Strings
- Thread starter grantgsc
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wordlesschorus
Junior Member
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I've had a set on my Corona D25 for awhile now....I've begun to learn fingerstyle though so i might go back to lights...Also barring a G Form chord on medium strings is murder for me...Does anybody know how much i should adjust the truss rod once i go back down to lights? Anyways, i noticed that my guitar did experience an increase in volume when i switched to the mediums.
I asked a similar question a while back.
Generally seems mediums are the guage of choice. Not exclusively,
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/vie ... io+mediums
Generally seems mediums are the guage of choice. Not exclusively,
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/vie ... io+mediums
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Everyone except me, I play lights, but like you mentioned Word, I fingerpick fairly softly usually. I have trouble fretting mediums, but still agree that no doubt mediums are louder.
I ran across an article in an old Guild magazine in which they showed the recommended strings for all Guild acoustics. I think Guild recommended lights on virtually every model, for obvious reasons I'm sure. Some of those are the same reasons I use them. Less stress on the entire guitar. I'm sure there are those that would argue that the stress difference is negligable, but over the long haul....decades, I believe it makes a big difference on everything from neck warpage to top bowing to bridge stress.
West
I ran across an article in an old Guild magazine in which they showed the recommended strings for all Guild acoustics. I think Guild recommended lights on virtually every model, for obvious reasons I'm sure. Some of those are the same reasons I use them. Less stress on the entire guitar. I'm sure there are those that would argue that the stress difference is negligable, but over the long haul....decades, I believe it makes a big difference on everything from neck warpage to top bowing to bridge stress.
West
Graham
Venerated Member
I use lights. I find they give the volume and tone that I'm looking for. I know that lots of folks mix their strings up depending on what sound they're after. Medium low E and A string with lights the rest of the way, etc. I would never have thought of that.
iamru02
Member
I use lights for the same reasons West mentions and I find the tone and volume for me is good like Graham.
I do use med on my resonator but it's built for it, obviously not a Guild and allows a bit more pressure using a slide without fret noise and a better tone.
Competitor brand X SP's are my choice :?
I do use med on my resonator but it's built for it, obviously not a Guild and allows a bit more pressure using a slide without fret noise and a better tone.
Competitor brand X SP's are my choice :?
I use lights (0.12s), I switch between electric & acoustic, & do a fair amount of bending when playing lead ( I might try mixng up string gauges, so DADGAD & other de-tunings will sound better).
I use 0.010s on my Fender-type electrics, 0.11s on my Tele-type (tuned to E-major) that I use for slide, & I'm going to switch to 0.011s on my Starfire, because of the shorter scale length.
I use 0.010s on my Fender-type electrics, 0.11s on my Tele-type (tuned to E-major) that I use for slide, & I'm going to switch to 0.011s on my Starfire, because of the shorter scale length.
Victor Denance
Junior Member
Most of the Guild guitars are hugely overbraced so they require a powerful engine to move some air
> medium gauge + heavy touch
> medium gauge + heavy touch
Graham
Venerated Member
Victor Denance said:
I don't agree with that with my Guilds at least. And I'm not sure what you mean by hugely overbraced? If you could explain that to me Victor.
I get the tone and the volume I need and want with light strings. If you're not getting what you need or want, then maybe you have the wrong instrument trying to do the work?
Victor Denance
Junior Member
My opinion is that Guilds (in general) have a very stiff top due to heavy bracing (thick - straight braces + back shifted cross braces). That's the reason why Guilds are known for yielding a balanced, focused tone.
Therefore I like to slap some big strings on them, in order to help moving that top.
Newer Guilds (from the Tacoma plant) benefit from a lighter bracing (thinner - scalloped braces) and thus sound already pretty good with light gauge strings. However my own 2006 D55 sure sounds better with mediums.
This is a general statement which does not apply to each and every Guild, and it's just my humble opinion, gathered from my humble experience.
If you enjoy the tone and feel of your Guild with lights, then go for lights! 8)
Therefore I like to slap some big strings on them, in order to help moving that top.
Newer Guilds (from the Tacoma plant) benefit from a lighter bracing (thinner - scalloped braces) and thus sound already pretty good with light gauge strings. However my own 2006 D55 sure sounds better with mediums.
This is a general statement which does not apply to each and every Guild, and it's just my humble opinion, gathered from my humble experience.
