help with strings

[coleman]

I tried to gauge up to 13s on a squire tele and it started to bow the neck. I have the truss rod as tight as it goes. i was wondering what gauge of strings to buy.

[rio]

Try .012 gauge Thomasik Infeld "Bebop" for rounds or "Swing" for flats, or the Benson sets.

[kambor]

+1 to rio, thomastik strings have a lower tension than most other strings at se same gauge.

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by coleman

I tried to gauge up to 13s on a squire tele and it started to bow the neck. I have the truss rod as tight as it goes.

That's weird. I would get a new, good aftermarket Tele neck.
I have .012 Rotosound Flatwounds on my Squier Tele for about three months now and the neck is exactly how I set it with the truss rod (straight).

[zonedout245]

Try keeping it tuned down a whole step for a while, then after about a week a week increase a half step until you reach standard tuning. I know this is annoying. You might be able to shorten the time if you can weaken the strings.

Since the Tele is a long scale hard tail, it probably isn't a good instrument for such a thick gauge. I once had 12-52 on mine, but I felt they were too much. I switched to 11s. Right now I'm trying GHS 11-53 roundwound nickel-plated steel strings, though. I like them. I've had them since March and don't really need to change them, so they're nice and dead, but still pretty lively. I couldn't stand them new, though, so just give your strings time to weaken.

[mr. beaumont]

Yeah, I go with .11's on my tele...the benefits of any heavier gauge on a solid body is minimal in terms of tone...

.13's on a solidbody is for those "blues studs" who then tune down and talk about how manly they are because they use heavy strings...

[Peter C]

Man, that is funny. I can just imagine the look on Pat Martino's face after someone called him a Blues (super-)stud for using a .015 first string on his solid body. He says he has always played a heavy first string because he used to pop anything lighter.

It's a very individual thing. 11s feel too loose to me, and that upsets my picking technique, and I do notice a difference in tone on both my solid body guitars.

I don't know what may be up with the OP's guitar, but the original Teles were built to be strung with 12s or 13s.

[Philco]

I have TI Benson 14 to 55 on my Tele.
No problems with the neck.
I guess the problem is instrument specific.

[oldane]

Originally Posted by Peter C

I don't know what may be up with the OP's guitar, but the original Teles were built to be strung with 12s or 13s.

I agree. A Tele should be able to withstand the tension of a 13 set.

Is the bow in the full length of the neck or is it only a bow where the neck joins the body. Some necks have a "rising tungue", because the trussrod stops where the neck joins the body and therefore will not affect the neck at the highest frets.

Difficulties with tightening the truss rod can sometimes be solved by releasing the tension of the strings.

If nothing of this works, consider a new neck. Tele necks are very easy to replace (4 screws holds the neck provided it is not the "micro tilt" version). If you go that route, also consider a custom made neck from say Warmoth. Many jazz players like the fretboard a little wider (1 3/4") and flatter (12" radius) than the standard Tele/Strat neck, which is narrower and with more curvature. You can also choose between different scale lengths, as well as neck and fretboard materials.

That said, it may be just as cheap or cheaper to get an all new Squire guityar, but then you won't have the customization options.

Some players (me included) deliberately go for a slight upward bow (=relief) to eliminate the risk of buzzes behind the fretted note and to equalize the feeling of fretting resistance all the way up the neck. Generally, the higher the action, the greater the relief. Others prefer a straight neck, but will then need the slots in the nut to be a slightly higher to avoid buzzes behind the fretted note. However, these are very subtle setup details and if you are not familiar with this they may best be left to a qualified guitar technician (not the 16 years old slaesperson in your local instrument shop).