Back to Lights from Mediums after many years...

[Silence Dogood]

I alluded to this in another thread but it's worth its own discussion (and we need more of those here anyway!) 

I've had my D-03BW since 2003 (you have heard that the D-03 is the best guitar in the world, right? There is a great thread about that here somewhere...go ahead, look it up, you'll love it). 

I started using D'Addario J16 (before the "E" designation) Lights on it right away.  Someone was going on and on about them over on the old Taylor Guitar Forum (which became the AGF) so I tried them and ended up loving them. 

Shortly after this, someone I used to jam with now and then taught me about tuning down a whole step.  That was a revelation and opened up a new world to me.  Around then I began experimenting with mediums and ditched the lights.  I stuck with mediums for over 20 years. I somehow thought Mediums were more legit strings for a dread, I even seemed to think I HAD to play Mediums because I had a dread.  Nonsense.   

This year has found me playing lots of electric guitar, more than I have in many, many years.  My fingers have gotten accustomed to the lighter strings of the electric, and it made going back to my acoustic with 13s on it less enjoyable.  So I decided, WTH, I'll try some Lights again...

I installed a set of EJ16s and found that the guitar handled them well, even with the lower tuning.  I expected a buzz and maybe needing a new setup, but no, the guitar just carried on like nothing happened. I mean, it IS a Larrivee, and a D-03 at that (the best guitar in the world).
    

I really enjoy the lighter feel and the open, sort of airy sound the Lights produce.  I didn't lose any volume either.  It reminded me how much this particular guitar has always loved that particular set of strings (D'A EJ16s) from day one. In some ways it was like getting a new guitar all over again.   

[William2]

I agree with you. I like that more open sound you get with light gauge strings. I do prefer the D'Addario XS strings on all my instruments. I find the coating not only extends the life of the string but also eliminates much of the strings noise you get from non-coated strings. The Martin DSS-17 I owned came with mediums. When I changed them out for lights, I noticed no loss of volume and a more open sound. I was surprised Martin would take such a lightly built instrument and put mediums on it and wonder if this is a cause of all the Martin neck reset issues I read about. They seem to keep decreasing the amount of bracing and making the instruments light yet keep using the medium gauge strings. I think Martin and Taylor are the makers that put mediums on their dreadnought sized instruments. I kind of view saving my fingers is important. I'm not going to play a guitar that needs mediums to sound good at the expense of my fingers. Finally, I'm still really loving my D-03R. There is something about that non-scalloped bracing that has a sound all its own when I compare it to my D-40R.

[teh]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying the change.

With a few exceptions, I use light gauge strings on most of my acoustic guitars regardless of body shape or wood used. My preferred brand is D'Addario and I like the EJ16 phosphor bronze strings on my 6 string guitars and EJ38 phosphor bronze on my 12 string. I also use D'Addario nickel wound XL light gauge strings on my electric. The exceptions include:

I recently put Martin Retro light gauge strings on my 00-24 with a mahogany top, back and sides. These strings really bring out the tone on this 12 fret, short scale guitar.

My Martin Backpacker is set up for Nashville Tuning and strung with the octave strings from a light gauge set of D'Addario EJ38s. Over the years I've read a lot of comments complaining about the design and playability of the Backpacker but I discovered that it's ideally suited when strung for Nashville Tuning. It sounds like a combination of a dulcimer, a banjo and a 12 string all rolled into one.

I used a set of D'Addario medium gauge strings on a used Alvarez Artist dreadnought I bought a few years ago. I tune it down a whole step, some times a step and a half and it brings out a baritone quality to the guitar.

[B0WIE]

I've gone back and forth a lot. I find some of my guitars just sound amazingly relaxed and sparkly with lightly tuned down a whole step. That would be insane on some of my other instruments as they would just sound thin and warbly.
Generally speaking, I think mediums sound better. But, what I always miss is that extra harmonic shimmer from the thinner strings. So, I think I lean toward lights and I use right hand technique to thicken it up a little as needed. Tomorrow I might feel differently.

[StringPicker6]

I'm a light string fan all the way. I always assumed you would only use medium strings if you were playing acoustic guitar in a marching band. 

