I tried Stevie Ray Vaughan's absolutely CRAZY guitar setup...

[@AlexHamilton]

It's good you mentioned that they were a custom gauge! Too many youtubers stick on a regular set of 13s and wonder why it sounds terrible. Another thing to bare in mind is that he used the fat end of a Fender medium (or equivalent) pick. It sort of glides across the strings, creates a lot less string movement and takes some of the strain off your left hand. That balanced tension set gets you pretty dam close and are actually quite easy to play when you get used to them!

[@18JR78]

I was looking for this comment. 👏🏽

[@samwestguitar]

Agreed, I thought the same whilst researching before I shot this video! Interesting stuff with the pick too! Perhaps an underestimated factor in guitar setups ! Thanks for watching Alex and apologies for the delayed response !

[@18JR78]

You did it right 😎

[@18JR78]

String joy makes this string set btw

[@TheMasonator777]

If it sounds terrible, it’s the player, not the strings.

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

I always think about the early blues players with a cotton bale wire nailed on their porch. And cheap guitars with heavy strings and bowed necks and ridiculous high action. They played through the pain and made music with great attack or subtlety, as they desired. I saw Freddie King play and saw the immense strength in his hands which, like SRV, was a vital component of his setup. On the other hand, BB King is said to have played 8's and his tone was legendary!

[@samwestguitar]

For sure, I think something tangibly cool about having to fight with the instrument. Feels abit more raw. But like you said BB played very light as did Hendrix😆 I guess it’s about the player and not the strings, who’d have thought it ayy! 😆

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

up through the 60's the only gauge of strings they had was 13's. all those old blues guitar players used 13's. this is just another example of modern man becoming weak. Hendrix was the first guy that could get ahold of lighter strings.

[@robertmitchell2178]

Stevie's jumbo frets had a good deal to do with being able to play such heavy strings. Not the standard Fender medium jumbo frets.

[@Dudeitsmeee]

It should also be very much noted that Stevie had huge strong hands. that makes a huge difference.

[@leesloan8216]

​@@Dudeitsmeeethat and he played a step down in E flat

[@tomsanders5584]

@@leesloan8216 Sam noted around 5:00 that he was tuned down to Eb.

[@timbennett6644]

Great overdrive tone. What did you have on?

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

@@Dudeitsmeeehe had strong hands because he played high action .13's

[@Tsudkyk]

I personally like heavy gauge strings for the tension. The added tension helps me bend more accurately just by feel alone. I also have a heavy picking hand and higher tension strings seem to have a more focused tone when picking aggressively, especially on the lower strings. String gauge has an effect on the magnetic field of the pickup and have a higher output, and slight differences in harmonics. From my experiences I’ve learned a thicker strings help with creating a tone rich in harmonics, it can tighten up bass frequencies and mellow out “ice picky” treble frequencies.

[@EnigmaticAnamoly]

More tension will always create a better tone (in most people's opinions). I *wish* I could get away with it but i have wuss fingers and need lighter gauge strings lol

[@Billiamwoods]

​​​@@EnigmaticAnamolyThe differences are fairly small, but from what tests I've seen, lighter strings tend to sound clearer, which most people seem to enjoy from my experience. Obviously, it's situational and subjective, but you do generally want a clean and sharp sound. I personally don't really pay attention to that, I just use 10s mainly because it splits the difference between 11s for Eb drop C# and 9s for E standard

[@HUGEHARDTHICKANDVEINY]

@@Billiamwoods I've seen quite a few demonstrations of that! Also, when mixing the bass guitar is generally covering the bass frequencies while a lot of that gets EQ'd out on the guitar side of things to not fight the bass. As for bending more accurately, at first it was way easier for me on a set of 9s but I got used to using this much looser set on a different guitar tuned to C to the point where I prefer it and tend to undershoot the right pitch on tighter strings. Just like increasing mouse sensitivity, I got used to not overshooting things and overall putting less physical effort into playing. Opens up other things too, like wider vibrato and bending up by thirds or even fourths!

[@voyxu143]

GHS Nickel Rockers are the exact strings Stevie used after Rene started working on Stevie's guitars. You can still buy them. If you want to go hardcore, you just change out the high E in the set to a .13 to play the original set. As far as the action goes, Rene has a vid where he sets up a guitar just like Stevie's.

[@voyxu143]

@@theofficialdiamondlou2418 I have played lots of GHS. I heard back in the day Randy Rhoads used them.

