Acoustic Guitar String advice please

IggyStooge · 29 Nov 2011 at 11:46

Hello

I'm currently using D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Light EXP11 Coated 80/20 Bronze Strings .012-.53. I can't say I've found them that easy to play and would like to try some different ones. Should I try some lighter strings? Any recommendations?

Thanks

a1ex2001 · 5 Dec 2011 at 09:50

IggyStooge said:
Hello

I'm currently using D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Light EXP11 Coated 80/20 Bronze Strings .012-.53. I can't say I've found them that easy to play and would like to try some different ones. Should I try some lighter strings? Any recommendations?

Thanks

The first question I'd ask here is how well setup is your guitar? If it has never had a proffessional setup go and get one done you'll be amazed how much easier a guitar with a nice low action plays compared to a standard factory setup.

Going with lighter strings my help but you won't build up the strength which inevitably you will need in the end so you might as well just suck up the pain.

SexyGreyFox · 5 Dec 2011 at 18:19

I've always used the same strings on my acoustics that I use on my electrics - Dean Markley 10 to 46 (although I am just trying some 10 to 52's on my electrics).
Also a professional setup would probably make it play better (unless it's already setup).

St.Josh · 5 Dec 2011 at 18:29

It helps to know what guitar you have aswell guitars are very delicate and even changing the guage of strings you use can damage the neck if you don't adjust it accordingly.

Dazzy · 5 Dec 2011 at 21:59

Just try a set of 11's, they will sound slighty different but will be much easier on your hands.

I would be very suprised if the change in gauge made any adjustments to the guitar necessary.

a1ex2001 · 5 Dec 2011 at 22:40

Dazzy said:
Just try a set of 11's, they will sound slighty different but will be much easier on your hands.

I would be very suprised if the change in gauge made any adjustments to the guitar necessary.

Provided it's been setup well in the first place your probably right but you'd be surprised how many people are playing terrible factory setups without realising!

boxman2000 · 6 Dec 2011 at 10:54

a1ex2001 said:
Provided it's been setup well in the first place your probably right but you'd be surprised how many people are playing terrible factory setups without realising!

Not wrong there!!

Hopefully getting all my guitars setup next year by Jon Shuker, can't wait!

I tend to go for D'Addario Elixir Nanoweb 11's or D'Addario EXP11's. I used to be an Ernie Ball fan but prefer the brightness of D'Addario.

St.Josh said:
It helps to know what guitar you have aswell guitars are very delicate and even changing the guage of strings you use can damage the neck if you don't adjust it accordingly.

More damaging to change your strings the wrong way I would have thought.

Jingo... · 6 Dec 2011 at 17:42

I'm just a home-playing amateur but I really enjoy the feel of Elixir Nanoweb strings on my acoustic; they're really smooth, don't seem to pick up grease and seem to last about 3/4 times longer than the standard d'addario acoustic strings.

Food for thought

St.Josh · 6 Dec 2011 at 19:57

Dazzy said:
I would be very suprised if the change in gauge made any adjustments to the guitar necessary.

Of course it does, you are changing the tension that the guitar has been setup to play at. It can mess up the intonation, guitars react to changes a lot more than people think.

Vespasian777 · 6 Dec 2011 at 20:02

I'm currently on 11s, but don't be afraid to go down to 10s. They give a percussive crunch, that can be quite useful. Depends on you style really. If it's not going into a microphone or pick-up and you want volume however, you're best going for 12s.

Naffa · 6 Dec 2011 at 22:44

First of all, don't bother using coated strings. Secondly, I wouldn't lower the gauge you are using, just get a set of D'addario EJ16, or Martin FX strings. Third, get your action as low as it will go, get that truss rod good and tight (

), and take some of the relief out of the neck. Take the guitar into your local shop, and tell them that you don't want to be able to fit a credit card between the fretboard and the strings.

Playing the guitar is tough enough as it is, get your guitar as easy to play as possible, make it so easy that you won't want to stop playing it. Do the above and it will happen.

Vespasian777 · 6 Dec 2011 at 23:04

Naffa said:
First of all, don't bother using coated strings. Secondly, I wouldn't lower the gauge you are using, just get a set of D'addario EJ16, or Martin FX strings. Third, get your action as low as it will go, get that truss rod good and tight (), and take some of the relief out of the neck. Take the guitar into your local shop, and tell them that you don't want to be able to fit a credit card between the fretboard and the strings.

Playing the guitar is tough enough as it is, get your guitar as easy to play as possible, make it so easy that you won't want to stop playing it. Do the above and it will happen.

