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9s or 10s on your Les Paul?

Robbo

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May 16, 2015
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3
When I purchased my 68 Les Paul Standard in 1970 it was fitted with a B3 Bigsby and Gibson E340 strings. This was in Brisbane Australia so the strings were possibly factory fitted. From memory the gauges were 13 to 56. The sound of open chords through my Fender Silverface Twin reverb was like an anvil being hit with a hammer. I did have strong fingers but changed to E340L's later, possibly 11 to 56. Using 10 to 52's on my Gibsons now and 10 to 46 on my Fenders. Re caveat: The sizes could be different to what my memory remembers so would appreciate any confirmation or otherwise.
 

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Bryansamui

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Jul 1, 2022
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198
Moved from 10s to 8s due to nerve damage.. 8s definitely better sound for the Jimmy Page trip I'm currently on.Tighter in the Bass than 10s

As a side note Tony Iommi probably has the lightest string tension of anyone. Plays 8s when tuned down half step and 9s when tuned down 1 and a half steps to C#... Gets a massive tone.
 

roxrob

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Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
221
I play mostly acoustic these days using 12-56 Elixirs.......this means when I go to electric for a few "depping" gigs, I have to use at least 10s or they feel too floppy in comparison. In the days when I played with a Free/Bad Company tribute band I used 11 to 54 on my Les Pauls until I ended up with a nasty case of carpel tunnel syndrome from spending too many hours practicing Kossoffs technique, chord shapes and of course his unique vibrato. Surgery ensued, followed by 6 months without playing at all, and my left hand is not as strong as it was. Thick strings ok on acoustic but thinner is now necessary on the electrics for ease of bending.
 

Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
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6,372
I used to play .011's on all my electrics, but I was younger and stronger and I played/gigged more often. I use .010's now. Miss some of the meat and punch I'd get from .011's but this I just handle better. I have a few packs of 10.5's that I wanted t try on an ES335 since it plays so easily, but I like where that's at now with .010's, it's 'settled' nicely.
 

Bryansamui

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Jul 1, 2022
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198
Every gauge has Benefits and Caveats.
I think Jazz guys generally have bigger gauges for better tone for that genre?
For the Jimmy Page trip I'm on ,8s or 9s sound better than 10s. More focused & no wool in the Bass.
Billy Gibbons uses .007 I believe?
 

SpencerD

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Mar 11, 2016
Messages
910
I'm thinking about a hybrid gauge for my own use.

Low E is a railroad track. High E is a spider web. Fill in the the rest! :oops:
 

JeffBlue

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Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
348
9s (24k gold) on my highly modded 2012 Gibson Les Paul Supreme
IMG_0406.jpgIMG_0404.jpg
And 10s on my Precision Guitar Kits 54 custom Les Paul
IMG_0033.JPG
 

irish R8

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Mar 2, 2023
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15
Well, les Paul's come stock with 10s so I've never deviated from that on my les Paul's. They feel and sound great. If it ain't broken... and all that.
 

Maplehead872

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Joined
Jun 5, 2003
Messages
187
Ernie Ball 2225 8 - 11- 14 - 22 - 30 - 38 for the sake of being coherent and being intelligible Soundwise, light touch low action comfort wise.
Wish Elixir would make 8's.
 

golfnut

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Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
After playing 10's on my strats\teles for 20 years I decided to go with 10's on my newly acquired R8. They feel a tad loose but I got used to it. I could probably got to either 10.5 or 11's on the R8 but I'll likely stay with 10's.
 

somebodyelseuk

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Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
Moved from 10s to 8s due to nerve damage.. 8s definitely better sound for the Jimmy Page trip I'm currently on.Tighter in the Bass than 10s

As a side note Tony Iommi probably has the lightest string tension of anyone. Plays 8s when tuned down half step and 9s when tuned down 1 and a half steps to C#... Gets a massive tone.
He has plastic fingertips, too, and they do say 'Tone is in the fingers'. It is in Tone's case.
Alder and rosewood... sorry, what were we discussing?
 

SpencerD

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Mar 11, 2016
Messages
910
You can score .007 -.038 Billy Gibbons custom gauge strings from Dunlop all day long.

Rev Willy"s Mexican Lottery Brand. Fact 🤘 😀
 

Crash

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Apr 7, 2023
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17
When I first started playing it was Super Slinky .008-.038 on my 3/4 scale Musicmaster. Stayed with .008's through the 70's and into the 80's before moving to .9's.
Les Paul's always get 10's today. Some of my 25.5 scale guitars get .9's some 10's.
 

Big Daddy Class

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Jan 11, 2020
Messages
136
9s on mine. I notice the difference in 9s vs 10s for the first few strums, then after that I cannot tell. I play electric and acoustic so it is not like my fingers cannot somehow play 12s.
 
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