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

@@voyxu143 they’ve been around since the 60’s. Their durability is unmatched. For me it was about availability , I got really tired of ALL the guitar stores NEVER having the same size from one week to the next. Which meant readjusting the neck ,and resetting the intonation with each pack. I called everyone ,and got nothing but recordings. Until I called GHS. They actually answered the phone. And to my surprise it was the owner of the company. (Blew my mind ) After about a 30min conversation he had me added to the artist list (unpublished ) so I could order direct with the artist discount. And set me up with my own goto guy (@ artist relations ) so now I just get 40-100 packs at a time. So I always have spares up the wazoo. I also order extra singles in the .10 (in case of breakage that only happened 4 times in 3 years ) and .26’s because the wrapping tends to get cut thru before the other strings are bad. Appreciate the response. 🤟

[@Ben6Strings]

GHS Nickel Rockers are great! I use 11s and I love them

[@5150show]

Cool video, had to sub , cheers from New Zealand

[@samwestguitar]

Awesome, thank you so much mate! Really appreciate the support! 😁

[@Bingopete71]

I once spoke with a guy in a SRV tribute band who used 11s to get in the SRV realm and complained between sets about hand pain. He also said something to the affect of Stevie didn't have to play 3 hr sets each night. 😂 I quickly reminded him of how Stevie made it big... playing 3 hours a night and practicing all the frigging time.

[@samwestguitar]

Haha😆 yeah, i think Stevie was an absolute freak of nature. He was a powerhouse of a guitar player! Thanks for watching!

[@Childofbhaal]

Even as a fairly beginner and bad guitarist playing on 11’s is not bad in the slightest. I play 11-50 and can play for hours without cramping or anything. Standard tuning too.

[@mmaviator22]

@@Childofbhaal Yea you can now because you said it yourself, a beginner. All you are doing is destroying your hands and wrist and in 5 to 10 years will have carpeltunnel. Be smart and go down, 11 to 50 in std is just dumb and needlessly hurting yourself. Stevie only realized this too late and string gauge is a fallacy and has been disproven many times so, just my 20yr of advice to you, go down before you start getting shooting pain down your hands and wrist and your hand/wrist starts to go numb.

[@Childofbhaal]

@@mmaviator22 Thank you for your insight! I’m going to go down to 10’s next restring. I think it would be a nice balance between 9’s and 11. 9’s just felt too rubber bandy to me.

[@shable1436]

If you do 8balls each set then you know, I'm a 30 year player that played heavies for years until I could do everything he did, but it still didn't matter, only tone is same, you actually don't need to do that if you figure out your style enough to not break strings

[@kathyyoung9539]

Tone was more important to Stevie Ray then anything else. ❤ He had 1inch holes in his finger's. He alway's brought his Little kit with me that consists of Bakein' Powder Super Glue and a nail file. Took with everywhere he went. He would lose his calasis and skin graft his own finger's so he could play. He did that quite a bit. The owner of the El Macombo and the Manager thought it was bullshit. Till he went back in t he office and fixed his finger's. They just stood there and stared. They couldn't believe what they were seein'. Stevie Ray just laughed and said gotta fix my finger's or I won't be able to play. So I gotta do what I gotta do. I think I paid my due's don't you? Stevie laughed all the way back to the stage to start his second show. ❤ MY Brother was a Trip a Real Kool Cat. Stevie Ray didn't play the guitar Stevie Ray was the Guitar. That's what made him the Greatest Guitar Player on the Face of the Planet. ❤ I Miss his Crazy Shit Every Simgle Day. I loved Em with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL. ❤️ I ALWAY'S WILL TILL THE DAY I DIE ❤❤❤❤

[@mindthependulum6245]

I grew up in Dallas where was from. I used the same guitar shop he did sometimes. I met him at a record signing and he was very nice. He was kinda short but he also had enormous hands for a man of any size, especially a man who was well under 6 feet tall. His huge mutant hands has to have had a strong affect on his sound too.

[@pubbiehive]

Buckethead is anther guitar player that has this psysical advantage, although he is really tall as well.

[@HektorBandimar]

People like SRV and Jimi Hendrix were special, perhaps because they had assets that ordinary people don't have, as you said, SRV had big hands and so did Jimi Hendrix, it always amazed me how he could ever fret a chord cleanly with his huge fingers, but he did!

[@georgeburns8447]

He didn't have huge fingers. He was only 5'10". They both tuned to Eb. It's easy to play with thick strings when your guitar is tuned down like that.

[@rogalaphotography]

You may want to watch Rick Beat's video about string gauges and whether or not they really do make that big of a tonal difference using heavier gauge strings. He mentions SRV and that he eventually dropped back down to 11's or even 10's. He developed tendonitis in his hands because of the heavier gauge strings.

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

Everyone now wants to believe Stevie ended up playing lighter strings because they can't be bothered to work up to a good tone with big strings

[@rogalaphotography]

@@jupitermoongauge4055 Haha ok dude! Do your research before spewing diarrhea out of your mouth!

[@joonasvuomajoki2636]

Now just imagine how much better SRV could have been if he played with a playable guitar.

[@samwestguitar]

Haha true that😆 thanks for watching!

