9s or 10s on your Les Paul?

[Steven K]

Great post gitmo Gibson's generally are shorter scale necks than Fender. Easier to play "slightly" heavier gauged strings.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

It's an interesting list, but doesn't unfortunately (as noted above) take account of things like scale length, tuning or simply what were available "packaged sets" at the time (the Hendrix 10-38, for example, was the then common Fender F150 set) - at the end of the day a lot of these (variables allowed for) are going to come out at the sort of tension you'd get with 10/11 high E sets on a standard Gibson scale I suspect.

I have went as high as 11's on my Strat before, but settled on 10's for both Gibson and Fender scale instruments set up in E std. The slight increase in tension is more than made up for in both the ease of digging in on a Fender neck and in the case of Strats the give of the traditional spring tensioned vibrato.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

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[Wilko]

It's an interesting list, but doesn't unfortunately (as noted above) take account of things like scale length, tuning or simply what were available "packaged sets" at the time (the Hendrix 10-38, for example, was the then common Fender F150 set) - at the end of the day a lot of these (variables allowed for) are going to come out at the sort of tension you'd get with 10/11 high E sets on a standard Gibson scale I suspect.

We know what instruments most on the list are using. I editied out a lot of specific info as it's mostly superfluous.

 

[Chronomariner]

Guitars like an LP with the same scale length and bridge, I always use 10s.
Anything else with a tremolo I use 9s.
I tried 8s for a while but it just felt like slapping wet noodles. Well maybe not that bad but I didn’t like it

 

[Tsongas]

Got my first Les Paul recently and it came with .010-.046. This is the gauge I use on my Telecaster, which is what I have always played, and so far it is working well on the Les Paul. I'm tuned down 1/2 step because that is what works best for the vocalists I perform with. I used the same gauge on my Telecaster in the past when in standard tuning.

 

[Stewbear66]

I had 9s loved it buy maybe a bit too loose, so put 10s on. 10s feel more right, for double stops, chords, and ok with most bends, but I do miss bending beyond one whole stop. What rest think of this? Thanks.

I like nines got a couple of guitars and I changed out the first two strings to 10 and a 14 works much better on those two guitars. I don’t know why ones a les Paul and One and Ibanez some reason they had a dead fret but the minute I changed and put the bigger strings on fox I didn’t want the whole set so kind of mix and match. You can order them from string. World in mixed sets

 

[GStone]

I've played both 9s and 10s on a LP. 9s are nice for bending. They are a little bit floppy though on a shorter 24.75" Gibson scale what has lower tension than a 25.5" Fender scale what I like to put 9-42s on. Lately I got 10-46 on most of my Gibsons. And 9-42s on the longer scaled Fenders. That's what the factory ships 'em with, so good enough for me.

 

[Greywolf]

10's on my '79 custom ( a wedding present, that wife is long gone but never the LP) 9.5-43 D'Addario's on my '55 Special

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

8's. If I could find 7's locally I would give them a try, Billy Gibbons style.

 

[LyleGorch]

10’s

 

[gary buff]

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10s in the green pack on Gibsons, 9s often break on me which is a real PITA on a gig though I do use 9s on Fenders.

 

[Happy Tree]

When I picked up an electric for the first time—40 years ago!—I knew that Brian May used 8s and a sixpence for a pick. So I've always used that and it feels normal to me.

Started with 8s on a Fender scale length. Then Gibson. Then a Red Special which has the shortest scale at 24". I've gone off Fender now as it just feels too tight.

 

[seafood]

Ha ! I've played 9-42 for the past 60 years !!! So it feels like home to me !! But in the past year I moved to 8-38 blue pack Ernie Balls and just love them !!! And I never, ever break strings! Ever ! Every guitar that I try in a shop these days always has 10-46, which I don't like at all !! Keep it light and fun !

 

[S. Weiger]

To each his own. I played 11s for many years on both Fenders and Gibsons, but I changed to 10's a couple years ago because of age, and not playing in a band anymore.
I will try a "Bonamassa" soon though on my Les Paul (Topwrap with 11's).

 

[RhinestoneStrat]

I ordered about 10 packs of these below a while back. I put them on my Les Pauls and on my Fenders. They sure make guitar playing fun again.

 

[Bruce R]

About 5 years ago, after decades of using only .010 Gauge GHS Boomers, I discovered DiAddario's .0095 sets. My hands just didn't have the strength they once did, so my vibrato had became labored. I tried a .009 set, but it just felt too loose. I use the .0095 sets on both my Gibsons & Fenders and have been impressed with the DiAddario brand.

 

[LeonC]

I do use 9.5s which are a good middle ground between 9s & 10s.

I prefer .0095s on one of my 335s and one or two other guitars...but still use regular .010s on my Les Pauls.

 

[NickiC]

10-42 and nickel. GHS Rockers, EB Slinky+R’n’R, DR Pure Blues. My heaviest and darkest sounding Norlin has a set of 10-38, Boomers.

 

[Alex]

9 with a top wrap!