Guild DV52

[yannito]

Hello,

I'm new to this board as I've just got a 1999 Guild DV52.

It's a wonderful guitar but I have the feeling that it's not at its best with light strings.

I'd love to put medium strings on this guitar but I'm worried that too much string tension could damage the guitar.

Any DV52 players can help ?

Thanks a lot.

 

[tjmangum]

You'll soon have many comments on your question, but as a DV-52 owner, I can tell you that medium gauge strings (EJ 17s) are all I've put on mine the last few years and I've not noticed any pulling or extreme tension going on. Guild D models are sturdy, as are all Guilds, and mediums should help move that top more to get the best sound out of it.
Welcome to LTG, the best guitar forum out there!
tj

 

[yannito]

Thank you very much for your reply. I'll have a try at medium gauge strings then.

My DV52 is 10 years old but it hasn't been played a lot I guess because it doesn't ring clearly, I have the feeling that it has to be strummed quite hard to sing ... I hope the medium gauge string will help that out.

Thanks again for your help !

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Try a set of strings like Bluegrass gauge.
They fall in between lights and mediums.
Use them for a set or two to let the guitar adjust to the tension and then go up to mediums, when you are ready.

The trus rod may need to have a small adjustment made when you move to mediums.

By the way, I have tried both lights and mediums on my D-55 and the lights play great but I loose a bit on volume with them.
At home that isn't a problem but at my weekly jam sessions, I need the mediums to keep up with the banjos.
The mediums also bring out the best of the guitat IMHO.

 

[Scratch]

Try a set of strings like Bluegrass gauge.
They fall in between lights and mediums.
Use them for a set or two to let the guitar adjust to the tension and then go up to mediums, when you are ready.

The trus rod may need to have a small adjustment made when you move to mediums.

By the way, I have tried both lights and mediums on my D-55 and the lights play great but I loose a bit on volume with them.
At home that isn't a problem but at my weekly jam sessions, I need the mediums to keep up with the banjos.
The mediums also bring out the best of the guitat IMHO.

+1 on the bluegrass gauge... I especially enjoy them on 'hog backs'...

 

[taabru45]

Me too, the top 3 are light, lower 3 are mediums.....and they are great... Steffan

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome Yannito!
I don't know ANY DV-52 owner that doesn't swear by that guitar, nice way to start your Guild line up....
As TMG said, keep an eye on the neck in case you detect any reaction to the new tension (I would be surprised) and need to give the truss rod a little tweak.
Enjoy, and let us see it and hear it as much as you can!..

 

[kostask]

Hello,

I'm new to this board as I've just got a 1999 Guild DV52.

It's a wonderful guitar but I have the feeling that it's not at its best with light strings.

I'd love to put medium strings on this guitar but I'm worried that too much string tension could damage the guitar.

Any DV52 players can help ?

Thanks a lot.

Yannito:

I use the GHS Laurence Juber Signature Light strings (LJ30L). They are cryogenic treated (dipped/dunked in liquid Nitrogen), which seems to make them stiffer than most light strings. They sound really good to me, and while they do have higher tension than most other light strings, they are still lower in tension than an full medium set.

Kostas

 

[dreadnut]

I'm with tj, I've played medium guage D'Addario phosphor bronze strings for years on both my D-25M and DV-52 with no problems, and they really ring with those mediums I just can't get the sound I like out of light strings.

Having said that, as you recently acquired this guitar (nice snag, by the way!) you might wish to have it inspected and/or set up by a respectable luthier to help get the max potential out of the guitar.

Have fun! Pictures! Pictures!

 

[yannito]

Thank you so much for all your replies, this is such a helpful and friendly place down here !

It seems like going for medium/light strings would be the right choice, so I'll have a try at d'Addario EJ19 ( 012 016 025W 035W 045W 056W ).

I'll post a feedback and photos of my DV52 asap !

Thanks a lot again for your help !

 

[southernGuild]

ANOTHER '52 owner jumping in to say WELCOME!!! GREAT START!!!, ENJOY!!!
alll the advice above...........Mediums just SHINE in my opinion, but Oooze up via the bluegrass if you wish.....the ride is GOOD!!!
I'd say .PHOTOS, PLEASE, butI STILL havent worked THAT out myself!
Welcome........youve found a good place here.