[@travissexsmith5362]

He wasn't forced to play this setup. He just liked to diggggg in

[@SnakePool]

He didn’t need a shredders setup… he wasn’t a shredder. Nothing he did was considered shred. Buuutt…. He had incredible technique to accomplish what he did!! Aaaand he played with the fat sides of the picks to get that scratchy rhythm sound.

[@jt4843]

@@PPJ9274that’s absurd. Matt mills and Jason Richardson both have super heavy picking attack and play on very light strings… don’t know how you came up with that idea when they are definitely more technically proficient and melodically sound than SRV and almost certainly because he played that rediculous garbage

[@toddwilliamson2651]

@@jt4843 haha...that's like saying strawberries are better than onions, I mean, I doubt a French Fried Strawberry is any good and I am certain that Onion Shortcake would be disgusting. Also...pretty sure Jason Richardson drives an Amazon truck for a living between NAMM shows.

[@MisterTee]

Martinez has commented on the strings SRV used later on in his career. He was down to a 10-52 set due to various hand issues

[@GCKelloch]

Thicker strings generally have less upper harmonics, but the output is higher due to more mass. The increased tension also means they don't get pulled as sharp when plucked hard, but the upper harmonics are also sharper so there's more harmonic clashing when harmonic distortion is applied. High gain tones usually roll off by ~2kHz anyway, so it's not really an issue.

[@davidfaustino4476]

Yeah? Go roll off everything over 2k on your guitar rig.. get back to us with how you think it sounds..

[@thedownsides]

The main reason SRV used such a heavy gauge was not tone. It was his extremely hard picking and his sledge hammer strumming that was regularly breaking "regular" gauges.

[@shinzontheta]

It's why I started playing 12s as a teenager. Nowadays I'm considering going to 9s.

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

yeah. if you play like stevie on 9s you'll break a string every couple of minutes.

[@shanemcconnell1736]

I shook Stevie Ray Vaughan’s hand at the El Macombo in Toronto, he wasn’t very tall, but his hands were monstrous, I have big hands, they were dwarfed by his hands, that’s how he played that string gauge

[@MrCptDomingues]

I absolutely love 11s~12s (or even 13s) and really really high action on guitar. I feel that bending turns a lot more rewarding and precise. It wears you out quicker, but seems more enjoyable to my playing. You fight the guitar and play like a damn horse. It's amazing!

[@AverageHuman7026]

You fight the guitar and play like a damn horse? That sounds dumb as hell lol

[@miket.220]

Stevie played a set of .13s most of his life. But the last few years his guitar tech slowly lowered the gauge because Stevie needed the relief as time went on. By the last year of his life he was playing .10s, as I’ve read.

[@mikelundquist4596]

I thought Rene said 11s, but you are so right.

[@threeleggedman]

Check out Frank Marino. He played with light strings. Eight on the high E. And he played an SG. He liked it loose and in E most of the time, but his tone is just as massive as SRV's.

[@brianobrian9334]

Plus one for Frank..not enough recognition at all. Frank has had a strong tone since the late 70s. He mods and builds a lot of his own amps and pedals. He will be releasing his own makings soon.

[@RickMcCargar]

Saw an interview in which Stevie's finger-tip callus came off, and they used super glue to rip one off of his techs palm to glue onto Stevie's finger.

[@samwestguitar]

That’s crazy🤯 what a maniac lol. Thanks for watching!

[@myworms]

The exact strings he used in his last years was (at the time) a set of custom GHS nickel rollerwound strings, now sold as the GHS 1300 set. The gauge is too heavy for my liking (low E is super thick), but I recommend the mediums.

[@samwestguitar]

Ahh cool, I’ll check them out! Thank you for watching!! 😁

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

Rollerwound are also called Burnished ..

[@mikelundquist4596]

It seems I remember Rene Martinez saying that towards the end he was using 11-52

[@myworms]

@@mikelundquist4596 yeah I think he destroyed his fingertips in the mid 80’s

[@mikelundquist4596]

@@myworms man, I played 12-56 on my strat for less than a year in the 80s. It sounded great, but it destroyed my frets and literally ripped up my fingers. I met him at a pizza joint once and though I'm almost a foot taller, his hands were huge. Like Michael Phelps was designed for swimming, Stevie was designed to play guitar.

[@joeschmo4066]

I’d like to add something from an observation. Whenever Stevie broke a string the guitar hardly went out of tune. That’s because he had the screws holding the spring tension on the bridge block close to the body surface. The characteristic of the springs comes into play as well when bending a string. Notice that the lower strings are pretty heavy and serve to hold tension on the five springs so that they are already stretched somewhat. I found that a pre-stretched spring is much easier to stretch further than a “cold” unstretched spring when bending strings, in my experience. Adjusting the screws to put the most tension on the springs allowed me to use those heavy gauge strings comfortably (watch the bridge move when you bend a string). But of course, one needs to build up one’s hand strength as well as setting up the guitar for heavy strings.

