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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | As many of you know, one of my main guitars is Big Blue, a 1993 Adamas 12 string. When I first got it, I tried medium gauge strings on it, but saw the top, behind the bridge, literally pull up a bit. I pulled them off and have used light gauge strings ever since.
But a major problem is that when I am playing rhythm in the band, my light gauge strings get all jangly. So the question is, will it hurt the guitar to use medium gauge strings? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | shouldn't. |
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June 2002
Posts: 147
| I have a 97 1688-8 that I had wonted to try with medium gauge strings also but noticed the same problem as I was bringing it up it up to tune so I stopped and put on some new lights.
I now use D'Addario EXP Coated Acoustic Guitar Phosphor Bronze 12 String Lite, .010 - .047.
Mediums always sound a little beefier to me but these lights sound great.
The Old Adamas Owners Guide said “ALL Adamas come equipped from the factory with Ovation HTB-425 strings. Two string sets are available: Light gauge (HTB-425-2K) and Medium gauge (HTB-425-3K).” It never tells you if they shipped them with the 2K,s or 3K’s.
I guess from cwk2’s answer it must have been the 2K’s.
Mike |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Paul, try the mediums again but tune down to D or C. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Bill:
Are you saying that the top on Big Blue can take medium gauge strings and that I shouldn't worry about the bulge below the bridge? |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Paul
Maybe you could use light bass and medium treble to cut the jangle some without putting more strain on the top. To me the wound unwound bass pairs sound good in light gauge, a stiffer pick might help also.
Bailey |
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September 2002
Posts: 12
Location: Bloomfield Ct | Mediums should not cause any serious problems, but to be sure, tune down a half step and capo the first fret. Play as normal.
Another thing to try is to use the lights and raise the action 1/64th at the 12th fret. Might eliminate some zing, and give you a cleaner tone |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Try what MJM said. With the capo at the first you'll need to take some white out and redraw the side markers down the side of the neck. As I recall the medium vs lite 12 set will only pull about 35# more, (250 to 285) Maybe someone with string knowledge can verify or correct that? |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | I think what I'm gonna do is put on mediums, and tune down to a C. Gonna have to transpose some tunes but the sound will be incredible. And if I'm feeling lazy, I can always capo up.
Seedoubleyoukaytwo, I always thought the dots on the side were decorations. If I wanted to play an A chord at the fifth fret I always stopped everybody else while I counted up the frets. Your information could revolutionize my guitar playing! Do other people know this also? This is like when I was in college and I found out the dictionary was in alphabetical order. Man, did I ever cut down my time on writing papers!!
[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: moody, p.i. ] |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | I've had some luck with my Elite and Adamas 12's by mixing set sizes, primarily using a light guage, but using a few medium guages replacements on a few strings (heavier low e string, heavier A string, d, and light g string). This beefed up the sound without messing tension too much at all. Got too expensive to be buying 2 sets of strings for each gig though, so I've gone back to lights. But, it might be worth experiementing with if you don't replace strings much. |
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Location: NJ | If by chance you found a "mix" that works, you could always order/buy the individual strings online. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Moody, Paul, It is kindof a secret about those side dots so don't tell everyone, just the guys in the band. I think at C the strings might flap around some. Try it. If they flap about go up to D. When you get happy with that try Eflat. See how the top holds up and then take the big final step to E
ps, don't forget to change the white out dots.
Actually I have used white out on an old Duoloian and it lasts about 3-4 months till you need new dots, 5&7. The guitar was too clean to put a real inlayed dots in so I painted them on. When it's time to sell they will come right off. On the white bound Nationals I put the dots on with a black sharpie I get out of the golf bag. Again the ink is just on the surface and will come off with a touch of steel wool. |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | You could carve notches with a sharp pocket knife and use wood putty to fill them as you change tunings, wood putty comes in various colors so a match shouldn't be hard to find. (professional luthier on a closed course, do not try this at home (just a little disclaimer))
It's news to me that there are chords above the third fret, next someone is going to get foolish and say that they have ventured into the unknown and played a key other than G. That certainly could cause damage to a bluegrass guitar and void the warranty and certainly would cause the banjo player to go sulk at the bar.
I suspect these E flats and A's and such are part of the sinister plot to drag us into the European Union like the liters and kilometers.
Bailey |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Question from somewhat of a novice on alternative tunings. When y'all say tune to a C, do you mean tune it down 2 steps so when you play an E finger position your actually playing a C?
The local shop I frequent never seems to have Ovation 12 strings. The Mars Music in Arlington, TX (of course going out of business, may already be closed) had (maybe still has?) a Mellisa Ethridge signature 12 string that was way cool, couldn't afford it even at the marked down price as I'm saving my funds for the Blue Sparkle Legend 1867 at the local shop. |
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Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Yup. |
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Medium gauge on 12 string