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Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:37 am
by eggwheat
Not watched but I've found the gauge makes a big difference in tone. But it's dependent on exactly what you are playing and the guitar type. So my advice is to experiment. I've found 10-46 generally sound the best in my situation on a Jazzmaster. I've found on my Yamaha SG1000 9-42 work best...which surprised me as I wouldn't normally go to a lighter gauge... I have found that with certain types of distortion and chords that too heavy a gauge chokes up the sound due to too much low end.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 5:51 am
by OV7
alexpigment wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:44 pm
OV7 wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:59 pm
One thing is for sure, big strings sound better when you’re plucking and strumming on the couch unplugged.
Not only do I agree with this, I think for a lot of us, we're playing at volume where we can still hear the strings acoustically - at least when strumming. I would argue that I never really hear the electric sound in vacuum unless I'm playing in a loud band environment. That electric/acoustic mix sounds better - to my ears at least - with heavier strings. There's a balance of playability and stronger sounding strings, and I assume that's really what most of us go for. I buy the heaviest strings that don't get in the way of my ability to play the instrument.

The other benefit to heavier strings is that your guitar will usually sound more in tune. If you lack a gentle touch with your fretting hand, your guitar will almost certainly sound more in tune with heavier strings. And even if you *do* have a gentle touch, you will not sound any less out of tune.

Note: I do not disagree that lighter gauge strings will give you more "clarity", high end, or dynamics.
Another thing I noticed was that the high-E string is hard to get to pitch with the 8 gauge set. It must have been slipping constantly or something because I kept turning that peg and turning it and it would never reach pitch. It finally did and is fine now. When playing on the couch with no amp, it is very quiet and plinky sounding but fine through the headphones and modelers. I really can't tell much of a difference. I do agree with what the Rhett guy said about the lower gauge strings making you hesitant to really dig in and play aggressively. The 8's feel so tiny compared to the 10s. They are super easy to bend!

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2020 6:52 am
by parry
mynameisjonas wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 2:21 am
I watched that video the other day, and I thought the heaviest set of strings sounded the best. As they went to lighter and lighter strings, the sound got a sort of nasal quality that I didn't like. I'm sure that cuts through better in a classic rock mix, but to my ears it just sounded less exciting.
It would have been interesting to hear what happens when you go up to .012s and .013s.
My thoughts as well. In the context of a classic rawk band - sure. I get it. The thing to do and the way to sound has been defined and those are the parameters that define "the way to do it right". But that's one genre and approach. it doesn't account for much else outside of that box. But I do suppose it speaks to 80% of the market, so... *shrugs*

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:21 am
by Jaguar018
StevenO wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:04 am
Telliot wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:49 pm
StevenO wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 1:26 pm
I don't really buy it, personally. I feel like you should play whatever strings suit your tuning/hands/instrument/setup/playability, etc. I feel like switching to a lighter gauge string to lower the low end response of a guitar/amp/tuning, etc. seems like a roundabout way of adjusting your tone settings or pickup height, etc. all of which do not affect playability or your comfort level with a given instrument that may have already been established.
Quoted for truth.
Requoted for truth perpetuity.
Quoted for half truths.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 1:34 pm
by Drewbertca
I play heavier strings, myself.....I like 11-52s with a wound 3rd personally. But I started on bass and anything lighter feels like overcooked spaghetti. I adjust tone controls on the amp/effects to cut through when needed. To each their own.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 7:43 pm
by StevenO
Jaguar018 wrote:
Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:21 am
StevenO wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:04 am
Telliot wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:49 pm


Quoted for truth.
Requoted for truth perpetuity.
Quoted for half truths.
Quoted for the half.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:06 pm
by Telliot
StevenO wrote:
Sun Feb 02, 2020 7:43 pm
Jaguar018 wrote:
Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:21 am
StevenO wrote:
Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:04 am

Requoted for truth perpetuity.
Quoted for half truths.
Quoted for the half.
Quoted for half of the half. But raise you a quarter.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:43 am
by Maggieo
Time for the halftime show.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:36 am
by s_mcsleazy
the video really actually annoyed me because IMHO, you notice string gauge more with a clean amp than you do with a "crunchy" amp

i did notice the heavier strings didn't sound as good but i think that might be down to the setup on the guitar. heavier strings are usually way louder and have more bass. which is something i dont think they took into consideration

personally, i've used heavier strings for ages because i like fighting with the guitar.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:50 pm
by StevenO
s_mcsleazy wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:36 am
the video really actually annoyed me because IMHO, you notice string gauge more with a clean amp than you do with a "crunchy" amp

i did notice the heavier strings didn't sound as good but i think that might be down to the setup on the guitar. heavier strings are usually way louder and have more bass. which is something i dont think they took into consideration

personally, i've used heavier strings for ages because i like fighting with the guitar.
That's literally the whole point of the video that they were trying to show. Lighter gauge strings can help to tighten up the sound in both timbre and tone.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 7:37 pm
by patski
I rewound/fast-forwarded several times to listen to heavier gauge clips then back to lighter then back again...I'll admit that there was *some* difference...but it wasn't huge in the least.

I guess this was a fun experiment...but distortion + power chords? Doesn't scream "test the nuances of string gauge", lol Why not play clean and at least a few different styles? *shrug*

I agree that testing 12s + 13s would have been cool.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 7:47 pm
by loveinathens
I get what they're driving at, but my ultimate concern with string gauge is making sure there's enough tension on my offset bridges. I know 9s and 10s work on JMs/Jags/Mustangs, and I used to play 10s, but 11s just feel better to me and the added heft to the tone isn't a bad thing considering I mostly play on 1 megs. Also, I play through dirt pedals that either tighten the low end up anyway, or fuzzes that just turn everything up to 42069.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:07 pm
by OV7
One fun thing with using 8-38 gauge strings is tuning up a full step. You just have to make sure you tune the strings to pitch starting with the lowest string to the highest.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:21 pm
by Trout
StevenO wrote:
Thu Jan 30, 2020 1:26 pm
I don't really buy it, personally. I feel like you should play whatever strings suit your tuning/hands/instrument/setup/playability, etc. I feel like switching to a lighter gauge string to lower the low end response of a guitar/amp/tuning, etc. seems like a roundabout way of adjusting your tone settings or pickup height, etc. all of which do not affect playability or your comfort level with a given instrument that may have already been established.
This. I have .10 on two jaguars, but on my 24" Musicmaster (basically identical neck as the jags) I must have .11's.

Re: String gauge video by Rick Beato..discuss

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:27 pm
by nelsongeets
It was definitely interesting to hear the differences in tone based on string gauge. That being said, I think the most important part about string gauge is its effect on "feel" and tension of the strings - both of which come down to individual player preference as well what the guitar's setup/scale length call for.