String gauge - does size matter?

[Rog]

Being an old fart and only playing guitar part-time, I have to go for light gauge. Thus I use 9s mostly and also flat wounds.

[sizzlingbadger]

Which gauge of unwound string is best for cutting cheese?

[jeremyb]

Which gauge of unwound string is best for cutting cheese?

HA! I'm sick of the cheese wire slicer things from the supermarket breaking all the time, was going to build one, although I was going to use some stainless steel lock wire I have in the shed...

[codedog]

Reminds me of the time I dug out an acoustic string from the bin. It was the only thing that finally solved my problem with cutting through silicon sealant between vanity basin and the unit. Worked like a charm in the tiny space I had! Elixir light gauge high E, gentle on the fingers but cut beautifully.

[rickenbackerkid]

Worth noting that the scale length and other factors affect string tension too. This has always confused me so I'll ask it here. It can't simply be the scale length but must in fact be the overall string length??? A reverse headstock Strat would surely have a slacker-feeling low E and a more taut high E?

Yes, this is completely true. I've found that my favourite guitars to play are things with a trapeze tailpiece, or even a top-strung TOM. Not sure if it's the longer string length or the softer break angle, but it makes everything feel a little bit slinkier and I like it.

[sihirst]

11’s on Gibsons, 10’s on Fenders, and 12’s on the Martins for me. Generally means I can dig in a bit on any, have to work a bit more for bends (which I like), and swap between all, particularly live, with very little fuss in having to adjust how I play

[AiRdAd]

11’s on Gibsons, 10’s on Fenders, and 12’s on the Martins for me. Generally means I can dig in a bit on any, have to work a bit more for bends (which I like), and swap between all, particularly live, with very little fuss in having to adjust how I play

is it a generally regarded thing to go heavier gauge on the Gibson's because of the shorter scale?

[sihirst]

Without certainly being any kind of authority on it, I imagine it might be a somewhat common thing to do with the scale length. I can’t really remember when I started doing it to be honest, but it’s worked well for my playing!

[AiRdAd]

Without certainly being any kind of authority on it, I imagine it might be a somewhat common thing to do with the scale length. I can’t really remember when I started doing it to be honest, but it’s worked well for my playing!

Thanks Simon - how's the arm? What was the outcome?

[jeremyb]

11’s on Gibsons, 10’s on Fenders, and 12’s on the Martins for me. Generally means I can dig in a bit on any, have to work a bit more for bends (which I like), and swap between all, particularly live, with very little fuss in having to adjust how I play

is it a generally regarded thing to go heavier gauge on the Gibson's because of the shorter scale?

If you want the string tension to feel the same you should, you could go so far as to use a string tension calculator to figure out the exact thicknesses you need to emulate say a 10-46 set on a fender... but that would be madness, I'd just go up to 11s...

[sihirst]

Thanks Simon - how's the arm? What was the outcome?

First week post-op has gone pretty well, thanks Danny. I can now close my fist again and grab things gently with my left hand so that’s all positive. I broke something in the radial of my left elbow, and essentially compressed the whole elbow joint together. Three screws in it now. Three weeks with the sort of cast and sling I’m in now, and then I have the stitches taken out and they reassess what to do from there. Might be able to play again after 6ish weeks but they’ve given it a three month recovery time because I’ll likely have to build up the strength in my forearm, fingers, elbow again etc. However, there were smallish chances of nerve damage due to where they had to operate, and that has been avoided. So all in all, I feel pretty blessed with the outcome because it could have been far worse!
I did however really do a number on it

[AiRdAd]

I'm glad that there was no nerve damage etc... how did you do it?

[sihirst]

I'm glad that there was no nerve damage etc... how did you do it?

Yeah, thanks Danny! That was bit of a nervy conversation.
Just fell very awkwardly while skating at the park just by our house!

[AiRdAd]

I'm glad that there was no nerve damage etc... how did you do it?

Yeah, thanks Danny! That was bit of a nervy conversation.
Just fell very awkwardly while skating at the park just by our house!

I feel your pain. Jordy fell off her one at the beginning of the year. She was in a cast for 10 days and then turned out not to be broken - so very lucky. I've stayed off my skateboards over the lockdown period - because knowing me I'll fall off and do the same

[sihirst]

I'm glad that there was no nerve damage etc... how did you do it?

Yeah, thanks Danny! That was bit of a nervy conversation.
Just fell very awkwardly while skating at the park just by our house!

I feel your pain. Jordy fell off her one at the beginning of the year. She was in a cast for 10 days and then turned out not to be broken - so very lucky. I've stayed off my skateboards over the lockdown period - because knowing me I'll fall off and do the same

Glad she’s ok! Yeah, falling is sort of part of it huh. Always know the risk is there!