From 9s to 11s [Archive]

Robert1950

10-05-2005, 05:41 PM

I played for 10 years, quit for 30 and started again. I started out with 9s so it would be easier on my fingers. I just restrung the cheapo Ibanez with D'addario 11s. What a difference in tone. Rythmns more full and growly. Leads fuller with more bite. But bending and vibrato is an effort even when I tuned to Eb. My other guitar is a MIJ semihollow body, I have 9s on it right now.

I plan to work with both, improve my playing on 9s, and exercising my fingers on the 11s.

Does this sound okay? Any suggestions??

Thanks, ... Robert 1950

HammyD

10-05-2005, 06:21 PM

I started with 9's, went to 9.5's, then 10's and soon 10.5 D'Addario. Found I just got that sound I was looking for with the heavier strings.... I have 11's on a Washburn Jazz Box and once I developed the technique to match it sounded remarkably better.

Sometimes I wonder if the best (and cheapest) upgrade to any guitar is a heavier set of strings!

I also discovered I play better with the longer (and more difficult for me) scale necks. I have to work harder as I have small hands for a big guy so the lines have more substance and less wankage......

Robert1950

10-05-2005, 06:41 PM

The sound of the Korean Made early 90s Ibanez improved 200% with the 11s. I have to agree on the heavier strings as the cheapest upgrades. I've tried a few different brand of strings, but I keep going back to D'Addario.

I didn't know D'Addario Made 10.5s. I didn't notice them on their website. I'd like to string my relation-to-an- ES335 with them, ... a little later. I like to bend, really bend. Weight training time for the fingers.

Thanks,... Robert1950

HammyD

10-05-2005, 08:16 PM

I found them on Just Strings.... 10.5's (http://juststrings.com/dad-exl110plus.html)

NyteOwl

10-08-2005, 06:41 AM

I played 9s for years, moved to 10s maybe six months ago and just made the move to 11s, which I found it to be a relatively painless transition. As for strings, I've been using Everly B-52s for about a year and am totally satisfied with them.

Antero

10-08-2005, 09:06 PM

I started on 10's, then said "screw it," went to 11s, never looked back. Might go up to 12s soon enough.

crazy4blues

10-19-2005, 08:57 PM

I generally favor heavier strings, too. I just ordered some Elixir 11s from juststrings.

One note: I've that the shorter the neck scale, the lighter the strings need to be. I used to have a PRS McCarty (still kicking myself for selling it!), and I had Elixir 10s, and the tone was nice and fat; I never felt the need to put heavier strings on it. That could be that the Elixirs are really good strings, too.

I play G&Ls with a 25 1/2" scale, they take 11s very well. But Les Pauls and the like (24 1/2") don't seem to like anything more than 10s in my experience.

Have fun!

Jim Collins

10-20-2005, 09:41 AM

Are you saying you want to improve finger strength and stamina on 11s, to improve your playing with 9s? I wouldn't do it. As you build up your strength with 11s, you might discover you are too heavy handed with 9s. You may end up fretting too hard, with the 9s, and going sharp, without ever intending to bend the strings. I play with 10s, and whenever I play a guitar that has 9s, I find I have to make a conscious effort not to fret too hard.

Many, many years ago, I played with 8s, then 9s. When I moved from 9s to 10s, I thought the difference in tone was rather significant. For a period of about six months, several years back, I went to 11s. I never thought the difference between 10s and 11s was all that great, tonewise, certainly not as great as the difference between 9s and 10s. I went back to 10s, and I've been using them for about the last 12 or 13 years.

Bryan T

10-20-2005, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by crazy4blues
I play G&Ls with a 25 1/2" scale, they take 11s very well. But Les Pauls and the like (24 1/2") don't seem to like anything more than 10s in my experience.

That is the opposite of my experience. I use .010s on my 25.5" scale guitars and .011s on my 24.75" scale guitars. I find that the shorter scale length needs heavier strings to make up for the looser tension that is inherent in the design. All of my guitars have fixed bridges, by the way.

Bryan

Priestunes

10-20-2005, 09:55 AM

Originally posted by Antero
I started on 10's, then said "screw it," went to 11s, never looked back. Might go up to 12s soon enough.
+1

pedalpat

10-20-2005, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by Bryan T
That is the opposite of my experience. I use .010s on my 25.5" scale guitars and .011s on my 24.75" scale guitars. I find that the shorter scale length needs heavier strings to make up for the looser tension that is inherent in the design. All of my guitars have fixed bridges, by the way.

