String gauge

[Phil]

What sort of things should I be looking at when determining which gauge of string works best for me? I’m using .009 - .042 at the moment and it feels ok but they seem to lack a bit in sound generation over the heavier gauge I used on my last guitar. Would the style of music being played matter when determining the gauge?

[The Fury]

I think I'm right in saying that lighter gauges(0.09s or 0.08s) are better for bending and soloing. Heavier gauges are better for rhythm guitar which is why acoustics usually have 0.11s or 0.12s for the top E string.

So if you play mostly chords you might want a heavier gauge, but I'm sure there are some people who like 0.12s and play a lot of lead solos and stuff. So it really comes down to personal taste and which ones you like better.

[smfulla]

Marc Seal, the instrumental guitarist and gutiar teacher I told you guys about before uses 0.11's. And he gets nice as tone.
Well in determining what gauge is best for you, you should consider what feels and sounds best to you. I mean you can play all sorts of music with different gauge strings, it's just a matter of preference

[Pezcore]

well...

i run 11's on my acoustic 12 string (which i keep soley for rhythem work)
and 9's on my electric 6 string, which i keep soley for lead work, soloing etc.

so yeah, i use different gauges dependent on what style im playing

also i sometimes increase my electric to 10's if im playing stuff which requires massive tone in place of daft bending

[ESP_Viper]

I base my string gauge on whatever tuning I am in. If I am in standard a set of .010-.046 does fine, it also does ok down to drop D down a full step. It would be better to go up a little bigger, but it wasn't too buzzy. I just use .010-.046, and I am currently tuned to standard, and I do down a half step as well. Heavier gauge tuned down will be fine for lead or rhythm playing.