Electric guitar - string help!

[ScotiaLass]

I've played acoustic guitar for years.
For my 50th I was gifted an Epiphone Gold Top - one of these...

It's lovely guitar to play and I want to learn how to play it as it should be played - I'm still very much stuck in acoustic mode!
Anyway, I like Dunlop strings and am looking for some for this guitar. I tend to use light strings (9's) but suspect the factory fitted ones are maybe 10/11's.
I am a bit confused (easily done!) about the description of the strings I'm looking at...
"Good string to string balance from a low tension string with a smooth tactile feel that breaks in fast and last a long time".
What does 'low tension' mean? Do I want those? I've never seen that term before, but then I've never had much to do with electric guitars really!

 

[machew]

High Tension strings are harder to press on the fingerboard than Low Tension strings, although you may not notice this extra force when you play. Thus your hands get tired faster.

 

[ScotiaLass]

High Tension strings are harder to press on the fingerboard than Low Tension strings, although you may not notice this extra force when you play. Thus your hands get tired faster.

Ah! Makes sense.
The guitar is a dream to play - very fast and light. Mind you, I'm used to 6 and 12 string acoustics

 

[andyfraser]

I found that choosing strings is trial and error. I've tried every major brand in several gauges over the years.

These days I tend to prefer 9s for lead and my Floyd Rose equipped guitars are set up for 9s now anyway. I've been using D'Addario EXL120 (nickel wound, 9 - 42) strings for over 15 years now and find them perfect for what I want.

 

[raleighnut]

It is probably set for 10s as standard but you should be able to get away with 9s without having the bridge reset.
Best thing to do is play it for a year or so and keep it in tune and stored where you'd normally keep it then take it to a Luthier and get the truss rod and bridge reset.
I'd recommend Bob Dayfield but he is in Leicester but he is also one of the best in Britain.

 

[Andy_R]

Yup, you'll deffo need strings. That's all I can contribute to this thread about strings. Although I think lots of threads make up a string..I'm confused now..is this a thread about strings, or a string made of threads......wibble

 

[sight-pin]

If you scroll down on this Gibson 2015 chart the string dia ranges from E= 0.046" to e=0.009" on most of the Les Paul guitars by the looks of it.
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/USA/Les-Paul-Deluxe.aspx

 

[Stephen C]

As above, experiment to find what you like, there is no right or wrong! For electric guitar, sting thickness doesn't change the sound as much as for acoustic, so it is more about how it feels to play, which will in itself influence what you sound like!

Here is a video about it, which may be of interest:

View: https://youtu.be/WfCq1DnF378

 

[GrumpyGregry]

tension will be a factor in how much you can bend notes. So if you wanna play the blues...

 

[ScotiaLass]

It is probably set for 10s as standard but you should be able to get away with 9s without having the bridge reset.
Best thing to do is play it for a year or so and keep it in tune and stored where you'd normally keep it then take it to a Luthier and get the truss rod and bridge reset.
I'd recommend Bob Dayfield but he is in Leicester but he is also one of the best in Britain.

If it's set for 10's then that's what I'll use.
It's set up lovely and I'd hate to change that!

 

[ScotiaLass]

tension will be a factor in how much you can bend notes. So if you wanna play the blues...

I do bend a bit....

 

[raleighnut]

If it's set for 10's then that's what I'll use.
It's set up lovely and I'd hate to change that!

Like I say 9s should be fine, in order to keep strings fresh I'd also get some 'Fastfret' to keep em clean.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I like 10's with a plain G..i always buy ernie ball strings..i cant really play but the wife says its sounds good ,whatever that is ..i just like chords ,and play about 6 well ..i just cant grasp the damn thing..

leccy are so much easier than acustic on the pinkies..

 

[Saluki]

My Epiphone Les Paul has Ernie Ball Slinkies (10s) on and it sounds just fine to me. Strat has 9s, Super Slinkies also sounds fine. Not a scooby about what is the acoustics though, they have the strings that they came with. Probably need replacing by now, the Takamine for sure, not so much on the Dove as I've not played it that much for about 18 months.

 

[MontyVeda]

...

leccy are so much easier than acustic on the pinkies..

unless of course you're an idiot like me... who puts lecky strings on his acoustic (but it does sound and play better, IMHO)