CHANGING STRING GAUGE
So you’re thinking about changing string gauge on your guitar? Players do this for a variety of reasons: to suit a particular style of music, to achieve a different tone, or just to try something new. However, it’s worth being aware that changing string gauge can have implications for your guitar’s setup.
This short article explains some of the things that might be affected by changing to a lighter or heavier string gauge. All of the issues described can be managed with a good setup.
Neck relief and action
Heavier string gauges, and some string materials, exert more tension on the neck. For example, moving from a .009-.042” set to a .010-.046” set can add over 20% more string tension.
This means that increasing string gauge can pull the guitar neck into greater relief, raising the action (string height).
Alternatively, changing to a lighter string gauge (or a ‘low tension’ set) can allow the neck to ‘relax’ or straighten a little, lowering action and potentially introducing fret buzz.
In either case, a truss rod adjustment may be required to maintain your desired action.
Many guitar string manufacturers (e.g. Elixir, D’Addario) now publish string tension charts for their string sets, so you can compare the tension of different gauge sets.
Pickup height
If string height has changed it follows that your pickups may no longer be at the optimum height.
A straighter neck which has lowered the action will have brought the strings closer to the pickups. This could pose a problem with passive pickups on electric guitars, whose magnetic field can affect string resonance if the strings are too close.
By contrast, if the action has been raised the pickups will be further away, potentially affecting tone and losing volume.
In reality, these changes in height will probably be very small – but when it comes to a guitar’s setup it’s the little things that matter! A collection of small changes in the ‘wrong’ direction can quickly turn a good setup into a bad one.
Nut slots and saddles
If the slots on your nut have been cut for your existing string gauge (the ideal scenario), then they may no longer suit a different string gauge.
Problems are more likely to arise if you change to a heavier string gauge: the strings can bind in the nut slots affecting tuning stability. This is likely to occur on a bass guitar, and is also common on 6-string guitars. Some work would be needed to widen the slots or to install a new nut.
Sometimes, if a very light string gauge (typically the B or high E string on a 6-string electric or acoustic guitar) is in a slot that’s too wide (because you’ve dropped string gauge) it can vibrate in the slot producing an annoying ‘sitar’ sound.
While not generally needed, it’s possible that some saddles may need work to accommodate thicker strings too (especially acoustic guitar saddles), to avoid potential tuning issues.
Tremolo/bridge
Some types of tremolo can be thrown out of balance by a change in string tension.
The most obvious example is a Floyd Rose-style bridge which should be perfectly balanced by the springs on the back (pulling in one direction) and the string tension on the front (pulling in the other direction). A change of string gauge, and therefore a change in string tension, can cause the bridge to pull forward (lifting at the back, raising the action) or sink backwards (potentially lowering action).
If this occurs the tremolo claw in the rear cavity will need some adjustment.
Intonation ‘drift’
Changes in neck relief and/or action impact intonation because they change string length.
Introducing neck relief shortens the distance between the nut and the saddles potentially sending your intonation sharp. Reducing neck relief can lengthen the distance between the nut and the saddles sending intonation flat.
This is why during a setup intonation is dialled in only after neck relief and string height are established.
To rectify intonation drift we would use a strobe tuner to accurately restore your intonation and tuning.
Changing string gauge is the perfect time to give your guitar a professional setup, so you really feel the benefit of those new strings!
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