Acoustic String Gauge

Sp8ctre

Sp8ctre

Ambassador of Steel
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What do the acoustic players favor?

I'm a light string user myself. I have a custom set of 9-40 on my electric.

The Taylor 612e came with Elixir Coated 12-53. I don't care for Elixir strings.

I have a set of 11-52 EB Earthwound and a set of 10-50 EB Earthwound. I also have a set of Martin 10-47.

This 12-fret guitar is already a little slinky with the 12-53 set.

Do you all think 10's on an acoustic is too small?
 
From what I read from my acoustic "belly" research -

I think a true acoustic players will not do with less than 12-53. A few go down for various reasons (arthritis, belly concerns), and many prefer 13's for a bigger sound.

Apparently, the fatter the strings, the more top vibration and the more sound projection.

Does this also mean "fatter tone" with heavier strings? Not sure on that one
 
RVA said:
From what I read from my acoustic "belly" research -

I think a true acoustic players will not do with less than 12-53. A few go down for various reasons (arthritis, belly concerns), and many prefer 13's for a bigger sound.

Apparently, the fatter the strings, the more top vibration and the more sound projection.

Does this also mean "fatter tone" with heavier strings? Not sure on that one
Click to expand...

These 12 Fret guitars benefit from the bridge placement further from the sound hole. This gives them quite a big sound with the 12-53 set.

I do have arthritis and my finger s have some strange bends to them. I'm going to go to the 11-52 when the other new guitar shows up tomorrow.

If I don't like them, it's not like I threw too much money away trying them out...
 
Sp8ctre said:
These 12 Fret guitars benefit from the bridge placement further from the sound hole. This gives them quite a big sound with the 12-53 set.

I do have arthritis and my finger s have some strange bends to them. I'm going to go to the 11-52 when the other new guitar shows up tomorrow.

If I don't like them, it's not like I threw too much money away trying them out...
Click to expand...
As a casual acoustic player for my own enjoyment with no need to project for an audience, I did not suffer due to the change from 12s to 11s, and I now feel better about my guitar's long term health
 
I just moved the Martin from Martin 12s to Elixir 11-52 polywebs…this is my first set of Elixirs…and they seem different feeling from what came on my GS Mini(supposed to be nanowebs). The polywebs feel coated, and I’m not sure if they’re going to stay. I don’t “hate” them yet…
The (probably)nanowebs feel more “normal” to “slightly smooth”.
:cheers:
 
I've always used light electric strings on my acoustics.
Usually a .010 to .042 set.
Reason being is that it's just easier than keeping several different types & gauges of strings on hand.
I got used to doing it that way many years ago, and never saw a need to change.

As far as tone & projection goes, the onboard preamp or mag pickup takes care of that.
 
After many years of trying different strings on different guitars I have found to get the best sound on an acoustic I use the manufacturer recommended string size. They may not be the easiest to play but they do sound the best.
 
I use 11-52 Elixir Nanowebs on my Taylor. The construction of the guitar still affords plenty of low end with that gauge. My personal discovery with Taylor (at least mine) is that the guitar sounds too brittle and harsh with other types of strings. I used to use a heavier gauge years ago, but they also wear on the frets faster. To be honest, I don’t even remember what gauge originally came on it, but they were Elixirs.
 
For ever, I used Martin Marquis .013s on the Ovation. When my youngest borrowed it while in college he restrung it with Elixir .012s. When I repoed it from him so I could use it on worship team, when it came time to restring it I went back to my tried and true Martins. When I killed them in about 2 months I went back to the Elixirs my kid had been using. Never looked back. Brand new, they all sound amazing…. Regardless on brand. But Elixirs hold that longer than anything else I’ve used. I’ve used both the polyweb and nanoweb. Not sure I’ve heard a difference. 1643295305214.jpeg
 
+1 on Elixir strings. Those sound the best for the longest, so long do they stay good
that they justify their higher price.

But recently I've been using D'Addario bluegrass style acoustic guitar strings...
light top, medium bottom. I like the tone of those.
 
Elixir 11-52 here too (and on all my electrics).
But for no other reason than I'm a wuss.

Polywebs have the thickest coating, so you get less string scrape. But they are darker. Jazz strings!
Nanowebs are the thinnest coating Elixir do for acoustic strings.
The very thinnest coated Optiwebs are electric only (my fave).
 
I was wondering about this after getting my first Acoustic the other day. It came with 12s, but like Sp8ctre, I use 9s on my 6 string electors (10s on my 7 strings). And, man the 12s just feel rough to me. So, essentially if I slapped some 9s on there it would diminish the overall sound/volume/fullness? Does it have that effect even through the pickup?
 
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