Back in the summer I decided to change the strings on my gear4music acoustic from 9s to 11s to try and improve the tone well after many months of trying to play the thing hoping I would eventually get used to it I finally gave in and after seeing a thread on here about string gauge I got some phosphor bronze 10s man what a difference back to playing much easier now and the guitar sounds OK as you all know pick thickness makes a difference thick pick dull/mellow tone thin pick bright tone. so if I want to change the tone I will use a different pick! Happy Days.
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I’ve been using Elixir phosphor bronze 10s on my acoustic for a long time now. Much easier on my old hands.
I have no idea how it really sounds, since an acoustic projects its sound to the front, and I’m behind it. I’m sure I’m not hearing the same tone that someone in front of me would hear.
I feel there’s a lot of variables at play that all have to be considered otherwise we’re not comparing like with like. My acoustic guitar has 12s on which in theory should mean it’s nearly impossible to play by anyone other than a strongman with such thick ropes but that’s not true at all.
The strings in question are 12/53 phosphor bronze light strings on a short scale guitar (a Taylor AD11e-SB) and it’s a joy to play.
All that aside, it’s great to hear you’ve found the love for your acoustic again
Good to hear that it only took a string change to get you enjoying your acoustic again, John! It is kind of surprising how the smallest of changes can make a really big difference in the sound/tone. I find this particularly true with electrics but as you’ve seen, acoustics as well!
Have fun with your strings!
Tod
Good stuff John. I have a Grand Auditorium and a Dreadnought and changed them both to Elixir Phosphor Bronze 11 Nanoweb and love them. However I have just changed them on the GA and decided to use the Elixir 80/20 Polyweb and have also found them really nice too. maybe slightly brighter and slippery under the fingers but changing from older to new strings is always hard to tell because they always sound so much fresher after the change.
Yeah, when I tried Elixir 80/20 I found them brighter to the point of being harsh to me on my Taylor 114e. I quickly changed back to phosphor bronze.
Oh ok, mine are on a Taylor 214. I would say that I probably prefer the PB strings at this stage but I don’t feel that the 80/20s are too bright for me. I’m using Dunlop Standard 0.46 and 0.6 picks and there’s definitely a difference in sound.
I use Fender nylon .73.
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But 12s are “light” strings! You don’t hit heavy until they are 14s….
The perspective comes from emphasizing electric guitar. 12s also do seem hard at the beginning, but on an acoustic I would not shy away from them. I tried to go to 13s, but that was too much. SRV played 13s on his electric! He, of course, was unique, and tuned them down a half step I understand. He could certainly bend as well or better than anyone.
I would eventually like to use tuned down 13s on my acoustic. The tune is so nice, but I am not ready.
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I think that is a good observation that people don’t make the distinction between electric and acoustic where strings are concerned.
As for my guitar, somebody at Taylor decided that phosphor bronze light 12-53 was the correct gauge for my guitar so that’s what I’ll be sticking with as they know slightly more about acoustic guitars than I do!
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I remember an interview with Rick Parfitt of status quo saying he used 14 - 56 gauge as he hit it so hard, no one else could play his tele.
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And Billy Gibbons and B.B. King played 7s. You don’t have to play extremely heavy strings ala Stevie Ray to get good tone.
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I think i would be a bit iffy about bending a 7 a tone and a half but if the king could do it there you go
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