Using a 12 ga. String Instead Of An 11 ga.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 12 Aug 2018 6:47 pm

Maybe I can get some input. Tonight at the house while practicing I broke my third string which is my 11 gauge. Now here's what I got saw Paul Franklin the other day talk he uses a 12 gauge.
Did Paul change the gauge of the first string even though the gauge is the same as the third?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 12 Aug 2018 6:56 pm

I wouldn't think so. The .012 third makes a fuller sound, and a shorter pull with a little stiffer pedal because the tension is higher.

And, oh yeah...it hurts like hell if it ever snaps when you're playing!

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 12 Aug 2018 8:18 pm

Been using an .012 for the 3rd string for over 2 decades. Never had one break,(thank God!!) and the tone is far better than any .011, or .0115 I've ever tried.

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 12 Aug 2018 8:41 pm

And you can get ‘em cheap when you toss away the .012 from your C6 high G to put on a D!

James Flaherty · Post by **James Flaherty** » 12 Aug 2018 9:10 pm

.012's are the best. They have more guts, more sustain and better tone.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 13 Aug 2018 1:48 am

Been using a .012 for a long, long time since I heard Jeff Newman talkin' about it. Here's what I use: .013,.015,.012,.014,.018P,.022W,.026W,.030W,.034W &.038W. Only use Live Steel Strings, Nickel Wound. Ray Thomas, Goldsboro, NC is my string source also. No tuning issues or breakage. Best I've ever used. Thanks.

Johnie King · Post by **Johnie King** » 13 Aug 2018 5:56 am

Billy I also love the live strings!!!!!

Bo Legg · Post by **Bo Legg** » 13 Aug 2018 6:32 am

Seems to me the problem is with that 15 on the 2nd string!
When I was using a 10 on the third string I noticed I had to exert a great deal of bar pressure to get a good tone out of the the third string.
I changed the first string to a 12 and the 2nd string to a 14 and the third string to an 11. Helped tremendously.
I tried a 12 on the 3rd and the standard 15 on the 2nd and 13 on the 1st.
It was just too scary tuning that 12 up to G# and I didn't think it sounded much better than going to the 11 on 3rd, 14 on 2nd and 12 on 1st

Tom Spaulding · Post by **Tom Spaulding** » 13 Aug 2018 7:18 am

Paul's gauges: NYXL1238PS

Tommy Shown wrote:Maybe I can get some input. Tonight at the house while practicing I broke my third string which is my 11 gauge. Now here's what I got saw Paul Franklin the other day talk he uses a 12 gauge.
Did Paul change the gauge of the first string even though the gauge is the same as the third?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Aug 2018 7:20 am

It's hard to beat the tone you get with a Live Steel sting on the 3rd by using a 12.

Erv

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 13 Aug 2018 8:21 am

I get a good tone from my Jagwire .012" 3rd, too, Erv. I think it's entirely due to the gauge rather than who packaged and sold it.

I always thought the .011" sounded thin compared to the other strings in the pack. Going to an .012" has alleviated that for me.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Aug 2018 8:28 am

Roger,
I have used a 12 for several years and bought from quite a few different vendors.
However, I get the best tone from that string by using one from Live Steel Strings.

Erv

James Flaherty · Post by **James Flaherty** » 13 Aug 2018 1:18 pm

Tuning a .012 to pitch can be a bit scary but even if it snaps and whips your knuckle it's worth the sound.

It don't hurt nearly as much as having your knuckles slapped with a wooden ruler. lol

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 13 Aug 2018 2:06 pm

I like them and use them, never had one break, and they stay in tune well. I use a .0115 on my Carter because the lower return springs can't handle the tension.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 13 Aug 2018 6:24 pm

When I first started playing in 1978 I used .011's ... they broke all the time and sounded thin, so I changed to .012's and they stopped breaking, sounded a lot fuller, and just made the guitar sound so much better ! I have used them on everything ever since - and I can't remember the last time I broke a string. Mind you I change them every month regardless :-}

Bobby Nelson · Post by **Bobby Nelson** » 15 Aug 2018 2:55 pm

OK, here's a newbie stupid question: I bought a set of Franklins with the 12 on the 3rd. I'm almost sure the strings that came on it have an 11. So, am I going to have to readjust some thing with a heavier string? As a 6-string player, I always liked heavy strings (I used a 13 on my E) since Stevie Vaughn hepped me up on them in 78 - the tone is superior.

