Guild GAD50 String Recommendation

[booger111]

I currently have Elixer Nano Lights on this beast.

I'm going to the ship tomorrow to get a set-up, and it's about time I get new strings.

My question to you guys is what string gauge would you recommend me to bring out more of the low-end in the guitar?

 

[Guildmark]

Medium

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

d'addario ej mediums

 

[Firebird]

Mediums all the way!!

 

[booger111]

I was looking at some Martin Mediums. I really like the sound of a Martin guitar, so maybe I'll go with those in hopes that it will make the GAD more-Martin like!

Also, guys, if you could tell me this. Do medium gauge strings make the guitar more mellow sounding?

 

[JerryR]

Martin Mediums tend to be on the heavy side, but certainly gave my Epiphone more depth of tone. But do you really want to make a Guild sound like a Martin :?:

 

[booger111]

Well, I do want it to sound more like a Martin. The sound is fine, but I find it's to much on the bright side of things, I don't want it to sound exclusivily like a Martin, you know what I mean? Just want to give it more of a mellow sound.

You know what I mean?

 

[guildzilla]

This is your guitar so feel free to ignore my two cents. However, before you string it with mediums, you should probably check your handbook and manufacturer recommendations. If it didn't come with medium strings, it may not have been designed to withstand the additional tension and using mediums could void your warranty.

Again, it's your guitar and your call, and heavier strings will tend to increase bass response. One compromise would be a bluegrass set with medium E-A-D and light G-B-E.

 

[ajgorman]

Booger,

All of the responses have been great advice. I'm sure you have the owner's manual and warranty information that came with the guitar if you purchased it new. If not, you can pull down the specs & warranty information from the Guild website. According to the specs the recommended strings for your model are light gauge, which is pretty normal. You should be ok with placing medium strings on it, but it may be a good idea to call Guild Customer service first to play it safe.

You will get a deeper tone from medium strings, but they are more difficult to play for some folks and for some styles. If you do decide to go with mediums, you're not going to have much luck trying to make a Guild sound like a Martin. That's like trying to make a Strat sound like a Les Paul or vice-versa. Everyone has an opinion, and for my 2 cents Martins are fine guitars, but I would never want my Guild to sound like a Martin. :shock: Sorry!

 

[zplay]

Booger, string-wise all I can add is that if your nanos are 80/20s, then PBs might be somewhat warmer.

But strings aside, I personally feel that tone being a bit on the bright side in new guitar is not such a bad thing, because it is likely to deepen with more play and breaking in. Much worse would be to have a guitar that's on the muddy side to start with. - My $0.02.

 

[booger111]

Well I took the guitar to the shop to just to a action adjustment, I'm going to wait out the Elixer Nano Lights until they are wore out, and then replace them with Martin MSPlus4100 92/8...as I believe the Elixer Nanos are 80/20 - like the poster above me has said, might warm up the tone just a bit.

Small steps at a time!

Anyone play Martin lights 92/8?

 

[Siwash]

I've got a GAD 50 and I've been experimenting for a year. Started with EJ16s, etc.

I've now got Martin Bronze mediums. Don't care much for them. Much preferred the John Pearse bluegrass strings. And the D'addaria bluegrass strings were next good.

Don't bother with lights. I'm not sure at this point if the GAD50 does better with bronze or PB. I've already got a machine here with enough bass, and the bronze helps the upper end.

 

[booger111]

Why should I not bother with Lights? Does is really limit the sound capabilities of the guitar?

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Can't help You here.....I've still got the factory strings on. Boy, are they ever beat, but still kickin!

 

[Graham]

At the moment I use nothing but JP lights on my DV. Sounds very good to me. :mrgreen:

 

[Guildmark]

Why should I not bother with Lights? Does is really limit the sound capabilities of the guitar?

Nothin' wrong with lights, but you asked how to bring out more low end, yes?

 

[booger111]

Yeah, more low-end...and also make the guitar "warmer"

Obviously I'm not expecting anything drastic just because of a string, but the subtle differences can mean so much!

So, again, if anyone has a suggestion for a string that tends to bring out more low-end and warm up the guitar a bit, give it to me!

I'd prefer to stay with lights, because mediums will cost me about 70 dollars once the tech sets the guitar up for mediums (truss rod adjustment, neck relief, action, etc.)

 

[Siwash]

I've used mediums on my GAD 50 without prepping the guitar for it; works fine.

When all is said and done, I'm thinking I like the bluegrass guage: you get the mediums on the bass side, but the trebley stuff in light guage. I just don't like pressing down medium treble strings.

The bronzes have a nice bright tone, but don't seem to last as long a PBs. I like them both: the bronze is good for a bluegrassy sound, the PBs just a nicer, rounder tone. Depends what you want there.

 

[booger111]

My experience with bluegrass strings is simply the bass overrides the tremble - sometimes in a drastic way.

I play a lot in standard tuning. Strumming is my favorite thing to do really. Never really got into finger-picking much.

As it stands now the only string that I have some complains about with the Exlixer Nanoweb lights is the Bass E string. It sounds twangy almost. I read up and found out it's only .53 compared to the regular .54 that usual light sets come with.

Maybe a different brand and a different size (although minimal) Low E string will bring a slight change. What do you think?

And I dont think it's good for your guitar to switch gauges without getting it setup. I mena, I've heard some nasty stuff it can do in the long term.

 

[kitniyatran]

When all is said and done, I'm thinking I like the bluegrass guage: you get the mediums on the bass side, but the trebley stuff in light guage. I just don't like pressing down medium treble strings.

I used to use that sort of set on the Martin D-18 I had, I'm going to try it on my D-25. A "12 & 15" 1st & 2nd don't slice the tissues near as bad as "13 & 16 or 17" . Plus, I want a bass boost. :wink: