Update here on my experiment.
I found the Rev Willy 8-40s to be a little TOO light in feel on the unwound strings. That said, those are on my Hollowbody 594, so I am going to leave them on there (at least for now), that is actually is a good match IMO, as the guitar is almost weightless, and their isn't enough weight in the guitar to "fight back" to move heavier strings for bends a vibrato. So I intentionally tried the 8-40s on that particular guitar.
I liked the D'Addario XL 8-39s. They feel almost like 9s, and sound like 9s, IMO. Just a little lighter in feel on the bends.
I liked 9s the best, a mix of D'Daddario XLs and ThroBack Pure Nickel. I don't like 10s, too heavy for my tastes.
So my strategy is to roll with 9s for the most part, but have a couple of guitars strung with 8.5s to mix it up and have something to go to if my fingers are hurting on a particular day, which happens if I play a lot in one day.
That is what I think will work for me on my 594 guitars, YMMV...
Hey Pete, that was my initial thought too when I ordered the 8-40s, maybe too slinky.
The 9-42s on the 594 are pretty slinky on the bass strings, but I'm getting used to 'em.
We'll see how the 40's feel on the CU24.
Hi there, I am used to 9's and am thinking of changing the standard 10's on my new PRS CE. May I ask? Will I have to have my guitar set up when I change strings? Thanks.So my experimental move to 9's has actually been really positive. I don't actually hear much difference in "tone". They seem a bit brighter but that's about it. I had the Santana cranked though my /13 the other day and it sounded fantastic. It's a nice change in terms of playbility. I'm a serial string experimenter so I may go back to other gauges some day but so far I'm really liking the 9s and may move most of my guitars to them for a while. Definitely easier on my hands.
Hi there, I am used to 9's and am thinking of changing the standard 10's on my new PRS CE. May I ask? Will I have to have my guitar set up when I change strings? Thanks.
It's about scale length for me. 10s on 24.5 to 25. 9s on 25.5.
So, I put 9s on my Silver Sky and liked it better.
Definitely right on that! I used to wonder why the titles and lead pictures were so needlessly controversial or inflammatory until I learned that clicks = cash. Then the light came on...
As I get older (turning 60 in March) I might have to go lighter to be kind to my joints, but otherwise I like the middle ground 10s occupy for me. I pick up my co-guitarist’s axe and play it fine, and he uses 9s, which I also used for a long time. I started playing in the 70s and don’t recall anyone I knew using 8s then, as Beato says. Everyone was using 9s. Maybe a regional thing. Anyway, I have no crusade going for a string gauge or set; everyone should play what they like. I just wasn’t going for “add or deduct .002 from a string and it’ll sit better in a mix!” Hogwash.
I went from 0.009 to 0.010 decades ago when I was breaking strings and they sounded shrill to me. Moved to 0.011 on teles.
I gave Rick’s video only a passing attention when it came out.
Later I hit a point where I was struggling to get bright strat-y tones out of my SS no matter how I dialed my amp. I checked in with a local strat aficionado who recommended either pure nickel or 0.095. Went with the latter and am really happy with them.
That pushed me to try 0.009 on one of my rock guitars. I do much like the tone better, but am still struggling a bit with the light feel. I just moved another guitar to 0.009 because it was sounding muffled to me and I love the tone.
Night and day for tone and feel.
Granted I am angling for EVH tone at the moment, and he played 0.009.
So I prefer the feel of the heavier, but the tone of the lighter.
All this will certainly change again.
I’ve been playing 9’s for years. I like the sound and feel. Every so often I try 10’s to keep up with the Joneses but I never like the sound and feel. Everyone I know likes their 10, so I just shut my mouth about it and don’t talk about my 9’s.
I came across this Rick Beato video this weekend. Shows an interesting string shoot out.
Rhett Shull Was in the video and also created his own with his own equipment.
Watch both videos in their full before commenting. It may surprise you.