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Originally Posted by Double 07
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08-04-2012 12:38 AM
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I remember Jim Hall using .011 and a plain G back in the 80's-90's. He said the lighter tension let him use different kinds of vibrato that he learned from studying classical guitar.
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Originally Posted by Sandor
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Have to remember so go lighter with age as the hands start to wear out. First time I heard of hands wearing out was with legendary bassist Ray Brown. Ted Greene mentions later going to lighter strings his hands couldn't take the heavy strings anymore. I've heard it mention by other musicians over time having to change the reeds, mouthpieces and etc as they grow older to adjust for muscles weakening or can't stretch like they used to.
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Originally Posted by Section Player
I'm so sorry.
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Originally Posted by Section Player
Straight-ahead jazz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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People I've heard of that use 9s:
Abercrombie
Hall
and the educator Jody Fisher. He has a bunch of sound clips online. I think light strings can be really pretty, but they are very different.
I don't understand how Jim Hall gets such a huge tone with such skinny strings. He's the exception in my book.
I use 14s.
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Originally Posted by Spirit59
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Originally Posted by ecj
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Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo
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Originally Posted by shoome
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I'm one of those getting older - Been playing with a 10 on high e and just put on a set flatwounds with a 13 -- Have to go back to the 10 (or get a hand transplant).
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Originally Posted by tego
Besides that I would not expect too much of a difference unless the neck is not set up for heavier strings.
Jens
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my premature guess? arthritis (good old Arthur Itus).
anything stessful feels like shit.
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I have another take on the value of light strings, along the lines of an anecdote told by Cosmic Gumbo way upstream in this thread...
Basically... don't make it harder to express yourself than needs be.
My take is that aside from any physical ailment, it seems to me from 50+
years of playing that there is a speed of thought/sound which can be sped
up by not having to have the almost infintesimal gap between the impulse
and the physical response.
Because we're talking string gauge here, I'm linking this to the left hand
only and its quickness to hit the target intended at the intended time.
I have one instrument strung with 10-46 [Tele style] and one Gibson 24/34
scale with either 13-52 or 15-52.
My experience has been that there can be a micro pause when playing
the heavier set up [with a sweet low action] compared to playing the 10-46 which feels more instantaneous.
I put this down to a kind of synapse-firing scenario.
Particularly noticable for me when playing chordal sequences.
This is purely anecdotal, non-scientific; but something I've observed over
years playing and teaching.
I note that many of the modern chord masters use light strings....Tim Miller,
Mick Goodrick etc
Does anyone else out there think that there may be a thought/impulse
gap when wrangling the heavier gauges?
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I wouldn't just take the question of light strings in a vacuum. It's related to scale length, body size and type, and of course action height, touch, pick thickness. When I was younger and played arch tops I used a high stiff action because that's what I was told was the standard for jazz arch tops. Later I got smart and fit my action to my style and touch so I ended up with low and light. Much better for me.
Sometimes it's just a macho thing too .
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Also I think the lighter the strings ....... the more delicate control the player has to have
and you can't play really hard with light strings and maintain the jazz sound
they start to sound more country
(jim Hall , Ed Bickert etc have this kinda touch/sound)
with big strings and a highish action you can really lay into the guitar
and keep a clean sound (like Benson)
So its a matter of taste ... horses for courses
I don't have any delicate touchleft or right hand ......
I can't play a light string guitar in tune !
so its lucky I like the fat sound (TI benson 14's at the mo)
It was a real revelation for me when I first put on fat flats
I was suddenly in-tune .... heaven !
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Originally Posted by pingu
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I play jazz and jump jive/swing rock and roll. I used to switch strings, from flat wound 11's to round round 9's but now I just play jazz using the round wound 9's.
I play better on the lighter strings.
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Hi everyone. I personally use .011-.014-.020w-.030-.040-.050 gauges on my Straocaster.
JM
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I hear Billy Gibbons said he was telling BB KIng years ago how he used the biggest strings he could stand to get the biggest loudest tones he could. BB laughed and said, I just turn the amp up. Billy said he felt like a fool and started changing his mind on string gauges ever since, now that hes getting up there in age himself, he uses.007 gauge for live playing now.
I'm comfortable with the sound and feel of 10s on a strat.
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Originally Posted by saponsky
I heard him say at a clinic in 1997 or so that he used .13 for some time and got stiffness then settled on .12.
that's what I think I heard anyway. I was actually the kid that asked "what strings do you use".
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Ed Bickert used 10-52 hybreds.... I use 9-46 hybreds, after a lifetime of using 13 plus flats...Aging hands told me either that or pack in playing the guitar. Hey,you get used to them,.......L...
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Steve Khan uses Dean Markley 'SLP' .009-.042 on all his electric guitars.
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Clint Strong use 10"...:-)
Aria EA-650 pickguard question
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