Ernie Ball Heavy Top, Skinny Bottoms question

[octa805]

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place to do this so please forgive me if it's not.

I have a MIM tele that I just put the Ernie Ball Heavy Top, Skinny Bottom strings on last night as a test.(these guys-http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ernie-Ball-2215-Nickel-Skinny-TopHeavy-Bottom-Electric-Guitar-Strings?sku=100615)

I usually run the more standard Ernie Ball regular slinky on standard tuning but I liked the EB Power slinkies on my ridiculous and drop D tuned BC Rich warlock so I thought I'd give this variation a try on my tele

Played around with a bit last night and it's pretty fun, the super thick E gives you some ka-chunk sound but you still can bend and get fun twang out of the bottom strings.

My one concern is that since I'm running these thicker top strings that I might get some weird twisting on the neck since I have it at standard tuning now.

Even just eyeballing the action before and after it seems like there might be some very small movement once the new strings were loaded on but I can't really be sure.

What do other folks do with this type of stuff and have you seen any ill effects from going heavier gauge? Thanks!

[Thighbanez]

Last time I used those when I was playing in Drop-D on a Les Paul.
Sorry...I gave em up when I joined the Fender camp.

[johnnylaw]

I have been using the Hybrid Slinkys for many years with no adverse affects to the guitars. (Bottom three from "9s", top three from "10s)

I do play with a thumbpick, and I use Drop D on a number of tunes. I like the meatier sound and feel, yet the ease of bends on the lighter strings.

Hey, whatever works for you!

[woodman]

I was confused when I saw the post title ... Heavy Top Skinny Bottom? Only when viewed from a playing angle ... the designation Ernie Ball uses ("Skinny-Top Heavy-Bottom") refers to the pitch rather than where they set when you play.

At any rate, I've used these for quite a while with no worries from neck twisting or any of that. You might want to check your truss rod adjustment, but it's good to do that every time the seasons change anyway. Might be worth checking your intonation too, in case there's a slight variance. But have no fear, they won't hurt your neck.

[Buxton]

I regularly flip from super slinkies to hybrid slinkies with no problems - depends which I have lying around. Shouldn't cause any issues for you.

[frankie5fingers]

As woodman says, it's more likely that seasonality will have an effect than that set of strings, not too radical at all. On the other hand it'd be awfully hard to sight a difference (unless it was pretty radical) with two feet plus to eyeball; it's gonna be more of an optical illusion - I wouldn't worry about it. That said though, changing string gauge is always a good excuse to re-set up, check nut dimensions, saddle height and intonation anyhow, and you'd be confirming the straightness when you do it.

[mr_big_trouble]

Yes, I think you mean "skinny top, heavy bottom."

Here's a visual aid:

[octa805]

Ha. Just a brain fart. Thanks everyone. Kind of digging these

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by octa805

Hey all, not sure if this is the right place to do this so please forgive me if it's not.

I have a MIM tele that I just put the Ernie Ball Heavy Top, Skinny Bottom strings on last night as a test.(these guys-http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ernie-Ball-2215-Nickel-Skinny-TopHeavy-Bottom-Electric-Guitar-Strings?sku=100615)

I usually run the more standard Ernie Ball regular slinky on standard tuning but I liked the EB Power slinkies on my ridiculous and drop D tuned BC Rich warlock so I thought I'd give this variation a try on my tele

Played around with a bit last night and it's pretty fun, the super thick E gives you some ka-chunk sound but you still can bend and get fun twang out of the bottom strings.

My one concern is that since I'm running these thicker top strings that I might get some weird twisting on the neck since I have it at standard tuning now.

Even just eyeballing the action before and after it seems like there might be some very small movement once the new strings were loaded on but I can't really be sure.

What do other folks do with this type of stuff and have you seen any ill effects from going heavier gauge? Thanks!

No ill effects at all!

I really like the tone I get when I use these strings. But I have had to switch back to regular slinkies due to some pain in my hands and my hand tremors.

But When my tremors subside, I typically go back to power slinkies and these skinny top beefy bottoms.