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  #1  
Old 01-06-2011, 08:42 AM
acoustic80 acoustic80 is offline
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Default light strings ( .12 .53 ) on a dreadnought

Im getting a bit tired of those mediums strings on my dreadnought and I just whant to know if some of you are verry satisfied with light strings on his dreadnought , and does it make a big difference in the sound??
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Old 01-06-2011, 08:45 AM
guitarsanyone guitarsanyone is offline
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I use Daddario 12's EJ16's and love them. I have easily tried 10 others and for strumming and picking leads, I love them the best hands down. I like the Martin Light-Mediums for straight strumming, but the Daddario's work best for what I play which is mostly strumming and picking some leads.
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Old 01-06-2011, 08:54 AM
arie arie is offline
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i play .010 to .046/.048's black diamonds or dr rares on all of my guitars and tune down a whole step. i find they are far easier to play and are a little more clearer in tone. they lack a little volume and sustain but i really don't mind. on a heavily built or laminate guitar these strings might not have enough tension to drive the top though.

they work for me.
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Old 01-06-2011, 08:54 AM
GibbyPrague GibbyPrague is offline
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My experiene is that mediums work great on mahogany dreads and lights are ideal for rosewood dreads.
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Old 01-06-2011, 09:00 AM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
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Lights are what i put on everything ( for the most part )-I sacrifice volume and to a certain extent tone -but they are faster and i like how they feel .But not all lights are the same .I use to put ex-lights on a few guitars -not any more .
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Old 01-06-2011, 09:07 AM
Garthman Garthman is offline
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I use 10 gauge. No problems at all.
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Old 01-06-2011, 09:30 AM
zmf zmf is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by acoustic80 View Post
Im getting a bit tired of those mediums strings on my dreadnought and I just whant to know if some of you are verry satisfied with light strings on his dreadnought , and does it make a big difference in the sound??
Depends on the dread, and your picking style.

My take is lighter bass strings and medium treble work well. No need to switch to all lights. Medium light gauges are available, as well sets where heavier gauge is biased towards bass or treble. Just put a set of Pearse medium lights on a Martin dread that go from .013 to .052. Works well for fingerpicking.

On the other hand, my Santa Cruz VS is so responsive that all lights drive it just fine.
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:01 AM
AFNospam AFNospam is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarsanyone View Post
I use Daddario 12's EJ16's and love them. I have easily tried 10 others and for strumming and picking leads, I love them the best hands down. I like the Martin Light-Mediums for straight strumming, but the Daddario's work best for what I play which is mostly strumming and picking some leads.
+1 . Agree on the EJ16s
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:13 AM
5ksv 5ksv is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarsanyone View Post
I use Daddario 12's EJ16's and love them. .
+1 for the EJ16s here too. I never really tried anything else after I started using these.

Good tone, even from my all-laminate dread.
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:18 AM
Jarlaxle Jarlaxle is offline
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I have elixir nanoweb lights on my martin dread (sitka/rosewood) and they have tons of oomph. YMMV but for me they can do it all.
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Old 01-06-2011, 10:46 AM
Taylorplayer Taylorplayer is offline
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Sure you can use them. But you will likely lose some volume.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:05 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
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DR Sunbeams play "lighter" than their gauge, to me the 13's feel like many brand 12's. Another option is hybrid strings, I really like Martin Bluegrass light-mediums too (12-56), they still "growl" with the heavy low end strings.
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:18 AM
Norman Draper Norman Draper is offline
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I have a bunch of dreadnoughts that are fairly loud to very loud.... Over the years, I've tried light gauge strings several times, only to discover that the loss of volume is unacceptable.

I also like the feel of mediums. I like to feel the strings push back a bit, and I can play more agressively.....

Because my hearing is heading south, I need all the volume I can get....


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Old 01-06-2011, 11:24 AM
acoustic80 acoustic80 is offline
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Thanks Guys
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Old 01-06-2011, 11:28 AM
mckong mckong is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmyAddison View Post
DR Sunbeams play "lighter" than their gauge, to me the 13's feel like many brand 12's. Another option is hybrid strings, I really like Martin Bluegrass light-mediums too (12-56), they still "growl" with the heavy low end strings.
+1 for this.

I put DR sunbeams on my guitars. I like them. My touches are not very strong. If you like more bass, you'd better try light-mediums.
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