BIG STRINGS = BIG TONE? String Gauge Comparison! The hunt for FAT Strat blues tone from 8s to 13s ..
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- Опубліковано 2 січ 2024
- Hi guys and welcome to this little video where I'm going to compare string gauges on my Strat in the case for that perfect fat Strat tone. Being a Stevie Ray Vaughan fan, I've always been a firm believer that string gauge effects guitar tone drastically, but I'm open to the possibility that it might be less obvious when not actually playing.
So, I've decided to do a back to back comparison to see if it's as obvious to the listener as it is to me when i actually playing. I will go up the gauges from 8 - 13s. Enjoy!
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Gear used:
My Fiesta Red Fender Custom Shop Partscaster Strat (Foley Scott McKeons)
1967 Fender Super Reverb, modded and w/Eminence Copperheads
Audix I5 Mic
SE VR1 Ribbon Mic
AKG C214 Condensor Mic
Fender Extra Heavy Pics
Daddario XL 8-13 strings
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Nice work and comparison! I think we can get the tone of the ..013 or 012 sets with a .010 or .09 set using a compressor as first pedal to just to increase attack. the last comparison part of the video cleary show this extra attacky sound of bigger gauges for my ears
Man, that wound G string would be the first to be changed out on that 13 string set. Hendrix and SRV used custom sets, as I’m sure a lot of tone junkies do. Billy Gibbons uses notoriously light strings and has massive tone. I don’t hear enough of a significant difference between the 9s to the 12s to justify the discomfort. Anything higher than 11s for any sort of articulate playing is unnecessary, unless you’re as eccentric as SRV was, haha. I think the biggest difference is how your hands adjust to different string gauges and how the guitar is setup such as action and fret size. Great video and playing. That old school Super Reverb is where it’s at.
Great playing m8 I'm the guy who just bought that lovely neck. Personally I play 12s tuned down SRV style nickel boomers. Bigger strings are always better I think but that just might be down to the way you have to play them with more attack. If I'm playing live I use 11s just haven't got the bottle to go heavier 😅 👍
There’s always the subjectivity factor with this interesting topic!
The player’s approach, instrument setup, amp, and musical style are huge variables.
I think with the Super Reverb and cleanish Fender amps in general there’s a certain purity that can expose or highlight the tone the strings produce from the player’s input.
If you’re used to 11s and 10s, and even 9s, jumping down to 8s can feel crazy with the lack of control because you naturally play with the same feel you’re used to and particularly if you’ve got jumbo or tall frets, that can make for some interesting intonation…
I think biggest tonal difference is highlighted on the wound strings but we often forget that Jimi was using a 38 gauge Low E and often a 9 for the high E in Eb.
Another huge factor for me and I’m sure many others is having a decent string height - that can make thinner strings sound bigger for sure.
I got to inspect Philip Sayce’s Big Daddy Strat recently and his action was not as high as I’d thought, I would say it was medium (5/64”s or therabouts) and he has HUGE tone!
I’ve personally landed on a hybrid set that works for the way I play and goes:
9-12-15-24-34-48
The plain strings are balanced in tension, but the wound ones progress enough to take the baggyness out, when I play out I’m in an E-standard prison most of the time but these still feel good in Eb. My action is jacked (7.25” radius) and I should probably look at bringing it down a touch but I cannot stand wound strings rattling on frets!😂
Nice of yourself to take the effort to do this test, hope you were able to salvage some of the strings!
Cool demo, that was a lot of work dude! Interestingly, the balanced tension set are still not really balanced XD I used a string tension chart to build this set - 11 - 15 - 19 - 30 - 40 - 54 (E standard). In this set the strings are as close as possible to the same tension, but erring slightly heavier as you progress downwards (ie. a progressive tension set). I order them from Strings by Mail and that's pretty cost effective. Anyhoo just thought I'd share, I love the whole string gauge discussion it's fascinating. I also use a progressive tension 12 set on my Eb standard guitar.
Ha! I just presumed it would be as that's what is says on the packet 🤣I'll check that out man thank you!
Always used custom gauges back in the day - usually with an 8 on the top down to a 54 on the bottom. To be honest it's the bottom end that probably makes most difference as you really wouldn't want a wound 3rd. Now I can't be arsed to do that so compromise on whatever standards set of 9s has the heaviest bottom E. Does it make a difference? Not really - it's the playing that counts and everything else is just a low percentage difference an audience won't hear. Not even convinced you need heavy strings for jazz either - or even a specific "Jazz" guitar (but yes I do own one).
very cool video, so what gauge did You liked the most? 011 kinda sounds ok, 10 also, 12 and 13 are kinda too midrangee sounding. Always liked stock Fender strings that come on guitars, think they are 09s, just every time I took them off, regular Fender 09s kinda not sound the same as stock ones or its just me.
11s for me! 10s if i need something easier. I love that midrange from the thicker strings personally... but i just can't get used to em 🤣
Yes, the stock strings sounds way different. 9.5 maybe?
I was able to go from 8s to 10s ( half step down) and hopefully will remain here. My hands were really in pain for so long but somehow got better recently and i have many years of classical guitar and playing other genres then blues. It seems that playing with REAL intensity and slowly taking it away as u need is the way to go for this type of playing compared to what i was used to- total relaxation and to add a bit of "power", that rly did not work for me.
I prefer thicker strings bcz of how they feel, but i cant play them sadly lol. For now im 10s for half step and 11s for drop tunned ;D!
I dont think we can hear much diff in the recording, and the most difference is how the gauge feels for the player and how are they able to play. I think its really great to try different ones from time to time !! fun video mate
I played 10s in Eb for years and loved them! Agreed, on the recording any of the sets is perfectly useable!
I make a custom set 13-18-18-18-27-82
I use 11's all the time, cause they sing :)
They sure do! 😎
9'a feel the best, 10's Hendrix, 11's SRV
13's ... Jaco Pastorious?
@@AlexHamilton😂 Larry Graham?
Nice video.... and as always killer tones and playing.