[Silence Dogood]

I've gone back and forth a lot. I find some of my guitars just sound amazingly relaxed and sparkly with lightly tuned down a whole step. That would be insane on some of my other instruments as they would just sound thin and warbly.
Generally speaking, I think mediums sound better. But, what I always miss is that extra harmonic shimmer from the thinner strings. So, I think I lean toward lights and I use right hand technique to thicken it up a little as needed. Tomorrow I might feel differently.

Sometimes I wish I had a bunch of guitars but the advantage of having just one is that you tend to learn all the little nuances of that particular instrument very, very well.  I know what works on my guitar vs. what doesn't.  But in reality, after a while it would probably be the same if I had four or five: over time I'd get to know them all and their idiosyncrasies as well.  Part of my hesitation to buy more guitars is that it seems like a lot of work getting to know them like that.  I have more than one electric and I spend too much time tinkering with settings and things rather than playing. 

All said, yeah, some guitars really do want mediums, some want lights, and some probably even want extra lights (not mine though!).

[DaveyO]

I've been using 12 through 53 elixir on my guitars for a very long time
Does anybody use 11s at all?
What I hear or feel the difference
I'm hoping it'll make the guitar player a little bit easier since I have small hands

[guitarman001]

I'm with you guys re the light airy sound of lights... 100%

[nobodeuno]

I am now trying D'Addario hybrid lights...light on the bass side 53's etc...medium on the treble side best of both worlds.

[William2]

I am now trying D'Addario hybrid lights...light on the bass side 53's etc...medium on the treble side best of both worlds.

I hadn't heard of these. I'll have to check them out. I do like a 13 on my first string.

[Koamon]

I was a long time user of PB EJ-16s until I went to Elixer or XS PB lights. I originally went to PB over Bronze because I felt they kept their tone longer than Bronze. I recently read an article that there is a sonic difference in the 60-70's acoustic recordings due to the fact that everything was recorded when bronze was the only string available. To recapture that sound I moved to Elixer or XS bronze 11-52 and found that playing with lighter bronze coated strings gives me the tone I've been looking for and the coated bronze strings extend their tone life longer than the uncoated ones.

[nobodeuno]

I alluded to this in another thread but it's worth its own discussion (and we need more of those here anyway!) 

I've had my D-03BW since 2003 (you have heard that the D-03 is the best guitar in the world, right? There is a great thread about that here somewhere...go ahead, look it up, you'll love it). 

I started using D'Addario J16 (before the "E" designation) Lights on it right away.  Someone was going on and on about them over on the old Taylor Guitar Forum (which became the AGF) so I tried them and ended up loving them. 

Shortly after this, someone I used to jam with now and then taught me about tuning down a whole step.  That was a revelation and opened up a new world to me.  Around then I began experimenting with mediums and ditched the lights.  I stuck with mediums for over 20 years. I somehow thought Mediums were more legit strings for a dread, I even seemed to think I HAD to play Mediums because I had a dread.  Nonsense.   

This year has found me playing lots of electric guitar, more than I have in many, many years.  My fingers have gotten accustomed to the lighter strings of the electric, and it made going back to my acoustic with 13s on it less enjoyable.  So I decided, WTH, I'll try some Lights again...

I installed a set of EJ16s and found that the guitar handled them well, even with the lower tuning.  I expected a buzz and maybe needing a new setup, but no, the guitar just carried on like nothing happened. I mean, it IS a Larrivee, and a D-03 at that (the best guitar in the world).
    

I really enjoy the lighter feel and the open, sort of airy sound the Lights produce.  I didn't lose any volume either.  It reminded me how much this particular guitar has always loved that particular set of strings (D'A EJ16s) from day one. In some ways it was like getting a new guitar all over again.   

.

I not too recently bought a used 2008 D03R...the guitar had previously been set up for mediums by a very well know tech in Asheville NC...it had a new nut/saddle and string ramps cut, all very precisely.  It had been played for several years after the setup and had a saddle worn buzz, which I fixed. I have always for 40 years used lights.  However this guitar sounds stunning with lights a friend suggested I try D'Addario XS 13-53 Hybrids...Light bass and trebles.  Zing, perfect combo for me, they flatpick well, fingerpick well and are easier on the wrist for bar chords etc.