[@samiam7342]

When Stevie was learning the guitar and growing up, he had practically no money, he could not afford to buy equipment that would give him the BIG sound he wanted, using the heaviest gage strings was all he could afford to get the sound bigger and thicker than all of the other Blues players around...............Genius!!!!

[@nojuanatall3281]

Shouldn't thick strings not break as easily? If you're broke you want what you have to go the furthest it can.

[@TRWilley]

One missing component - Stevie used GHS Nickel Rocker semi-flat pure nickel strings - they have a warmer, smoother sound but also more tension on the wound strings - you can actually get the exact set he used towards the end of his life as he had dropped down to .011 on the high E - they are called the "Lo-Tune" set.

[@whatsmynameagain4839]

I read somewhere that he was actually switching to lighter and lighter gauges towards the end of his life, as he had a lot of problems with his tendons

[@Scorhos]

Step by step was recorded with .11 strings . Maybe his problems with powder was that did he uses heavy gauge strings for the second part of his carreer ( the drugs was defying the pain that the regular playing .13 or bigger strings was causing to him ) and when he got out of Riviera paradise he simply felt that to play insanely with .13 was just possible when he was high. Because he wont get back to drugs and booze he just started to set all stuff with .11.

[@RickMcCargar]

SRV worked his way up over the years..he didn't jump from 10s or 11s. He built up the tendons/muscles in his fingers/hand/wrist over years.

[@caryd67]

I might be mixing up stories, but I believe it was BB King who picked up Stevie’s guitar, played a little bit, and said “why you working so hard?”

[@joshuahenry7482]

BB King was talking to Billy Gibbons when he said that!

[@caryd67]

@@joshuahenry7482 ahhhhhh…. Well hey, it’s not too hard to mix up all the legendary blues stories 😁

[@Brookzplayzmuzic]

Yup it was b.g not bb

[@Goodsales23]

Yet again another solid video! I was not a SRV fan when I was younger but I did grow to appreciate him!! Thicker than 10s for me... no way lol!! Thanks for the info!!

[@samwestguitar]

Thank you so much watching and leaving a positive comment! Having tried the 13’s I have to say I agree😆 any small change in tone is not worth the struggle!

[@jerryhorton5708]

I did notice the .13’s had richer harmonic content. I used to play .11’s but I now subscribe to the BB King theory - no need to work that hard… SRV was incredibly hard on equipment altogether because his playing was so brutally physical. I would imagine that .13 set evolved as a way to keep the guitar in tune as much as possible

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for watching Jerry! Yes I agree on the harmonic content and the same with BB king statement. I feel like any tiny gain in tone isn’t worth destroying your fingers and making your guitar hard to play!

[@Louzahsol]

I run 8s on my sg and everyone is always surprised when they play it because they break strings and push them out of tune like they are death gripping the neck. I don't really have those issues and i play with a really wide vibrato and big bends

[@jerryhorton5708]

@@Louzahsol nice! I’m a bit too ham fisted for anything that light, but I’m comfortable with hybrid 9’s. I mostly play balanced 10’s on my instruments. Suits my style and the instruments seem to be stable and have good response

[@patrickthomas8890]

I think the gauge of strings (and tone wood for that matter) make virtually no difference in sound. It’s just how it feels to play

[@jerryhorton5708]

@@patrickthomas8890 after 52 years of playing, I disagree to both. Tonewood is a huge factor in acoustics and subtly influential in electrics. String gauge does make a sonic difference simply because larger gauge strings impart more information to the pickups, although you are correct that they change your physical approach to the instrument. Just my experience - YMMV

[@kevinoconnor2921]

Been playing D'addario EXL 145 - 12guage strings tuned in standard E for 20 years. To enjoy heavy strings, big frets & strong hands are required. Also, if a player is "choking out" chords, jumping to heavier strings will help eliminate that.

[@DavidWilliams-bm8jh]

Don’t forget that he also equipped his tremolo with all five springs installed.

[@samwestguitar]

Very true, I should have mentioned! It didn’t cross my mind because I always have 5 in the back anyway! Thanks for watching!

[@GucciPonderosa]

Great video! I wish your channel well!

[@yomommasc]

Buy the GHS Low-Tune srv set. Its called "GHS .1300". It comes with .11 gauge high e strings because that's what he used later in his career so you need to buy .13 gauge strings separately, which GHS also sells. Its the same EXACT strings SRV used. Combine that with high action, Texas specials, Fender medium picks held sideways so you use the rounded part to pick and a Tubescreamer 808 and you got it.

