Can you tell string guage by eye?

Fuengi

Got some strings to change on a new guitar, not sure if they are 9s 10s of 11s. I have a set of 9s and a set of 10s if I opened the 10s would I be able to tell by holding the E side by side if they are the same gauge? 

Didn't want to open up the packet unless it's worth it. 

tony99

I can but I had to learn.

Paul_C

You'd be better off using the low E - there's a chance that a 9 might be nearer 9.5 and the same for a 10, but 42 or 46 would be much easier to decide on.

Fuengi

Paul_C said:

You'd be better off using the low E - there's a chance that a 9 might be nearer 9.5 and the same for a 10, but 42 or 46 would be much easier to decide on.

I'm never sure if the low E is the vertically low e or the pitch low E?

Paul_C

low note - the clue was the mention of 42 and 46  

which, now I think about it, was probably what you were thinking of in your first post - feel free to ignore me

Bellycaster

Didn't know you were a Geordie @Fuengi ;

tony99

Fuengi said:

Paul_C said:

You'd be better off using the low E - there's a chance that a 9 might be nearer 9.5 and the same for a 10, but 42 or 46 would be much easier to decide on.

I'm never sure if the low E is the vertically low e or the pitch low E?

A cool trick for remembering is always to say 'low e' in a very, very deep voice

ICBM

Which gauge would you want to use if there were no strings on it now?

Use those.

underdog

I'm a body piercer by trade so am very good at eye measuring anything in very small increments, a 1mm difference in jewellery looks massive to me, so things like string gage I can usually see a difference quickly.

Kittyfrisk

So am I every time I change strings... 

sweepy

With my eyes I can barely tell which guitar I pick up 

Fuengi

ICBM said:

Which gauge would you want to use if there were no strings on it now?

Use those.

Isn't the nut cut for the string guage? 

thegummy

underdog said:

I'm a body piercer by trade so am very good at eye measuring anything in very small increments, a 1mm difference in jewellery looks massive to me, so things like string gage I can usually see a difference quickly.

Could I get my Ernie Balls pierced?

Kittyfrisk

thegummy said:

underdog said:

I'm a body piercer by trade so am very good at eye measuring anything in very small increments, a 1mm difference in jewellery looks massive to me, so things like string gage I can usually see a difference quickly.

Could I get my Ernie Balls pierced?

4:2 ?

thegummy

Kittyfrisk said:

thegummy said:

underdog said:

I'm a body piercer by trade so am very good at eye measuring anything in very small increments, a 1mm difference in jewellery looks massive to me, so things like string gage I can usually see a difference quickly.

Could I get my Ernie Balls pierced?

4:2 ?

Aye that should balance them out a bit

ICBM

Fuengi said:

Isn't the nut cut for the string guage? 

If you mean is it cut to exactly the same width slots as the string gauge - no, not if it’s been done properly.

Fuengi

ICBM said:

Fuengi said:

Isn't the nut cut for the string guage? 

If you mean is it cut to exactly the same width slots as the string gauge - no, not if it’s been done properly.

Have put some 10s on it, it seems ok. 

It's a Modern Player Mustang, one of the Chinese jobs. What a bitch they are to restring! The bar is so low I had to wedge a screwdriver under it to get the low E underneath. 

Is it worth upgrading the bridge and vibrato on these anyone know? 

ICBM

Fuengi said:

It's a Modern Player Mustang, one of the Chinese jobs. What a bitch they are to restring! The bar is so low I had to wedge a screwdriver under it to get the low E underneath.

You can use the arm to rock the bar forward, or adjust it up slightly if it’s too low.

Musicwolf

If I don't know the string gauge (i.e it's someone else's guitar) then I use a digital Vernier gauge to measure the low E.  I've tried measuring the high E and it's really difficult to tell say a 10 from a 9 so it will be the same trying to do it by eye.

On my own guitars I record the gauge on the back of the headstock (although I can tell by playing them).  At the moment all but one of the electrics seems to be on 9s.

richardhomer

‘Gauge’

Musicwolf

I also kept trying to spell it guage.  Thank god for spell chequers