Do heavy guitar strings hurt/damage a guitar?

Question

I was told that heavy guitar strings hurt/damage a guitar, is that true? If so, how do they hurt it? Thanks

right now i have GHS Boomers medium guage .11-.50 on it, but i was thinking about going heavier.

and if guitar matters its an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top

Answer 1

Here's the deal - guitar necks are made of wood, and a certain tension level creates the right vibration for intonation - why the note is what it is. Strings that are too heavy create too much tension on the neck wood, and sometimes the bridge (the springs on the bridge may or may not be strong enough to create the notes properly). There ARE some necks that can handle the heavier strings, and some guitars just need the bridge upgraded. Hollowbody guitars are generally set up to be played with heavier electric strings, for example, thus stay in tune better in some cases with a wound G string.

Over time, the tension twists the neck VERY slightly - both on the truss rod (the bow) and rotating the neck, creating fret buzz on one side or the other. After that, the truss needs to be adjusted, and the cycle ends up continuing - eventually destroying the possibility of tuning the guitar or playing on the frets - it ends up like a pedal steel guitar, with the strings WAY up over the frets due to neck bow.

If you need to use heavy strings, buy a guitar that is set up for them, and the whammy to match. Otherwise, stick with what it's supposed to be. Need more? Hit my blog below and comment.

Answer 2

Heavy Strings

Answer 3

Standard "heavy" gauge strings won't be a problem on most guitars. Unusually heavy strings, or strings that are simply heavier than your guitar is designed to use, can warp the neck by pulling on it with more force than the truss rod is set to counterbalance (although you can adjust this). Very heavy strings might wear deeper grooves into the bridge and/or the nut, leaving wiggle room for smaller strings should you ever switch back, but this is obviously much less of a big deal than a bowed neck.

Answer 4

If you were to leave it tuned up to standard tuning and let it sit like that for a couple of years, yes it would warp the neck. But if it's a guitar you're playing a lot, the wear and tear on the strings will lessen their tension.

Answer 5

After time they can warp he neck. And the action isn't as good. But if you break the light strings all the time that's not good either. (i've settled into a 10 - they're sturdy but not too heavy). If you do really want to use heavy strings.... loosen them up each time you're done playing and retune when you're ready to play again that will keep them from pulling the neck as much. Also if your guitar has a little screw up at the top of the neck (looking down into it) that can be used to adjust the bow of the neck and your action... so you can always play with the strings you want and adjust that from time to time to keep the guitar in good shape, and it won't be a HUGE deal.

Answer 6

Yes, unless the neck is re-inforced (with a steel-rod buildt in)

Answer 7

tightening them down too tight can warp it