I Used To Use .013's On My Gretsch Electric Guitars

[Lou Coppolino]

Now, I'm using much lighter string gauges.

 

[FiveAces]

11's seem to be ideal on my 5120.... heavy enough to keep the floating bridge in place and gives me that nice bottom end tone i like, and yet still comfortable to play for my aging fingers. Since I don't do much for bends with my style of play, it seems to be the best all around!

 

[Ricochet]

I’ve used 12s as a string bending repellent.

 

[Bumble 57]

With my old, arthritic hands I can’t do bends on anything over .9’s. Hammer on’s work better also. I’ll drop a gauge on my acoustic as well. Just playing them old blues.

 

[Ohthis]

I use 11's on all my guitars. Still easy to bend strings. 13's for me aren't comfortable. I used to use them, but a guitarist I know, told me that those heavy gauges make it more likely to develop finger problems when getting older

 

[SAguitar]

I'm playing 10s on all my electric guitars, and have for decades. About once a year I buy about 20 sets and am good to go for awhile. At home they feel fine, on stage it often seems like I should be using at least 11s.

 

[radd]

10’s on my solid body long scale Fenders, 11’s flat wounds on my short scale hollowbody Gretschs and 12’s on my long scale Martin Acoustics.

 

[TsarNicholas]

I used 12s for a long time on pretty much all my guitars but I’ve gone down to 11s in the last year. Very happy with 11s across the board I must say.

 

[Pemberton]

I’ve been using D’Addario 10 to 46 (EXL110) since forever. Very happy with them. I did buy a set of flat wounds a couple of years ago to try out, but still haven’t gotten around to it.

 

[Henry]

I also use 10s for long and 11s for short scale. I am considering shifting everything down to 9s and 10s

 

[Lou Coppolino]

I'm a big fan of D'Addario .010's and .09's.

As I get older, I don't want to work as hard and not have my sound compromised.

I'll use a heavy string set if I need to.

I don't prefer them.

 

[Lou Coppolino]

I think I commited a sin by restring my metallic copper Gretsch Falcon with a D'Addario set beginning with an .09.

It's not a strain and I'm loving it.

 

[Neal]

I come from an acoustic guitar background, so 12’s on my two Gretsch hollow bodies, with a wound third, are a must. Otherwise, my death grip throws everything sharp.

 

[Lou Coppolino]

I come from an acoustic guitar background, so 12’s with a wound third are a must. Otherwise, my death grip throws everything sharp.

.012's are the way to go on acoustic guitars, IMO.

I'm gradually going for .10's or .09's on my electric guitars.

 

[stiv]

I used to use 13s (0.14 high E) as well on my Loar with p90s, but it was always open G tuned and I played heavy copper slide on it, so I didn’t need to bend.
Sounded great though. Brand new heavy gauge + high action would resurrect even the dullest of guitar.