Community: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

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641 Views 18 Replies Latest reply: Jan 14, 2013 8:04 PM by Krontab

katiekerry

37 posts since
Jan 26, 2007

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Oct 22, 2012 3:37 PM

Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

I have ordered the Dream Rig system. I ordered the JTV69s in black with maple neck. My question is for the modeling part does it sound better with 10's or 11's or can I go with 9's on the guitar. I have been using ernie ball regular slinkys for the last 10 years or so just because I had a strat with single coils so I wanted it to sound thicker.. then a year ago I bought a hollow body so I stuck with thicker guage to get more accoustic like tones. Do I need to worry about that with the variax. Part of it is I would like to go to 9's cause the guitar I ordered has a tremelo, then I can lighten the spring tention.. any info would help thanks..

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clintmartin
28 posts since
Oct 28, 2010

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Oct 22, 2012 4:41 PM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

I'm sure people will disagree, but I put 9's on mine right off the bat. I've always used 9's, always will.

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- clintmartin
  28 posts since
  Oct 28, 2010
  
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  Oct 22, 2012 4:46 PM (in response to clintmartin)
  Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
  
  Off subject, but Sean Hally posted some good Dream rig patches the other day on customtone. If you get the Line 6 newsletter you've probably seen the video...If not http://Line6.com/customtone/profile/seanhalley I believe that will get you there. I don't have much experience with the dream rig yet so I like to see how a pro has there's set up.
  
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silverhead
9,592 posts since
Apr 1, 2009

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Oct 22, 2012 5:35 PM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

As with any guitar, changing the string guage on a JTV can put the setup out of whack (action, fret buzz, ...). The factory setup is done to match 10s. Some people might want to setup their guitar differently if they plan to use 9s or 11s consistently.

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- katiekerry
  37 posts since
  Jan 26, 2007
  
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  Oct 22, 2012 6:25 PM (in response to silverhead)
  Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
  
  Yeah I figured they will need a proper set up, I have never bought a guitar that didn't.. The biggest thing is are the accoustic sounds convincing enough with 9's or should I go up to 10's or 11's.. I used to use 9's a long time ago ( when I had a floyd rose equipped guitar). I would like to go back to 9's but if it affects the accoustic simulations or semi hollowbody sounds I most likely stick with 10's...
  
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  - MarkCline
    36 posts since
    Jan 26, 2007
    
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    Oct 23, 2012 6:11 AM (in response to katiekerry)
    Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
    
    I've played variaxs for years. I have a 700 w/trem and a JTV69. If you are going to use the variax to the fullest, and utilize the acoustic models at least 30% of the time like I do. I suggest D'Addario EX115W. These are a medium guage that goes down to 11 and they have a wound 3rd(G) string.
    
    Even before the variaxs, I was never a fan of the tone of extra light strings. I feel that the slightly heavier guage and the wound third improves the tone of the guitar and makes the acoustic models feel (and maybe sound) more acurate. These are high quality strings as well. I get about a month out of a set, and I don't recall ever breaking one. You will need to have a setup done to move up in guage. I also had my nuts replaced with graphite and slotted for this guage. (Painful) Both of these guitars stay in tune great. With the trem it's not like you can easily do 2 step bends anyway.
    
    Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
    
    Enjoy your new rig!
    
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  - TheRealZap
    11,829 posts since
    Dec 22, 2006
    
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    Oct 23, 2012 6:16 AM (in response to katiekerry)
    Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
    
    I think Mark had a good point if your primary concern is the acoustic sounds...
    I stay in the middle with 10's so that I have good sounds on both acoustics and electrics...
    
    I would think that 9's wouldn't come through strong enough on the acoustic tones, but workbench give you some ways to tweak things that you don't get with a normal guitar...
    It would probably be pretty painless to try 9's...
    
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    - cbeattyjr
      36 posts since
      Jan 8, 2008
      
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      Oct 23, 2012 6:38 AM (in response to TheRealZap)
      Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
      
      I really rely on the acoustic sounds about 50% of the time. I use 0.011" gauge with a wound G.
      