[@southernpride2003]

I'm 21 I've been playing since I was 4 I started off on acoustic and then I built my electric with my grandpa in his garage when I was 12 and as someone with big hands I understand the struggle of light gauge strings the lightest I can play is 9.5s I usually play 13s here's the crazy part of the my bottom strings are usually in the 30s so my own custom sets would be 13-32/38 sometimes 38 I customize my own sets I prefer flatwounds I like my tops heavy and bottoms light my hands are weird

[@markkasick]

I believe Stevie was playing 11-58 later on. He had 5 springs in and the bridge was decked to the body. I am not a luthier but I don't think you can just swap in strings in a jump like that without doing. complete set up.... and the bridge floating vs nailed to the body would be a difference. One of the hairiest tones I ever heard in person was Frank Zappa in 88 or 89, about 30 feet away. OMG incredible. Then I found out he played 8's and as low as 7's. Billy Gibbons has set of strings that are ridiculously low. But , I do think your playing sounds great.

[@gretschguy864]

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top uses 8’s and sounds just as good. It is all in the hands, baby! Play what you got. It’s all good!

[@nica2411]

He uses 7s actually

[@georgeburns8447]

The reason he was able to play with such heavy gauge strings is because he tuned to Eb. Big difference in slack between standard tuning and going down a half a step. I've been playing 10's in standard tuning for over 40 years and will never change. 8's and 9's are way too light for me. I can barely feel the first two strings under my fingers with gauges that light.

[@massimos6863]

Great video Great playing, your right ❤ 🔥

[@ricardog.s2505]

I'm not a blues guy, but when I was learning guitar / bass in the early 2010s I always used .11 and .12 strings on my guitars (.11 and .12 used to be cheaper in my country due lower demand), I got so used to it that years later D tuning became my "de facto" tuning as I felt it was easier to play and sounded heavier and darker My mind was blown after around 10 years of playing I tried regular .10 strings and felt so easy to play and I thought "this is so loose! why people would use lighter strings?" now I still use .11 or .10-.52 on my guitars, weirdly on my basses I used regular .45 to .105 for over 13 years until this year when I switched to .40 to .100, so moral of the day is just use what it feels better to you, even if it is something unusual or "harder to play" I mean just look at J Mascis action on his guitars, you could put a hand under the strings lmao

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for the comment and for watching! It’s amazing how accustomed you get to different sting gauges!

[@gsuderman]

Great video. I've gone as high as 11s and Eb but had a lay off from playing for a while. 10s it is now. BTW - That Tele headstock on your Strat is uber cool. What's the story on that and what led you to go that way? Again, great video.

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and leave such a nice comment! I have to say the 13’s wont be staying on that guitar for long.😆 Personally anything more than 10’s are abit labour intensive for me but i have enjoyed 11’s the few times I’ve tried them! As for the telle neck I just wanted something a little different, the guitar is a bit of a partscaster and I really loved the neck profile on the telle neck so I thought why not! That being said, I discovered why not when I realised that telle necks don’t have a curved heel like strats do so I had to square off the neck heal on the body so it’d fit but it turned out okay in the end!😆 Once again, thanks for watching! 😁

[@13opacus]

I remember reading a magazine article in the 90’s where Stevie used to put superglue on the ends of his left hand fingertips and glue them to the skin on his right arm to tear skin off to heal splits in his fingertips! This of course may not be true but it is a great story :)

[@DonaldRickert]

I play .011-.054 (with a plain .022 G) in standard tuning, and your fingers get used to it. It's not that it's some sort of magical thing. You build up the strength in your fingers, and it becomes no big deal after a bit.

[@clare5684]

that's such a great video idea, especially loved the impression😆

[@samwestguitar]

Thank you!! ❤️ i also children birthday parts and bar mitzvahs ;)

[@tomcomber3723]

Never clicked on a video so fast 😂😂😂. Love the playing and the hat

[@samwestguitar]

Haha thanks man, it’s gotta be done 😆

[@fronkthetooonk]

I kind of understand why he played absurdly thick gauge strings and high action. If you were as jacked up on coke as he was, you'd also have an absurdly strong grip

[@samwestguitar]

😆

[@thecreativeguitarlounge]

Was just going to mention that myself 😆 In a biography I read he was said to have mixed the stuff with Jack which he's take swigs of during gigs. This avoided the obvious white tash look but resulted in serious stomach problems when it re-crystalised in his gut. Still, what a player he was.

[@S2Sturges]

I went through a phase in the 70's where I played Gibson Sonomatics 12-56 with a plain 17, most ly to emulate two of my guitar influences, Pete Townshend and Steve Howe, talk about chalk and cheese. I did get both my Les Paul and Telecaster set up properly, but still, they were murder for the first month or so, eventually got bearable, but never comfortable with them. At least no one ever bummed your guitar to up and jam ..lol... I ditched them for ten's after around 18 months

[@vladimirlopez7840]

SRV was a very small man at 5’5”. His hands were big for his size but not big compared to the average guy at 5’10 to 6’0 feet. SRV’s jumbo frets played a big part in being able to use the strings he did although he moved on to a more standard set of strings later on.

[@BreadSlocum]

I hear a slight difference too. But you did say the 10's were old. A new set of 10's compared to a new ser of 13's to be sure & fair. Either way you are getting done great tone! Keep up the great work!

