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#278659 - 27/07/10 11:02 AM
thicker string last longer??
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jntfender
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 28/06/10
Posts: 3
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hey guys,
i currently use a fender american standard strat, and will usually put on some ernie ball 9-42's. but now im considering going to thicker strings like 10's or 11's. firstly, would such a change damage the guitar, would it need to be set up. also, do thicker strings last longer??
many thanks guys
JNT 
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#278660 - 27/07/10 12:44 PM
Re: thicker string last longer??
[Re: jntfender]
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elkay
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 23/11/05
Posts: 352
Loc: Croydon
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Hi JNT,
If you use the same set of strings until they physically wear out, than thicker strings will of course last longer. If however you use strings until their virtual life expires (i.e. no longer sound good), than they won't necessarily last longer, as the strings' life expectancy will be determined by a whole lot of other factors.
Changing up to higher gauge strings will not damage your guitar. In fact many Fender Strat models come factory-fitted with 10's. As to whether the guitar will then need to be set up, you will almost certainly need to make several adjustments. For starters, if your tremolo is floating, the increased tension will pull it upwards, and you will need to tighten the springs in the back of the guitar to restore the tremolo to its original position. You might also need to adjust the bridge height and intonation. A change to 11's will almost certainly also require some tweaking to the truss rod, but you might get away without this for a change to 10's, depending on how the guitar was setup to begin with (you might find that an adjustment to the bridge height is all that is necessary). Also, it depends on how you like your guitar set up. The lowest possible action is not necessarily the best setup and to every one's taste, and you might find that the higher action resulting from putting on higher gauge strings to your liking, in which case truss rod adjustments would not be necessary.
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