12 Gauge Strings on 24" Scale

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:41 am

Anyone use these? I'm thinking of moving up a gauge to improve sustain, but concerned that it won't make much difference.

She sounds a bit 'plinky' and banjo-like for me, will 12s fix this or is it just inherent in short scale Fenders? Also, does the tension compare to 11s on a full scale?

Thanks

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:01 pm

I used to use 12's on my jag, and I use 11's on my Jazzmaster and Tele; feels about the same. Not sure about the plinkiness, mind.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:22 pm

It's part of the shortscale charm. I don't think going up a gauge will help sustain at all, but you should do it anyway to be manland.

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:40 pm

Must admit I'm really digging teh playability of lighter strings. Manland can wait if it has to.

So I'm guessing on a shorter neck you need more string tension to get the same sustain? Which means in theory we could all play 28" scale, use 7's and do ridiculous quadrouple tone bends that last for days.

James · Post by **James** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:45 pm

The string tension is relative to the scale length as well as the string guage. That's why people say that one guage heavier generally feels the same on Gibson scale (24.75") as the lighter guage does on Fender scale (25.5")

7s on a scale that long will probably feel like 9s or 10s on a standard scale. But you'll dock yourself so many manland points for buyig 7s that you may as well just hang up your guitar playing boots forever.

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:02 pm

More Cowbell · Post by **More Cowbell** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:24 pm

Robroe puts 13's on all his shit.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:36 pm

The dude flosses with flatwounds.

I think some shortscales just sound plinkyplonky due their construction- heavier strings will up the beef a little bit, but not gonna turn it into a LP or something.

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:50 pm

Angus Young, 9 gauge strings:

Stevie Ray Vaughn, 13 gauge strings:

Moar to do with size of hands then manliness.

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:56 pm

Doog wrote:I think some shortscales just sound plinkyplonky due their construction

Ah yes, the neck socket is a pretty loose fit. Didn't think of that.

Looks like I'll have just have to play moar notes.

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:17 pm

You know, I guess I never really noticed any of the "plinkys" but it might just be my playing style, which is to say: HARD.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:21 pm

Hit harder.

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:23 pm

I did, but thent he strigns flew off.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:43 pm

rrrob9 wrote:Angus Young, 9 gauge strings:

Stevie Ray Vaughn, 13 gauge strings:

Moar to do with size of hands then manliness.

But: size of hands is to do with manliness.

rrrob9 · Post by **rrrob9** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:47 pm

But: Angus Young

is moar manner than Stevie Ray Vaughn

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:10 pm

rrrob9 wrote:But: Angus Young is moar manner than Stevie Ray Vaughn

FAIL

aphasiac · Post by **aphasiac** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:03 pm

meh, I use 8's and i'm all man.

It's not the thickness of the strings or the length of the neck; it's what you do with it that counts

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:22 pm

I just use 11's on all of my electrics, and 13's on my acoustic. Works fine for me.

BobArsecake · Post by **BobArsecake** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:53 pm

I used 9s for my Telecaster, 10s for everything else, apart from the 11s on my Jag-Stang 'cause it's set up perfectly for them, and I've not had reason to change them for ages 'cause I don't really play it :s Though Cowbell got me some of those crazy Jazz wound 3rd things that I'm going to try on my Jaguar I think :D

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:57 pm

BobArsecake wrote:I used 9s for my Telecaster, 10s for everything else, apart from the 11s on my Jag-Stang 'cause it's set up perfectly for them, and I've not had reason to change them for ages 'cause I don't really play it :s Though Cowbell got me some of those crazy Jazz wound 3rd things that I'm going to try on my Jaguar I think

I use the wound G 11's on my electrics, to my ears they sound way better than a plain 3rd. In fact, I recently had to buy a pack of plain 3rd 11's a few months back because they were out of the wound 3rds, and I cannot get that guitar to sound right at all.