Slide guitar with light gauge strings?

[mikenixon316]

In your opinion, do you think you can get a good slide tone from 10 or even 9 gauge strings as opposed to the heavier gauges usually preferred?

I hear that Johnny Winter and Jimmy Page use 9's on their guitars and they seem to get a pretty good sound. I'm not sure if their slide sound was achieved by using different guitars which heavier strings though.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Pete Galati]

I use .038 to .010

I have no interest in having a separate guitar set up for slide.

[JohnSS]

I use regular set of .010-.046 for both standard tuning as well as open E, D & G. Also use a Ben Harper DADDAD or EBEEBE tuning. No problems.

[cvansickle]

I use 10s, and have no problems. It just takes a lot of practice to perfect a technique where you don't let the slide crash onto the fretboard! Generally, I find that the heavier the strings, the heavier you can go on the slide, but this is not a hard and fast rule.

If you want something really light for a slide, go with glass. I bought a pretty and super-light glass slide from Big Orange Guitar's booth at the Spartanburg show last weekend. Contact them through their web site, I'll bet they'll sell you one and mail it to you. (They're in Port Orange, Florida.)

[padavis]

The Dunlop Pyrex Slide is super light as well! I have just began my foray into the slide guitar world and I am starting with .10-.46 and I am enjoying the sounds I am getting... might jump to 11s for some fatness... hmmm

[randy alameda]

Originally Posted by Pete Galati

I use .038 to .010

I have no interest in having a separate guitar set up for slide.

I also have no interest in a separate set up for slide, and I always get a load of crap when I re'string my Gibson dove to the same gauges I have on all my other guitars, cuz' the counter guy has to pull out the individual string box (and restock it), instead of just grabbing a set off the rack. yes the bigger strings do have a bigger sound acoustically, but I'm quite happy with 10-46, and my action is low on all instruments also.
IMO Slide is all about technique!

[Zilmo]

Originally Posted by lalaland

You gotta use at least 13s...

;-)

Yeah, that's what Sonny Landreth uses.

[vdoochild7]

I use 10's on my McCarty, SG, and Les Paul. I have no problems. All my guitars have medium action. The action on the McCarty is slightly higher because the frets are little taller. Warren Haynes (highly regarded slide player) uses 10's on his Les Pauls. The key is to work on your technique and touch.

[8Painting]

I've got 9's on 75% of all my guitars.

As long as the action is medium or so, its never a problem., at least I've noticed.

I also strictly use my fingers, and a coricidin bottle, so, the combo of the action and lightness of the slide should be fine.