Gonna put mediums on my F30R. Thoughts?

[Westerly Wood]

The guitar is built really solid.
I usually do lights on my dreads. .12-.54.
I bought a pack of EJ17s.
I want to string the 30 with ‘em.

probably make a truss rod adjustment too.

will be in standard tuning but often with at least the big E to a D. And really just finger picking.

my contention is the guitar should not blow up in my face.

right?

 

[jedzep]

You could start tuned down to D-D, and see how it handles it. There's a 30 lb pull difference between standard tuned 12's and 1 step down 13's, the latter being less. I have 13's on everything, even my balsa like Gibson tops.

I agree, it's a sturdy beast.

 

[Guildedagain]

All I could get out my trussrod without being stupid on my F4CE is 1/2 turn from just seated.

I'm a believer that you should always back the nut out first to limber it up, then I back the nut almost all the way out and put a wee drop of machine oil on the thread, a tiny bit will migrate to the nut/washer interface and help it glide easier, less friction for more accurate feel.

I will not use anything other than a 1/4" nut driver, hand only.

Even then I have a bit too much relief, nothing to be done but just play it.

Going bigger darkens the guitar noticeably across the whole range.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks guys.

 

[walrus]

Aren't 12 - 54 mediums? I have 11 - 52's on mine and they are called light. Or perhaps it depends on the manufacturer's branding...

walrus

 

[Westerly Wood]

Aren't 12 - 54 mediums? I have 11 - 52's on mine and they are called light. Or perhaps it depends on the manufacturer's branding...

walrus

I always call .12-.53 or .54 traditional light gauge strings. Some mfg call it light/medium. Traditional mediums are .13-.56.

my main issue with traditional lights are the .12 and the .16. They are just too skinny for me.

ymmv

 

[SFIV1967]

Exactly. On acoustic guitars usually they are named:

Extra Light: 10-47
Custom Light: 11-52
Light: 12-53 or 12-54
Light/Medium: 12.5-55 or 12-56 (also called Bluegrass)
Medium: 13-56

Martin for instance has that 12.5-55 set on some strings:

Ralf

 

[walrus]

Got it!

In my case, it's the manufacturer messing with me!



walrus

 

[SFIV1967]

Yes, Ernie Ball has a different (odd) system:

Extra Light: 10-50
Light: 11-52
Light/Medium: 12-54
Medium 13-56

Ralf

 

[davismanLV]

What are you hoping to achieve with this change? If you're trying to make it sound like a dread, I don't think that's possible. I put mediums on my Taylor about a year ago, just to push the envelope a little bit. They really did seem to overdrive the top and choke the sound. And when the action came up quite a bit it showed me the additional stress I was putting on it for not a whole lot of improvement in sound or volume. So I went back to lights and I'm happy with that. I had put heavier strings on the Breedlove Concert Rogue (the blue one) and it handled it just fine. They sounded good.

I guess what I'm saying is, throw them on there and see what you get. The guitar will tell you if it can handle it or not. Then once you restring and adjust let the guitar answer your question for you.

Sounds like you're looking for the reverse of Bluegrass (medium lows, light highs) which would be light lows and medium highs. I wonder what we'd call those? Grassblues??

 

[Westerly Wood]

What are you hoping to achieve with this change? If you're trying to make it sound like a dread, I don't think that's possible. I put mediums on my Taylor about a year ago, just to push the envelope a little bit. They really did seem to overdrive the top and choke the sound. And when the action came up quite a bit it showed me the additional stress I was putting on it for not a whole lot of improvement in sound or volume. So I went back to lights and I'm happy with that. I had put heavier strings on the Breedlove Concert Rogue (the blue one) and it handled it just fine. They sounded good.

I guess what I'm saying is, throw them on there and see what you get. The guitar will tell you if it can handle it or not. Then once you restring and adjust let the guitar answer your question for you.

