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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Are 11s Too Much For Standard Tuning?

Posted by: thefireball Dec 17 2010, 01:58 AM

I had someone ask me on youtube if 11s are too much for standard tuning. He said he planned on playing detuned, but also in standard. I told him that his intonation would change of course. But I wanted to answer his question best. He's getting a Jackson SLSMG for Christmas and wanted to play in this manner on this guitar.

Posted by: Sollesnes Dec 17 2010, 02:37 AM

If the tension works for him, it works fine

Posted by: thefireball Dec 17 2010, 03:14 AM

cool thanks

Posted by: Gitarrero Dec 17 2010, 07:30 AM

I have 11s on my Ibanez at the moment as I am changing tunings quite often (due to the GMC lessons that vary between E standard and D standard... ). No problems at all!

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Dec 18 2010, 02:39 AM

Playing bends with loose strings is awesome. So much easier and expressive!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 18 2010, 03:24 AM

As they guys have said, he should be fine Some folks are using hybrid sets now, taking the bottom three from a pack of 11's or 12's and taking the higher three from a pack of 10s or 9s. That way you get nice beefy strings for rythm, and nice thin strings for leads.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Dec 18 2010, 08:27 AM

I use 12's flat wound on my jazz guitar and they work just fine, big jazz sound

Posted by: Ben Higgins Dec 18 2010, 11:56 AM

Yep, all just a matter of personal preference. I use 9's because I love extreme bends and vibrato but I commend anyone who uses anything over 11's... that's just madness, haha !

He will have to bear in mind the difference in tone. Lighter strings will produce more treble and are easier to play pinch harmonics and legato with etc... thicker strings have a darker, fatter quality to them. They are essential for downtuning but for playing lead in standard tuning, they don't lend themselves as well to fluid, Satriani style playing.

So it's all down to him what tone he wants. Physically you can play any gauge strings, it's just what you get used to. He needs to decide what his overall sound is going to be.

Posted by: stratman79 Dec 18 2010, 07:11 PM

I used to use 12's standard tuning on my Strat...

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 18 2010, 07:40 PM

It's the matter of personal preference as Ben said. I use 11-52 set in standard tuning, and although guitar is louder and has fatter tone, it may be a bit hard to bend and vibrate the strings. But if you play guitar regularly strings loosen up a bit so it's easier. If you leave it, they can be hard. I suggest you try it and if you find it difficult, just tune to Eb.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 18 2010, 08:38 PM

11s will work perfectly fine and give out a nice fat tone. Though there are hybrid sets out there as Todd mentioned that work awesome giving best of both worlds (fat rhythm, easy bends for solos).

Posted by: Sollesnes Dec 19 2010, 01:01 AM

Yeah, I use 9-60 on my 7 strings. Hybrid ftw

Posted by: thefireball Dec 19 2010, 05:23 AM

I will send him the link to this page. Lots of good advice here.