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What is the best electric guitar string gauge for solos and what adjustments to the neck and bridge are best?

28 Jan 2010

28 Jan, 2010  best

I am curious, what is the best string gauge for solos?

Also, how do you adjust your neck or bridge to accommodate for the string gauge.. meaning how do you know which adjustments are going to be best?

I use Earnie ball regulars. The high E starts at .10. I wouldn’t go with anything lighter that .09 because you’ll get weaker sound and it tends to not stay in tune as well. Most great soloists play .09 to even .11. Work slowly when changing the action at the bridge to get it just right before it starts to buzz and check the neck for straightness, as well as intonation by moving the individual saddle pieces forward or back to get the 12th fret in tune with the open.

Go to wikipedia or Google for further explanations on intonation, guitar action, and truss rod on neck.

P.S.
Remember, don’t buy anything less than .09 if you want to keep a great sound.

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4 Responses

  1. Big Bam Boom

    2010 Jan 29 1

    Light gauge for solos,they are easy for bending. They usually have the wound strings (EAD) and three plain strings (GBE).
    As far with adjustments I go with a guitar repair man unless you know what you are doing.
    References :

  2. nick G

    2010 Jan 29 2

    low gauge like 9’s and to be super fast they make scalloped necks ….. i’m not experienced with action adjustment so i cant help you there sorry
    References :

  3. leftie1959

    2010 Jan 29 3

    Use .009 or .008 for soloing. I prefer .008 and do have a big hand but, it has more sensitivty. On my Gibson,I use .009 for the fat sound.

    If you put either of the extra light or sper light gaute Ernie Balls, you might need a neck adjustments because when you go from a light gauge to a lighter gauge, the string thickness removes about 150 lb of pressure on the neck.

    Now, put the strings you want…..!!! tune it and look at the neck from the headstock towards the middle of the neck,
    Their should be 1/16" clearance from the bowed neck to the string. If there is more, than turn the truss rod 1/4 turn clockwise.

    If the bowed is the other way, then lossen the truss rod counter -clockwise. Having said this, ususally, the neck straightens and might not need adjustments.

    A close action is always good for finger tapping and arpeggios. If it is too long, raise from the bride and not from the truss rod adjustment. The truss rod has one one adjustment and that is 1/16" clearance as the final result.
    References :
    Studio Session Guitarist.

  4. alex73013

    2010 Jan 29 4

    I use Earnie ball regulars. The high E starts at .10. I wouldn’t go with anything lighter that .09 because you’ll get weaker sound and it tends to not stay in tune as well. Most great soloists play .09 to even .11. Work slowly when changing the action at the bridge to get it just right before it starts to buzz and check the neck for straightness, as well as intonation by moving the individual saddle pieces forward or back to get the 12th fret in tune with the open.

    Go to wikipedia or Google for further explanations on intonation, guitar action, and truss rod on neck.

    P.S.
    Remember, don’t buy anything less than .09 if you want to keep a great sound.
    References :
    wikipedia.org


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