You realise he's talking about his ACOUSTIC guitar. Probably hasn't got a truss rod. To lower the action of an acoustic you've got to start filing things. Either the bridge or the nut. There's probably no need to do either. I have my tele set with 12s and a highish action to facilitate bending more easily, and get under the string above cleanly. My paul is set real low with 9s, which is wonderful, but has it's limitations. Lighter strings will always make a guitar easier to play, ceterus parabus, but easy isn't really the thing. Unless you're really struggling, in which case just put some 10s on and see how you go. Or 11s.

p0ss3s3d · 6 Dec 2011 at 23:05

Naffa said:
First of all, don't bother using coated strings. Secondly, I wouldn't lower the gauge you are using, just get a set of D'addario EJ16, or Martin FX strings. Third, get your action as low as it will go, get that truss rod good and tight (), and take some of the relief out of the neck. Take the guitar into your local shop, and tell them that you don't want to be able to fit a credit card between the fretboard and the strings.

This. Personally I find that anything lower than 11's on acoustics and things can sound a little wimpy.

Vespasian777 said:
You realise he's talking about his ACOUSTIC guitar. Probably hasn't got a truss rod. To lower the action of an acoustic you've got to start filing things.

What acoustics have you been playing?!!!

Although your string gauge advice is right. Once you can play and your looking for tone then usually a slightly higher action and heavier set of strings sound a bit better and cleaner once your technique and strength are high enough.

Vespasian777 · 6 Dec 2011 at 23:06

Dazzy said:
Just try a set of 11's, they will sound slighty different but will be much easier on your hands.

I would be very suprised if the change in gauge made any adjustments to the guitar necessary.

Correct.

SexyGreyFox · 6 Dec 2011 at 23:13

Vespasian777 said:
You realise he's talking about his ACOUSTIC guitar.

This is a guy who has played with Tommy Emmanuel and other guitar gods so he knows what he's on about.
What else would you put D'addario EJ16 or Martin FX strings on?
He obviously means if it has got a truss rod then it can be adjusted.

Vespasian777 · 6 Dec 2011 at 23:26

p0ss3s3d said:
This. Personally I find that anything lower than 11's on acoustics and things can sound a little wimpy.

What acoustics have you been playing?!!! Although your string gauge advice is right. Once you can play and your looking for tone then usually a slightly higher action and heavier set of strings sound a bit better and cleaner once your technique and strength are high enough.

Yamaha FG410A, for 25years. Many acoustics do not have adjustable truss rods. The point is that you can't adjust your string length, so your truss rod is best left alone. My acoustic takes 10s or 12s without any appreciable intonation problems, as have others that I have owned.

David_VI · 7 Dec 2011 at 00:03

I use Elixir 12's, coated because they last longer, I used to get through strings far too quick.. maybe my fingers produce oil or whatever it is that ruins them way quicker than other people..

Naffa · 7 Dec 2011 at 07:00

Vespasian777 said:
You realise he's talking about his ACOUSTIC guitar. Probably hasn't got a truss rod. To lower the action of an acoustic you've got to start filing things. Either the bridge or the nut. There's probably no need to do either. I have my tele set with 12s and a highish action to facilitate bending more easily, and get under the string above cleanly. My paul is set real low with 9s, which is wonderful, but has it's limitations. Lighter strings will always make a guitar easier to play, ceterus parabus, but easy isn't really the thing. Unless you're really struggling, in which case just put some 10s on and see how you go. Or 11s.

What are you talking about?

Some nylon string guitars don't have a truss rod, but every steel string guitar you will have played will have a truss rod. The guitar is braced to support the huge amount of tension set against the neck, and the only way it can fully do that is with a truss rod, without one the guitar would simply implode as soon as it was tuned.

If you don't think you need to tighten the truss rod, sand down the bridge or the nut, how on Earth do you propose lowering the action of a guitar? Of course there are drawbacks to having a low action, but all of them pale in comparison to having a guitar that's easy as pie to play.

IggyStooge · 7 Dec 2011 at 10:03

It appears to have gone a bit technical. Thanks for all the replys though. I'm just going to try some lighter strings and see how I get on.

IceBus · 7 Dec 2011 at 10:36

Jingo... said:
I'm just a home-playing amateur but I really enjoy the feel of Elixir Nanoweb strings on my acoustic; they're really smooth, don't seem to pick up grease and seem to last about 3/4 times longer than the standard d'addario acoustic strings.

My acoustic strings of choice too. I'm a hardcore D'addario fan for my electrics, but Elixir just feel slicker and nicer on an acoustic plus I like the bright high end/gutsy bass end.