Sounds like you're looking for the reverse of Bluegrass (medium lows, light highs) which would be light lows and medium highs. I wonder what we'd call those? Grassblues??

thanks For this Tom. I know on the dreads when I would try mediums, it would choke the tone some. But helped when heavy strumming, I won’t be strumming really at all with the F30R, as my 3-4 nights a week playing in a band setting, I use the D35. Or tge Br. But 90% of all other playing on coach at home, it’s the F30R.

that being said, I think my goal is to get a thicker feel to the strings and a touch more volume.

but my wife will say it best, knowing me so well:”But Woody, every tine you yet again try mediums, you take them off within a week. “.

lol. It’s like me a 12 strings. I think I want one, but sell it in a couple months cause it’s just too many strings.

sadly, I am kind of stubborn.

 

[davismanLV]

Don had to have a 12-string. HAD TO HAVE IT!! So his Martin 12 string sits out in the living room with old strings unplayed. I'd play it occasionally (Southern Cross needs a 12 string) but the strings need changing and it's 6 strings past my patience level for string changing. So there it sits......

 

[walrus]

Yes, Ernie Ball has a different (odd) system:

Ralf

Wait! Maybe everyone else is odd!

walrus

 

[Westerly Wood]

While I don’t buy a lot of Martin strings, I do like the fact that the big E is .54 and the G is .25. Versus D’As that are .53 and .24 respectively.
So a bit more oomph but not much.

 

[walrus]

Slight veer, but that's exactly why I like the Ernie Ball Nickel Wound Custom Gauge on my electrics. Extra light are 10, 14, 20, 28, 40, 50. A smidgen more "oomph" in the whole set, especially on the bottom. And the .20 G is wound.

Acoustic, or electric, it's amazing all the choices available. Anyone can definitely find a set they like, that's for sure!

walrus

 

[Westerly Wood]

Slight veer, but that's exactly why I like the Ernie Ball Nickel Wound Custom Gauge on my electrics. Extra light are 10, 14, 20, 28, 40, 50. A smidgen more "oomph" in the whole set, especially on the bottom. And the .20 G is wound.

Acoustic, or electric, it's amazing all the choices available. Anyone can definitely find a set they like, that's for sure!

walrus

I got to give the EB aluminum bronze a try. They get good reviews.

 

[HeyMikey]

I have used mediums on my F30s when tuned down to D or an open G to add some tension back. Lately however I prefer the hybrid “bluegrass” sets that Tom turned me on to which have medium bass but light treble strings.

D'Addario EJ19 - Phosphor Bronze Bluegrass Light Top/Medium Bottom Acoustic Strings

.012-.056 Bluegrass Light Top, Medium Bottom Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings, Phosphor Bronze

www.sweetwater.com

D'Addario EJ14 Light Top / Medium Bottom Bluegrass 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings - .012-.056

.012-.056 Light Top/Medium Bottom Bluegrass 80/20 Bronze

www.sweetwater.com

 

[Westerly Wood]

I have used mediums on my F30s when tuned down to D or an open G to add some tension back. Lately however I prefer the hybrid “bluegrass” sets that Tom turned me on to which have medium bass but light treble strings.

D'Addario EJ19 - Phosphor Bronze Bluegrass Light Top/Medium Bottom Acoustic Strings

.012-.056 Bluegrass Light Top, Medium Bottom Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings, Phosphor Bronze

www.sweetwater.com

D'Addario EJ14 Light Top / Medium Bottom Bluegrass 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Strings - .012-.056

.012-.056 Light Top/Medium Bottom Bluegrass 80/20 Bronze

www.sweetwater.com

yeah, those are good. I just don’t like the light treble strings. But if tension becomes an issue, I will give EJ19 a go.

 

[davismanLV]

Make your own "Grassblues" set. Buy two sets and mix them as you like. You can also buy individual strings so you can make any set you want.

 

[jedzep]

Also like the D'Adarrio Nickel Bronze on my F30, when I feel it needs some balls. When they calm down it's like getting a completely different set of strings w/o actually changing sets.