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Old February 22nd, 2006
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Playing guitar for what seems like forever.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Last Online: January 23rd, 2008 07:22 AM
Location: Columbus, GA
Posts: 595


Heavier strings will ultimately give you lower action without buzzing because of the increase in tension it takes to tune them to pitch. That said, I play 9 gauge strings on my electrics and have the action pretty low and yes, the strings buzz but not so that you can hear it through the amp. If an acoustic buzzes, it's gonna buzz period.

Now don't forget that scale length affects this too. The longer the scale the more tension needed to tune to pitch. This is why a set of 9 gauge strings on a Les Paul feel eaiser to bend than if the same set were on a Strat. Les Paul scale is 24.75 inches and the Strat is 25.5 inches. It's only 3/4 of an inch, but it makes a difference in tension. If you have a player that normally plays 9 gauge strings on a Les Paul and then they pick up a Strat with 10's on it; they'd almost think they were trying to play piano wire.

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