Wow, this post is an oldie. No I did find any advantage to playing the silk and steel strings.
At the time I thought I was missing something major in my playing by not finding just the right strings. But after experimenting around for a while I'm back to using D'Addario PB lights on all my acoustic guitars. Medium strings on my 6 string guitars might improve the sound, but I'm happy with what I have and play everything mostly tuned to standard pitch using light gage D'Addario's.
After experiencing playing live through many different sound systems, the strings seem miniscule compared to what amplification, and your own personal playing characteristics sound like. But definitely the PB extra lights are a no go for me, especially on 12 string.
Ha yeah, I'm finding some amusement with reviving a thread from 2012, back when the world was supposed to end. Or did it end after all?
Anyway, I have the great privileged of testing out two brand new F-512's -- a maple and a rosewood. I have been playing strictly 12 string for about 6 years. So far the maple is in the lead, as far as the tone I am going for. I rather liked the tone of the stock Daddario EXP PB lights on the Maple!
As for the Rosewood, I play Fingerstyle, so I really can't get that dark wood guitar with PB strings to wake up with just fingernails. Sounds pretty sweet with picks, which I don't use much. The last few months I have become a string experimenting junkie, hence the following:
I have found that light PBs are consistently "stiffer" than light 80/20s, as far as requiring extra force to fret, especially when brand new. I suppose this translates to string tension, or maybe it's something else about the phosphor? I have a lingering wrist issue from playing a Taylor 855 with PB's a few weeks ago... and it was getting exacerbated by playing these F-512's. So I went and got Elixirs 80/20 Lights, Nanoweb. I would have gotten EXP 80/20's but all the stores were out, so I said what the heck, and got them. I did however order some EXP 80/20's on Amazon, arriving Tuesday.
So far, for the F512 Maple, I prefer the tone of the EXP PB's over the Elixirs 80/20, for my fingerstyle playing. But my problem is, the nerves in my fingers are on fire from fretting PB's over the last few weeks, and there's almost no way I am going to adjust to these strings. What I do like about the Elixir 80/20' is that they don't kill my fingers much, and in the past I have found the same relief with EXP 80/20s, on other guitars. The Elixirs do have some perks. Definitely more mandolin sparkles playing up the fret with a pick (but I don't use a pick much). The mids are defined and pronounced in a way that I like, but the bass is weaker, and there is less ring to the highs than the PB's, along with more phasy tingles and sizzles and edge-of-crashy. There are some pretty neat combing overtones when I get all the strings vibrating in an "open" way, and the decay is more harmonically loaded, and maybe even a little longer. But just not as beefy, and a certain PB richness missing, which I can't fully describe. But It's still acceptable, and at least now I can actually play the darn thing. I'll keep playing them and see if my day-1 observations hold up. They might break-in nice, and my playing adapt.
One interesting thing I did, was when I changed to the Elixir's, I started by changing only the low 6 strings, and leaving the EXP PB's on the first 6. I actually liked that 50/50 sound better than having all 12 elixirs. It still gave me some relief from having to press down those huge fat PB's on the low end, but getting their benefit on the highs.
My overall goal is to keep as much meat as possible, but have less string tension. Something about the stiffness of that phosphor doesn't work for me. Although I was able to get used to PB's on my old beater which has super low frets. I'm Hoping the EXP 80'20s will do something on the maple, and I'll let ya'll know. I'm probably going to throw 80/20s on the Rosewood, too, just to see if it brightens up my fingerstyle.
I should also add that I am super stoked about the SE700 Gotoh tuners on the 512's, where you insert the end of the string down into the tuner shaft. I love this for various reasons, including that it allows you to re-use strings, if you take them off prematurely for experimental purposes, like me.
Definitely appreciate anyone's suggestions on other light-gauge sets to try for a meatier tone with less of that PB stiffness. I'm thinking of maybe trying the Martin Retro 12 string sets. No idea if Nickel/Copper will be more or less comfortable, or tonally desired. https://www.martinguitar.com/1833-shop/retro/c-24/p-1316
And of course, I'll throw in the usual disclaimer that it's all about playing style, comfortability, and desired tonal results, rather than some universal "better". But I definitely get why folks like the EXP PB's.
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