What Kind Of String Gauges Do You Use and Why?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Youngman on March 10, 2011 at 9:09pm

Hey Toby,
There's' at least one discussion going on this:
http://www.acousticguitarcommunity.com/forum/topics/string-preferen...
I'm sure there is more in the archives.

David

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Permalink Reply by Paddy Dargan on May 1, 2011 at 8:07am

Hi, Toby

I also like D'Addarios, but also like Martin SPs.  I use 12s on my smaller guitars (OM28V, Guild Gad 30E, Fairclough Parlour), and 13s on my dreads (D18VS, D16GT, '70s Yamaki)  I tend to use the smaller guitars for fingerpicking (in my own self-taught way!), and the dreads for rhythm/strumming,  I feel that the mediums give me a better feel for "digging in".  Probably 'cos I'm a little bit heavy handed!

Happy picking!

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Permalink Reply by Janice Hamilton on May 20, 2011 at 3:35pm

I am a beginner guitarist who is use to lighter guage strings on other instruments (banjo and mandolin) so I tend to use .11's on the guitar with a .48 base.  I think they are Martin Extra lights and like the sound and feel on my dread very much.  Of course my Strat is a different story and lighter guages yet.

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Permalink Reply by Pascal Proust on May 23, 2011 at 2:53am

After playing with many string brands (always phosphor bronze). I had used Martin for a long time (Marquises, and more recently SPs), before I changed to Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze . So far, I haven't found better than Elixir strings : they last long, they are way resistant, sound good a very long time, and the coat is very fine and comfortable. Now everytime I take my guitar I feel like the strings are brand new! As a comparison, Martin SPs are supposed to be coated, but even if they last longer than regular ones, I noticed that the coat tends to go away with time. Which is not the case with Elixirs. Of course, this is just my opinion regarding my personnal tastes. Other brands should be good as well, obviously. The weak point about Elixirs is the price. But to my mind they are worth it.

 

My favorite gauge range is Light .012-.053. Currently I've put Custom Light .011-.052 for a try, but they don't sound as powerful as I'd like. So I'll be back to .012-.053 next time I change them. So I would say that this gauge should be the right for me.

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Permalink Reply by S W on September 21, 2011 at 5:45pm

I like best the D'Addario 12's (phosphor bronze wound) on my acoustic (a 1960 Gibson J-45). I've tried the John Pearse strings a few times, the 11's and 12's and liked them a lot, maybe even a bit more preferred for fingerstyle because the basses are a bit lighter - I think the set was .011-.050. I've also liked the Dean Markley 12's as well. I like the sound of the coated strings, but for now I find them a bit too slippery, all they're quiet for lateral slides across...hmmm, maybe that's what I'm not getting! Anyhow, I prefer the grippy phosphors, for now at least.

On my classical the D'Addario EJ46 hard tension are my favorite. I've tried other brands and tensions and always come back to them. For electric, its the nickel wound D'Addario 11's, on an 2000 Yamaha AEX 502 semi-hollow body with F-holes.

Cheers!

http://pages.videotron.com/swguitar

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Permalink Reply by Victor Saumarez on September 22, 2011 at 4:44pm

12 to 50 flat wound. I find bass strings to be over weighted, making playing harder. 70% of my playing is on the first 4 strings, which is where you want the least resistance but the bass is always there. The top E has to be bright enough to stand out in single line playing so a 12 is usually sufficient IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Perry on September 28, 2011 at 1:19pm

Hi Toby and all,

I'm somering of a jack of all trades acoustically (don't believe in electics - passing fad !)

I play dreadnoughts, archtops, Weissenborn, and (squareneck) dobro, and on all of those I use EJ17s but put a 16/12 on the dreads, 17/17 on my Weissenborn, 18/18 on the dobro. 

I have a National Style "O" which stays in open D and I use Newtone nickel heavies on that - 59/17.

On smaller body flat-tops - L-0, couple of "00" and an "000" standard scale I use Ej16s.

 

I wander off to Newtones, Eixirs, and other makes occasionally but for me D'addario gernally are the best price and most consistent.

 

I have to say that I am suspicious of all the differnt "brands" and seriously wonder if there are as many makes as there are brands. I wouldn't be surpised to learn that many brands are, in fact all made in the same factory -anybody know anything about this ?

 

Ol' Andy

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by FloridaGull on September 28, 2011 at 3:04pm

D'Addario's and Godins are the same...

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Perry on September 30, 2011 at 1:39am

That is most intersting Florida, and so that leads us to suspect that D'addario might make strings for other makes as well !?

 

Ol' Andy  

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Permalink Reply by Bob Quinn on September 29, 2011 at 7:37pm

I play a small 00 body...Travis style stuff. I've been playing 12's (light gauge) for as long as I can remember. I also used D' Addirio's for many many years. I switched over to Ernie Ball strings a few years ago..the core wire is a less stiff allowing a nice "gooey" feeling string under my fingers, and I found the tone to ring a bit clearer. So for now I'm an Ernie Ball fan. I read of folks using John Pearse strings, and there's a certain allure..but I've never played them, but would love to hear from folks who have. I have no love for Elixers, they seem to have a dead muffled tone to me and they're very stiff...OK there's my 2 cents.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Perry on September 30, 2011 at 1:39am

Hi Bob, 

Whilst I'm sure that you are happy with the Ernie Balls (no reason why not) if you are seeking a string of standard light guage (12-53, but with lower tension, then might I suggest Newtone Strings from the UK.  They are hand wound on round cores and from experience are very pleasing tonally and as long lasting as other big name strings. 

 

I know that they are available in the USA - but check out : http://www.newtonestrings.com/

 

Best, 

Ol' Andy 

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Permalink Reply by Bob Quinn on September 30, 2011 at 8:33am

HI Andy, thank you for your suggestion. Newtone strings are a brand I'm not familiar with, and yes I like a lower tension string.... I'll check them out!

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