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      - katiekerry
        37 posts since
        Jan 26, 2007
        
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        Oct 23, 2012 3:19 PM (in response to cbeattyjr)
        Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
        
        I would have to say only about 25% of the songs I play are accoustic. And I have been just using a hollow body going through a simulator. I could probible just use 9's and be fine with it. I think in the begining I will use 10's and see how the trem response is. I haven't used a trem in over 12 years I would bet.. My strat was Blocked both ways..
        
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fr0sty
26 posts since
Jan 29, 2007

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Oct 30, 2012 2:17 PM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

I use nines on my jtv-69. Acoustics sound fine to me.

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khoff2
13 posts since
Jun 21, 2008

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Nov 19, 2012 3:24 PM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

If I can add to the discussion, I now use 9.5's. These are fantastic, the tone of 10's with the bending ease of 9's. I haven't broken one yet. They are D'Addario EXL 120 plus. Best of both worlds!

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- zeddd
  385 posts since
  May 12, 2006
  
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  Nov 19, 2012 7:07 PM (in response to khoff2)
  Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
  
  Great idea! I'll bite on some 9.5s the next time I order strings. You've got me curious. I may try them on my Strat or Tele as well.
  
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EnzoHeavenly
19 posts since
Dec 26, 2008

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Nov 20, 2012 10:20 AM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

If you are using the acoustic bank on the JTV (59 in my case), I love the roundness of the 11s. Sure, it's hard to bend, but... since my soloing is pretty much like Oasis... it's not such a big deal. xD

But, somehow, I don't like the Ernie Ball Cobalt on my Variax, maybe cos of the additional magnetic response?

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sjerome1
12 posts since
May 13, 2011

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Nov 28, 2012 6:01 AM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

I use Dunlop 10's. They have great tone. Very hard to break, and they feel better to me than 9's.
While not as easy to bend as 9's, the JTV action is just so nice, that you really don't notice it.

The last gig I played with the JTV I put on some fresh 9's. They felt to "spongey" for lack of a better term to me. I actually remember bending the high E off the neck. So after the gig, before next rehearsal, I put on the Dunlop's.

Side note. Isn't the variax the easiest guitar you ever had to replace strings on? It was so easy, and fast. What a wonderful instrument.

Best Regards.

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- leyfr01
  74 posts since
  Jan 26, 2007
  
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  Nov 28, 2012 6:20 AM (in response to sjerome1)
  Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
  
  As an additional side note, if you install locking tuners, it takes only 4 minutes to string a JTV-59. Now that's luxury!!
  
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  - sjerome1
    12 posts since
    May 13, 2011
    
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    Nov 28, 2012 6:24 AM (in response to leyfr01)
    Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
    
    My JTV-69 has those already, and that is the coolest thing I ever saw.
    
    Best Regards.
    
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    - leyfr01
      74 posts since
      Jan 26, 2007
      
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      Nov 28, 2012 6:32 AM (in response to sjerome1)
      Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
      
      Agreed. The Planet Waves Auto Trim tuners are a gift from God!!
      
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      - katiekerry
        37 posts since
        Jan 26, 2007
        
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        Dec 9, 2012 10:04 AM (in response to leyfr01)
        Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..
        
        Yeah I put them on both my strat and my hollowbody. But I don't think I will put them on the JTV-69s when ever it finally comes in. ( they already come with locking tuners, though they don't have the auto trim feature I really like that feature..) The locking tuners look allot nicer on the Jtv69's, all metal no plastic..
        
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Krontab
201 posts since
Mar 15, 2006

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Jan 14, 2013 8:04 PM (in response to katiekerry)
Re: Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

I used DR 10 guage Pure Blues on mine. I tried Slinky 9's and they didn't sound right to me.

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Oct 22, 2012 3:37 PM

Best string guage for Modeling guitars..

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