How to tell what guage strings on a guitar?

[vintage66]

Is there an easy way-I'm not sure just comparing the diameter side by side is reliable. It's a new guitar so I'm not sure what's on there (actually used guitar). I'm used to .10's but these kind of feel a little lighter but I don't think they're as slinky as .09's, but it's a Tele, which is new to me.

 

[kimock]

Is there an easy way-I'm not sure just comparing the diameter side by side is reliable. It's a new guitar so I'm not sure what's on there (actually used guitar). I'm used to .10's but these kind of feel a little lighter but I don't think they're as slinky as .09's, but it's a Tele, which is new to me.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCAQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers

 

[EADGBE]

Is there an easy way-I'm not sure just comparing the diameter side by side is reliable.

Sometimes that's the best way.

 

[Member 1963]

yep........in fact, i have a digital caliper from harbor freight, and for 4 years not it's worked great and i've tested it on known string gauges to see how accurate it is. It will tell a .009 from a .008. i actually bought it for valve shim measuring for a bike, but i tried it on strings a was surprised how accurate a $15 digi caliper could be.

 

[vintage66]

Hmm, the caliper thing is pretty cool-don't know how much I'd use it after the one time though. I was thinking how easy it was to bend strings with it, then I played my strat with .10's and it was actually pretty close so maybe they are .10's. I'll try comparing some strings first-if I string it with .10's maybe I'll be able to tell right away if they're the same or different. I actually like being able to do those Jake E. Lee type overbends. I can't stand hearing someone with big strings underbend and come up flat because they can't push the strings, but that's another topic.

 

[Bhodie]

My guitar repair guy uses a caliper.. and says it is extremely accurate.. his is not digital, but the old world, read the dials and figure it out kind.. but I am sure either works great..

 

[Red Suede]

I've got calipers from my drafting days so that's how I measure them.

 

[musicofanatic5]

I use a micrometer, but what about "how do the strings feel to you"? Do you like them? Good. Do you not like 'em? Change 'em to you your usuals.

I bought a Firebird a coupla years ago. The gtr arrived with low action and light strings. I generally prefer higher action and heavy (.052- .011) strings, but enjoyed playing this gtr as it was. I was shocked when I mic'ed the strings and found they were .009's! Put my usuals on and hated it. Went back to the .009's.

My point: sometimes it's better to not know the specs and just go with your visceral impressions, eh?

 

[dspellman]

Is there an easy way-I'm not sure just comparing the diameter side by side is reliable. It's a new guitar so I'm not sure what's on there (actually used guitar). I'm used to .10's but these kind of feel a little lighter but I don't think they're as slinky as .09's, but it's a Tele, which is new to me.

You should own a digital calipers -- it's the accurate way to find out what gauge strings you've got onboard. Most in the $30-40 range will be accurate to within .0005".

A set of 9's on a Tele will have about the same tension as a set of 10's on a Les Paul because of the difference in scale.

 

[Bro Blue]

If it's a new guitar, they come stock with nines.

 

[vintage66]

No, it's used, so I just want to know where to go from there.