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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I know, we've had discussions on strings quite a few times before, but I am curious about what makes you choose to use Light, Medium, or Heavy Strings. I recently decided to tune one of my guitars a full note lower to try out some Bread tunes. When I did that, the strings (Lights) seemed to have a difficult time getting in tune and staying there. I wondered if using heavier gaged strings would correct the problem. I know some of you tune down, and would like to know what different factors affect your choice of string gage? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | If you tune down a full step you are significantly reducing the tension on the strings. Try putting a set of mediums on there and you should be fine.
You should see the strings I use on my baritone (tuned down to B). Some of them look like hawsers compared to lights. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I typically use lights (12-54 or somewhere thereabout) on my OM and smaller acoustics and mediums (12-57) on my dreads.
Like Waskel said if you are going down a full step, put mediums on and they should hold the tuning better, sound fuller, and feel pretty much like your lights. |
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Joined:
May 2011
Posts: 13
Location: Texas | Here's a string tension chart I nicked from the Martin forum. You can adjust the string gauge to the tuning you're using by seeing how the tensions compare from gauge to gauge and tuning to tuning.
STRING TENSION CHART BY BERT SHARP
STANDARD TUNING E A D G B E TOTAL
LIGHT 26.0 29.9 30.5 30.2 23.3 23.3 163.2
MEDIUM 29.0 34.0 36.8 35.3 26.3 27.4 188.8
HEAVY 31.9 38.8 44.7 38.0 29.3 31.5 214.2
TUNED DOWN 1/2 STEP D# G# C# F# A# D#
LIGHT 23.2 26.6 27.2 26.9 20.8 20.8 145.5
MEDIUM 25.8 30.3 32.8 31.5 23.4 24.4 168.2
HEAVY 28.4 34.6 39.8 33.9 26.1 28.1 190.9
TUNED DOWN FULL STEP D G C F A D
LIGHT 20.6 23.7 24.2 24.0 18.5 18.5 129.5
MEDIUM 23.0 27.0 29.2 28.0 20.9 21.8 149.9
HEAVY 25.3 30.8 35.5 30.2 23.2 25.0 170.0
DADGAD D A D G A D
LIGHT 20.6 29.9 30.5 30.2 18.5 18.5 148.2
MEDIUM 23.0 34.0 36.8 35.3 20.9 21.8 171.8
HEAVY 25.3 38.8 44.7 38.0 23.2 25.0 195.0
OPEN D D A D F# A D
LIGHT 20.6 29.9 30.5 26.9 18.5 18.5 144.9
MEDIUM 23.0 34.0 36.8 31.5 20.9 21.8 168.0
HEAVY 25.3 38.8 44.7 33.9 23.2 25.0 190.9
OPEN G D G D G B D
LIGHT 20.6 23.7 30.5 30.2 23.3 18.5 146.8
MEDIUM 23.0 27.0 36.8 35.3 26.3 21.8 170.2
HEAVY 25.3 30.8 44.7 38.0 29.3 25.0 193.1
NOTE: FIGURES SHOWN ARE IN LBS USING A 25.5" Standard] SCALE LENGTH
FOR A 24.75" SCALE LENGTH MULTIPLY TENSION FIGURES SHOWN BY 0.95
FOR A 24.90" SCALE LENGTH MULTIPLY TENSION FIGURES SHOWN BY 0.96
FOR A 25.25" SCALE LENGTH MULTIPLY TENSION FIGURES SHOWN BY 0.98
FOR A 25.40" SCALE LENGTH MULTIPLY TENSION FIGURES SHOWN BY 0.99 |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I usually play standard light gauge, mainly because it's easier on my fingers and I find the playing more enjoyable. For awhile I was using mediums on my D28, and no doubt that mediums get you more tone and volume. But what's the point if you never want to play that guitar due to the extra effort required?
I agree with the comments about tuning down or baritone long scale guitars, definitely want heavier strings on those. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | 13-56 on the dread
12-53 on all other acoustics and hybrids
10-47 on most electrics
My technique is too clumsy to maintain correct intonation with anything lighter. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Excellent information guys... Thanks. For the full-note tune-down (according to the Muton forum chart)looks like I should go for the heavy gage strings. I guess it looks like I'll just need to experiment. I can say one thing though... Tuning down that whole note sure makes the bass rumble on the guitar. "Reminds me of my old baritone. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I found that heavy (14-59) strings work best for me when I tune down on whole step. Mediums are OK, but tuned down they feel like 10's feel under normal tuning - and I like a tighter feel. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I always tune down to D with light strings (12-53) without a problem, but I'm more of a picker. Heavy strumming probably would be a little squirrelly. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15673
Location: SoCal | I tuned the 87C down a half note with mediums on it (13-56) and was surprised at how fast it lost tone and sounded muddy. |
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Joined:
April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Acoustic Guitars I use 12's
Electrics I use 11's
I like using drop d and dadgad and I dong't seem to have a problem Have a great time brother. :) |
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Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747
| My Ovation has the artist depth bowl and it didn't work well with mediums - after about 2 hours playing on new strings the low E would sound like a dull thud at standard pitch.
Switched to lights and that really improved it.
These days I tune 1/2 tone down for my voice and the guitar works fine in that range - then I capo up as need be for some songs.
I was running mediums on my dread at 1/2 tone flat with no problem but I think I might go back to lights to brighten her up a bit.
I find the tone of the guitar really drives my voice when it's right and light strings seem to do that best - mostly I finger pick but I notice that the thickness and/or material type of any flat pick I might use effects tone as well in a pretty big way. Some pick materials seem to soak up the attack while others brighten it. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Well I just put some mediums on my 2008C and tuned down to D. This thing sounds even more awesome than it aleady did with regular tuning. The bass side sounds better than my baritone did, and the highs are still clear, all the way up the neck. It's almost like having a baritone Adamas, but without the limitations. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 494
Location: California | Good to know about the sound improvement with medium and tuned down to D. Will also experiment with the Adamas I. |
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String Gage Preference Question...