[@samwestguitar]

Yeah 100% not the most highly controlled experiment lol. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

I only use GHS Burnished Nickel custom sets. And as an artist for the company I’m able to create my own sets. This is my own set ,and not available in packs ,or in stores. Although the David Gilmore signature is close . I use a .10/.14/.18/.26/.38/.50. You’ll notice I chose even intervals for each step up. .04 for the solids ,and .12 on the wounds . With a .08 between the two. Very “toney” yet still playable .. But after 53 years I’ve never found a more reliable , or longer lasting string . And to top it off the Burnished Nickel is almost as quiet as flatwounds . 🤠🎸🎶🤟

[@kathyyoung9539]

Anything Stevie Ray Vaughan. That's All I listen 2. ❤❤❤❤

[@jasonladd6400]

He was a small man but had mighty hands that ran the full gamut of emotion from subtle nuance to room shaking power.

[@LouieTaylorMusic]

Amazing video Sam! It's so great to see how much progress you've made so far!

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks so much man!

[@frankpaws]

14 gauge was the top, mostly 13. He did superglue his calluses back on his finger tips.

[@jeremydidonato]

I used to put the D’Addario NYXL 12-54s tuned to Eb on my strats (I still have one with this set on it) but it requires quite the precision setup to keep it from bending the neck out of shape lol. It was interesting to see the different gauges he used in comparions to the 12 16 20 32 42 54 of what I was using. I’ve equipped my current main strat with the nyxl 11-52 and I have to be careful not to over bend and snap the high strings because of the tension I was used to lol. Thanks for the video and explanation, always fascinated to hear more about my favourite guitar player.

[@kaindog1007]

I have the Fender Jimi Hendrix 10-38 set on my Strat. Love them.

[@Lank2thepast]

That pic of them playing NES is so awesome

[@AVM-Music]

I use 13’s on my Telecaster Absolutely love it

[@kevinmarx7093]

I think the 13s sounded a little bit thinner distorted. Go watch Rick Beato’s String Episode. It’s worth it. But at the End it depends on the person. When it feels good - it sounds good 👍

[@MrIkesimba]

This is the right answer

[@MoosicDude]

There's a bit more snap in the bass response on the low E with the 13s, maybe a little snappier, but that could just be new strings. It's very subtle and I definitely wouldn't hear it in a full band mix. I expect the differences are really in how the heavier gauge makes you play.

[@frankstephenson1746]

Ran 12’s for years. Thicker tone in a 3 piece. Hand fatigue. Now 11’s Medium action Narrow tall frets Happy.

[@stephenperlowski4738]

Awesome video! I think the higher action also impacts the tone.

[@samwestguitar]

Thank you so much! Agreed!

[@DeeTee79]

Cool vid, Did you have to file the nut slots to accommodate the thicker strings?

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for watching! I didn’t file them because I didn’t want to keep the 13’s on the guitar forever and I didn’t want to have to buy a new nut when I went back to 10’s! I certainly would have filed it if I was permanently changing to 13’s the strings weren’t fully sat in the slots haha.

[@DeeTee79]

@@samwestguitar makes sense. I didn’t think about that. If it’s not permanent I wouldn’t want to go through the swap either.

[@davebouwman2722]

I think one key point you are missing from your experiment is that SRV using real tube amplifiers. Using the thicker string gauges will achieve a different sound out of those amplifiers. Since he is pushing the front end of these amps to achieve his overdriven sound, the thicker strings will provide more output. There are also benefits with tuning stability and with the string tension that allows for a faster attack. Things were a bit different back then. Todays technology with amplifiers, modelers, hotter pickups, etc. I don't see the need for modifying your guitar to achieve the SRV tone.

[@stratjed]

Playing for absolutely packed clubs every night and doing pounds of blow and drinking bottles of booze. Giant frets tuned down a half step 13 ga. and paint peeling loud! It was a moment in time. Stevie went to lighter gauges after he sobered up.

[@MarianoRodriguez]

Tony Iommi played his whole life on 0.8 strings and It doesn't get any darker than his tone, so, no, it makes little to no difference.

[@rockandrollmd541]

The intonation on my low E is a tad sharp with a 49 gauge. I wonder how his low E was intonated correctly with such a high action. I'm thinking the whole bridge was moved back a couple of millimeters.

[@tomasocasiojr9748]

Thanks great video 🎉

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment, really appreciate it! 😁

[@blahblahsen1142]

I actually only play on super heavy gauge strings because I have such an aggressive pick attack that i essentially pick/bend sharp out of tune. If i have to throttle my playing i tend to play less passionately, doesnt feel right. I play bass more then guitar, and I need the heavy tension to fight me back so i dont just nurf the tuning immediately. I think my 7 string runs a 75 to 12.5. and i have actually sanded off a knuckle before, i have blood-rust on a few strings. some of us are just built weird, and by no means am i saying i play similar to or on the level of Stevie, just in the same level of brute force. I do prefer more of a medium action, that high for me is just too much dead space, but "proper" action buzzes out if you fret too hard. You do play different and that is a huge factor when it comes to the sound. really biting into the strings is the key to an aggressive sounding attack. play hard, sound hard. you do that with lights and your tuning will be wrecked in seconds.

