Higher stopbar tailpiece or lower gauge strings?

[crazytrain513]

I’ve been playing my EVH Striped Series guitar tuned to e-flat more recently with 9-gauge strings on it and have noticed that when I go back to my Les Paul with 10s in standard tuning, bending the strings feels like I’m trying to bend iron.

I think playing the slinkier EVH has either a) reduced my finger strength or b) made me lazy as I am enjoying the reduced effort required to bend and playing with a lighter touch.

In the past I have always played 10s on my Les Pauls with low action and the tailpiece screwed directly into the body.

This got me thinking - in order to make my Les Pauls easier to play, which do you think would be a better option? By “better” I mean, least sacrifice of tone and increased playability:

1) raise the tailpiece
2) go down to 9 gauge strings

In the past, I used to always feel 9-gauge strings on a LP in standard tuning were too slinky and that the Les Paul wouldn’t stay in tune as well and lost some low end. However, it has been awhile since I’ve played a LP with 9s.

I also saw this picture of Slash’s LP recently which showed his stopbar a 1/4 inch off the body, and a picture of Randy Rhoads’ Les Paul where it was even higher and they both played 10 and 11 gauge strings.

Then again, we have all heard the stories of Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page and their 8 gauges.

What do you think?

PS - I do not like the feel or look of topwrapping…

 

[kelsodeez]

Try out a set of the dadario 9.5. They are the perfect balance of slinkyness without feeling too flimsy on a LP scale length.

 

[Grenville]

Costs nothing to try your raised tailpiece idea.

I've always had a half-gauge string difference between my Strat and LP, so the 9.5 gauge strings idea would be good to try too. But if you allow for the Strat being a semitone flat, maybe going down a full gauge to 9s on the LP is the way to go.

 

[Brek]

I use hybrid slinkys on my les paul, with tail raised a bit.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

If you don't like the feel of a top wrap, raising the tp may not be the answer (it's a similar feel). Perhaps start with the string swap.

 

[01GT Eibach]

Yeah, but ... when you go from playing Les Pauls to the 9-42 guitars, then you are like Superman on the strings. All my Les Pauls are 10-46, while all of my non-Les Pauls are 9-42. Personally, I like how playing Les Pauls with 10-46 make my fingers stronger. I never feel "wow, these strings feel so heavy" when I pick up one of my Les Pauls, but I sure notice how easy it is playing a non-Les Paul after playing a Les Paul. 10-46 for my Les Pauls is where it ends for me, though. There are many that play heavier gauge strings on LPs, and I have zero interest to follow suit in any fashion.

 

[JMP]

I’d put a set of 9-42 on your Les Paul and play them for a few weeks before rendering an official opinion. It’s a cheap experiment. Give it a go!

 

[gball]

I’d put a set of 9-42 on your Les Paul and play them for a few weeks before rendering an official opinion. It’s a cheap experiment. Give it a go!

Absolutely this. I switched back to 9's last year after playing 10's for about 25 years and all I can say is I regret not doing it much sooner. It took about 2 weeks to completely acclimate to the feel but once I did they made everything better; better feel, better tone, more dynamic, more expressive, everything.

 

[Skit]

I just put a set of Regular Slinky's 10-46 on one of my Specials which replaced a set of D'addario 10's. I am amazed at how easy the Slinky's bend compared to the D'addario's.

 

[smk506]

Ernie ball make a 9-46 set that rings all my bells. I never liked 9 gauge either, but when I got a guitar with some about a year ago, they just really grew on me.

I don’t think there’s enough difference in tone to really worry about it, but it does make for an easier playing guitar, for me.

That said, slack up your current slings and raise the tail piece! You could be done with that leg of the experiment in less time than it takes to really think about it.

 

[Christosterone]

Two words: Bigs Bee

 

[Dolebludger]

I don’t pretend to be an expert on set-up. I can only state my own experience in raising or lowering the TP on an LP. we are talking about changing the string angle over the bridge, assuming the bridge height is constant. The flatter the angle, the less effort is needed to fret and bend strings. But I find that a too-flat angle reduces primary sustain. A sharper angle seems toincrease sustain and improve primary tone, because there is more string pressure on the bridge to transmit ti the body. The trade off is that a sharper angle makes fretting and bends, harder because the strings can’t move or stretch behind the bridge. These changes are not usually dramatic, but I can hear and feel them.

