new strings

hey everyone :)

I just got some new Ernie ball strings on my Epiphone Les Paul Slash guitar.
And i noticed it's a little hard to play fast with them, and they don't feel as sesitive to hammer ons and pull offs?
Is that normal?

Cheers :)

Casper

Hi Casper,
Is the guitar new too, or just strings? If the guitar was new I was suggest it may be a setup issue but if the guitar felt fine before and now it not's as easy to do hammer-ons it could just be the strings.

Are they the same gauge?

No, they are gauge 11-48 gauge, before i was playing with 10-46.

Could that be the thing?

I would say. A heavier string would require more effort. You generally get a fuller tone and better sustain with a heavier string, but a little harder to play. They are also better if you tune down, like to Eb; you'll be less susceptable to fret buzz because of the higher tension. A little harder on the neck. That's quite a heavy gauge imo, but I don't know what most folks play with. I use .009 - .042 on electric.

Interesting topic. I wonder what most folks use for there usual string gauge?

i also use 9 -42 on my gibson special and my epi less paul copy found heavy strings are to hard to play (on the fingers)

I played on .09's for years and still do on my Strat. .11's are a pretty heavy gauge and particularly when you were using a lower gauge before. I use .10's on my Gibson and depending which guitar I've been playing most often, the change is very noticeable for me even when I expect it.

Additionally, new strings do tend to be a little inflexible too. I had a tech show me a trick for 'stage' swap outs (when a tech had to do a string change mid-show; he said to grab the string in the same way you grab the handle of a suitcase and slightly tug on the strings and do this up and down the length of the string as best you ca and do this for a few minutes. It makes the string more elastic and also you don't have to go through the frequent re-tuning phase with new strings. Essentially, you're stretching out the strings since they've never had tension on them and will loosen with time. Make sure that you give it a light tug and don't pull up too hard and break the string.

Im on my first year still, so im trying diffrent things.
I acually think that the strings with gauge 11-48 sounds very nice :) though they are a little harder to play on.
But i quess my fingers will get much more strengh along the way.

Thanks for telling me guys :)

I use .10-.46 GHS Boomers, it's a nice in-between gauge, not too hard not too soft. The thicker gauges will definately make your fingers work a little harder.
Stevie Ray Vaughan used .13-.58 which is a little more work than I want to put my fingers through but amazing tone.

It's me again guys, please tell me that this is normal!
My fast LEGATO playing has turned into crap ever since i put on those gauge 11-48 Ernie Ball strings. It's like my fingers have decreased double the speed that they use to and they seem to get tired. Could it really be the new string gauge?
I went from gauge 10-46 to 11-48? Can it really be that?
Im almost angry when i turn off my amp because i can't get my legato playing up to speed even how much i try. Especially my ring finger has turned slow and i can't get the notes out as they should sound!! And it's like my right hand and left hand are not working together anymore.
Can this really be normal? should i change back to 10-46 or should i give it time and let my fingers addapt to the new strings?

Even before the new strings, I sometimes have periods of decreased speed when doing shredding (especially Legato hammer-on, pull-off stuff in Pentatonic boxes), is there and explanation for that? It's pretty damn annoying :(

Casper

The string s will affect your playing and do need to have the 'get used to' time. .11's are some pretty heavy strings. I don't know many players that use that guage. It will slow you down because your fingers and how much strength you used to put in to things like bends and hammer not require more strength.

It's like lifting weights, if you go up to a another level, you wouldn't expect that you do it as well as that lower weight you mastered. You are still working with muscles, strength and how much it takes to do what you used to do with a different weight (string gauge).

As to whether you keep on the string gauge, that's up to you. It's about comfort in your paying too. Strings are important to tone but your fingers are more important than that in creating tone.

Thanks Jeff!
I will give it some time, and if it's not my thing i will try go back to gauge 10-46.

Thanks again man

Casper

Originally Posted by: caponi14No, they are gauge 11-48 gauge, before i was playing with 10-46.

