I changed my strings last night...from medium to heavy gauge and I recorded a small musical thing...it's not really important. I was a bit tired and I went to bed. I was listening again this morning and I finally heard what I was expecting from my stick. A clear, bright an rounded tone. Of course my strings are new but I think it goes further than that. I was a bit afraid about changing my strings gauge but it was the best for me. The action is as easy as it was before. It's very subtle with my new tone but I can hear it...happy about that...

Did you change both sides to heavy or just the melody? I also have a grand with MR in medium gauge and I've noticed a tendency of strings rolling under my fingers and just generally a kinda loosey goosey feeling akin to driving a car with slop in the steering wheel. I keep hoping I can make friends with all that as my technique slowly improves. How is bending on the 3rd string with heavy? Can you make 2 semi-tones?

You may want to lower the Flaps under the inside strings just a touch, as they are now a little thicker and will ride higher in the V slot.

Both sides. Bending is also ok. Tension is not a problem for me. I think my fingers are strong enough to deal with this. I'm basically a jazz guitar player and I use quite heavy gauge on my guitar. 2 semi-tones? Why not? I really like the tone and I do have the impressions that my tuning will be more stable.

I too have made the same experience: harder tension sounds better! I first experienced it when, like you, changing from medium to heavy but these days I take another route by using medium but tuning a half step higher than the listed tuning at SE's web site. I like thinner strings better since they stay in tune better over a wider range, especially high notes on fat strings can sound a bit clunky.

Isn't that interesting ... in the world of percussion, thicker cymbals = higher pitch, brighter tone, and longer sustain. I suppose it's no surprise, then, that this is your result. Thanks for sharing this, and I'm glad you're happy with your new setup!

You give me an idea...maybe keeping my heavy gauge strings but tuned a half step higher. I don't have any problem with the tension. For me it's still really easy to play. Thanks.

Be carful not to create too much tension though! I don't know how sensitive the mechanic Stick neck construction is for too strong string tension but I do know guitars can take damage. My harp guitar was sold with a special contract disclaimer saying that the warranty will not cover cases where the user has applied too thick and high tension tuned strings than the manufacturer recommends. The heavy Stick strings are already pulling more weight than the medium.

What does Greg say about how hard string tension a Stick can take? Or rather, how much tension is the truss rod construction capable of compensate for without things starting to break?

Maybe you're right. Like on a guitar...I like when strings are heavy and close to the neck. I don't bend that much on the stick. I have more a pianistic approach. On the other side I like to get a small vibrato to get the strings alive.

Tuning heavies up a half step shouldn't be too worrisome as long as you have an adjustable truss. Though at that point you are losing a lot of the expressiveness, especially the more subtle vibrato.