I built a strat from random parts I had laying around and it wasn't quite right so it sat in the corner for a couple years. Yesterday I got inspired to make it play. I did a full setup and filed the nut properly and it is actually a good player now. My question is I cut the nut for 10-48's and I want to switch to 9's or even 8's. Did I just screw myself by filing the nut for the thicker strings?
Re: nut and string gage
Posted: Fri 12/13/24 12:59 pm
by JMPGuitars
No, it doesn't matter in that range much. If you want up to 14s or something silly, that might be a different story.
BTW- 8s are awesome. I was biased against lighter strings for years, but Dunlop sent me some of their Billy Gibbons 8s, and they're awesome.
No, it doesn't matter in that range much. If you want up to 14s or something silly, that might be a different story.
BTW- 8s are awesome. I was biased against lighter strings for years, but Dunlop sent me some of their Billy Gibbons 8s, and they're awesome.
I was biased also. I've been a metal guy forever but I'm just not inspired anymore so I thought I'd switch things up a bit. I'm going to buy some of those strings right now.
Re: nut and string gage
Posted: Sat 12/14/24 12:52 pm
by Bieworm
My pick attack is too heavy fir anything lighter than 11’s
I use the GHS boomers 11-50 or the Ernie Ball 11-48 the most.
The fact that I cut off half of my left thumb in 2007 makes me press my chords harder than I want, so lighter strings are always pitching sharp from that pressure
Re: nut and string gage
Posted: Sat 12/14/24 1:05 pm
by gkwallace
One of the reasons I want lighter strings is I really want to get my vibrato nice. I don't put in the hours on guitar anymore and my hands always hurt from work. Getting old sucks.
My pick attack is too heavy fir anything lighter than 11’s
I use the GHS boomers 11-50 or the Ernie Ball 11-48 the most.
The fact that I cut off half of my left thumb in 2007 makes me press my chords harder than I want, so lighter strings are always pitching sharp from that pressure
That's more of a habit thing than anything else. You could learn to play lighter strings with some practice, but if you're happy with 11s, who cares? Play what you enjoy.
For me, there's almost no thumb necessary with 8s. Certainly doesn't need any pressure. Which is great since I had surgery a few weeks ago and I can already play a little now.
Pick attack is no excuse though. If your pick attack is at 11 all the time, you're missing a lot of subtlety and nuance in your picking hand.
Satriani covers a little of it after about 30 minutes in the lesson video, but the whole video is pretty cool:
If your pick attack is at 11 all the time, you're missing a lot of subtlety and nuance in your picking hand. 