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May 2008
Posts: 198
Location: seattle | I subscribe to the philosophy that there is an 'optimum' string guage/tension for each guitar. many folks believe that the thicker the string the better the tone. Soo ... my qu is how many have noticed BETTER tone with lighter guage strings on a guitar? |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I usually run light guage on all of my acoustics. When I am restring a guitar for a customer, I will put on anything they ask for, but I only recommend extra lights if it has high action that can't be easily remedied, or if it's for a little kid. I know people who use mediums, but I wouldn't do that to the neck, or my fingers. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I've got several guitars with mediums and other guitars with lights. Depends on the guitar and what it likes..... |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I always use D'Addario EJ16's (.012-.053) on my O's...
Except EJ15's (.010-.047) on my 1121, cuz I glued the headstock back on, and it likes them.
I do have a set of EJ17's left-over cuz I used to use them on my 1718 (now gone)...
I am trying to decide if I wanna try them on one of my other guitars...
I still haven't decided which one. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | Lights. I've got 3 sets of John Pearse extra lights, but I'm not sure what to do with them. |
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May 2008
Posts: 198
Location: seattle | talk about cruel, think I'll go over to the Taylor site :) |
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May 2008
Posts: 198
Location: seattle | oh, wait a minute, that was shut up AND drink a beer, since I can't do more than 1 thing at a time, a very reasonable suggestion, thanks to all :) |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | dreads-ej17
cj/sj-ej17
longnecks-ej18
om-ooo etc-el16
Ovations-ej16 |
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October 2005
Posts: 4025
Location: Utah | My unscientific observations have been that mediums sound better than lights on my acoustics. But, they hurt my fingers and joints, so lights are what I run on my guitars.
My preference is a custom-light set, that has lights on the higher 3 strings and mediums on the lower three. This seems to boost the bass and fullness without making the plain wire strings into cheese slicers. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | I use Elixir Nano Lights on all my Guitars.
I would like to use Mediums and have tried them but just can't "Barre" "clean & clear" chords
when using them. |
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May 2008
Posts: 198
Location: seattle | well, I start with 12s (lights) but if it doesn't project or have volume - i'll go up or down in guage - and occationally the extra lights really open up the guitar. I have an ovation lx just like that, thuddy and quiet with 12s, put 10s on and wow what a dif
I actually like 13s - and I like to keep one guitar around strung with the mediums - guess i'm just a bigger man than most ya'll - I know, time 4 a beer. :) |
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November 2008
Posts: 83
Location: North Wales, UK. | I put 8's on my extra shallow bowl, a bit severe for some of you chaps I know. The 6th, 5th @ 4th wound are not so pronounced now and it gives a nice ringing tone overall without too much volume loss up the kneck.
Depends on your playing style I suppose. If you are an open string bottom kneck hacker then the heavier the better I suppose. Not for me that, as I am and have allways been a light player flitting up and down the kneck.
dave3dg |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | yup can testify to 10s on my super shallow bowls making a better tone, they just seem more suited, whilst I'm usually a fan of 11s, the 03C loves 12s...
So yeah different gauges for each guitar. Trial and error. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | I have been using mediums on my 2000 and 2005 Collectors. No particular reason other than I thought that's what I should put on them... |
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May 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Michigan | I just restrung my 1771LX with ej17's, I really like the sound. I do think they are a little brutal but think I will go back to ej16's next time around.
I restrung the other 1771LX with ej15's, they are easy to play but they are to subtle, lack volume.
Just don't like the way they turn my fingers black. :mad:
Wally |
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June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Wally ... my head is hurting... EJ 17s? EJ15s? |
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May 2008
Posts: 198
Location: seattle | volume actually improved on my lx with 10's |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Sorry to cross post this but is fitting for this thread...
Been devoting some time to the 07C in hope to "get to know it better".
I ought to point out that even though I've been playing guitar for many years I'm new to acoustics, they are very different beasts to electics.
I have discovered this...
I really like the plugged in sound of the 07C (Zoom A2.1U --> AAD Cub), however felt that I'm kinda fighting aqgainst the guiter. Hard to describe; it's like the tension on the strings just feels like hard work compared to other guitars.
I like my action low as possible as I play fingerstyle and don't subscribe to the "the heavier the better" argument for string gauges. (The legend that is Adrian Legg uses 10s, which surprised and warmed me). Also I'm mainly playing for recording purposes so don't need a loud unplugged sound. I wasn't too sure what the gauge was on the 07C (I guessed 11 but maybe it was 12).
So as I say been playing it execlusively over the last few days (working on some Peppino tunes) and started to feel less bothered by the contour, at least it's a nice solid mass to lean on! Then I figured that it would be nice if the action was a little lower and the strings lighter. There is only one shim and it cannot be removed else the strings will touch the bridge! So on go the 10s and HOLY COW!
LOW, LOW, SUPER DUPER EASY FINGERPICKING ACTION!
Now I get the reason for the contour, even with light strings the bass is good.
So stick 10s on all me gits you say! Well here's the weird bit, the 03C has 12s and it's sings and it EASY to play. Weird.
So for all those that made it to the end of this ramble here's the thing (and I'm a little embaressed to have just discovered this) -- lighter strings not only change the action, but can have a MAJOR effect on the overall feel of the guitar.
Now I don't feel like I'm fighting against the 07C. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Perhaps I was feeling a little guilty about having so many guitars but they are all very different. But I think it healthy to continue to play each one and objectively try and consider whether it's different enough to warrent not selling it.
Phew...
I kinda like the idea of starting with a heavier gauge (stick the empty packet in the case so you remember what they were next time you come to change the strings) and reduce accordingly. I guess it's down to the environment, if you play acoustic then a heavier sting might be more suited but for plugged in purposes (and for saving the fingers long term) a lighter gauge is the way to go (at least seems to be working out that way for me). The 03c is an oddity (loves a 12). |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | Being among the smaller handed, I've been using custom lights; the guitars all seem to sound fine with them (although right now Gertrude has 12's on her because she gets tuned into DADGAD a whole lot.)
I like the 11's because I don't feel like I'm fighting so much with the barre chords--except for Gertrude, who has worn 13's and was still wonderfully cooperative with them on. Come to think of it, I used to put Martin Marquis Extra Lights on her, way long ago, and only stopped because she developed a very minor case of fret buzz--she did sound really great with them on.
I guess it just depends on what suits you best.
--Karen |
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June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | So, should I get lights for my 00 and 05? |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | well I'll be putting lights on my 06 KOA that's for sure!
Give it a try! |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | What's this EJ15 and EJ 17 stuff? |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | EJ15 is the code for...
D'ADDARIO EJ15 ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS
PHOSPHOR BRONZE
EXTRA LIGHTS 10 - 47
EJ17 is the code for...
D'ADDARIO EJ17 ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS
PHOSPHOR BRONZE
MEDIUMS 13 - 56
So EJ15 = 10s, EJ16 = 12s EJ17 = 13s (i.e the top E string in the set is 0.010", 0.012" and 0.013" respectively)
As mentioned before the 10s (EJ15s) has transformed by 07C into a "it's going on Ebay" to "a keeper". |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | So extra lights, huh, rather than lights? Wow!
Thanks Dweez... ALthough mediums on my 00 are fine. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I just found a set of Martin Marquis extra lights in a drawer (use on my other guitar that I cannot use anything heavier due to its age) and they seem to sound nicer than the lights I had on. Probably because it is easier form me to play, :) and that is what I was used to but the tone just seems more mellow and natural. BTW it is on a Legend 1767. |
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string guage
