How much does string gauge change neck tension?

[StewieCopeland]

Tried out a Baja Telecaster the other day and the action seemed a touch higher than what I like. The guy said he normally had 9's on it but had just restrung it with 10's. Out of curiosity, is it possible that the 10s would make a noticeable difference in the action, or is it more likely that it's just set up a bit high (adjusted w/ bridge saddles/truss rod)? (I did notice a difference in my Strat once when changing string gauges, but that had a floating tremolo so was a different situation.)

 

[nickmm]

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[thechad]

You bet. Changing to a thicker gauge of strings can add a lot of tension to the neck. Not to mention how they sit in your nut and saddles. As you mentioned your strat with a tremolo, you’d need to adjust the screw to increase the spring tension as well in that case. When you change gauges, action and intonation would both need to be reset.

 

[schmee]

No, string gauge shouldn't make a noticeable difference in string height above the frets if that's what you mean...?
Huge difference in tension though. I went from decades of using 10-46's to 9.5-44 recently. It's huge on the hands!

 

[kuch]

Tried out a Baja the other day and the action seemed a touch higher than what I like. The guy said he normally had 9's on it but had just restrung it with 10's. Out of curiosity, is it possible that the 10s would make a noticeable difference in the action, or is it more likely that it's just set up a bit high (adjusted w/ bridge saddles/truss rod)? (I did notice a difference in my Strat when changing string gauges once but that had a floating tremolo.)

When you change string gauges, it's always good to check your neck relief. Personally, I have noticed that the neck relief does change even going from 9's to 10's.

 

[Mike_LA]

When I change string guages on my Parker Fly to have to change the trem spring to match to allow for more or less tension.

 

[Ricky D.]

Depends on the neck. A maple thick wide D - profile probably wouldn’t move at all. A skinny mahogany neck, maybe so.

When you change string gauge, you need to do a quick set up. Relief, intonation, saddles, check nut slots.

 

[JDB2]

Yes, it's possible. On my guitars at least, changing from 9s to 10s always has caused neck relief to increase due to greater tension, causing action to rise slightly but noticeably above all but the lowest frets, and requiring a slight tightening of the truss rod to compensate. Based only on your description its impossible to know whether that's what is making action high on the Baja you tried, however. As others of have said, it may need a set up.

 

[Reedo]

A quick truss rod, saddles, or nut adjustment usually works for me. Especially as Fender string every single guitar now with 9-42 strings. Even the Vintera range, that replaced the classic series, are strung with 9-42, instead of the classic size of 10-46.

 

[Freeman Keller]

A set of 9-42 extra lights is about 75 pounds of tension, 10-46 lights is just over 100 (data from D'Addario site). That is significant and you might see a couple of thousands change in your relief. If your action is marginal you might sense the difference, you'll definitely feel it when you bend. Changing scale lengths is the square of the difference so that has a lot of effect.

 

[speranza]

I have experimented a lot with string gauges and compensating truss rod adjustments and I have found a pretty interesting sort of equation:

1 "full" string gauge = 1 half-step tuning = 1 full "scale change" (24" to 25.5", e.g. from Jaguar to Telecaster)

In words, the difference in total tension you get from going from .010s to .009s (or .011s to .010s) is virtually the same as the difference you get when tuning your whole guitar down from E standard to E-flat, which is also virtually the same difference as, for example, stringing a short-scale guitar and a long-scale guitar with the same gauge of strings.

 

[Cali Dude]

I haven't changed string gauge in years. However, I have been thinking about going from 10s to 9s on my 25.5 scale electrics. Would I really need an adjustment of the tension if I made this small change?

 

[JDB2]

I haven't changed string gauge in years. However, I have been thinking about going from 10s to 9s on my 25.5 scale electrics. Would I really need an adjustment of the tension if I made this small change?

Yes, in my experience. If your action is already low and your neck pretty straight with 10s, you might get fret buzz after switching to 9s and have to slightly loosen the truss rod to increase relief. (Like a quarter turn.) Lots of factors in play though. Only one way to find out . . .

 

[aging_rocker]

I haven't changed string gauge in years. However, I have been thinking about going from 10s to 9s on my 25.5 scale electrics. Would I really need an adjustment of the tension if I made this small change?

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the particular instrument, I think.

I kind of expected to have to tweak my Ibanez (it doesn't have the fattest of necks) when I put 9s on it, but it seems fine.

 

[Killing Floor]

Depends. Seriously. Depends. Gauge of wound strings doesn’t necessarily affect tension because that’s mostly a product of the core. And you can get balanced tension strings in come cases. The real question is whether you prefer the tension you have and do you want higher or lower tension?

 

[telemnemonics]

Sure, I generally find going up or down a gauge changes the relief a little which changes the action a little.

 

[LOSTVENTURE]

I haven't changed string gauge in years. However, I have been thinking about going from 10s to 9s on my 25.5 scale electrics. Would I really need an adjustment of the tension if I made this small change?

You really need to check out D'Addario EXL 9.5-44 strings. Great feel and I've not had to make any truss rod adjustment going from 10-46, and back.

 

[arnie5150]

I have experimented a lot with string gauges and compensating truss rod adjustments and I have found a pretty interesting sort of equation:

1 "full" string gauge = 1 half-step tuning = 1 full "scale change" (24" to 25.5", e.g. from Jaguar to Telecaster)

In words, the difference in total tension you get from going from .010s to .009s (or .011s to .010s) is virtually the same as the difference you get when tuning your whole guitar down from E standard to E-flat, which is also virtually the same difference as, for example, stringing a short-scale guitar and a long-scale guitar with the same gauge of strings.

Good observation. I recently experimented with different string gauges and tunings. I have 3 Epiphone Les Pauls. I generally ran 10-46 on all 3.
I left one the same tuned to standard.
I went with Mega Slinky 10.5 to 48 on one and set it up for Eb.
I went with the GHS 10-13-17-36-52-60 set on the third, a Zakk Wylde model that came from the factory with this set, and tuned to D.
I have noticed that they all feel basically the same as far as tension in concerned. BTW, I love that .60 low E string on the ZW!

 

[Metacaster]

Deleted

 

[Metacaster]

I have experimented a lot with string gauges and compensating truss rod adjustments and I have found a pretty interesting sort of equation:

1 "full" string gauge = 1 half-step tuning = 1 full "scale change" (24" to 25.5", e.g. from Jaguar to Telecaster)

In words, the difference in total tension you get from going from .010s to .009s (or .011s to .010s) is virtually the same as the difference you get when tuning your whole guitar down from E standard to E-flat, which is also virtually the same difference as, for example, stringing a short-scale guitar and a long-scale guitar with the same gauge of strings.

That sounds right. I have an SG (-1) tuned Eb (-1) strung two gauges higher (+2) than my teles tuned to E.