Curt-Mitchell.com

[Briman]

Hi guys. I've always used 9's on my guitars but today decided to try 10's after a friend recommended to try them. I put them on my strat and I really like the beefier tone and feel. They look huge. It's taking me a little bit to get used to playing lead on them once my hand sweats a little as the strings try to pop out from under my fingers when I bend. My fingers are already feeling "raw". I think I am gonna stick with em and hopefully get used to them.
I had to tighten my truss rod and add a spring to my trem as the higher tension was bowing the neck and lifting the bridge. I got it set up perfect now though. I was just curious about how many players here use 9's or 10's?
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Tone is in the hands.

[steelehead]

i use 9's mostly......

[idontknow28]

I use 9's on most of my guitars but I do have a jazz guitar set up with flatwound strings 12 guage and the tone out of these things is so thick and warm it's incredible. Not a rock sound at all but that rich warm jazz tone.

I've used 10's before and I found no real difference in terms of feel...I did notice a slightly beefier tone though.
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[Tim Greer]

I used 9's for years and years and decided to try 10's when people raved about the sound difference. I agree, I didn't really notice much of a feel or sound/tone difference. I still use 10's, but a little thicker means to me that the strings might break less. Honestly, I could probably switch back and forth and not know or care. Ideally, you could just have different sizes on different guitars. It's not a huge difference, though it could mean you have to re-intonate the guitar, or adjust the neck's truss rod. However, I can't say I've ever had to adjust a truss rod from a string gauge difference (that might depend on your set up).

I have so many packs of S.I.T. strings (maybe 15?), along with (maybe consider an industrial size) about 45 more sets of D'Addario's, all 10's, so I won't be switching to 9's any time soon. And, I really don't have a reason to, but they both feel and sound okay to me, and I doubt anyone listening would ever know or care. If you switch and you're not used to it, it'll only take a few minutes or hours (maybe days) before you don't notice or care. I'd really have to wonder about people that say there's a huge tone difference in string gauge when they're only going up or down one size. A few sizes probably will make a difference though, depending on your setup anyway.
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My gear: http://www.chatbase.com/rig/

[Briman]

Wow you guys must have really strong fingers not to notice a difference. For me it's huge. I played for about 4 hours yesterday and the skin on my fingers is peeling in spots and they are a little tender. I am used to the 10's now but I notice that it takes more physical effort to play or maybe you can call it digging in. My guitar was set up 9's and for the 10's to pull my floyd rose from the blocked position and my neck bowing a little and having to adjust my truss rod...... I was suprised! Anyways, I like the beefier tone. Hopefully my hands will get stronger and not take as much digging in effort. Maybe it's because I don't play much acoustic guitar?
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Tone is in the hands.

[Tim Greer]

I usually play in standard pitch, so no drop tuning (usually), which keeps the tension as high as it'll be. I suppose my fingers are long, and strong, and I just honestly don't notice at all. If I play someone's guitar, I have to ask if it's 9's or 10's or 11's. Some guitars react differently and probably play pretty different. Having to adjust the spring tension on the tremolo system isn't unusual, but I'm a little surprised it bowed the neck enough to notice. The string size might depend on your playing style, and how light (or not) you might play normally, and the type of guitar. As for the tone and it being beefier, it really depends on your rig and settings. I'd imagine it could beef things up if you play more cleanly and have the EQ st a certain way, or how the overdrive reacts, and the pickups you use (and their height).

So many things play a role, I'm tempted to say a lot of things people notice are probably more psychological, but not always. You clearly feel a significant difference. I didn't, but it's also been a while, so maybe I would if I did the switch and really thought about it? Anyway, you'll get used to it soon enough, I don't think you can go wrong, but you can always switch back. Then again, I wonder how much this change modified the action of the strings (height-wise on the fretboard) and if you're having to press down when freeing more if they are higher up? Especially if you adjusted the spring tension, truss rod and most definitely you'd have to adjust the intonation at that point, too.
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My gear: http://www.chatbase.com/rig/

[Ancient Mariner]

I notice a definite difference...and my fingers peel after playing them as I've used 9's for years. Of course this depends on a couple of factors -

In "A 440" tuning on a strat scale guitar (25.5" scale) I'd use 9's

In "flat" tuning on a strat scale guitar I'd use "hybrids" (i.e. 9-46)

In "A 440" tuning on a Les Paul scale guitar (24.75" scale) I'd use hybrids

In "flat" tuning on a Les Paul scale guitar I'd use 10's.

Up until recently I've been using 10s in both A 440 as well as flat tuning on a strat scale guitar. It's tearing my fingers up, but all for good cause.

[Marvin]

After playing 11-52's in A440 for 4+ years I havent't yet found a Fender from the shop that I can really push into SRV etc. playground. I think they all come with 9's factory setup and with my attack that's used with 11's, it sounds crap. So to me it makes a very huge difference for me. Lot's of times when I go to a shop I just run across guitars and touch their string tention, if it's tight then I'll give the instrument a try, if not then I skip it. I'm just so used to with thicker strings, specially after past half a year when I've been studying jazz.

The fingers can bare playing 8+ hours a day without a problem. Only problem I have had was a solo-playing day in studio, where I had to play 12+ hours of solos with lot's of bending and plucking. Then I was down to the flesh.

Some instruments just like smaller gauges, some heavier. The tele I play would love 10's I think, it would open up a bit more I think, but as it's a temporary instrument for me, I just don't want to loose that 11's feel before going over to a strat again.
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Sharpest pencils in the box: 2000 USA Tele; 2005 LTD MH-1000; 2004 MetroAmp 69' 1959 clone.

[Briman]

It's been a few days now and I am as comfortable playing my 10's as I was with my 9's. I enjoy them even more now. I love the beefy tone!
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Tone is in the hands.

[Tim Greer]

Yeah, it really depends on your gear and setup for the feel of the difference being more or less dramatic, as well as how it sounds more or less beefy, it all depends on a lot of things. I guess what I meant, was due to this, that after not too long, most people probably won't notice, but it really depends on the person, playing style, instrument and setup. Most guitars play and feel and sound so different anyway, I pretty much ensure I can play any type of string gauge without issue. The big differences for me are the overall tension, intonation on someone else's guitar, and the string height. Then the sound difference of wood, pickups, etc. When I try and play other guitars, I just don't like a lot of other people's guitar's feel or sound, to be honest... could be that every situation is when it's freezing cold and I literally am the least warmed up as possible, and it's usually through a crappy amp on a badly set up guitar. Anymore, I just don't even play other people's gear, I just don't feel comfortable. String size differences though, I just don't seem to mind.
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My gear: http://www.chatbase.com/rig/

[revjes]

I have always played 9s on a Les Paul. I like the low action and the play itself feel. I recently bought a Strat with 9s on it and I'm getting used to it.
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