9s versus 10s......

[Blueswede]

Just wondering how many out there use 9s on their guitars as opposed to 10s? I've been using 10s for some time now, but just recently got a guitar strung with 9s. I started playing it and was amazed at how easy it was to bend and use some vibrato. Made me start thinking about switching to 9s. I know some people say that the tone suffers with a lighter gauge string. Just looking for some feedback. Thanks. Steve

[John Hurtt]

I use 10's on my 24 3/4" scale guitars (Thorn, Baker) and 9's on my Fender scale guitars.

[clothwiring]

The tone suffering is going to depend on the guitar you put them on...and what you're after tone wise. If you're happy, do it! I personally run 11-49s because it's what feels good to me. I don't care what the scale is, I just throw 'em on and intonate.

[Thwap]

Well...10's would be one better now...wouldn't they?

[Aahzz]

If I got to 9's I bend accidentally....10's are more controllable.

[Luke V]

I like 9s on my Strats. On Gibsons it depends on the individual guitar, sometimes 9s, sometimes 10s. I don't hear a significant change in tone, but I don't use a squeaky clean tone, ever.

[ss396]

i use a .095-44 set. its perfect for me. 9's are very sensitive and you can accidently bend if not careful. 9's are also much more touchy on open string use, for me. i like 10's but cant do everything i like to with them so i go to the middle with .095's.

[The Everlove]

I likes 10's on my strat. Used to play 11s but it felt too forced, 10's have more than enough tone for my tastes

[DejavuDave]

11's are my minimum. Anything less feels like rubberbands to me. I go to 13's sometimes. Everything at standard tuning. It feels good and sounds great.

[RL in Fla]

D'Add makes 9.5's . I've gone between 9.5's and 10's , and haven't been able to decide between em , thinking it was different scale lengths keeping me on the fence . Friend of mine came by and we were talking about it ( he didn't know about the 9.5's ) , and he made the remark that on D'Add 10's what he can't seem to get used to is there's not much difference in feel between the E and B , and putting a single 9.5 with the rest of a set of 10's may do it . I had some 9.5 singles and gave him one , and next time I swap I'm gonna try it too . May be what I've been "missing" is the 9.5's are too light from B on down . Back in the day we made up sets with single Sho-Bud or " Nashville Straights " strings since you could get em locally .

[coreybox]

Originally Posted by DejavuDave

11's are my minimum. Anything less feels like rubberbands to me. I go to 13's sometimes. Everything at standard tuning. It feels good and sounds great.

Same here, though i've never tried 13's. 9s feel waaaaay to slinky, and 10s still a little loose. I prefer 11's over anything i've tried, but then again i don't normally do 3 whole step bends or anything either.

[enharmonic]

The lightest I use are 11's. I prefer bigger srings for rhythm work. they sound much...much better.

[Mudder]

It depends on the guitar.

9's on a Charvel Journeyman
10's on Reverend Rocco, Jetstream, Carvin TL60
11's on Strat and Dearmond M77t

[Bulldog]

9's on my strats, and I tend to keep the whole set small. I cant remember what the range is, but I know its 9 -11 - 16, but I cant remember higher than that.

On my heritage, I use 10's. I get some buzz out of the bridge with lighter strings. I also have more of a tendancy to break strings with the bridge on these guitars, so I definatly use larger strings.

[gregc]

I finally settled on 10s. Played 9s, then 10, then 10s on short scale and 9.5s on the Fenders. Finally, I'm playing 10s everything.