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, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

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)