String wisdom for an electric newbie and acoustic player?

[imwjl]

Hi,

I find I put too much pressure on strings that I think comes from both lack of skill and 30 years of acoustic playing opposed to 3 months of electric playing.

The very skilled player and Tele owner who sold my Tele advised that I go to .11s, and somebody I respect said don't go higher than 10s. It looks like Fender included .09s with my new model (Highway One).

Then there of course is the brand loyalty thing where all I can say is I've used mostly D'Addiario acoustics for decades.

I happen to have some DR 10s bought as spares when I got my Squire Strat. Should I take that single step from the 9s or get the 11s? I don't want something too stiff for bends or too much for middle aged arthritic hands.

I am also trying to fret with less pressure and increase the accuracy - maybe an argument with even staying with the 09s????

I don't know about treated models for electric, but I tried Cleartones for acoustic. They lasted long, but did not have the magic first few hours of my untreated D'Addarios. I don't know if there's the same with electrics. So far the only obvious thing I've noticed about aged electric strings is not staying in tune as well.

Also... Will moving from9s to 10s get me some stronger base sounds or is that all a pickup and amp thing? I've been a dreadnought guy so I like the deeper sounds and also still daft to things electric compared to acoustic playing.

Thanks for any wisdom here.

WJL

[mellecaster]

If you've been playing Dreadnoughts for 30 yrs....I would follow the advice of the guy that sold you the Tele....and go right to .011s.....not sure if the guitar you have is set up for them...but it would make your transition much easier to Electrics...IMO

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

If you've been playing Dreadnoughts for 30 yrs....I would follow the advice of the guy that sold you the Tele....and go right to .011s.....not sure if the guitar you have is set up for them...but it would make your transition much easier to Electrics...IMO

Would that make it pretty much as stiff as an acoustic or ultra lights on an acoustic? I ask because it seems the arthritis that hit some family elders hard is creeping up on me and I find my fingers ache less with electric playing.

Will my large frets still make the bending strings easier no matter what strings? My Fender has larger frets than my Squire and I wonder if that adds to what I'll call playability because I did work on setup, neck and bridge of my Squire but find the Fender superior.

[neocaster]

Ernie Ball's 11s feel (to me) a little less stiff than Martin Ultra Lights on my Yamaha. Big frets should make your bends feel a lot smoother and sound better. It's going to be a matter of preference. Some say "better" and others might say "different" I like my skinny lil vintage frets.

[BB]

I say follow what your fingers tell you. What string guage works for someone else is just that....what works for someone else. Experement and find what works for YOU! That may be 9's or it may be 11's, but the bottom line is what you are comfortable with.

[0le FUZZY]

...Go with the 10s GHS and be dunn with it.

...Yew'll learn in time that it don't make a hoe lotta nevermind about bass tone as yew haff the amp adjustments and on board tone controls tew take care of that mess.



0le FUZZY

[Will Ferrule]

On the other hand...I went through the exact same thing (playing electric after 30 years of acoustic) about 5 years ago and I think you're better off sticking to the .009s. Acoustic and electric playing are very different. Think of the electric as a different instrument that you have to learn. You don't have to work so hard to produce tone, so you gain other advantages--vibrato, bends etc., are easier to do. Those skinny strings will force you to lighten your touch and play differently than you do with the acoustic!