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Post by alexkirtley on Aug 8, 2014 21:33:36 GMT
I thought it would be interesting to see what string gauge users on here use! I used to use 12's when I had my Yamaha, I still used 12's when I had my Gibson but I have just strung my new Docherty up with 13's and it sounds like nothing else I have ever played! the sound is incredible!!, I would normally shy away from 13's because they are hard to play with and I get worried about the amount of tension on the guitar but this guitar needs 13s!!, I think I'll be sticking with 13s, on this guitar at least.
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alig
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Post by alig on Aug 8, 2014 21:54:00 GMT
I play 13s. Can't exactly remember when or why I changed. When Rory made the Tarans for me I specified 13s and I upped the gauge on my other guitars. You're right, the difference is noticeable - on the right guitar. That said, it's a 'horses for courses' thing - each to his own, etc. I even stuck 'em on a Fylde Orsino and tuned it down to DADGAD, etc - made a HUGE difference after thirty odd years of 12s.
It's good to experiment...
However, when I play a guitar with 12s the strings feel very flimsy now.
Alasdair.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 8, 2014 22:09:14 GMT
12-54 on my standard scale guitars in standard tuning at concert pitch, 13-56 on shorter scale guitars or on standard scale ones if tuned down.
In addition to the specific guitar, much depends on the tension and feel that you work best with. As Alasdair's comments show, a little experimentation can be really helpful, and sometimes surprising, in discovering what works best for you on a particular instrument.
Keith
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Post by vikingblues on Aug 8, 2014 22:23:19 GMT
12s on a parlour guitar with short scale. Had 11s on the longer scale acoustic, but got low tension heritage 12s the last time. Much as I'd like to try the sonic benefits of heavier strings my left hand fretting fingers wouldn't take the strain and I'd have to give up playing due to the damage! With electrics, for the same reason, had to limit myself to 10s on Gibson scale length and 9s on Fender scale due to the impact of bending notes on the joints with heavier gauge. Mark
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 8, 2014 22:30:18 GMT
Mark, heavier strings don't always bring sonic benefits. My Lowden O25 tends to sound less resonant and responsive to me with 13-56 strings than with it's usual 12-54. I am aware of other players who have found the same thing to happen, but also of other Lowden players swear by 13-56. Weird things, guitars. (And as for the players..... ) Keith
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Post by Martin on Aug 8, 2014 23:46:51 GMT
12-54 gauge here as well, although it can vary very slightly. That's about as heavy as I go. Oh, happy 6000 posts, Keith
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Post by scripsit on Aug 9, 2014 1:24:12 GMT
13-56 on long scale (650 mm) acoustics in all tunings including missionary. I started doing this because my heroes like Mr Simpson and Mr Petteway go fairly heavy (although I think Martin Simpson now is up a gauge from this), and agree with them that the sound is better, at least on my guitars.
I notice that Al Petteway has recently suffered from hand problems, and wonder if he is still sticking to mediums.
Used to use 10s or 11s on my Strat. I found that 8s and 9s often appeared out of tune just from normal fretting, particularly if there was a difficult stretch involved, and have found this difficulty on lighter strung acoustics in music shops and the like, too. I don't have a particularly macho grip, either. I think hammering on and pulling off is easier on an acoustic with some 'fight back', as long as the action is appropriate.
Fingers crossed (difficult to play like this!), I don't yet have any hand difficulties from using this gauge, even at my advanced age.
Kym
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Post by mandovark on Aug 9, 2014 8:49:44 GMT
I like the hybrid 12-56 gauge that a few companies now produce. D'Addario call it a Bluegrass set. It sounds balanced in standard tuning and is heavy enough on the bass strings that they don't become flappy tuned down.
I prefer 13-56 on guitars set up for slide.
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Post by pnut on Aug 9, 2014 17:06:26 GMT
I normally use 12s but when I got the d18 in April it came with 13s on and they didn't seem too bad could even do a few bends on them and they made the dred sound awesome, restrung it with 12s and still sounds awesome but am tempted to try 13s again next time.
Just restrung my Atkin and tried some 11s to see if it would sound a bit less harsh and in your face when the strings were new, didn't work sounded quite thin and have put the trusty ej16s on again now.
Think I'll stick with 12s in the future they seem right for me, I notice they've changed the cardboard packing on daddarios recently, might be my imagination but I'm wondering if this set doesn't sound as good as they usually do I.e. They might have changed the strings as well, Probably just the fact I'm full of a head cold at the moment!
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Post by scotch on Aug 9, 2014 19:21:18 GMT
It varies to be honest. I've tried a variation from 9's to 13's. All sound great, I particularly like 12's to 13's these get me to push the strings more and just get a more forward hitting tone.
But I change these quite alot I rarely have same set on for 3 changes as I have the lowdens neck bend to be a bit higher. Reason being is to get a more suitable drop tunings so for DADGAD, Open D, C Drop DADGAD and even surprisingly to a Baritone tuning.
Right now got a set of 11's on trying to see how suitable they're just for DADGAD on the Lowden.
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Post by monolith on Aug 10, 2014 13:52:35 GMT
I've recently been using the Martin Lifespan strings, really liked them usually the 11's, noticed they seem to have shot up in price! Has anyone else used these?
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Post by andyhowell on Aug 11, 2014 8:50:04 GMT
For me it is 13s all the way although this is mainly because of the open tunings I am playing. When I was with Martin Simpson last year he was playing with 13s still. IfI was playing a slightly more folky or country blues style I would probably be on 12s. My J40 is strung with lights at the moment.
I doubt Petterway's hand problems are to do with strings. In many ways I find the heavier strings easier to play with. He's probably got some kind of retentive strain injury on his wrist or tendonistis. I've had these problems and they were cured by moving to a smaller (and less deep) guitar.
I have a suspicion that 12s would record better than 13s but I've not put this to the test. Certainly the Newtone strings that I've just moved to are more dynamic than my usual D'Addario.
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Post by scripsit on Aug 11, 2014 13:27:58 GMT
Interesting. I had read somewhere that Martin Simpson swapped out the .13 for a .14, but this is obviously not the case.
I agree that the size of the guitar itself is an important part of the ergonomics: I see that Al Petteway has recently started using a 12 fret 000 size as his main stage guitar. I find dreads uncomfortable to play because of the body shape and size, and enjoy the way that 12 fretters feel easy to reach compared to 14 fret necks.
I disagree that lighter strings record better. I had a set of .12s sitting around from when I first started playing guitar again when I ran out of normal sets and they didn't have the sustain I was used to from heavier strings.
Kym
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Post by ianlp59 on Aug 11, 2014 13:58:12 GMT
Interesting. I had read somewhere that Martin Simpson swapped out the .13 for a .14, but this is obviously not the case. Martin uses mediums with a .15 on the first string. However, he recently did some gigs with Dom Flemons and actually played in standard tuning using lights on one of his PRS guitars. Martin was at our place a week or ago for the annual family summer visit and he gave me the PRS with light strings on to try out. It was surprising playable tuned down to various G and C modal tunings although it did feel a bit strange, particularly with the.012 1st string turned down to D. And slide playing would not have worked that well with lighter strings. Personally, I use mediums on most of my guitars with a .15 on those that I play slide guitar on. I use lights for my two Collings guitars because they have pyramid bridges with a correspondingly smaller footprint on the soundboard. Cheers, Ian
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Post by andyhowell on Aug 11, 2014 20:50:41 GMT
Forgot about that heavier top string Ian!
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