How to read Gauges on electric guitar strings?!
Question: How to read Gauges on electric guitar strings!?
i need help on how to read gauges on electric guitar!. i do not have a clue what Gauges 11-14-18-28-38-48 means or (!.010 / !.013 / !.017 / !.030 / !.042 / !.052) means!. i want to get the perfect string for my taste in music but i cant do this until i find out what gauges are!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
well if you are playing rock or metal style go with the 10 - 46 or 47!. 10 - 48!. you can go with 11 - 48 or 11- 50 or 11 - 52 up to 11 - 56!. the higher the numbers the heavier the gauge, the low numbers such as 10, 11, 14, 18 are nickle plated strings, they are your 1st, 2nd and 3rd strings, they also come in stainless steel!. the numbers around 28, 38, 48, ect!. are the nickle wound or coiled strings they are your 4th, 5th 6th strings the D, A, low E!. they also come in stainless steelWww@Enter-QA@Com
Well, 11 is a shorthand for !.011, they're the same thing, and that's !.011 inches, or 11 thousandths of an inch (yay, I'm the only one who actually said what the numbers mean!)!. The thicker the gauge, the tighter ("harder" ) the string will be in the same tuning, but it will also produce more volume, bass and mids, i!.e!., it will sound better and fuller!.
So, a 12 (thinnest, high E) - 54 (thickest, low E) set will be very hard on the fingers, but ideal for jazz, rockabilly and blues, with that thick, clean, full, rounded sound and tons of volume and sustain; 08 - 42 will sound thin and metallic but for heavy metal fast scales and such, the guys take a lot of effects and distortion to compensate for the thin sound!.
In gauges, you'll also see a "w" now and then - that means "wound" - as in, wrapped in a fine string wrapping!. Normally, in thinner gauges, the thicker 3 strings are wound; in some thicker and/or acoustic sets, the 4th, G string can also be wound for more volume!. mids, bass, etc!.
Read this:
http://www!.accessrock!.com/ReferenceLesso!.!.!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
So, a 12 (thinnest, high E) - 54 (thickest, low E) set will be very hard on the fingers, but ideal for jazz, rockabilly and blues, with that thick, clean, full, rounded sound and tons of volume and sustain; 08 - 42 will sound thin and metallic but for heavy metal fast scales and such, the guys take a lot of effects and distortion to compensate for the thin sound!.
In gauges, you'll also see a "w" now and then - that means "wound" - as in, wrapped in a fine string wrapping!. Normally, in thinner gauges, the thicker 3 strings are wound; in some thicker and/or acoustic sets, the 4th, G string can also be wound for more volume!. mids, bass, etc!.
Read this:
http://www!.accessrock!.com/ReferenceLesso!.!.!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
10's and 11's are "super light gauge"!.!.it is the diameter of the string!.!.10,would be the high E string!. 13 would be the B!.ect
Gauges of strings are important,especially if drop tuning!.The less tension the looser they will be,hence if you drop tune to say C#!.!.a heavier string might be in order!.It all really comes down to what you feel!. I prefer DR 9's!.!.I like that gauge,even if dropped,but I prefer my strings to be a little looser,than most!.!.helps with the huge bends!.!.Experiment!.!.hope this helps ya!.You wanna see the difference,get yourself some 8's or 9's!.!.then get yourself some Zakk Wylde 'low" sets!.!.those freekin things are like electric cables!.!.!.
Fatter string gauges may mean your action may need to be raised,fatter string may lead to fret buzz!.!.try them out!.!.you don't have to replace the set you have now with the same exact gauge!!Www@Enter-QA@Com
Gauges of strings are important,especially if drop tuning!.The less tension the looser they will be,hence if you drop tune to say C#!.!.a heavier string might be in order!.It all really comes down to what you feel!. I prefer DR 9's!.!.I like that gauge,even if dropped,but I prefer my strings to be a little looser,than most!.!.helps with the huge bends!.!.Experiment!.!.hope this helps ya!.You wanna see the difference,get yourself some 8's or 9's!.!.then get yourself some Zakk Wylde 'low" sets!.!.those freekin things are like electric cables!.!.!.
Fatter string gauges may mean your action may need to be raised,fatter string may lead to fret buzz!.!.try them out!.!.you don't have to replace the set you have now with the same exact gauge!!Www@Enter-QA@Com
The lower the numbers, the lighter the strings!.
As for what you should use, it depends!.
If you play rock, you want 8s, 9s, or 10s (my favorite)!. If you play jazz, you'd want 11s, 12s, or even 13s!. If you play metal, you want 10s or 11s, because metal tunes down, and you don't want to drop down to A with a set of 8s, unless you like spaghetti strings!. That should be of help!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
As for what you should use, it depends!.
If you play rock, you want 8s, 9s, or 10s (my favorite)!. If you play jazz, you'd want 11s, 12s, or even 13s!. If you play metal, you want 10s or 11s, because metal tunes down, and you don't want to drop down to A with a set of 8s, unless you like spaghetti strings!. That should be of help!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Gauge refers to the strings thickness !.08 being the thin-est all the way up to !.128 for thickest though I'm sure they can be had a bit thicker
Guitar strings !.08-!.065 are thinner than bass strings !.040-!.128Www@Enter-QA@Com
Guitar strings !.08-!.065 are thinner than bass strings !.040-!.128Www@Enter-QA@Com
When you buy new guitar strings they say what gauge strings they are, just read what size gauge on the package!.Www@Enter-QA@Com