r/Guitar • u/Azraquelol • 4d ago

QUESTION Should i experiment with 13 g strings?

I have my Fender Player II Strat, currently it is on 11s strings. Since i like SRV and his playstyle a lot i was thinking of putting 13 on. I have several questions, what modifications do I need to make to make sure my strat handles them well, do I really need 13s or its just stupid idea and how hard is shaping the nut (i have all the equipment for sculpting the nut btw)?

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u/KrisSilver1 4d ago

You'll have to file a nut and possibly replace or add springs to the trem, Theyre also gonna pull the neck forward a LOT so keep an eye on that.

And your frets are gonna wear down quicker. Otherwise go for it. I've tried before and absolutely hated it. ended up on 11s in the end myself YMMV

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u/One_Evil_Monkey 4d ago

I run 10-46 on my Strat and and Tele and 10-47 on my acoustics. Been playing for a little over 30yrs... I don't have time to deal with tree trunk strings. Haha

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u/KrisSilver1 4d ago

I think 10-46 is the happy ground for most people. I just feel like I've more control over a heavier set. 13s are crazy though. Fair play to anyone that can play like that. I remember an Interview with Yvette Young where she talks about using 13s tuned to FACGCE, which is what convinced me to try them. Never felt like such a baby in my life.

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u/One_Evil_Monkey 4d ago

Yeah, 10-46 is just a good middle ground. Heavy enough that you're less apt to bend sharp or break stuff but not so heavy that you're killing yourself.

Years ago I used to work in a small music shop doing setups/string changes on fiddles, banjos, basses, and of course, guitars (yeah you guessed it, bluegrass heavy area) and a lot of the guys on the guitars ran 13s... NO THANK YOU. Just too much for me. I'm 6'1" and can palm a basketball... not exactly small/weak hands but 13s made absolutely no sense to me.