Could that be the thing?

Heavier strings are definitely harder to play on, I use 10-46 on all of my electrics. I used a lighter guage for about a month, but they lacked the tone I wanted. I've been using 10's for at least 12 years now, and switched to Ernie Ball Slinkys back in 2002.

You might want to go back to them, because the heavier guage will be tougher on the fingers, harder to bend, and you might have to set your guitar up to handle the heavier guage. The 11's are probably pulling the neck, and raising your action. You can keep them if you want, but set your guitar to handle it, then you just have to get used to the added tension.

I use 13's on my acoustics, and I can bend strings on it too. It is much harder to do on those, but I do practice that from time to time to keep my fingers in shape. The fact that most electrics usually have a lighter guage string, makes them easier to play on. You can do what you want, but heavier strings will take some getting used to.

I'm far from an expert, but several things I have read recommend getting your set up re-done when you change string guages. I've been studying guitar construction and it makes alot of sense to do so.

GG

I quess i will change back to 10-46, because i really don't know how to re do the set-up on my guitar?

Can it really damage the guitar if it's not done?? :(

And my guitar is tuned down a half a step, so can it really be that harsh on the neck with a gauge heavier?

Seriously, do you really really recommend that i go back to 10-46 strings?

I think what folks are suggesting is that what string gauge you use is up to you. Notwithstanding the SRV example, there does seem to be the implication that you might want to go with a lighter gauge. Why don't you split the difference and go with 10's?

That said, if you choose to stay with the 11's, that's nobody's business but your own! :)

As far as set up goes, yeah, you can really mess up your guitar, but on the other hand, this ain't rocket science either. With some careful study, you could approach it on your own. For myself, I like to see something done professionally the first time, then I know exactly what I should be shooting for. Perhaps you could do this, but choose some place where they won't mind explaining what will be done.

I may be corrected, but I think the two things you would need to be concerned about is your truss rod adjustment and bridge height. It would be a combination of adjustments to these to fine tune your action from one gauge to another.

Heavier strings will bow your neck more (keeping tuned down will certainly reduce that effect), requiring some truss rod adjustment to counteract that. This is something I hear people talk about doing seasonally regardless of string gauge, but I have never had to. (Then again, I'm not too concerned if my action changes a 16'th of an inch from summer to winter.)

The other factor I would see coming into play is bridge height. You will have more or less tension on your strings depending on the gauge, thus a narrower or wider pattern of vibration over the frets. You would need to adjust bridge and/or individual sting height to compensate.

Question: Are you intent on using the heavier gauge for some reason? You have stated that your abilities have taken a back step since you put on the heavier gauge. That would be all the reason I would need to go back! :)

I think i will change back to 10-46 Razbo ( thanks for the good response by the way! )

Im really an idiot with the techs of an electric guitar, and i would have to change my strings again to adjust those things that needs to be done with a heavier gauge right? God damn it! Hate such stuff!

I will change back i quess, even though my fingers have gotten used to the heavier gauge now...

But thanks for telling my everyone.

Are you really sure that it needs to be done when my guitar is dropped down a half step? :confused:
Don't you think it would just be the same tention on the neck with 11-48 tuned down a half step, as if 10-46 was on, with standard tuning?

Please let it be an honest answer, because i really don't want to **** up my guitar :(

If you like them, then keep them. If your action is or starts getting high, take it in. The effect on the neck may be something that takes place over time, so keep an eye on things.

I could never get used to anything but 9's (Ernie Ball Super Slinky) - they allow me to play faster, bend more easily and there is less string noise off the lower end when moving positions. String gauge is totally individual, whatever you start out on is more likely to be the way you go forward.
I have used hybrid sets before with good effect on my 7 string guitars - from the 9 gauge pack for the top 4 strings and the heavier set for the lower three. This helps you to get the heavier tone for rhythm and still be able to glide around easily for lead. Something worth considering.