[@KalosPVP]

What's wild is I use almost that exact string set he settled with.... but for C# Standard tuned metal.

[@reno145]

I used to play with heavy strings but due to some left hand injuries I had no choice but to go with lights. I’ve been playing 8s for about the last 10 years and have never looked back. I get all the tone I want. There is no difference between those and 9s. Start going two or three gauge differences and then you can hear a small difference.

[@markeyhendrix]

Everybody is different physically Stevie just happened to have monster hands and strength and they felt good for him. I play 11 15 19 28 38 58 tuned to eflat and it's perfect for me

[@rjc7289]

13 on the high E string -- must be like trying to push piano wire across the fretboard. The high action does make for some good slide guitar playing though.

[@douglas4200]

intro was HILARIOUS hahaha

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed! 😆

[@scottanderson6807]

One of my friends was sound man for SRV for a concert toward the end and he hung with him and played his axe. He said that he was using 10s at least at that time.

[@patriot3636]

I can hear a distinct difference in the strings. For me, I stay with GHS Boomer custom lights. I like the low E, A, and D strings a tiny heavier only. I've got great tone, but I feel I don't have to fight the guitar, to play lead. I come from the Van Halen, George Lynch, Zakk Wylde Era.

[@andyvandergriff]

So wait. SRV basically just played an acoustic medium on electric. What an ANIMAL.

[@samwestguitar]

Literally😆 thanks for watching mate, really appreciate it!

[@brianjones4026]

I play 12 always on Acoustic , but i find 11,s on my electric, seems like a nice balance and 10 do feel a little light for me !

[@Soul-d5m]

I'm switching to 11s. I've been breaking a lot of strings using 10s due to how hard I dig in. I snapped a .46 gauge E yesterday.

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

It's insane how some people play guitar. My friend told me a while back that he plays with 12's or 13's in standard, I don't know how he plays anything. I played 10's for years but always found certain things a bit difficult, so I switched to 9's with low action and I can play much easier now. I have little baby hands. XD

[@russelllagow9169]

I use em for practice, but they break easy . I don’t know why but bending those strings felt like I could go 100% and not over bend .

[@hazor777]

It was mentioned earlier in another comment - but , he didn’t ALWAYS play with 13’s etc. - this the guitar changes in shows . There’s A LOT of mythical stories surrounding SRV - and I think it’s just that: MYTH . Doesn’t take away that he was awesome , it’s just hype from fan perspective. Although, I will say he was quite unorthodox in a lot of ways : again, adds to the mythology

[@marcinjulius]

That’s what I’ve heard too. His tech said they started the tour on 10s and by the last concerts they put on 11s. Half step down it feels like a 9 in standard… I started to use 8,5 and my sound was never as massive as it is now..

[@hazor777]

@@marcinjulius Yea - 13’s would wear out virtually ANY player’s wrists and hands , cause tendinitis etc. , playing SRV’s style of music. Now, Jazz - I could see …. As that isnt involving so many deep and wide bends etc.

[@oxyclean7823456]

Question, did you have to refloat the tremolo when you changed the strings? Did you have 4 or 5 springs on the tremolo? Inquiring minds want to know

[@samwestguitar]

Hey! Thanks for watching! I always play with 5 springs in the back and the bridge was very slightly floating prior to the new strings, it’s now obviously floating considerably higher but because it was barely floating originally it still falls with a fairly normal range ! I wouldn’t be surprised if you needed to tighten the screw in the back if the trem was already quite high. The biggest pain you would have to go through if you were to permanently change to this set up would be refilling the nut slots because currently the strings are two big to really sit in them😆 but I know I’ll restring it fairly soon so not worth ruining a nut!

[@jspartacus]

Dick Dales's setup would make SRV beg for mercy.

[@LanceMabu]

I hear the difference in string gauge as a more precise tone just after the string has been plucked

[@samwestguitar]

Completely agree! Thanks for watching Mate!

[@paulhopkins1905]

Tone is in your gear, style is in your hands, style+tone=sound

[@NiskRanThawll]

I used to run 13's on my tele, I tried both wound G and unwound G, I preferred wound, though that made David Gilmour mega bends HARD. the fight is part of the feeling esp for SRV phrasing I will add that I'm also a bassist :) (mainly) so I'm used to high tension :)

[@kadenzepher]

here before this blows up

[@samwestguitar]

Sure hope so 😆 thanks for watching!

