Higher gauge strings (ie. "thickerer" strings) can rock your world. I have .09/.11/.15/.30/.42/.52 on my Tele right now. I was having fun with The Black Keys "Thickfreakness", and noticed that thicker strings, and bare fingered playing... led to some really enjoyable tone. It seemed to feel much better having more string to play. Higher gauge strings supposedly result in slower attack and increased sustain... but that would depend on how strong your hands are, and how you play, but I guess it is all relative. If I use the same force on lighter strings (still playing Thickfreakness) they vibrate too much. Some claim that heavy strings have a clearer and more lively tone than lighter strings too... they also sustain longer, and have more effect on your pickups (same as moving your pickup closer to a light string). Some say they have stronger harmonics, more compressed attack, and a higher output, which I would agree with. Other ways to get compressed sound is through the use of a pedal... but the a pedal will not give you that great thick-string feel when you go play (if that is what you crave). You can also put a higher output pickup in your guitar... if that is what it is all about... or move the one you've got closer to the strings (as mentioned).
Heavier strings are more uncomfortable to play for some, but that would depend on how you like to play. If you have the strength of a gorilla, it's only going to feel better with thicker strings. If, on the other hand (no pun here) you begin to get signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.. you're not the gorilla you thought you were... so back off on the string gauges.
As we all know, Stevie Ray Vaughan loved heavy strings, and is rumored to have put Crazy Glue on his finger tips, to make it more comfortable to play those big cables.... anyway... give it a shot (but don't forget to have someone file your nut slots to fit those new strings!). Go here for more on this topic.
