Tight and lose

[Wulfrik]

So, I’m an ape? I can go with that

Taxonomically, we are all apes… all of us reading this.

 

[tfunk182]

I like to dig in as well and that requires 10s however I did an experiment that I like a few weeks ago with 9.5s. And they are nice!

I just discovered Turbo Slinkys 9.5-46. So far so good.

 

[StratUp]

I just discovered Turbo Slinkys 9.5-46. So far so good.

I'm a fan of those for a 9.5 set myself. They have a better balance than most 9.5 sets with the 9.5, 12, 16 setup.

@Wulfrik: You might want to step up to 9.5's. It gets you a bigger bottom end to stop some of the floppy. There are also strings with larger core and smaller wrap, so same OD but they are stiffer with the larger core.

GHS has the Thick Core Boomers. 9's but they fatten up fast and are thicker core:
HC-GBXL Custom Light 9, 11, 16, 28, 38, 48

They also have the Big Core Nickel Rockers in a fat 9.5:
Custom Light BCCL .0095 .0115 .016 .028 .038 .048

Poke around here: https://www.ghsstrings.com/products?categories=electric-guitar

 

[Wulfrik]

I'm a fan of those for a 9.5 set myself. They have a better balance than most 9.5 sets with the 9.5, 12, 16 setup.

@Wulfrik: You might want to step up to 9.5's. It gets you a bigger bottom end to stop some of the floppy. There are also strings with larger core and smaller wrap, so same OD but they are stiffer with the larger core.

GHS has the Thick Core Boomers. 9's but they fatten up fast and are thicker core:
HC-GBXL Custom Light 9, 11, 16, 28, 38, 48

They also have the Big Core Nickel Rockers in a fat 9.5:
Custom Light BCCL .0095 .0115 .016 .028 .038 .048\

Poke around here: https://www.ghsstrings.com/products?categories=electric-guitar

I use 11-52 Ernie Ball 'Burly Slinkies' on strats and teles. 12 - 58 on my PRS and 13-58 on my acoustics!

 

[StratUp]

I use 11-52 Ernie Ball 'Burly Slinkies' on strats and teles. 12 - 58 on my PRS and 13-58 on my acoustics!

Whoops! I was supposed to tag @Wrighty in that... but my brain substituted you for him!

 

[arct]

Well, I’ve always had my action on the high side, are you suggesting even higher for 9s?

Well, .010"* at the 8th for the neck, and the strings 4/64"*(1/16th) at the 17th. That's the numbers for a properly performing neck, right? Pickups down, away from the strings so you aren't mashing the thick ones into them. If you still got the rattling and jangling, lift the strings all 1/8th turn up. After that if you still have the noise, it would be time to make sure there isn't an errant fret or two sticking up.

rct

*I don't know what these numbers are in the metric thingy whatevermabob. We are still a bit behind the original date of 1976 but we're working on it. I think.

 

[StratUp]

Well, .010"* at the 8th for the neck, and the strings 4/64"*(1/16th) at the 17th. That's the numbers for a properly performing neck, right? Pickups down, away from the strings so you aren't mashing the thick ones into them. If you still got the rattling and jangling, lift the strings all 1/8th turn up. After that if you still have the noise, it would be time to make sure there isn't an errant fret or two sticking up.

rct

*I don't know what these numbers are in the metric thingy whatevermabob. We are still a bit behind the original date of 1976 but we're working on it. I think.

4 /64 * 25.4 = 1.59mm
.010 * 25.4 = .254mm
Etc.

 

[Believer7713]

I swapped all of my guitars to 9s some while back. I tend to just pick the one that takes my fancy at the time when playing and going from 10s to 9s has definitely helped my technique, well, mostly.
Last night for a rehearsal I went with my 2006 MIA Strat, standard or series, I can’t remember what they were labeled back then.
All was going well until some heavier rhythm was needed. I was, I think, discovering what some mean when they say a guitar ‘plays lose’ or ‘plays tight’. This Strat played lose. Strings seemed to ‘give’ way to much, pick got caught in them and distortion, buzzing and tuning issues appeared.
I am quite a heavy ‘dig in’ player but I really did try to lay back.
This morning I got out the Strat, noodled for a while and all was well. But, I then grabbed my AmPro Tele and it felt tighter. Slightly more pressure needed to fret a note but more noticeable was the strings behaviour when strummed. More resistance, pick rode the surface and didn’t try to pull them. Not easy to describe but I’m hoping you guys will know what I mean.
The solution I’m thinking at the moment is Strat for ‘delicate’ stuff, solos, finger picking and the like and Tele for enthusiastic strumming.
I will try to moderate my attack but, when I really get into a number I tend to drive it along with vigour. Maybe I should just lighten up and turn up instead?
All thoughts, opinions and suggestions greatly appreciated, assuming, of course, you understand my ramblings!