Tyler Hall · Post by **Tyler Hall** » 16 Aug 2018 12:53 am

The only time I ever break a 0.12 is when I first put them on. I might break 1 or 2 whey they first pull to pitch but I haven't broken one while playing in so long I can't remember. Of course now that I say that it'll happen tonight...

Actually I can't remember the last time I broke anything while playing. And I'm usually ashamed of how long I play my guitars before I string them. I've yet to find another string that'll last as long as a set of Boomers.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 16 Aug 2018 4:12 am

It should be fine.
Two things change string reaction.
At the same gauge, higher tension means the string will need a longer pull (or react slower, depending on your viewpoint)/lower tension reacts faster (or takes a shorter pull
At the same tension, thicker gauges need a shorter throw (react more quickly)/lighter gauges react slower.

So changing from an 11 to 12 means it'll go both ways at the same time, and need almost no changing.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 16 Aug 2018 11:13 am

That 012 string ripped me open a few times, and I personally don't like the pedal feel. too much tension for my taste. I prefer the 0115 as its a good compromise.. Better sound than an 011, but not as tight as a 012,,,,bob

Mick Kollins · Post by **Mick Kollins** » 20 Aug 2024 3:42 pm

After using an .011 on my 3rd string (ZB S-10) for 14 years today I put on a .012 instead..WOW!!! never going back.

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Casey Saulpaugh · Post by **Casey Saulpaugh** » 21 Aug 2024 11:02 am

I also use a .012 - used to break .011s all the time, and rarely break the .012s…I’ve stuck with the .012s more for the tone though, a much fuller sound. I think the pedal tension just takes a little adjustment in muscle memory to get used to, but doesn’t really compromise playing in any way.

I always keep a pack of bulk single strings for .012, .018, and .022 in my steel seat in case any of these break - used to dig through unopened full packs to replace strings during a set, but just became a pain to have to sort through them for the next stringing. These bulk plain single strings are cheap to buy (I believe I get them from JustStrings.com) and are super handy to have for shows and on the road.

Joel Jackson · Post by **Joel Jackson** » 22 Aug 2024 3:48 pm

Casey Saulpaugh wrote:I also use a .012 - used to break .011s all the time, and rarely break the .012s…I’ve stuck with the .012s more for the tone though, a much fuller sound. I think the pedal tension just takes a little adjustment in muscle memory to get used to, but doesn’t really compromise playing in any way.

I always keep a pack of bulk single strings for .012, .018, and .022 in my steel seat in case any of these break - used to dig through unopened full packs to replace strings during a set, but just became a pain to have to sort through them for the next stringing. These bulk plain single strings are cheap to buy (I believe I get them from JustStrings.com) and are super handy to have for shows and on the road.

Casey was nice enough to give me a bunch of .012s and the suggestion to try them on the third string when I started playing and was having problems with breaking strings. Big improvement in tone and tuning stability. Haven't broken a third string in the 6 years since. Thanks Casey!

Jay Coover · Post by **Jay Coover** » 22 Aug 2024 5:42 pm

I was trying to be brave a while back when I upgraded from my GHS Boomers 11 to a Jagwire 11.5 on that 3rd string.

In the next few days I'm going to get even more brave and try a 12. Don't try and hold me back. It's all y'all's dang fault that I'm considering this anyway.

Rich Cottle · Post by **Rich Cottle** » 23 Aug 2024 1:19 pm

There's alot of players in my neiborhood that have had that problem , for 20 years I kept breaking the third string , finally a guy named Hugh browie told me that he tunes his guitar to D9th and hardly breaks any strings , well I took his advice , it was kinda hard at first but I got used to it and I like it as much as the E9th and it has a little deeper tone & the pedals and knee levers are easier to push and I only break a string may-be once in two years , and I also don't have alot of wanna be steel guitar players wanting to play it "cause they cant", I play the u-12 D9th-A6th , I have the high G , high D and an extra high A on the sixth side (all Emmons setup) with 8 pedals and 8 knees just like the D10 & I can read any tablature, problem solved, oh yeah guitar strings are named by thousandths
not by gauge .011 .014 etc.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 23 Aug 2024 6:05 pm

I got the same advice on D9 tuning from the great Speedy West at the St Louis ISGC Convention. I never did the tuning change but it was sound advice.

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Using a 12 ga. String Instead Of An 11 ga.

Using a 12 ga. String Instead Of An 11 ga.

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Re: Using a 12 ga. String Instead Of An 11 ga.

.012 on the 3rd string

Third string problem