Electric Guitar Strings - How Thick Can I Go?

[Danny K]

For the last 11 years I've played Acoustic Guitars only.     I live at a building (apartment) with an upstairs and next door neighbors.   I'm now practicing at night also, so I'll use my '86 Fender Strat or my '78 Peavey T-60, unplugged.    The strings I have on them are 09-42's, which are way too thin for me now.   My acoustic has 13's which I like.  

What are the thickest strings I can put on these guitars without having to adjust the guitar, or have to worry about too much stress on the neck?

Thanks, Dan

[MJG]

I use 11's on my electric with no problem.

[unclrob]

You can go with as heavy as you can stand but you'll need to re setup the guitar.I use 13's on my Tele's. :)  

[rockstar_not]

you'll need to re setup the guitar

Unclrob is right.

Besides the difference in neck tension, primarily of concern will be the nut grooves will be too small for 13's.  You'll have tuning problems for sure, particularly if do any bending - tremolo bar or otherwise.

The too small grooves will be grabbing too tight on the strings.  Don't plan on going back to a lighter gauge either, unless you want to put a new nut back in before you make the change to lighter strings.

-Scott

[HangFire]

I use 13's on my Tele's. :)

:o

You must tune down three or four steps! LOL

[unclrob]

Hang I tune to pitch sometimes a half step down depending on the singer.I get a beefy tone and couldn't be happier.Oh ya I can also bend notes.

[kwakatak]

+1 on heavy guage strings on Fenders. I use 12s on my Strat and tune it down a half-step. I've found that the tone is a little fatter even though I still have the 3 stock single coils. My Strat's body is ash, not adler so I'm wondering if that also has an effect on the tone.  

[SR]

Hang I tune to pitch sometimes a half step down depending on the singer.I get a beefy tone and couldn't be happier.Oh ya I can also bend notes.

:o  you the man unclrob  :D  I have 12's on my tele and 10's on my strat I just got a set of  elixir 10's to try on the tele and strat to see if I like them.