I would like to know. How is the tuning stability with light gauge strings? I have a few cheaper short-scale guitars with a fixed bridge that play wonderfully and sound great. But they become out of tune very easily with 009 or 008 gauge(with heavier strings I do not know because I use 009 mostly)
So before I spent 550 euros on another guitar I appriciate your advice on this.
Fender Mustang Offset Shell Pink (My opinion)
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Jagtornado
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I use 10s on mine so I have no experience with using lighter gauge strings on it but I have used lighter strings on other short scale guitars and have had no tuning issues using quality strings that have been properly stretched.Jagtornado wrote:I would like to know. How is the tuning stability with light gauge strings? I have a few cheaper short-scale guitars with a fixed bridge that play wonderfully and sound great. But they become out of tune very easily with 009 or 008 gauge(with heavier strings I do not know because I use 009 mostly)
So before I spent 550 euros on another guitar I appriciate your advice on this.
A lot of tuning issues end up being related to the nut.
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Jagtornado
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I am always surprised at how many guitar players do not properly stretch their strings, often replacing perfectly good tuning pegs or entire guitars trying to chase the problem. When you're tuning up, tune to the note, then pinch the string and bend it upwards (though not to the breaking point-this takes practice sometimes). It will go out of tune. Keep repeating the process. The string will go out of tune less and less each time until it finally hardly does anything. Your guitar should stay in tune now regardless of string gauge.
Most modern stock tuning pegs, even those on cheap guitars work perfectly fine. In my experience the only thing better tuners should give you is smoother movement and a better gear ratio for more precise tuning.
Most modern stock tuning pegs, even those on cheap guitars work perfectly fine. In my experience the only thing better tuners should give you is smoother movement and a better gear ratio for more precise tuning.
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Concretebadger
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Agreed. When restringing, I always give a new string a couple of tugs at various points along its length, then fret a few notes and do a bend at different frets. Plus a quick check to make sure they're not getting stuck in the nut or bridge saddle slots. Those are literal sticking points that can irritate the hell out of you, but are easily fixable.
I'm not sure what the variables are when it comes to "tuning stability" because relatively cheap instruments - the ones you'd expect to cause problems - may not necessarily give you any trouble. Is there a degree of luck involved? My MIJ JM for instance (which is nearly 20 years old and cost around £500 second-hand seven or eight years ago) is rock solid once a new set of strings are "stretched-in" using the standard procedure that Nick mentions above. I usually leave it overnight for the new strings to completely settle in, but after that point it's wonderfully dependable. That's one of the reasons why it's my favourite guitar I think.
I'm not sure what the variables are when it comes to "tuning stability" because relatively cheap instruments - the ones you'd expect to cause problems - may not necessarily give you any trouble. Is there a degree of luck involved? My MIJ JM for instance (which is nearly 20 years old and cost around £500 second-hand seven or eight years ago) is rock solid once a new set of strings are "stretched-in" using the standard procedure that Nick mentions above. I usually leave it overnight for the new strings to completely settle in, but after that point it's wonderfully dependable. That's one of the reasons why it's my favourite guitar I think.
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Jagtornado
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Freddy V-C
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honeyiscool
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I've been using 9s on my Mustang for a few years. It sounds and plays completely fine. I play a Japanese Mustang, whose tailpiece I have locked, and use upgraded Kluson Deluxe machine heads. My other bandmate plays one of the new 24" scale Duo Sonic HS, I've installed locking tuners on it, and she also has been using 9s for a while. They don't go out of tune, either. You have to stretch strings, and you have to lubricate the nut and saddle, as with any guitar. You also can't use a clamp-on style capo and expect it to still be in tune, you can probably use a screw-on style.Jagtornado wrote:I would like to know. How is the tuning stability with light gauge strings? I have a few cheaper short-scale guitars with a fixed bridge that play wonderfully and sound great. But they become out of tune very easily with 009 or 008 gauge(with heavier strings I do not know because I use 009 mostly)
So before I spent 550 euros on another guitar I appriciate your advice on this.
I was reading some famous guitarist's thoughts on this at some point. He said this. String gauge is not about quality of tone or whatever, but about your touch and how you play. A lot of people play very heavy handed. Those people need thicker strings to sound good. Some people play really light. Those people probably sound better with lighter strings. The problem is if your right hand and left hand play differently: if you attack the strings with your picking hand, but your fretting hand is not strong enough to make heavy strings sound the way they should, or if you have vice grips for a fretting hand but have really light picking hand, then you will never be happy with any gauge of strings. If you play light with both hands, then you'll be fine putting 9s on a 24" scale.
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