String Gauge

[William2]

Does anyone put 12 -54s (light) on their dreadnoughts instead of the 13 -56s mediums? Does this work and are other adjustments needed?

[B0WIE]

I have, though I more commonly use the hybrid type that starts at 13 and ends at 56. That way, the trebles don't get too thin sounding. Dreads are sometimes a bit boomy so I like the thinner wound strings.

Anyway, as far as adjustments go, it depends how much of a perfectionist you are. You can always adjust a saddle to be more precise. But, for the most part, you don't need to do much other than maybe a truss rod turn. If you find your intonation suffering then you can play with the saddle.

[unclrob]

I start with a 13-56 change out the high E to a 13 and the B to an 18.At most a very,very light adjustment to the trussrod.

I play L's and OM's haven't played a dread i forever but have always used the 14 to 56 or 58 forever.


Keep smilin and keep dancin 

[StringPicker6]

I played a Martin HD-28 for 10 years and always played lights, for what it's worth.

[William2]

I have, though I more commonly use the hybrid type that starts at 13 and ends at 56. That way, the trebles don't get too thin sounding. Dreads are sometimes a bit boomy so I like the thinner wound strings.

Anyway, as far as adjustments go, it depends how much of a perfectionist you are. You can always adjust a saddle to be more precise. But, for the most part, you don't need to do much other than maybe a truss rod turn. If you find your intonation suffering then you can play with the saddle.

Thanks for your insightful replay. I'll give these hybrid strings a try. I used to own a Waterloo Jumbo King with a very severe V neck. I switched to 12 -53s and it seemed easier to play and I didn't notice any loss in volume or change in tone quality. I only play fingerstyle and large body instruments. I often wonder if these heavier gauges strings are more for strummers. Some months ago, I purchased a Martin D-15 M. It came with Lifespan 2.0 strings, but the tag doesn't state the gauge. I've read that Martin uses 13s on their dreadnaughts. I do like the strings on this instrument. They have great tone and show no wear so far. I do like the recommendation section as to how to pick out a set of strings. And it is interesting that Martin suggests that Martin recommends certain sets for a particular model they offer. I am currently trying the Martin Retro strings. What a different tone quality. Does Larrivee recommend 12s or 13s for their dreadnought instruments?

[B0WIE]

Thanks for your insightful replay. I'll give these hybrid strings a try. I used to own a Waterloo Jumbo King with a very severe V neck. I switched to 12 -53s and it seemed easier to play and I didn't notice any loss in volume or change in tone quality. I only play fingerstyle and large body instruments. I often wonder if these heavier gauges strings are more for strummers. Some months ago, I purchased a Martin D-15 M. It came with Lifespan 2.0 strings, but the tag doesn't state the gauge. I've read that Matin uses 13s on their dreadnaughts. I do like the strings on this instrument. They have great tone and show no wear so far. I do like the recommendation section as to how to pick out a set of strings. And it is interesting that Martin suggests that Martin recommends certain sets for a particular model they offer. I am currently trying the Martin Retro strings. What a different tone quality. Does Larrivee recommentd12s or 13s for their dreadnought instruments?

They come with 13s standard. One thing about music though, it's all personal and maker recommendations only mean so much. I advise musicians and audio engineers as part of my job and the best in the world don't agree on gear or tone. Just experiment and see what you like.

One thought I'll add is that my biggest struggle with thin trebles (like a 12 on the high E) is pitch issues. Thinner strings fall out of tune quicker as the note decays. You can observe it on a good tuner. They also jump in pitch when struck hard. It's certainly not a big issue for most. But, I notice it, so I like a medium treble.
The other strings have these issues but I feel I have more control over it via finger picking technique.

[William2]

I came across these videos yesterday comparing different gauge strings on the same guitar. It probably depends on how you play and the instrument; I think what they are getting at is that a lighter gauge string with yield more sustain than a heavier gauge string. Based on this video, I don't hear a great deal of difference in the sets, but the medium gauge strings seem the most lacking in presence and sustain. I also saw anther video where the performer compared a Martin DSS-17 (an instrument I own) with light and medium gauge strings. In this video I have to agree with the performer that the DSS-17 seems to like the medium gauge strings better. This surprised me as the instrument is so light weight and responsive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZb9YjL-N8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NXx7Rtq3Mw&list=FLS3tqXJPPAJqoixuwOYW9yg&index=4&t=55s

[Silence Dogood]

I play a Larrivee D03 and use John Pearse PB Lights which are 12-53.  I also tune down a whole step, and sometimes go even a bit further down from there to 432Hz from 440Hz.  My guitar has been set up to for lower tunings, but when I moved from mediums to lights I needed no adjustment.  I wish I'd changed to lights years ago as they are much easier to play, and I don't lose anything in terms of tone or volume.  In fact, I like the sound better since it's "looser" and less tight-sounding, like the strings are flowing more freely (because I suppose they are).  John Pearse strings don't last very long, but while they live they are great IMO. 

