Put some 12-56 strings on My Strat clone and been playin' da Blues. I got inspired by an SRV DVD I bought last night. I think I'll put 12-56's on that 60's Strat I bought off ebay when it gets here. I'm hooked on heavey strings!

yeowwzzza..

greatest improvement in TONE peroid!

BIG props!!
I use 11 -52 on my fender equipment..

12-56 you must be a man..

man, i had a bit of trouble bending with 12s on the gibson scale. i can't even imagine 12s on a fender scale. right now i've got 11-54 snake oils on my sg, and they seem to be just right for me. tens sound fine on my strat for now. i don't use it often, and it's convenient to be able to share strings with the other guitarist in my band.

You guys are gonna call me a wimp, but I use one of those "blended" sets. The unwound strings are from a 9 set, while the wound strings are from a 12 set. That way, I can easily bend the high notes, but the power chords, etc., benefit from that solid thickness.

I play a lot of gigs around town with a guy who always uses 8's. His tone is wonderful (the 54 strat and the blackface Deluxe might have something to do with that). Of course, if he used heavier strings, it might be even better, but--he claims--he wouldn't play as well, so the improvement in tone would be negated.

12's here too. Not sure if it's a big improvement in tone or not, but I just like the feel of bigger strings.

I don't like big strings on a guitar without big frets though (atleast 105 size), doesn't feel good at all.

I've been using 12s for about 2.5 years now and I don't think I could really go back to something smaller. It's not really my left hand that I'm concerned about anymore, it's actually more that my picking hand is used to having to dig in, the smaller strings just don't cut it like the 12s do.

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Originally posted by TTrahan:
12's here too. Not sure if it's a big improvement in tone or not, but I just like the feel of bigger strings.

I don't like big strings on a guitar without big frets though (atleast 105 size), doesn't feel good at all.

I've been using 12s for about 2.5 years now and I don't think I could really go back to something smaller. It's not really my left hand that I'm concerned about anymore, it's actually more that my picking hand is used to having to dig in, the smaller strings just don't cut it like the 12s do.

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That 60's strat that I've got comming probably has small frets. May have to refret it. As far as going back to a smaller gauge I have a Yamaha with 9's and it's hard to play such slinky strings.

I hate heavy strings. Anything heavier than 10's make the wound strings sound too fat unless you add some extra treble and then the unwound strings can sound a bit too trebly.

But the main issue I have is that they are just too damn hard to play! I bend alot and play alot of quick leads/riffs/fills and it's just too damn hard to pull my playing off with heavy, stiff strings.

It does worry me that I can't play them because there seems to be a certain amount of manliness and machismo associated with playing heavy guages that I miss out on.

Seriously - it's not necessary to use heavy strings to get a heavy tone, if that's what you're after. There are tons of players getting all sorts of great tones using all sorts of string guages. I just don't need to make playing the instrument any harder or more of a challenge than it already is.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tone Dog,

I use 10's and am thinking about 9's.

I like the feel of heavy strings.I like know that I can dig in and still stay in tune.I may ease my way back up to heavier strings.It's not for everyone but I like the sound and feel of heavy strings.

Same here on the feel of heavier strings.

But I recently went back to 10's on my 25.5 scale and stayed with 11's on my 24.75 scaled guitars.

Been using burnished nickles also but may go more standard to brighten things up a bit.

Anyone here tried the Snake Oil Strings?

Just searched and found out about the Snake Oil strings.

The name is so funny. I mean, if I say it's all hype, they could say "No shit, look at our name!"

Only order thru email? Probably cost about $15 per set? I'll email the guy now and see what the story is.

I use 10s, but i'm thinking about 11s.

I've heard about the Snake Oil Strings...what are they exactly? They're really expensive, right?

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Originally posted by John_M:
Just searched and found out about the Snake Oil strings.

The name is so funny. I mean, if I say it's all hype, they could say "No shit, look at our name!"

Only order thru email? Probably cost about $15 per set? I'll email the guy now and see what the story is.

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You must have read my mind!

15$ a set...hmm.

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Originally posted by Tone Dog:

Seriously - it's not necessary to use heavy strings to get a heavy tone, if that's what you're after. There are tons of players getting all sorts of great tones using all sorts of string guages. I just don't need to make playing the instrument any harder or more of a challenge than it already is.

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You got that right TD. Just ask Billy F. Gibbons. He uses 8's, and tunes DOWN!!!!

Head

Ty Tabor uses 9's. So did EVH supposedly, Beck,

I use mediums (13s) on my acoustics, heavys (16) on Dobros.
Various gauges on electrics (10 thru 12).
I'm not a fast player but I do bend quite abit and prefer to have a little fight in the strings. I also have a heavy left hand which can make playing the lighter gauges difficult.
I kinda am an odd cross between Freddy King and Michael hedges when it comes to how I use my hands playing guitar.
I don't go heavy for tone as I feel the appropriate tension (string gauge, action, scale length, intonation all play a part) for a given guitar, referenced to the player, is most important.

Bb

OK - snake oils are $8.50 - $9.50. The guy seems real nice, which should go without saying but I've heard people having caustic attitudes right out of the gate.

He also said Toyz is aware of the strings and has been for sometime. Must have been during my hiatus because this is the first I've heard of them.

Dean (PinkStrat) who produces the Snake Oil Strings visits this forum from time to time - He's a huge BJF fan. He actually lives about 20 minutes away from me. Give them a try - I've got a couple pairs and like them as much as I think I could like any pair of strings. I actually need to get in touch w/ him for some wound 18 Gs. Thanks for reminding me.

i think it depends on you. if you got those big ass hands you need heavy strings. if you got short and stubbys like me. a 12" radius neck and a set of 9 threw 42 is the ticket! no tuneing problems here either.as far as tone is concerned, i dont believe that theres that much differents between the two. theres two many other varibles. the guitars setup, thats the most important imo. finding that sweet spot where it all works for you!
but in my opinion, the heavy string/better tone
ideal is a crock of s-h-i-t-

I prefer 11's. I like the sound of 12's but they're too hard to get ahold of (hard enough getting 11's in this town!) I have found a difference in tone between different guages of strings. Whether that equals better tone depends on your hands and the sound you're looking for. A lot of jazz guys go as high as 15 for the high E string...