QUOTE (fkalich @ Apr 19 2009, 09:58 PM)
Honestly, if you hang around here long, I really doubt that you will stick with your desire for the real heavy strings. I used to use 10's, and felt strongly about heavier strings. But now I use 9's, and actually tune down to Eb. Here is why I feel that you will change your mind should you do a lot of lesson here (I have 130 I work on, my views changed as that number grew).
1) While you can do say SRV and some styles such as metal at wound strings primarily, fine, really, to play Neoclassical, to tap, rock ballads, anything doing a lot of bending and vibrato on the unwound strings, you are just at a serious disadvantage with the heavier strings, certainly anything bigger than 10's. Not just in difficulty, you also cannot make the tone as interesting in my view. Sure they have punch, but no way your vibrato is going to be anything even a light year's distance from Marcus L's with a 11 or 12 set. Listen to Emir Hot's Rock Ballad (great compostion). Try doing the dynamics like he does on his bends with those heavy strings, no way.
2) It is just easier on your hands, guys hurt themselves, that is really a good thing to think about, making things easy on your hands.
3) Speed. Now I firmly believe that while it is ok for your cats and dog to hear you slop it out while practicing, no human should ever hear you play faster than you can, unless you clearly articulate each and every note, and provide accented note groups. But within those limits, I like to play as fast as I can. And the physical fact is, when you have to put less effort to push a string to a fret with a finger, or pull off, you have a physical advantage in speed with lighter stings. This is not arguable, just a physical reality, it is harder to move a tighter string than a looser one.
4) You can get a good sound with thin strings with the right settings, devices.
Regarding Fender, I have a Strat and Tele. And a Parker. And Gibsons. Really, all quality guitars are great. If there was one guitar I would own though, only one, I would say in my dying breath, LES PAUL.
Interesting... never heard that before, changing to bigger gauge and then back to 0,9. It makes sense when you tell it. Yeah I think 0,13 will be too much. But I do like the heavy stuff. I'm too sloppy for 0,9 I think, But I do notice that when I just screwing around a bit on the guitar , that I sometimes go faster than I should and it all sounds not articulated enough.
And I kinda like looking at my fingers after a long session. As long as they don't hurt I like ripping my fingers apart on the freboard. But when I was tuned to E some time ago, they were hurting more often, now with 0,11 in Eb is relax, could be that I stick with this setup. But I only like playing in perfect pitch, so another guitar is welcome, no matter what gauge they could fit...
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