I'd just like to assert my masculinity
12s.

(Admittedly, largely inappropriate for anything except blues and jazz, but they do sound bloody good.)
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:44, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

12s are absurd
I play lightly, and quite a lot of solos and riffs with bends in and stuff

even the other guitarist in my band only uses 11s and he may as well be hitting it with a hammer the way he plays....
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:47, Reply)

Well, I am a bassist normally
So I'm used to strings that fight back. This does mean that, with anything lighter than 11s, I end up unintentionally bending the strings trying to fit my spidery hands round the chords.

Also, just running a cheap SG copy through a little Vox amp, I was surprised how much difference it made to the sound when I first moved from 11s to 12s.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:52, Reply)

then that is acceptable
I can appreciate the bending thing, just because of what you are used to.

I've used 9s since I got my first electric guitar many years ago, and have only recently changed to this half and half gauge.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:55, Reply)

I should probably also concede
that the two-part bridge on the SG seems to relieve some of the string tension, making bending a bit easier. If I had a Strat or a Tele then I might be inclined to drop down to 11s.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:07, Reply)

I made the mistake of reading a review of a gibson firebird yesterday
and now, after deciding I want one because of how it looks, I really want one because they are apparently awesome.

I cannot afford another guitar right now, particularly not a £1200 one.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:12, Reply)

Grrrr! TOUGH GUY
Dick Dale issued an apology to his fans for going down a gauge or two because, aged about 70, he couldn't quite manage it any more.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 16:56, Reply)

I believe even SRV dropped down from 13s to 11s halfway through his (admittedly rather short) career
Though that was less due to his age and more a desire to have some flesh left on his fingertips after a week of gigs.

There's a gloriously grim story about him warming up backstage and realising he'd shredded his fingers to buggery. (Well, if you will reach for whole-tone bends on a Strat fitted with 13s, it's to be expected). 5 minutes 'til showtime, and pulling out "because your fingers hurt" is not a particularly rock n'roll excuse...

...so supposedly he put a dab of superglue on each knackered fingertip and pressed them firmly against his other arm. Hey presto, fresh skin!
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:02, Reply)

aah SRV
what a legend.

it's something about people with 3 initials. RJD, NPH, SRV. All awesome.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:04, Reply)

And JST is showing a lot of promise
_{(Oh dear, I'm becoming obsessed...)}
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:08, Reply)

you've lost me

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:10, Reply)

's only fair, I had to google the other two
This should answer your question. SRV reincarnated in an attractive young woman.

EDIT: Right, I'm off to pub. Have a good evening, y'all.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:15, Reply)

mmmm
very nice
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:21, Reply)

13's!
On my resonator I use 16 - 60's. But then, I am mental.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Wed 17 Mar 2010, 17:35, Reply)