If you enjoy the tone and feel of your Guild with lights, then go for lights! 8)
Frosty
Senior Member
Mixed up
For the Westerly Fs: light guage 6, 5, 4, 3 - but I up the 2 to .017 and the 1 to .013 for fingerstyle picking.
Pearse Phospher Bronze and Silk on the Rosewood and Thomastik Plectrums on the Maple.
For the Westerly Fs: light guage 6, 5, 4, 3 - but I up the 2 to .017 and the 1 to .013 for fingerstyle picking.
Pearse Phospher Bronze and Silk on the Rosewood and Thomastik Plectrums on the Maple.
I usually have my guitars strung with lights or maybe medium lights but I'll change them out to mediums when I play with the bluegrassers. Its the only way I can compete with the banjos and Martin boomers. Normally, I play through a sound system at church each week and don't really need the mediums. The guitar does sound better though with the medium gauge strings.
I'm with Victor, mediums bring out the best in my dreads. I do a lot of bluegrass as well as other acoustic band stuff so I need the volume and clarity to blend with other instruments. Mediums also respond better to my finger picks, I get more definitive tone on each string with mediums.
Been running mediums on my scalloped braced DV-52 with no problems for over 5 years now. I tried a set of lights again recently and I couldn't wait to get 'em off my guitar. Guilds are made to be played, I want that baby to bark when I strike the strings
Seriously, I've played a whole lotta guitars that sound pretty nice until you really start to wail on 'em, then they fall apart. Guilds, typically not so. It seems to me Guild has one of the best products for both soft, melodic stuff and in-your-face acoustic Delta Blues all in one guitar. But I have a hard time making them do that with lights. IMHO, for what its worth
Been running mediums on my scalloped braced DV-52 with no problems for over 5 years now. I tried a set of lights again recently and I couldn't wait to get 'em off my guitar. Guilds are made to be played, I want that baby to bark when I strike the strings
Seriously, I've played a whole lotta guitars that sound pretty nice until you really start to wail on 'em, then they fall apart. Guilds, typically not so. It seems to me Guild has one of the best products for both soft, melodic stuff and in-your-face acoustic Delta Blues all in one guitar. But I have a hard time making them do that with lights. IMHO, for what its worth
Steelpickin'
Senior Member
I like to use lights on my DV-52. I have been playing it a lot for our "Bluegrass" set and I play a lot of Tony Rice type of "hi-gear" speedy stuff and I just cant play up to speed with medieums...although,
all that aside I think medieums do sound better overall.
all that aside I think medieums do sound better overall.
guildzilla
Senior Member
If I was being paid to play, I would use mediums (John Pearse PB). In terms of sound, mediums are going to bring out the absolute best in a well-built acoustic.
I think most full-size Guild flattops offered thru the years have come with mediums from the factory and can withstand the tension.
But, especially on the less heavily built models with scalloped bracing, they may not tolerate that tension all the time and forever. My F-44 developed too much belly years ago, so I backed off to lights.
Liight strings are easier on the player and on the instrument. And I'm more likely to get paid not to play. So I use Pearse PB lights (12-53). Compared to some light acoustic string sets, these are closer to a medium set than many others.
Sound appreciation is subjective, though, and I can certainly understand someone believing that lights sound best to them on a particular guitar.
I think most full-size Guild flattops offered thru the years have come with mediums from the factory and can withstand the tension.
But, especially on the less heavily built models with scalloped bracing, they may not tolerate that tension all the time and forever. My F-44 developed too much belly years ago, so I backed off to lights.
Liight strings are easier on the player and on the instrument. And I'm more likely to get paid not to play. So I use Pearse PB lights (12-53). Compared to some light acoustic string sets, these are closer to a medium set than many others.
Sound appreciation is subjective, though, and I can certainly understand someone believing that lights sound best to them on a particular guitar.
Guilded
Junior Member
I use medium d'addario phosphor bronze on my GAD-50 and love them. I tried everything from lights to the coated ones. Its funny that I end up with the least expensive. I did have to make some adjustments with the mediums.
krussell201
Junior Member
I used mediums in the past, but the playablity of the lights made me switch, So its lights on just about everything I own.
coastie99
Enlightened Member
guildzilla said:
Probably a few geezers here with that problem too !!
coastie99
Enlightened Member
drednut said:
Dred-mon !
You have dreads ?
Way-cool brudder !
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Hey Gary, Already made your flight reservations for Dallas?
West
West