String gauges

String gauges for slide guitar can be a bit of a minefield.

Here’s my take on it.

In general, the thicker the string, the fatter the tone.
Which means you might think the best thing to do is go for the heaviest strings you can find.
Yes, and no…

If you want to play “conventional” guitar on the same guitar (this could mean either playing normal chords or melodies/lines without the slide, and/or playing behind the slide), having really heavy strings is going to be challenging.

Not to mention the fact that throwing massive strings on an old guitar (eg a 1930 National) might be a recipe for a broken neck :-(

As a guide, here’s what I use. Different gauges for different tunings (with thicker strings for lower tunings). Note that I always bump up the top string by a gauge or two as I find that string to be rather thin sounding in most cases.

Standard tuning = 12 - 14 - 18 - 28 - 38 - 49 (D’Addario 11s with the top string replaced with a 12)

Open G = 13 - 16 - 24w - 32 - 42 -52 (D’Addario 12s with the top string replaced with a 13)

Open D = 14 - 17 - 26w - 36 - 46- 46 (D’Addario 13s with the top string replaced with a 14)

Open C = 17 - 19 - 26w - 32 - 44 - 56 (Curt Mangan custom set)

These are all standard nickel wound strings (personally, I don’t use flat wound strings, though I know some people like them for slide).