Anyone use 8-38 or even 7-38 gauge strings, in STANDARD TUNING, 6-string, with Floyd?

[Number Of The Priest]

I'm still highly enjoying Dunlop 7-38 tuned to standard and Dunlop 8-40 tuned half-step down. Because I'm using such light strings, my playing time is longer, which should mean the strings should age faster. But, the strings still have great longevity.

I recently discovered Ernie Ball released a 7-36 Zippy Slinky and 8-42 Hyper Slinky set, for players who are looking for more options.

https://ca.ernieball.com/guitar-stri...-string#P02217

https://ca.ernieball.com/guitar-stri...-string#P02229

For now I will stick to the Dunlop sets. In April 2022 I ordered (from www.StringsAndBeyond.com as usual) even more of their 7-38 and 8-40 sets to last me several years and enough to convert most of my heavier-strung guitars to these smaller gauges.

[Number Of The Priest]

Haven't updated this thread in almost two years.

I still play Dunlop 7-38 tuned to standard, and Dunlop 8-40 tuned half-step down. In that regard, not much has changed. Except, with how much I'm soloing now with easy-playing ultralight strings, I find myself breaking the high E on occasion, always at the location of where my fingers are bending the string (and never at the nut or saddle). I recently ordered many single high E strings in 7 and 8 gauge from www.StringsAndBeyond.com. I may break 2 or 3 high E strings before all six strings feel aged enough to warrant installing an entirely fresh set, so those single high E strings help me preserve my stash of fresh sets. Those singles are not exactly one-sixth the cost of an entire fresh set. They're slightly more expensive-per-string. But I'd rather that, than to crack open a fresh set every time I need to cannibalize a high E and leave the other five strings wasted, which is even more expensive.

I once recently broke a B string during a bend. That might be the first time I've ever broken a B. I was angry because I don't have a stash of extra Bs like I do with my huge reserve of high Es.

This tool (Stringjoy String Tension Calculator: https://tension.stringjoy.com/) is very useful. With it, I know theoretically what strings sets that I need on different guitars with different scale lengths in different tunings to make the string tension feel similar between guitars.

[toejam]

Well, damn, that's too light for me! lol I've always liked 10-46 or 11-48 on most guitars either in E, Eb or D, but I've been going with 9-46 on others lately. Even the Ernie Ball 9.5-46 Turbo Slinky on one guitar.
Mostly I've been using the Ernie Ball Ultra Slinky 10-48 on my new Caparison Horus hardtail in Eb. I've also been using Stringjoy 9-48 on a Music Man Steve Morse guitar in E for awhile (9, 12, 15, 26, 36, 48) and find I like the more balanced tension, but I just started keeping that guitar in D with the 11-50 James Hetfield Ernie Ball set, like the 11-48 Power Slinky but with a 50 instead of a 48.

[Number Of The Priest]

"That's too light for me" inspired the below reminiscing.

I started playing acoustic. It is generally believed acoustic guitars need heavy strings to get the top moving to generate the sound. So my default set was 12-53, tuned to standard, 25.5" scale.

Looking back, it hurt, but I persisted because I wanted to learn guitar.

I soon got my first electric, 25.5" scale, standard tuning. 10-46 gauge is considered light. Bends were difficult, but I continued because the playability of these lighter electric strings was amazing compared to acoustic. I figured I would just gain hand strength as I played more. (Sadly, that didn't happen, because it was still too fatiguing for my hands.)

The same thought occurred every time I gradually chose lighter strings throughout my electric playing years. "These new strings are so easy to play. Going one step lighter would be absurd." But yet, I still ventured even lighter.

I think 7-38 is the practical limit for standard tuning. I don't believe any company makes a 6-gauge set, which is fine because I think it would be too loose, even for me.

I think parents and teachers need to be aware of, and encourage the use of, very light gauge strings for children and students. I suspect beginners give up early because it hurts to play heavy strings and even "normal / light" strings in standard tuning. Scaled-down guitars such as the Jackson Minion series, Ibanez miKro series, and Fender Mini Series also have their purpose.

I have two Minions but would not install my 7-38 sets on them. That's too light for me.

[toejam]

I sometimes like the bendability of lighter strings as I get older, but only on the higher gauges. Can't get myself to go below 9 yet. Not sure I can go below a 46 for a low E string, as I just can't seem to catch the string well with my pick when trying to gallop and chug along. Though, I've been lowering the action on some guitars and trying to also play with a lighter touch than I used to. Maybe one day I'll get there...