The D16 and light guage strings

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Permalink Reply by Ed Rhoades on March 11, 2012 at 4:45pm

I use lights...and sometimes custom lights on all my dreadnoughts including my D16RGT.  I really don't believe I'm sacrificing much volume or tone. 

Some country and bluegrass guys scoff a the idea, but I play a lot of blues and a lot of stretching is involved. I remember when I got my D18 back from the factory awhile ago, and our local dealer was surprised that it sounded better with lights.

Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on March 11, 2012 at 5:10pm

Hey Ed, Ed here...I use lights on my 76 D-28, but I use Martin "Bluegrass" strings on both my Gibson acoustics.  The Bluegrass strings are a mixed set. It is a light gauge set, only the Low A and E strings are medium gauge!  That way you can get the attack on the low E and A without them buzzing, but still get the bending flexibility on the four higher strings!  Works for me.  Edward

Permalink Reply by Ed Rhoades on March 11, 2012 at 10:16pm

Lately, I've been using Martin light gauge strings on my HD28, my SWDGT, my DC1E and my D15M. After so long, I've gotten used to them. Mediums make my hands tired after two sets, and I sometimes bend all the strings. I have the action set pretty low without any buzzing. 

Years ago, my first Martin, a D28, actually came with heavy strings and I played them for awhile and later switched to mediums. I found out that I had such a heavy touch, I couldn't play electric guitars without knocking them out of tune. When I finally developed a lighter touch for my electric guitars, I switched to extra lights for my Martins. Then the microphone or a pickup did the amplification and it was easier to switch from electric to acoustic. My onstage playing in recent years has been almost exclusively acoustic with light gauge, but I plan to use my Epiphone Broadway for an important blues show...and I practiced with it tonight.   

Permalink Reply by Jon Lloyd on June 11, 2012 at 3:50pm

For almost 30 years I used medium strings.  I've been teaching my two kids to play the last few months and bought light gauge SP's for that purpose.  I put lights on my martin because I had an extra set and needed strings.  I hate them so far.  The tone that I fell in love with this guitar for is gone.

Im hauling butt back to mediums as quickly as I can.