A typical set of 10s is 10, 13, 16, 26, 36, 46. Have you considered a hybrid set like the 9-46? They are 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Basically you are only dropping on the b and e strings. It was a nice compromise for me when I wanted to go up in gauge but liked the feel and response I got on those strings.

 

[The Ballzz]

First, understand that what works for me is predicated on guitar generally straight into the amp (wah & occasional chorus) and that I don't use a pick. I use .009-.046 on everything, with somewhat high-"ish" action, turn the amp up and use a much lighter picking/strumming touch. This rewards me with much more glorious harmonic content to my tone and response, along with wonderfully controlled feedback, etc. Reigning in one's exuberance to master that lighter touch can be a challenge, but……..! Any initially perceived loss of picking precision and/or speed is easily made up for by having five fingers doing that picking! Also, as the main singer wherever I go, doin' the "pedal board tap dance" simply does not work well for me! Of course, running the amp at higher volume settings and losing control of said "exuberance" CAN result in vaporizing small pets and children, at ten paces!
Still Screechin' & Squawkin'
Gene

 

[Alex_C]

9's on my 'standard' guitars, headless get 10's.

 

[StratUp]

A typical set of 10s is 10, 13, 16, 26, 36, 46. Have you considered a hybrid set like the 9-46? They are 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Basically you are only dropping on the b and e strings. It was a nice compromise for me when I wanted to go up in gauge but liked the feel and response I got on those strings.

See my post above. GHS has that and more with the HC-GBXL Custom Light 9, 11, 16, 28, 38, 48.

 

[Believer7713]

See my post above. GHS has that and more with the HC-GBXL Custom Light 9, 11, 16, 28, 38, 48.

I didn't take the time to read the whole thread...obviously.
The strings that I play are the GBCL which are similar but are .002 thinner on the wound strings. Again, being captain Obvious here.

 

[Wrighty]

Interesting then to get a softer feel than a Tele with same gauge.
Maybe more relief set on the Strat?

Could be

 

[Wrighty]

Taxonomically, we are all apes… all of us reading this.

Ah, but I’m not reading this

 

[Wrighty]

Whoops! I was supposed to tag @Wrighty in that... but my brain substituted you for him!

I’ve been substituted by far worse!

 

[Wrighty]

A typical set of 10s is 10, 13, 16, 26, 36, 46. Have you considered a hybrid set like the 9-46? They are 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Basically you are only dropping on the b and e strings. It was a nice compromise for me when I wanted to go up in gauge but liked the feel and response I got on those strings.

I’ll maybe try stringing the Strat with a set, thanks

 

[CyFan]

Use a thinner pick with the lighter strings.

 

[T Bone Slort]

A typical set of 10s is 10, 13, 16, 26, 36, 46. Have you considered a hybrid set like the 9-46? They are 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Basically you are only dropping on the b and e strings. It was a nice compromise for me when I wanted to go up in gauge but liked the feel and response I got on those strings.

I find EB Hybrid Slinky's : 9,11,16, 26, 36, 46 just right.
Which reminds me, time for a new set of strings.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

I’ll maybe try stringing the Strat with a set, thanks

I find EB Hybrid Slinky's : 9,11,16, 26, 36, 46 just right.
Which reminds me, time for a new set of strings.

I tried EB hybrid .009-.046 at first when moving from 40 years playing .010-.042 D'A sets.
Now I just buy D'Addario .009-.042 and have adapted.
Not really much feel difference to me though, more the idea of the .042 being too thin compared to .046.
I think the EBs went dead faster than the D'A sets, despite the fatter bottom.
For sure my guitars do not all feel exactly the same.