronger blues tone out of there strings o that was there answer. If you looked online youd probably find some, no?