String Gauge

[LucasDuran1721]

Hey folks! How you doing?
I've been using 0.9-42 strings for 5 years and I want to increase the gauge due to the tuning we use in my band, do you recommend 10-52 for Drop C or 0.11-46?

 

[idssdi]

As far as my knowledge on string gauges go I think 11-56 makes more sense to me

 

[Autumn]

Hey folks! How you doing?
I've been using 0.9-42 strings for 5 years and I want to increase the gauge due to the tuning we use in my band, do you recommend 10-52 for Drop C or 0.11-46?

It depends what you do in drop C. If you’re mostly riffing on the lower 3 strings, then go for the 11’s. If you want it extra heavy, you can even buy a set made for 7 strings and use the lower 6.

If you’re doing quite a bit of soloing or licks on the higher strings, it may be in your best interest to check out a “skinny top, heavy bottom” set of strings. Tuned to drop C, they are pretty comparably to your .9’s and will still give you enough stability for riffing.

Ernie Ball has a fantastic set that I live and die for:

 

[LucasDuran1721]

It depends what you do in drop C. If you’re mostly riffing on the lower 3 strings, then go for the 11’s. If you want it extra heavy, you can even buy a set made for 7 strings and use the lower 6.

If you’re doing quite a bit of soloing or licks on the higher strings, it may be in your best interest to check out a “skinny top, heavy bottom” set of strings. Tuned to drop C, they are pretty comparably to your .9’s and will still give you enough stability for riffing.

Ernie Ball has a fantastic set that I live and die for:

It depends what you do in drop C. If you’re mostly riffing on the lower 3 strings, then go for the 11’s. If you want it extra heavy, you can even buy a set made for 7 strings and use the lower 6.

If you’re doing quite a bit of soloing or licks on the higher strings, it may be in your best interest to check out a “skinny top, heavy bottom” set of strings. Tuned to drop C, they are pretty comparably to your .9’s and will still give you enough stability for riffing.

Ernie Ball has a fantastic set that I live and die for:

I'm the lead guitarist, maybe I should buy the ernie ball skinny top heavy bottom, I tried a set of D'addario 11-52 and the truth is that they felt very hard, especially the third string, it was a nightmare try to make bends on it

 

[Autumn]

I'm the lead guitarist, maybe I should buy the ernie ball skinny top heavy bottom, I tried a set of D'addario 11-52 and the truth is that they felt very hard, especially the third string, it was a nightmare try to make bends on it

The skinny top heavy bottom strings are 10-52, so it seems like a good middle ground between the sets of strings that you’ve tried. If you absolutely hate bending on them, head to your local guitar store and they can sell you individual strings. Check the individual gauges on the strings that are uncomfortable so you know what gauge to ask for

If all else fails, it’s time to spend a hawt hour or two just bending them stringssss

 

[Ed Seith]

I'd second the 10-52 for Drop C if you're used to 9-42s on a standard tuned guitar.

 

[Lindsey]

I use 11-52/54. I’m not sure which one exactly. I’d recommend that for lower tunings. To me it didn’t really feel different compared to 10’s. Maybe you’d like to step up by trying 10’s first. That’s what I did, I may try 12’s next. You’ll get used to it.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

It depends what you do in drop C. If you’re mostly riffing on the lower 3 strings, then go for the 11’s. If you want it extra heavy, you can even buy a set made for 7 strings and use the lower 6.

If you’re doing quite a bit of soloing or licks on the higher strings, it may be in your best interest to check out a “skinny top, heavy bottom” set of strings. Tuned to drop C, they are pretty comparably to your .9’s and will still give you enough stability for riffing.

Ernie Ball has a fantastic set that I live and die for:

Yup. That's what I use. Bullet for my Valentine is 99% in drop c and they use this Set too.

I also use them on my flying v in drop d