Why are 10s on electric right, where on acoustics, they're weak??

[RunGuy17]

I was just wondering why a lot of people think anything over 10 gauge on an electric is large and very difficult to play, where on the acoustic, they're considered tinny?

[voodoostation]

On an electric, the sound comes from changes to a magnetic field, inducing a potential,when the string interacts with the pickup pole pieces, body resonance isn't the major factor, whereas an acoustic derives its sound from the vibrations the strings transmit to the soundboard. With smaller strings, there is less mass, therefore less energy transmitted to the guitar body. Just my opinion.

[wangdangdoodle]

Who said 10's are right on electric?

The least I can take on electric is a set of a 11's.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by wangdangdoodle

Who said 10's are right on electric?

The least I can take on electric is a set of a 11's.

+1


They are weak on an electric too, it is just less noticeable IMO

[dean]

Electric strings move magnetic waves sensed up by the pickup poles and acoustic strings have to move sound waves into the sound chamber. The electric system needs less oscillation (or movement) to disturb the magnetic field as compared to the size of the oscillation needed to move air through the acoustic body. The size of the strings enhance the movement of the air in an acoustic, but may not have as much an impact on an electric guitar (yes, I know that tone changes with string size, but it seems to be more pronounced on acoustics).

I'm sure there are probably major flaws with my explanation, but this is how I picture it.

Dean

[Mark Davis]

Lots of correct answers here here is my take on it.

A solidbody guitar is designed so the top doesnt vibrate just the opposite of an acoustic guitar. Put some 9's on an acoustic and there wont be enough tension or string mass to get the top to vibrate much hence a thin tinny sound.

On a solidbody electric the mass of the string is what creates the electrical signals the pickups see. A thinner string will still provide enough signal for the pickup to read so its not as dramatic of a difference.

[play_loud]

I also use 11s on my electrics.

I find them less prone to breakage and de-tuning and although they do seem "harder to play" the pay off is worth it... Some people also say thicker strings = more tone (but this heavily debated and the actual difference in tone between a set of 10's and 11s may be insignificant to the human ear). I hear and feel difference though (i think ).

At the end of the day its just a matter of preference.

[Gareth John]

I use light gauge strings, I use no more than 10's on electric and only 10's on acoustic. I find it easier to play. I agree that fatter strings sound better, but only if you can play on them. I don't wanna have to battle with it, guitar is hard enough as it is.

[Astro1176]

It is an interesting question, 12 gauge on an electric is considered very heavy, not many people use this with standard tuning; however, on an acoustic, this gauge is considered light, 13 standard and 14 to be heavy.

I presume that the acoustic range (12-14) was originally thought of as the best range of steel strings to get a decent tone and volume from an acoustic guitar. I do remember reading that in the 60s people like Clapton couldn't find light guitar strings, and bought banjo strings instead, so I guess electric guitarists reclassified what they thought gave the best tone and playability for the electric guitar, resulting in todays 9/10/11 as the light medium/heavy for electric guitar.

[Sollophonic]

Yep 10s is too light on an electric for me too.

The guitar my daughter uses has 10s on, because she has less strength in her hands, when I play that one, those strings just feel too light for me.

Mind you some acoustic players use light strings. Apparently Adrian Legg uses 9s on his acoustics to get the string bends he achieves

[SatelliteOrders]

Originally Posted by robt57

+1

They are weak on an electric too, it is just less noticeable IMO

It's not that it's less noticeable, it's that you have Evil Twins and Marshall Plexis to counteract that. With acoustics, you just have a top and the strings you're gonna use to vibrate it.

Originally Posted by Astro1176

I do remember reading that in the 60s people like Clapton couldn't find light guitar strings, and bought banjo strings instead, so I guess electric guitarists reclassified what they thought gave the best tone and playability for the electric guitar, resulting in todays 9/10/11 as the light medium/heavy for electric guitar.

I'd go as far as 50s and James Burton, not knowing if Eric knew about what James was doing, though, but yeah.

[tiktok]

Acoustic guitars are designed to be driven by heavier strings than the typical electric set. Given the limitations of traditional acoustic designs (materials, bracing, body size, etc.), you can't get what's commonly considered "good" (certainly "loud") acoustic tone with strings lighter than a .012 set.

[studio1087]

It's been said above.

10's cannot move air and vibrate a top.

I play 12's and 13's on my Martins. I know bluegrassers who consider 13's to be light strings.

John

[TheGoodTexan]

If someone has mentioned this already, forgive me. I skimmed the responses and I didn't see this type of answer....

Acoustic strings provide a heavier tension than their electric counterparts... all gauges being the same.

i.e. acoustic 11s will feel heavier than electric 11s, due to the way the acoustic strings are made (materials, etc).

Am I right?

Here's where I'm getting this from: I use 11s and 12s on electrics. I have for years, and it's not a hinderance to speed for me. But I'm not NEAR as fast at picking high-speed solos on an acoustic guitar... strung up with the same gauges. Acoustic strings just seem to yield more tension in my opinion.

[tiktok]

D'Addario has a string gauge tension chart that lets you compare all of their strings, so you could check if an acoustic .048 is higher tension when tuned to the same pitch as an electric .048.

[jhundt]

an electric 10 set sounds great on my 34 year old Yamaha acoustic. Very "shimmery" - it has saved recording sessions in the past, when 'the other' acoustic is strung with normal heavy acoustic strings and sounds too dull and boomy.

[Robert H.]

Electrics are amplified.