[@markn4526]

Interesting video! I've long had the belief that EVERYTHING affects your guitar tone. String gauge, type, material, action height, neck relief, pickup height all effect tone on the same guitar, Then you get to different guitars of even the same exact construction and materials, like wood, bridge, saddles, pickups, nut, frets, etc., which contribute to your tone. And don't forget about pick material and thickness. Each of these variables can be an attractive rabbit hole to deep-dive into. Next...amps (and all their internal components), effect pedals, cables, etc. Endless possibilities!

[@samwestguitar]

Absolutely, its a bit like cooking a really tasty meal or mixing music.😆 Doing lots of small almost unnoticeable things that don't really make a difference in isolation collimate together to create a really fantastic final product! Thanks for watching !

[@RJW14]

about your comment on the thicker gauge strings in tone.... I play 9.5s because I feel they have a bit more presence in the spectrum here and there opposed to regular 9s.

[@samwestguitar]

Awesome man, didn’t even know you could get 9.5’s! Thanks for watching !

[@RJW14]

@@samwestguitarI didn't either, you can get 10.5's as well for that slinkier than 11 but beefier than 10 feel haha. Glad I found em, been playing that gauge exclusively on my fender scale guitars for years now. (I don't do low tunings much :) )

[@samwestguitar]

@@RJW14 ahh cool! Well thanks for the info! Might have to look in to 10.5’s and give them a go!!

[@RJW14]

@@samwestguitar if it's like 9.5's there's only a few brands that make them. D'addario, Curt Mangan, Dunlop and Stringjoy come to mind, but other than that I would have 0 clue.

[@RJW14]

@@samwestguitar I just got an email that EB now has 95s, so maybe they have 105s as well?

[@stevepierce2457]

So every acoustic picker is laughing at this

[@darylhall3051]

Try a set of GHS “Low Tune” Nickel Rockers. .011-.058

[@unitoftemp]

A set of standard .11s with a thicker 3rd is a good compromise.

[@mazukakai]

Not sure if anyone addressed this, but I think he used thick strings so he could play and attack the strings like an acoustic guitar. Same as Pete Townshend did.

[@JesusL0vesY0u]

Great vid 🔥🔥

[@samwestguitar]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@JesusL0vesY0u]

@@samwestguitar thank youu for making it

[@ignadrs]

i really don't get people that like heavier gauge strings. i'd hate playing guitar if i had to struggle to tune a bend or struggle with articulations because of tight strings since that was my experience with thicc strings, nowadays i go for the ernie ball hybrid slinky set with a 68 for the 7th string, tight riffing and expressive leads.

[@hertz_me]

idk how shaking the neck like that is gonna magicly make it vibrato lol

[@infn8loopmusic]

13 guage strings arent bad with flat wounds and with a shorter scale. If you have a 24" scale or 24.5" it will definitely be a lot easier/less tension than a standard 25+. If you tune down a half step or a whole step you'll end up with a great mix of tone and playability. Im with you though 10s or 11s is good for me.

[@samwestguitar]

I can completely imagine that with the scale length! The strings on my 3/4 size acoustic travel guitar feel ridiculously light! Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave such an interesting comment!

[@infn8loopmusic]

Right on. Just subbed. Great performance here that takes some serious hand strength and control.

[@samwestguitar]

@@infn8loopmusic Thank you mate, I really appreciate that!

[@growapair3880]

You should have 3 million more subs Awesome sit down and you Rock the house down! I remember reading about SRV and Hendrix and why they wanted string action super high they said it was for better tone and because they were very heavy players with strong fingers lol" one article said they had guitars with as much as 1/2" string height that's insane! Lol" I changed some of my guitars to a higher string height and I'm loving the playability and definitely the better tone I'm hearing from them.. giving the strings there full space to wave the vibration is a huge difference in tone in my ears and I'm using 9's and 10" lol"

[@samwestguitar]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave such an encouraging comment, really appreciate it! And I agree on the high action. I find if it’s too low I can’t dig in as much as I’d like too and as you said, it’s nice having it high enough to completely irradiate any string buzz!

[@growapair3880]

@@samwestguitar Your definitely worth watching! a lot of players think that low action guitars is the only way to go and a guitar is no good if it doesn't have low action they are so wrong it ain't funny what I say to them since I found out the truth about a great tone Buzz off and go shred somewhere else! 😂

[@davidbyers7246]

I am much more of an acoustic player, and I use 13 to 56 and for slide playing even heavier high e. So when playing electric, I play pretty much the way I play acoustic. So have most of my electric guitars with 13 to 56 as well. I only have one electric guitar with 10s.

[@stefanthorpenberg887]

Who got the better sound; SRV with a set of 13-58 or Hendrix with a set of 9-38?

[@Snakepitrodeo]

I played the impossible guitar for decades, now I play a Tele with 7s (yes they exist look at billy gibbons) and life is great, still love sec though