String gauges and action

String gauge and action (string height) of your guitar can make it or break it in the matters of playability. Generally many blues and traditional players have used heavier string gauges and higher action and shredders have opted out for light strings and low action. But naturally things vary and it all comes down to your personal taste. For example Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top plays in a very bluesy style and uses very light strings and some shredders using low tunings prefer heavy set of strings. Tuning down heavily affects the playability, heavy strings .013 tuned to Eb might feel more like a set of .012s.

We have gathered a list of string gauge and action preferences by famous guitarists to give you some inspiration on how to setup your guitar next time. Please comment if you want somebody added or find out the information has changed. To use Gibbons as an example again, he used to prefer heavy strings before changing to ultra lights.