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alanbakewell wrote:11's? 12's? 13's?

Try 8's

...a very useful gauge for the octave G on an electric twelve-string...

The guitar-playing author of the cited article says (inter alia), and in respect of being sold a guitar allegedly fitted with "8s":

"This whole issue of string gauges affecting tone is complete rubbish in my opinion".

I'm glad he put it that way. It saves a lot of assessment and appraisal time. If he really couldn't tell the difference in tone between a set of 8-38 and a (say) proper medium gauge set of 13-56, then his opinion is not worth much - in my opinion.

Of course, the person who told him that his PRS guitar was fitted with "8s" might have been mistaken. Or he might have written the article in a mischievous mood - trolling, almost.

JN

8's would be easier to bend...just like rubber bands !

Amanda wrote:Hi Al,

You still using the surplus fencing wire?

Amanda, you could go the whole hog and string with barbed wire - it would put a whole new meaning to shredding!

I have 9's on my Strat. Why? Because I like the way they feel, and they sound OK to me. (Even with my hearing-aids in!)

JimN wrote: If he really couldn't tell the difference in tone between a set of 8-38 and a (say) proper medium gauge set of 13-56, then his opinion is not worth much - in my opinion.

JN

Totally agree with you Jim.

13s, medium guage?

Medium guage transatlantic telephone cable more like. The tension on the neck must be enormous.

Personally I go for the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys. 9 - 46. Then again, I don't play lead at all and this set is great for jangly top with a reasonable ballsy bottom. Ooh err!

8s would be great if you wanted to bend strings several tones but I would have thought them impractical for most lead work as I don't believe that they would hold their tuning as well as heavier strings especially when new and sounding at their best. They wouldn't quite be able to provide the tone and sustain that most guitarists want. They would certainly sound a lot different and if someone couldn't hear the difference I would suggest that it may be time to have a wee hearing test.

alanbakewell wrote:I once played two of Tony Iommi's JayDee SG's ( not at the same time ), whilst visiting John Diggins. Tony uses the thinnest strings I've ever seen in my life
due to an industrial accident some years ago. Goodness knows what gauge they were. He didn't seem to do so badly with thin strings did he?

Eee, lad...

That's like saying you'd tie up the little and adjacent fingers on your left hand because Django didn't do badly using only the other two...

JN