[William2]

I used to own a Waterloo Jumbo King. I switched from 13s to 12s because the neck was so severe. I also noticed no loss in volume after the change, but I play fingerstyle exclusively. One of the things I didn't like about the Jumbo King was that the first string never really sang out and sustained. That changed when I put the 12s on. I do have one set of D'Addario XS lights (12-53). I think I'll try these on one of my guitars, probably the DSS-17 to see how I like them. I like the DSS-17 and was looking for a replacement type instrument for the Jumbo King. For me, the DSS-17 is a more authentic period style instrument with the traditional neck join, and the power of the Jumbo King. But it comes with these ugly sounding Monel Retro strings that are noisy, have bad intonation, and made the instrument sound cheap. On some demos, the instrument sounded really nice. I have to assume they changed out those Retro strings. I replaced the Retro's with Martin Lifespan 2.0 Phosphor Bronze and that was a big improvement. But I still prefer D'Addario strings. which I have on my Larrivee's. We will see how this works out. I just hate changing strings. Regarding using an instrument with the strings tuned down, I really appreciate low pitch. Before returning to the guitar 5 years ago, I studied recorder for 11 years. My recorder collection included baroque and renaissance instruments at period pitches. Playing a baroque piece at A=440 just didn't compare to the same piece played at A=415.

[William2]

I found this statement on AGF the other day. "For everyone's information: per JR, Larrivee started installing light-gauge D'Addario strings on its dreadnoughts in November 2019." Looking at the Sweetwater Larrivee inventory, all of the Larrivee instruments including dreadnought's use 12 - 53 strings by D'Addario. The one exception was the Larrivee parlor instrument which uses 13 -56 strings. I wonder wbhy you would use mediums on a parlor guitar.

[eded]

The one exception was the Larrivee parlor instrument which uses 13 -56 strings. I wonder wbhy you would use mediums on a parlor guitar.

First and foremost, it is designed and built for that gauge. 

The scale of a parlor is short.  Assuming the same tuning for all, the string tension of mediums on the parlor 24" scale is very close to lights on a 25.5" scale of a dread, or OM, or L.

What would you expect anyone to use on a parlor?  And Why?

Ed

[William2]

I guess that is why I asked the question. I would think with a smaller top you would need less string tension to drive the top. I suppose it depends on how the instrument is built, heavy or light. But your explanation of scale length is something i didn't consider.

[B0WIE]

I guess that is why I asked the question. I would think with a smaller top you would need less string tension to drive the top. I suppose it depends on how the instrument is built, heavy or light. But your explanation of scale length is something i didn't consider.

Your question was sensible. Many makers recommend light strings on their parlors. Smaller guitars are often built lighter to get better response. It's really down to the builder. I think Larrivee bracing tends to be a little stiffer, which is why they have such great top end brilliance, but aren't as bassy as some. 

[eded]

Your question was sensible. Many makers recommend light strings on their parlors. Smaller guitars are often built lighter to get better response. It's really down to the builder. I think Larrivee bracing tends to be a little stiffer, which is why they have such great top end brilliance, but aren't as bassy as some. 

I don't know of any modern builders of solid wood parlor sized guitars with short scales that recommend light strings. 

Ed

[B0WIE]

Ok. Well, some of us do.

[StringPicker6]

When it comes to string gauge, my daddy told me it's not the size, it's how you use it. 

[teh]

All of my guitars are set up for light gauge strings from my Parlor to my L bodies and D35. I recently put medium gauge strings on my Alvarez dread and tuned it down a whole step to D. $7 to $10 for a string change is a pretty inexpensive experiment.

[eded]

Ok. Well, some of us do.

Helpful.  Thanks so much.  A brand or two would have been more so.

[William2]

I put a set of light strings on one of my guitars today. I had one set of D'Addario XS strings (my favorite) in a drawer. I have four guitars, two Larrivee's (D-40R / SD-40R weighing in at 4.4#) and two Martin guitars (D-15M 3.8# & DSS-17 4.0#). They all had new medium strings, the Larrivee's have the D'Addario XS mediums and the Martins have the Safespan 2.0 PB and the Martin had the Retro MM13's.  I chose to re-string the DSS-17. I was fascinated with the DSS-17 because of its lightweight construction, power, sustain, and minimal finish. But it always had an ugly sound on most of the videos I'd seen with the exception of a few. I when it arrived it had the Martin Retro MM13's on it. And those strings did make it sound ugly. I switched them out with Martin Lifespan 2.0 because my D-15 has them it sounded good. The first string still had a thin nasal sound I didn't like. So, the DSS-17 got the change. What I can say so far is that there may be a slight loss of bass, the sustain is the same, and that first string now sounds really nice, not thin and nasally. I can't say I notice any difference in hand ease. And the strings aren't buzzing, but I like that Martin sets the action a little higher. When the mediums on the Larrivee's get older, I'll put lights on them to see how they sound and since that is what Larrivee recommends. I may also put lights on the Martin D-15. I was watching a review of the D-15 and the demonstrator recommended light strings as the instrument only has one tone bar.