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Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | I am currently using light gauge strings. Is there an advantage to going to X-light and would I need to do something for set up?
Pauly |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Easier to play, but the payoff is a reduction in volume and tone. You may need to back the neck rod off a little. |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | They break easier. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | It'll bring the center of gravity up when you play and sound lighter. You might like it, most don't. |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Thanks I might just leave well enough alone.
Pauly |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only advantage would be that it'd come in handy if/when y'need to slice hardboiled eggs . . .
Stick with what y'got.
If anything, as you're playing becomes stronger/more proficient, you might wanna go to mediums . . . |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Lighter strings are easier to bend, i.e., as in Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight". |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I'm with Cliff....mediums just sound better. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Elixir makes a phosppher bronze mixed light/med set that I finds works really well and sounds good too. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | The set (.012-.053) I just put on the Josh White sound terrific! |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Was that Elixir 13-56 ? |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Nope, their new-fangled Phosphor Bronze sets- Light .012-.053. I think it goes .012-.016-.023-.036-.042-.053 w/ "Nanoweb" coating. Bright, and smooth. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Seesquare ,what`s a josh white again,is it a legend or.. :confused: |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | it's neither... Josh White was the original Folklore. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Thanks,I`d heard the name before but could n`t place it :) |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | As a newbie, I played custom light strings (11-52), to help build strength on my fingers. They also improve the playability of the guitar. Soundwise, however, it's more on the treble side and can be annoyingly bright at times. I've since upgraded to light gauge (12s), and I haven't looked back. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | I can n`t hold myself back no more,I want to know..ignimbyte :"How would U describe the sound of the HD 28, versus that balladeer " ? :) |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Originally posted by V-elite:
I can n`t hold myself back no more,I want to know..ignimbyte :"How would U describe the sound of the HD 28, versus that balladeer " ? :) Think of a D-28 that has already "opened up." I guess the scalloped bracing allows the top to vibrate more freely. With my instrument, I get a loud, rich and open tone, and more pronounced bass. It also has that "pinched" sound that is unique, but I can't seem to describe it. All I can say is that it's pleasing to my ear -- that's just me though.
My shallow bowl balladeer doesn't even come close to the HD-28 unplugged. The difference is night and day. The balladeer is more focused on the brighter aspects of tone and its ability to project sound more efficiently. I don't get much from it unplugged ... just the satisfaction that I can rehearse in my privacy and not be bothersome towards others. Plugged in, the guitar comes alive with bright and airy trebles and good bass ... pretty much, the skies the limit... :) |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Thank You ,ignimbyte,someone overhere in danmark is tryin`to sell an HD 28 (15 years old )for about 2400 usd.but he`s living far away from me ,so b`fore I commit myself I wanted to know a bit more about it,I appreciate it :) |
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May 2002
Posts: 651
Location: Australia | 12 gauge work very well on an Ovation. It's also factory spec.
I'd move up from the 11's if I were you Gil, you'll get used to 12's in no time. The payoff is a richer tone with less string buzz. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I agree with you richardd. I use 12s in the here and now... :) |
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December 2005
Posts: 11
Location: Island Lake, IL | I had bluegrass strings (.12 - .56) on my Ovation and it was killing my finger tips and landing chords sometimes tuff. I switched to Webstring's XL-Plus which are .11 to .50 and what a difference it made. Sounds better and really enjoy playing more... |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | I usually use 11's, but put an E and B from a set of 13's. The E and B from the 11's are too bright. This on an Elite T.
With this set up I can dial in any bass/treble combo I want.
Also on the OP30 the vol. control on the can goes from nothing to really loud way too quick for me. Is this common on all O's with slider controls? Now that I think about it my CV68 is much the same. I usually just leave it alone. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I use John Pearse strings on my Balladeer Special. Since I use it both plugged and unplugged, the Pearse strings are a good compromise.
My main electric is a Telecaster. 10-46 has been my string gauge for the last twenty years.
Switching between the Ovation and Fender has created a situation where the Tele E and B strings are not heavy enough to accomodate my jazz style.
Since I use both guitars when I play, I decided to up the gauge on my Tele to 12-48. It took a while to get used to the change. The result was my Tele has a fatter sound, and switching to the Balladeer has been easier.
There was a time when you went into the music store and asked for a set of strings, put them on and away you went. Now it is like trying to find shoes that fit.
Not all string manufacturers consider 12-53 to be light. Unfortunately you have to buy the strings to try them. At least with shoes, you can try them on at no expense.
Keep on pickin. |
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String gauge