Or…Heavy gauge w/ Large Rails vs. Medium gauge w/ medium rails

Hello all.

It’s been a month since I’ve received my new Bamboo 10-string (Stickup). I am really enjoying it.

Other than cosmetics, this Bamboo Stick is almost identical to my other Stick, a Padauk 10-string (Stickup). I did that on purpose as I wanted two that looked different but played the same (or similar) as each other. This is so I could swap back and forth without major changes between instruments, using one as a backup, etc.

But I’m enjoying the subtle changes. The big change is the string gauge. For the first time in 26 years, I have a Stick that is not strung with heavy gauge. I purposely wanted to try Mediums, so I requested this for the Bamboo on my order. I love them and I don’t know why I never did this sooner. The medium strings definitely feel “lighter” in touch and allow a little more string bend. It took a little getting use to, mainly the sound. At first I was convinced that the full tone was lacking with Mediums. But maybe my ears have changed. Or I adjusted my amplification some.

Add to the subtle change: the newer medium fret Rails. My older Padauk Stick has the larger Rails. I love them both. But the Mediums have a lightning fast feel to them. It’s difficult to explain.

I may one day switch my Padauk Stick from heavy gauge to mediums. But for now, I’ll keep heavies on it. It’s kind of my thicker, beefier Chapman Stick…heavy gauge, large rails. And the lighter weight Bamboo with Mediums and medium rails.

I went through a similar experience but I was going from lights to medium. It was with a used instrument that I had made a trade for and the mediums have never left me since.

I have been wanting to try out heavies as I have only played them briefly at seminars or events, never on my own instrument. Looking forward to hearing what you come up with Brian.

Thank you for the interesting post!
I am playing a used stick. I wonder how I can determine which strings (heavy, light, medium) are installed.
Thank you for any advice!

I once had the thickness measurements written out for a heavy gauge 10-string set. If you have a digital caliper, maybe you could measure each string and share here. If I can't figure it out, someone else might know which string set you have.

Also, if your Stick is an older model with a fixed bridge (no way to adjust for different gauges or tunings), you will most likely have light gauge. I believe that was the only string set option for the earlier (pre-1991?) models.

I've been playing on Heavy gauge since 1996 due to a suggestion from Yuta Chapman upon the order of my first Stick. She suggested so since I was a bass player at the time. Made sense to me, so it's what I became used to.

But I'm loving the feel of the Mediums more and more daily. I think the heavies might have a slightly better tone...but that is completely an un-experimented opinion at this point. And I wouldn't have any way to explain such tone differences if I become correct. But I am finding that the heavies made bass side harmonics a little easier for me. Mediums are very possible for bass harmonics too, just not as dead-pan easy as heavies were for my playing. Probably due to the tautness of heavies.