Bluesy69 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) Hey Guy's my new 2018 Les Paul Traditional is on the way and I noticed in Gibson's description of that guitar and many others that their using 9 & 10 hybrids. In other words three strings are 9 gauge and three strings are 10 gauge....Does anyone know the reason behind this decision. I normally use Ernie Ball 9's, but as long as there is no buzzing, and the action is good, I don't think I would mess with the strings until they needed to be changed when the time comes. I just thought it was a bit odd that they were doing this and I was wondering if anyone knew why....is there benefits to it, or are they just experimenting? Please let me know if you know. Thanks. Edited February 3, 2018 by Bluesy69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 I've wondered the same thing. The manual still states they string them with tens, and they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 10's cause the neck dive Gibsons are known for. rct 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 10's cause the neck dive Gibsons are known for. rct [lol] [lol] [lol] [lol] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutha Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 10's cause the neck dive Gibsons are known for. rct Only if stringed incorrectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 (edited) I think they are doing it cos they are awesome.. (I didn't actually know they had switched too Hybrids). For me anyway you get the slightly fatter strings for rhythm work and the slightly lighter strings for high bending lead work... Best of both worlds in my view. Ive been using the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slkinkies for the last year or so.. LOVE them. Edited February 4, 2018 by Rabs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 It may be something to consider if you are just going to change the strings to your favourites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american cheez Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 ive been using daddario lite tops heavy bottoms since forever. on a strat i go even more extreme with 9s & 11s. for rock, it's the best way to go (for me) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I think they are doing it cos they are awesome.. (I didn't actually know they had switched too Hybrids). For me anyway you get the slightly fatter strings for rhythm work and the slightly lighter strings for high bending lead work... Best of both worlds in my view. Ive been using the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slkinkies for the last year or so.. LOVE them. Yes to all of the above. I read about certain players using light strings so I tried 9's and even 8's. The thinner low strings sounded weak and thin (no pun intended). The hybrid 9-46's are the best of both worlds, for me. Solid tone and good feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Id like a set of tens with a little bit lighter g string. Like a 15 or 16. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristopherJ Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 They got a good deal on a few pallets of some string manufacturers overstock? Henry read part of an article on the internet about hybrid stings? Some goof in production ordered a bunch of hybrid sets by accident? They are getting rid of old stocks of strings? My question is do they cut the nuts for the hybrid string gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 My question is do they cut the nuts for the hybrid string gauge. I would hope so. It's pretty basic stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 They are looking to confuse the Chibson builders. Volume knobs will be numbered in reverse for 2019 on rhythm and the bridge will have the number 5 used twice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 my only guess at such shenanigans is to attempt to create some more of a "balanced" tension set out of the box I tried D'Addario's NYXLs, It was said once you tried them, you'll never go back.. Guess what, I went back to regular XL110s.. Maybe I just aint cool enough.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelT Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 I think both of my 2017 Les Pauls came with 9-46 strings. I can't remember what the manual said they were. The first thing I did with each was change the strings to my preferred Ernie Ball Super Slinkies (9-42) on each. I did try Ernie Ball 10's on them and it didn't click with me since I've played the Super Slinkies for 30+ years. They're just what I'm used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the dog Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 I bought a new 2015 midtown standard that had 9-46.Gibson has been doing for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 My question is do they cut the nuts for the hybrid string gauge. I would hope so. It's pretty basic stuff I've been wondering about this. What I have read from various luthier sources seems to vary bit. Some say the slots should be the exact width as the string thickness, others say slightly bigger. I don't know which is true or if both could be correct. If you have the patience to look through the specs of various guitars on the Gibson website you'll see that on some guitars they are exact, others they are wider than the strings to various degrees. I don't know what is correct and I don't even know if the specs from the website are correct, it wouldn't surprise me if they got that wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Black Dog: I changed the hybrid set on my Tribute to regular 10s with no problems. I looked up the specs on Gibson.com, and they were cut to facilitate regular tens. They list the width of the slots. If I remember correctly, the slot widths on my 2017 V were the same (it also came with a hybrid set, only I like it on that one). So basically, if the width listed is the same as the one listed for the 2017 Tribute T, and you want to go regular 10s, you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dog Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Black Dog: I changed the hybrid set on my Tribute to regular 10s with no problems. I looked up the specs on Gibson.com, and they were cut to facilitate regular tens. They list the width of the slots. If I remember correctly, the slot widths on my 2017 V were the same (it also came with a hybrid set, only I like it on that one). So basically, if the width listed is the same as the one listed for the 2017 Tribute T, and you want to go regular 10s, you'll be fine. Hi Pinch. The specs I see for the '17 Tribute T say the nut is cut to the exact string dimensions for 9-46's. The bridge slots are cut wider for some reason. I like the 9-46's, don't want to change. http://www.gibson.co...ul-Tribute.aspx Nut Style: Nut Material: Tektoid Width: 1.695" Slots: E: 0.046" A: 0.036" D: 0.026" G: 0.016" B: 0.011" e: 0.009" For the bridge: Dimensions of String Slots E: 0.058" A: 0.048" D: 0.038" G: 0.028" B: 0.019'' e: 0.014" Then this guitar has 9-46 strings but the nut is cut wider: http://www.gibson.co...-Fort-Knox.aspx So if these specs are all correct, then it seems like the nut can be cut a little wider. I'm sure somebody here knows. Edited February 8, 2018 by Black Dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Oh, I thought "dimension of string slots" was for the nut, not the bridge... I've had 10s on mine ever since I bought it, and it doesn't bind or anything like that, so I figure it's okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 'Cause their customers like them, maybe? I know I've been using the D'Addario 9-46 on my Gibson and Fender guitars, for years, now. (1) I like that gauge range, and (2) the D'Addario's last a long time, are easy to find, and at a decent/fair price point. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbyrd66 Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 It’s simple. Les Paul played hybrid 9 through 46, because it was easier to bend the higher strings for leads. I guess Gibson decided to set there guitars up like his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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