String Gauge and Intonation. I’ve been using hybrid strings for 20 years or more. First used on guitar strings in the 1930s by D’Addario, the 80/20 bronze alloy contains 80 percent copper and 20 per… Gibson guitars have a scale length advertised at 24 and 3/4". If you are unsure what components to adjust, please contact a qualified repair technician. In Rick’s video, a group of players recorded themselves playing the same Les Paul and Marshall JCM2000 setup with the only variable being fou I’ve been using the same brand all … Ok cool well I can adjust the truss rod no probs. Lighter strings will vibrate too much, and they will be too loose. Consult a qualified repair technician with questions. Whatever, keep playing. Yes, if you are getting buzz with 10s going to a lighter gauge will likely make it worse. First, using an electronic tuner, tune your instrument to pitch. That’s because they are heavier, have more tension and they vibrate less. Lighter gauge strings will have lower tension and may allow the neck relief (curvature) to decrease slightly and the top to flatten a bit if it's bellied up. lol. String gauges heavier than this are harder to bend and require a well-conditioned hand with extra-thick calluses. Forcing heavy strings into slots cut for a lighter gauge will cause the string to stick and create tuning problems, or could even crack the nut. Intonation will change on guitars with floating bridges, if setup adjustments are made, and as strings age. We use a 13.5 and on a set of 9s it’s an 11 when I think it really should be a 12. Probably time to change the strings at that point. For example, you if normally play lights you should be able to change to a custom light or medium light without issues. Light strings project less volume and provide a "looser" sound. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons! There's quite a range of scales – from extra-long six-string basses (35"), through Fender's famous Precision and Jazz models (34"), right down to Gibson's short-scale 30" SG models. Compare the pitch on the tuner to the pitch after fretting the note. Now on my acoustic guitar, I am still using the string that the guitar came with it from the factory. I've heard that it can throw off the guitar set up.... is it easy for me to change it to be "right" again with the new strings? Sound is the real reason some players choose medium strings. They’re perfect for me. I’d like to discuss two terrific YouTube videos Rick Beato and Rhett Shull recently made regarding string gauges. A lot of the time, string sets will be labeled with without the decimals, so a .010 through .046 is the same as 10-46. When going from a lighter to a heavier gauge, it is important to make sure the nut has enough room to support the extra girth from the string. Similarly, significant changes in string gauge will affect your guitar’s action, string tension, and neck relief, and may call for a truss rod adjustment. If I use the same string brand and gauge, the intonation does not usually change. Playability, bending, vibrato. After gauge, the next key factor is construction. String tension refers to the amount of force a set of tightened and tuned strings pulls against your guitar, and is directly related to which type and gauge of string you choose. A set of extra light gauge strings for acoustic guitar ranges from .010 “ on the high E to 0.47 “ on the low E while a set of heavy gauge strings will typically range from .014 ” to .59 ”. You don’t want too light strings when you drop the tuning on your guitar. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." Bear in mind, too, that heavy-gauge strings are under … Strings for strummers – both in thickness and durability – are quite different from strings for pickers. String gauge affects the tone, playability, and volume of any set of strings. There's an added dimension to choosing bass strings, because you'll need to match the string length to your instrument's scale (i.e. GORE, ELIXIR, NANOWEB, POLYWEB, GREAT TONE • LONG LIFE, "e" icon, and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. If you would like to disable cookies, please view “How do I manage cookies” in the Policy. If I use the same string brand and gauge, the intonation does not usually change. Because I am a complete amateur when it comes to guitar setup, what sort of stuff do I need to do to my guitar when I switch from a light to a heavier gauge string? Lighter gauges are easier to play but they are more prone to breakage and can cause more fretboard buzzing when neck action is low. It may be a good idea to take your guitar to a luthier for a setup after changing the strings. By learning about the different string options available for your guitar, you can find the strings which strike the best balance between great tone and playability. However, there are two other things to consider when thinking of changing string gauge. Heavier gauge strings tend to project more, are darker and offer more sustain as they contain more material to vibrate, but they could cause more finger pain after a bit as well, if you're used to playing lighter gauge strings. The springs on your trem system keep it in balance against the string’s tension. If I have any problems, I have taken to using a drop of clear nail varnish in the slot, it sets , and i know it isn't a long term solution, but it kills any rattles or pop outs for me. Gauge is the magic number. Note the date you changed strings on the package, then put it in your case to keep track of the age and type of strings you’re using. A well cut nut, will generally be pretty exact for your string gauge. If you are changing more than one step in string gauge we recommend that you have the first change done professionally to ensure the set up remains comfortable, intonation accurate, and tone correct. As a result it takes greater physical effort to fret and bend notes, with light strings the reverse is true. Different gauges have a variety of sounds and affect both fretting and strumming hands. I always check the string tension when changing to a lighter gauge of strings, or vice-versa. It's also player dependent; a player's particular setup may be low and close to where a gauge change would upset that delicate plane. The lighter the string gauge, the easier it is to bend the string. Some will take a gauge change and not even flinch. Gauge refers to the string’s physical size. The counterbalance to that string tension is the truss rod. The best of both worlds! Sometimes it’s subtle and sometimes it’s a lot. I like it much better because I play with my fingers and not a pick, and I’m a pretty heavy handed player so lighter gauge strings kind of just bend with my fingers and dont let me pluck the string so easily. Short answer yeah, it's a good idea - truss, action, intonation and even pickup height a bit (lighter string gets 'pulled' easier). Typical light sets from high to low: .011-.015-.022-.030-.042-.052. One thing to keep in mind while changing the gauge of strings on your guitar is the setup. Moving up a gauge to .011–.048 does exactly the opposite; the greater tension allows you to dig in and play harder, but the thicker strings are also harder to bend and fret. I recently changed my strings on my stratocaster from 9s to 10s. If you are changing more than one step in string gauge we recommend that you have the first change done professionally to ensure the set up remains comfortable, intonation accurate, and tone correct. I've heard that if you use a heavier gauge string it widens the groves on the nut so it's not possible to go to lighter gauge. Learn this acclaimed British solo artist's songwriting tips. Others may need a truss rod tweak. Steel guitar strings have two main components: the steel core wire and the wire wrap. On the other hand, for a Marshall-style, midrange-heavy, tight-crunch tone, lighter strings with humbuckers and a gain-y amp—without too much bass in the preamp—will get you there. I know of one luthier who doesn't want to do any serious work on an instrument until the owner has settled on a standard brand and gauge of strings. If you're in doubt over the correct length to choose, speak to your local dealer. Can you change string gauges without damaging a bass? Rod adjustment will turn into no big deal soon enough auditorium and parlor guitars will sound better with strings! To be enlarged for heavier strings put more tension cookies ” in the mixture of metals they.... 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