Decided to take the plunge!

[stephen]

After much thought, I have decided to change string gauges. I'm jumping up 2 whole gauges, to 12 gauge. I've tried a strat loaded with 12's, and it worked out great for my big meaty paws. I didnt have any problems bending the strings, and I loved that thick meaty tone, and it didnt seem to sacrifice that strat-spank, so I figure, I can get the meaty tone, without losing my Tele-twang!

My tone is like a slightly mellower Dean Deleo of Stone Temple pilots: I have the overdrive, just not in such huge quantities. I just want to try and get a little of the SRV type of meaty tone, and also have the guitar set up, so I play it a little more aggressively.

So thats the plan for my new guitar projects.

[Teleguy]

I have found that Thomastik-Infeld "BeBops," in 0.012" - 0.050"
have a plain G string, and feel and sound great (nickel wrap).

For some reason TI strings never feel stiff or hard to bend. Pricey though.

[refin]

I've worked up to .011-.048......I use a capo on a few tunes,and you know how that can be on an electric with tall fets.I would like to try a .012 sometime.The front pup on a strat/tele just sounds so much more complex with a heavier gauge.

[Nickcha]

Wow. I've used 11s but 12s is starting to get into piano cable territory :wink: :wink:

In fact I just took the 11s off my 335 and replaced them with 10s. If I didn't have that '60 slim prophile neck I might have left the 11s on.

Single coils can sound nice with a big string.

[Teleguy]

The Thomastik-Infeld strings feel a lot lighter than they are.

I find no problem at all with their 12's, but Everly Bros strings feel very heavy to me, even in 10's.
Daddario feels about medium to me, with Fender and Earnie Balls feeling a bit lighter, depending on the model.
GHS Boomers also feel heavy to me.

[stephen]

I'm gonna go with either DR tite fit 12's, or their Blues 12's. I like the way DR's act and feel, plus I love there tone.

[refin]

Saw some Ernie Ball strings today where I teach called "Beef Slinkies".Basically an .011 to .054 with an .022 plain G! :shock:
I gotta try 'em....

[randy_mc]

I string my Tele with 13/16/18/26/36/46 DR Tite Fits.

The high strings are fat, and I can play slide on them (which I usually do in standard tuning). The lows strings are still easy to use. Somehow, I think its a little easier to use lighter bass strings with the heavier top strings. Check it out!

Randy

[Teleguy]

I string my Tele with 13/16/18/26/36/46 DR Tite Fits.

The high strings are fat, and I can play slide on them (which I usually do in standard tuning). The lows strings are still easy to use. Somehow, I think its a little easier to use lighter bass strings with the heavier top strings. Check it out!

Randy

Cool!
Sounds intriguing. I was kinda wondering about gauges like that lately.
Thanks!

[randy_mc]

the overall effect is easier to play than just buying a huge set of strings. I guess the overall tension is lower, since youre using lighter bass strings, and so you can actually bend those top strings pretty well even though they are heavy.

Randy

[Teleguy]

I may try a set.

I like Thomastik-Infeld "Be-Bops," in 0.012" - 0.050" because they sound big, the G is plain, but they don't feel that heavy.

Mostly I like to use heavier treble strings because smaller gauges have too much "ping" when I'm trying to get a good Jazz sound on the solo strings.

I've used various DR sets and like them usually, but hadn't run across that set (yet).

[Old Believer]

I'm a wimp. I use Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. I've always used 'em.