Bryan

+1

crazy4blues

10-22-2005, 10:34 AM

Hmm, maybe I should re-examine this. Frankly, I dislike shorter scale necks, hence the preference for G&Ls and the like. I did have a McCarty (25"), and it seems right at home with Elixir 10s. I felt that the elevens would have been too tight.

Who knows, given the whole GAS thing, I'll probably end up with another paul some day . . . I'll have to string it up with 12s and see what happens!
Originally posted by Bryan T
That is the opposite of my experience. I use .010s on my 25.5" scale guitars and .011s on my 24.75" scale guitars. I find that the shorter scale length needs heavier strings to make up for the looser tension that is inherent in the design. All of my guitars have fixed bridges, by the way.

Bryan

rwe333

10-28-2005, 12:31 PM

exhaust_49

10-30-2005, 08:47 AM

I playing some blues now that requires me to bend 2 steps. I play 11's right now but just can't bend them that far. Im going back to 9.5's so I can work on my technique and actually bend.

Robert1950

10-30-2005, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by exhaust_49
I playing some blues now that requires me to bend 2 steps. I play 11's right now but just can't bend them that far. Im going back to 9.5's so I can work on my technique and actually bend.

I just moved from 9s to 11s on my ES335 copy('70s Epi Riviera ). Harder to bend, yes, but it's worth putting in the extra effort for the improvement in tone.

markp

10-31-2005, 10:09 AM

9's for me.
A fatter pick for me and or fatter amp.

Every body has a differant tone objective.
Some stay well below powertube saturation (big strings may help)
Some play old school fenders or are trying to cop a tone like (stevie ray vaughn etc..)Fat strings may help.

For the most part big strings does not = big tone,
just differant.IMO

I heard a BB king story.where some big time player was telling BB about his frustrations with trying to make the big strings work for him,and BB said "why dont you just turn up the bass knob,that is what it is there for" BB has FAT tone!

Calloway

11-01-2005, 06:09 PM

I've been using 11's for about 5 years now, on everything from a firebird to an R6 goldtop. The fat sound you get from thick strings is one of a kind, as for the bends, i tend to not really notice the extra tension, except when i do three nights in a row or something, but if you keep your hands conditioned its not so bad.

kwaves99

11-01-2005, 06:29 PM

Just put .12s on my Ibanez 335 copy. Its a piece of cake for me because I've been playing mostly acoustic for 33 years. Bends aren't too bad and the tone is just unreal...especially the low end.:D

1979 Guild D-40C
1996 Taylor 814ce
1999 American Standard Strat
2002 Ibanez artcore as73 SB
1972 Fender Deluxe Reverb
2003 Fishman Loudbox

Antero

11-06-2005, 02:19 AM

Just put .12s on my Carvin. I'll see how it works out over the next few days, but I doubt I'm going back - It plays like an electric, but I can slam the hell out of the strings like an acoustic, and it really fattens the single coils...

ZiggY!!

11-08-2005, 05:36 PM

Robert1950

11-10-2005, 02:57 PM

I've now got 11s on both guitars, 24.75 and 25.5. If I were to go down to 10.5s it would be on the 24.75. Also I've got both tuned to Eb I have no problems with bends or vibratos with 11s and Eb, and I get the tone. Mind you, if I play along with something that uses open cords, I'll be in an awkward pickle or I'll have to use a capo. But that is a small sacrifice.

ZiggY!! - What type of music do you play??

LithiumLulu

11-10-2005, 04:27 PM

I never thought of trying heavier strings but after reading this thread I gave it a try - WOW what a difference. I went from 9 to 11 and although it's harder to play it sounds way better. Thanks!

ZiggY!!

11-11-2005, 01:35 AM

Originally posted by Robert1950
I've now got 11s on both guitars, 24.75 and 25.5. If I were to go down to 10.5s it would be on the 24.75. Also I've got both tuned to Eb I have no problems with bends or vibratos with 11s and Eb, and I get the tone. Mind you, if I play along with something that uses open cords, I'll be in an awkward pickle or I'll have to use a capo. But that is a small sacrifice.

ZiggY!! - What type of music do you play??

bit of rock, funk and blues... occasionally a little jazz.

I know flatwounds seem like an odd choice but they work really well for me...

