Will going from 10s to 9s require nut work? Will it change my tone?

Dave Merrill

Dave Merrill

Legend!
Or is that just a "maybe, try it and see" thing?

Slightly widening slots to go up a guage seems like something i could maybe do as a non-luthier, but going the other way means a whole new nut, probably needs a pro.

That's if any adjustment is needed at all.

Right?
 
I was watching an Andy Wood episode where he was changing strings etc, and he showed that every time he changes strings, before he winds it into the tuning peg, he just slides the string into the nut and works it back and forth to check slippery fit. Once it checks out, then he winds it on. Pretty smart, 100% confidence each string is not binding, and if it is, he knows which one, and plans on what to do about it.

Other smart tip was with tremolo guitars, he always tunes the D and G strings first, them tunes the edge E and B, then back to D and G, then to E and A, back to D and G, and so on. The logic is to stop chasing the tuning on the "seesaw" of the tremolo, and approach stable harmony by keeping the tremolo "level" and stable.

Little things we all should know (but don't practice), and helpful.
 
I'm using .08 on multiple guitars which came slotted for 10s. Works fine, zero issues. The Fender Yngwie 46-08 strings are amazing tension-wise btw.
String Tension Calculator.png
 
So, will everything sound all wimpy and thin with 9s?

I used them for many years, then switched to 10s some years back, thinking that tones would be "sturdier" or something, but from here i have no idea how much actual difference it makes to the sound.

I know they'll feel different, tone is less clear to me.

What say you all?
 


In my experience, different gauge strings affect my fingers and effort AND the sound, but, reducing the gauge then adjusting the EQ helps counter the difference in the sound, and really makes my hand happier.

Plus, lighter gauge strings are more responsive to the sound coming from your speakers, so you can get into that "feedback zone" easier.

If you want to try, because you'll be going to lighter strings, change the strings, then adjust the truss rod and intonation because lighter strings will affect both, then wait a day and check them again.

Billy Gibbons and B.B. King used .08s and still got great sound.

That said, I still use a range of gauges, just because it's a macho thing. :-)
 
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Dave Merrill said:
So, will everything sound all wimpy and thin with 9s?

I used them for many years, then switched to 10s some years back, thinking that tones would be "sturdier" or something, but from here i have no idea how much actual difference it makes to the sound.

I know they'll feel different, tone is less clear to me.

What say you all?
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No, it won't make that much difference with just one size smaller. Sting gauge doesn't make that much difference in tone directly once you readjust everything to compensate. Thicker strings will have a tiny bit fatter sound and little bit more output (more steel to interact with the pickup magnets and coils), but it's not a big difference unless you are changing by several sizes. Often adjusting your pickup height a tiny bit will offset most of the difference there. What it can noticeably affect is your playing technique (and fatigue level). Heavy strings let you play more aggressively without pulling notes as sharp or slapping out against the fretboard as much, but bends are tougher so it's a trade off.

If it's a trem guitar, you'll need to adjust your trem springs accordingly as well.
 
Dave Merrill said:
So, will everything sound all wimpy and thin with 9s?

I used them for many years, then switched to 10s some years back, thinking that tones would be "sturdier" or something, but from here i have no idea how much actual difference it makes to the sound.

I know they'll feel different, tone is less clear to me.

What say you all?
Click to expand...

Try it and see. I’m all 9’s now both short and long scales. I never noticed a difference when I changed a guitar from 10 to 9’s.
 
I used to use 11's on a bunch of guitars, when I was playing 6-7 shows a week. I thought they sounded thicker, fatter, etc..

In later years, I began to learn that every guitar has its own character, and some really benefit from lighter strings. So, I moved down to 10's and 9's. I don't really miss the 11's (still have them on a Les Paul), and I find 9's are "zingyer / snappier / more sizzle / more cut through". Plus, I can dial in the fatness if I want.

I also believe EVH used 8's at one stage, so if it works for Ed! I also really like nickle, as opposed to standard steel, or coated.

The vast majority on this is on full locking trems. No nut work needed, but if the 11's gouged grooves into the locking clamps, you might need to change those to avoid thinnner strings sliding through the grooves. If using a standard nut you could apply some graphite to ensure the strings don't catch in the nut.

Also, 9's will exert several less kilos of pressure on the neck, so I would expect the nut end (therefore the action) to come up a bit. Some truss rod tweaking, trem spring tweaking, trem post tweaking would be needed to balance this out.

All much simpler than restringing a piano :)
 
If the nut is properly cut, the string slots will be rounded at the bottom. A smaller-gauge string will still find its way to the bottom center of the slot, right where it should be.
 
Dave Merrill said:
I'm thinking it might take a truss rod adjustment too, but i should probably let it settle out a bit before checking that.
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Don't wait. Tweak the truss rod as soon as you've tuned the new strings to pitch. The change has already been wrought, even if the neck needs to settle in a bit (most don't).

When you lower the string gauge, the neck will have less relief. If you don't adjust the truss rod, you're in danger of fretting out.


You'll also want to intonate your guitar.
 
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Dave Merrill said:
So, will everything sound all wimpy and thin with 9s?
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No. You can still get a full range of dynamics and spank. But you will have to shift your attack downward a bit. As @mr_fender pointed out, you won't be able to hit the strings as hard. It just takes a little more self-control when you hit hard.
 
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