An example of this is problems some have with SGs. Because the SG neck is not set at an angle down from the body, which has no arch, some find that if the bridge is set low enough to produce a decent action, the TP must be set as low as possible to avoid rattle at the bridge and undesirable tone. And on some models, even that doesn’t produce he desired action and tone.

This info doesn’t tell the OP exactly what to do to solve his problem. But it does give some parameters for experimentation.

 

[JMP]

Absolutely this. I switched back to 9's last year after playing 10's for about 25 years and all I can say is I regret not doing it much sooner. It took about 2 weeks to completely acclimate to the feel but once I did they made everything better; better feel, better tone, more dynamic, more expressive, everything.

I had the same experience. After using 10 and 11 gauge strings for years, I tried 9s numerous times and I always cut them off after a few hours because they felt super light and unusable. But about a year ago, I decided to try 9s again and committed to trying them for a month…no changing. Now, I freaking love ‘em! It’s a matter of technique and feel. Once I acclimated to them and figured out how to play them, I’m sold.

At the end of the day, don’t be afraid to experiment and play whatever strings work for you.

 

[Chuckracer]

I just tried 9.5's on one on my LP's and they're great. Tailpiece all the way down. I switched from 10's top wrapped and like it better.

 

[Dolebludger]

I use 9-42s on my LP and all my other 24 3/4” scale guitars. No real tuning problems. If it goes sharp after string change or not playing it for a time, the problem is probably binding at the nut. This can be fixed by lube, nut replacement, or simply cutting the slots correctly. If the guitar goes flat (whether it has new strings and if it is played frequently) the problem is likely with the tuners. They are slipping. Most Grover (and Grover type) tuners kave a Phillips head screw at the tip of the tuning keys. Tightening that should fix this problem. If a player likes 9-42s down tuned on 25” or 25 1/2” scale guitars, going to 10-46s at concert tuning will naturally feel like a bit of a stretch! Useng 9.5s is a good way to go, but if you are comparing the feel to a down tuned guitar. (even with a longer scale), the 9.5s may still feel too tight. I use 9s on all my electric guitars, with differing scale lengths, nothing is down tuned, and no problem.

 

[rjwilson37]

I have used the 9-46 for a long time, since I don't play a lot and like the easier bending on the G and B string. But, I decided to go with 10's when I had my Lazarus setup, so with the slightly bigger neck compared to slim taper necks and the heavier strings, I was hoping to strengthen my fingers. I have been playing a lot more lately, switching between guitars, but playing a lot on the Lazarus, and I am now finding better tone with the 10's on the higher strings as well as finding the 9's to be to slinky and loose. I am now going back to 10-46 on almost all of my Les Paul's.

 

[Gibsonrocknroll]

My tailpiece is 1/4" off the body and I use Ernie Ball Super Slinky's.

 

[Christosterone]

im sure y’all know this but joe walsh setup video is always a great reminder of how to setup action…

some of my guitars have different string setups depending on pups and whether it has 2 or 3 humbucker configuration or 12 strings….this applies to all lester scenarios…

 

[Dolebludger]

We all have to use string gauges and brands that fit our hands and fingers and playing style. Ditto for neck carves. There is no “one size fits all” here. But I would think that a player who uses 9-42s on a 25/12 neck scale down tuned should be right at home using the same gauge on a LP with 24 3/4 scale at concert pitch. Unless, of course, something else is amiss.

 

[crazytrain513]

Thank you guys for all of the info and tips! I really enjoyed reading through all your personal experiences and thoughts and think I have a good summation here:

1) Raising the tailpiece a tad will probably help a bit and won’t hurt sustain noticeably

2) Moving down to 9.5 or 9 gauge strings would be the logical move given how comfortable I feel with a 25 3/4 inch scale with 9s on it tuned a half step down.

3) Some purple have moved down to 9s and wished they had done so sooner

Honestly, I’ve always played 10s and just assumed I had to work hard to get those 1 1/2 step bends that are sometimes required but the EVH guitar has obviously spoiled me!

I think I’ll start with raising the tailpiece a bit and then from there, if it still feels like too much tension, bolt it down to the body again and start experimenting with lighter strings.

@Skit i also found it interesting how you mentioned Ernie Ball strings felt better to you than D’Addario. Honestly, I’ve tried Ernie Ball a few times in the past and did not care for them much but now that you say this, I think I may give them another go as well!