The Everlove

11-13-2005, 08:11 PM

Don't mean to distract the thread, but on a Strat w/ a flush trem, how will switching from 10's to 11's effect the guitar? what adjustments will need to be made? trussrod? trem springs?

Antero

11-14-2005, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by ryan_adelphi
Don't mean to distract the thread, but on a Strat w/ a flush trem, how will switching from 10's to 11's effect the guitar? what adjustments will need to be made? trussrod? trem springs? Depends on how it's set up to begin with... trussrod adjustment, usually. Springs, potentially - I'm all hardtail.

I do know that when I went from 11s to 12s I had to take a drill to the 6th tuner. :p

1Way

11-15-2005, 04:22 PM

I went from super slinkys to 9's to 10's. I like the improved tone and ability to stay in tune better on the 10's. But is there really much difference going higher than 10's for an electric guitar? I remember the first few times I played with 10's, I thought man, this is going to be tough getting used to. But literally in a matter of hours, I realized that they suit me better than 9's! Once you try them out, you can find out that you have more leverage available that you didn't used to need to use for the skinny beginner type strings...

I can see 11's or greater for an acoustic or maybe on a larger scale guitar (i.e. Strat 25.5), but on my 24.75" Gibson, I think 10's are ideal, although I don't think I've tried 11's yet, I just don't think I'd like the added bending and vibrato effort. I'm sure that playing style, picking attack, and personal finger/hand strength issues greatly affect individual choice. I'll likely end up trying 11's, but so far 10's are golden.

LithiumLulu

11-15-2005, 07:20 PM

Big strings are the ticket to fat tone city. 11's are harder to handle but you're rewarded for your effort.

reachjkh

11-17-2005, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by LithiumLulu
I never thought of trying heavier strings but after reading this thread I gave it a try - WOW what a difference. I went from 9 to 11 and although it's harder to play it sounds way better. Thanks!

Won't be harder for long.

I play 11s now after years of 10s and I don't even think about it. My bending technique is better now too so that's probably some of it.
Actually, I can't stand to play lighter strings now. I feel like those lil' flimsy things are flopping all over the place under my pick, and I don't like their tone anymore either.

1Way

11-17-2005, 12:56 PM

Hmmm, and I just bought a 10pack of 10's. Maybe I'll have to try 11's after that is finished. I've heard a lot of guys using tens that play out, so I think I assume correctly that 10's don't suck.
:eek:

reachjkh

11-17-2005, 01:26 PM

Of course they don't suck. I just prefer 11s.

I like the sound of 12s too, but that wound 3rd string doesn't want to bend for me like the 11s do.

1Way

11-17-2005, 03:03 PM

Besides tone improvements, it's been my experience that the thicker you go,

- the longer the strings tend to last without breaking,

- and the better they tend to stay in tune.

:BluesBros

Thicker is better.

Antero

11-17-2005, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by reachjkh
Of course they don't suck. I just prefer 11s.

I like the sound of 12s too, but that wound 3rd string doesn't want to bend for me like the 11s do. You can get 12s with a plain G. :)

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/DAddario/PR/EXL145.jpg

reachjkh

11-17-2005, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by Antero
You can get 12s with a plain G. :)

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/DAddario/PR/EXL145.jpg

hmmmmmmm.....

The Everlove

11-17-2005, 06:41 PM

how about 11's and vintage frets?

µ¿ z3®ø™

11-17-2005, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by reachjkh
hmmmmmmm.....

hmmmmmmmmm..... indeed.
i've been using 11s on electric for more than a decade and have no problems w/ whole tone bends or control of vibrato. works great on my fenders. gibsons w/ the shorter scale are another matter.
methinks that these 12s w/ the unwound 3rd string might be just the thing for my gibsons.

reachjkh

11-18-2005, 07:00 AM

Originally posted by ryan_adelphi
how about 11's and vintage frets?

That's tough for me. I have to have the bigger frets for the heavier strings.

The Everlove

11-18-2005, 03:12 PM

well, I'm good with 11's on a guitar with modern specs, maybe the vintage specs will be a good challenge.

1Way

11-18-2005, 03:30 PM

What did SRV play, 12's or 13's? I just watched him on Live at the el Mocambo,,, man, that guy was amazing. He loved to hit them strings hard and get some really fat tones...

Robert1950

11-18-2005, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by 1Way
man, that guy was amazing. He loved to hit them strings hard and get some really fat tones...

Apparently he had big hands with fingers like beef sausages. (I remember seeing that written some place, but don't take it as an exact quote)