 

[Pike]

Hi Yannito. I've owned two of these, one better sounding than the other. It should sound just fine with lights. Good advice about taking it to the shop, have the saddle inspected for proper seating. Other'n that, and I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but there are duds in every line. I once owned a '81 D50 that was probably the worst sounding Guild I've owned, way overbuilt and thin sounding with little volume. I got it for a song and resold it. Don't be afraid to move on if your DV52 doesn't perform as you'd expect it to, as there is the possibility it may not no matter what strings you use. Good luck...

 

[evenkeel]

Welcome to the gang.

Don't be afraid to try different gauges and brands. Eventually you'll find what works for you and that's all that really matters.

 

[yannito]

Hello to all,

I'm back on this topic after quite a few months.

I've tried an awful lot of string brands and gauges for my DV52 and finally settled on Elixir Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge.

I don't usually like Elixir strings but they do compliment really well the DV52.

The more I play this guitar, the more I love it. My friends have high-end Taylor 810 , J45, Hummingbird and they're all jealous of my DV52.

The deepness and lush sparkly trebles and overtones on this guitar are to die for.

Also, it records really well.

Another happy DV52 owner !

Thanks again to you all for your messages.

 

[killdeer43]

Hello to all,
I'm back on this topic after quite a few months.

Wow, 6 months+ between posts! Could be some kind of record! Since I missed you the first time around, I can say welcome AND welcome back, all at once!
You'll get a ton of feedback here about strings (and everything else), so be sure to take notes. :wink:

I'd love to get my hands/fingers on a DV52 one of these days, given all that I've heard about them.

Stay in tune,
Joe

 

[Graham]

I missed this in it's initial run, welcome yannito.

When I had my DV-52 I always put John Pearse strings on it. I tried mediums but for me lights where what I wanted. However, JP were very nice strings on that guitar.

 

[hojo199]

Hello,

I'm new to this board as I've just got a 1999 Guild DV52.

It's a wonderful guitar but I have the feeling that it's not at its best with light strings.

I'd love to put medium strings on this guitar but I'm worried that too much string tension could damage the guitar.

Any DV52 players can help ?

Thanks a lot.

Hello Yannito, and welcome.

My DV52 is the sweetest guitar I own. However, I know she would sound ballsier with mediums -- but I like my hands and want to play for many more years (I'm 58 now). This guitar, in my view, is not about balls. The scalloped bracing is about balance -- and that she has -- in spades. As a recording guitar -- for that reason -- she is my #1 choice (and I record a LOT).

Listen to what other people say and make up your own mind. The guitar will be deeper and louder with mediums. However, I like the standard D'addario lights on mine. She is very happy with 'em and so are my fingers....

 

[markus]

DV52s are great. I love mine, even if some preowners didn't take care of it as they should.

What I like most on my DV52 are Jon Pearse LM610 (silk & steel light); unfortunately my brother (LTG member too, but hasn't posted yet) borrowed the guitar some 14 month ago and always "forgets" to bring it back ... :lol:

Wow, 6 months+ between posts! Could be some kind of record!

I think the other record could be something like 6 posts in a second ... there are some usual suspects ... :mrgreen:
Markus

 

[Graham]

Wow, 6 months+ between posts! Could be some kind of record!

I think the other record could be something like 6 posts in a second ... there are some usual suspects ... :mrgreen:
Markus

Hey!!!! I resemble that remarkus!

 

[markus]

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"Postings per day of membership"
for the top 30 in post count as of today
1 7.9493 adorshki
2 7.6844 capnjuan
3 7.4200 killdeer43
4 7.2801 Graham
5 6.5862 West R Lee
6 5.4644 taabru45
7 5.0410 JerryR
8 4.4334 Chazmo
9 4.2830 Qvart
10 4.1820 bluesypicky
11 3.6892 Default
12 3.5110 Darryl Hattenhauer
13 3.4653 coastie99
14 3.4648 Scratch
15 3.2753 fronobulax
16 3.2166 cjd-player
17 3.1836 Jeff
18 2.3719 Guildmark
19 1.9375 dreadnut
20 1.8394 krysh
21 1.8291 hansmoust
22 1.6804 MandoSquirrel
23 1.6697 Grot Guilds
24 1.6661 FNG
25 1.4700 GardMan
26 1.4691 dklsplace
27 1.3922 guildzilla
28 1.3537 john_kidder
29 1.2270 jp
30 0.9346 Walter Broes

Somehow looks like a kind of a baseball league table - with lots of numbers an European never will understand ...

Markus (0.5527182866556840... )
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