If you have recently decided to change your guitar strings into something a little heavier, then you’re probably wondering if you can damage your guitar by using heavier gauge strings.
Heavy gauge guitar strings are popular among rock, metal, and blues players for their ability to produce louder sounds with more sustain. But can they damage a guitar?
The answer is no! A lot of people think that because heavier gauges produce more tension on the neck, it will eventually damage it over time.
But this isn’t necessarily true; in fact, some manufacturers actually recommend using thicker strings for better neck stability and less breakage.
Table of Contents
Do Heavier Guitar Strings Sound Better?
Many people believe that the tone of a heavy gauge guitar string is much richer than a light gauge and that it produces a more “full-bodied” sound.
However, many argue that this is just an opinion with no real scientific backing. Heavy gauge strings are often considered to be louder because they have higher tension levels which allow them to create more volume from less energy input.
This can be useful for those who play in large venues or need their music heard over other instruments.
The downside, though, is that heavy gauges may wear down your frets quicker, and you’ll need to replace the strings sooner than if you were using lighter ones. But some players find the trade-off worth it.
Do Heavier Gauge Strings Stay in Tune Better?
When you are playing your guitar, it’s a lot more frustrating when you have to constantly tune and retune your guitar. The less time you waste constantly carrying out this task, the better off.
Heavy gauge guitar strings are a lot heavier than thinner ones, but do they stay in tune better?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Heavier gauge strings do, in fact, have the tendency to stay in tune a whole lot longer.
Will Heavier Strings Stop Frett Buzz?
Because thicker guitar strings have the tendency to sit higher on the nut of your guitar, it helps eliminate frett buzz quite a bit.
However, if your guitar is not set up good enough to receive thicker string gauges, then your guitar will likely buzz anyway.
So, from a bird’s eye view, it isn’t necessarily the strings that cause the buzzing, but instead, it’s how your guitar is set up with regards to the type of strings you are using.
If you just recently bought your guitar and it came with a light gauge of strings, you may need to make some adjustments depending on how heavy of a gauge you are changing over to.
What String Gauge Should I Use?
When it comes down to what gauge of string you should use, it’s really a combination of personal preference, playing style, and the type of music that you play the most.
For example, if you are constantly down tuning down your guitar to drop D, then it’s probably a good idea to use thicker gauges of guitar strings.
Many songs that require drop D tuning are also songs that have some cool techniques added to the mix like string bending and hammer-ons. If you do these types of guitar tricks, then you may be better off with heavier gauge strings.
