I think I found my Goldilocks string gauge

I don't even remember what gauge I started out with, probably 8's. 11's worked best for me when I was gigging. For now I have a stockpile of 10's and have restrung 4 of my guitars with the 9.5's with 3 extra sets. They're a little pricier but found a 5 pack deal on Ebay.

I might give it a shot at some point. I need to get back into playing, and lightening my touch is something I need to work on. Maybe just a set of 9s.

I played 13s for a while - ever have the hell of setting up a Kahler to take 13s? Don't!

I stick with 10s these days across the board for six string guitar stuff. I don't notice enough difference changing minor gauge on my short-scales and just associate how they play with them using the 10s I've used for a couple decades.

Where I'm picky is the Bass VI. There I do custom sets from Labella.

Heavier everything but not quite what you'd expect. I'd have to look up the numbers again (they're on a sticker in the case for it since I thought that'd be an easy way to not fudge it up or have to look in my order hirstory), but it's heavy e and A, light everything else.

They also break the string retainers a LOT faster.

It's already a weakness in the design, but...it made it much more prevalent.

I loved the things, they're my favorite trem (Jazzmaster/Jag is a close second) but I got tired of dealing with the crap maintenance and breakage.

www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blog/string-gauge-of-the-blues-greats/#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20Jimi%20Hendrix%2C%20Duane%20Allman%2C,gauge%20on%20the%20bass%20strings.

I think a lot of people who scoff at the heavy gauge string users often do so because they rush to judgement about their reasoning (SRV wannabes, etc.). I used 11's when gigging because they pushed back enough on my adrenaline. I essentially stopped breaking strings on stage, having intonation issues, etc.

I also believe that heavier strings make a better rounded sound. But that is more relevant to acoustic guitars. Electric guitars can be easily tweaked a hair, as demonstrated by Billy Gibbons and countless others. I've only been a casual fan of SRV but did a deep dive on YT recently. Holy smokes, there wasn't a sound that came out of that guitar that he didn't intend. I think the heavier strings did factor in to his sound, but only because of the synergy of tuning, action and approach.

I’ve been using D’Addario EXL120+ strings for a few years now. Just about the same as the Ernie Balls.

His action is also fairly high as well. It is down some, but not what I would call ideal.

I also play the bass, so it doesn't make too much difference to me. I think if I were a guitarist, I would be using lighter strings. I am not so sold that string gauge makes too much difference with electrics.

If your using a strat i found the sure fire fix for string breakage. I put wire insulation tubes thru the saddles where the strings come thru like Rene Martinez did on SRV's guitars and i went from breaking constantly to never breaking

I played 11s for many years when I was gigging.

These days I mix it up to keep things interesting: 11s on some guitars, 10s on others, and 9.5s on others. Generally, Gibson scales get the heavier strings. I have a homebrew Strat that I set up as a 25.5" baritone I tune C to C; it has 013"-060" on it.

^^^JustStrings and StringJoy are the same way. They offer good options not available from The Big String Names, and they're not overpriced.