Using 13's ?

[Dirty Bill]

When some says they use 13's,are they talking about light or medium strings? I know it's newbie question,but I really don't get a lot of the jargon here...

[Steve DeRosa]

Medium gauge, usually .013 to .056...

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Medium gauge, usually .013 to .056...

Right.

Bill, whenever anyone uses jargon that you don't understand, simply ask right then and there what the heck they're talking about. The first time I ever saw someone going on and on about "pups" for acoustic guitar, I thought: "Why on earth would someone want to put a puppy in a guitar? What would that accomplish?"

Chances are it would get the guitar all scratched up and, quite possibly, reeking of something other than just sawdust and lacquer.

It wasn't until I read some of the responses that I realized the person was asking about pickups, not juvenile canines.

Personally, I think the clearer the questions that are asked, the more likely they are to get clear, intelligible responses. That's what I strive for, anyway.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Bingoccc]

Here's John Pearse's string list. It may help. http://www.jpstrings.com/brstring.htm

[OleGibby58]

12s are nearly universally called lights, 13s mediums.

[Bowie]

FWIW, some makers call 12's medium so go by the gauge when buying.

[rick-slo]

Usually when someone is talking about 13 (on the high E string) they are referring to a medium gauge set of strings.
However there are mixed gauge sets (either sold that way or changed to that by the user). For example you might have
medium gauge unwound strings and light gauge wound strings.

[clintj]

I just bought a set of "mediums" that were 12's. I usually buy by number, but I wanted to try a new type of string and those were the closest to what I normally use that were in stock.

[Kilgore Trout]

I'm currently using those medium-light twelve and a halfs just to be difficult.

I should probably go get that puppy out of my guitar.

[Dirty Bill]

Ok,I won't put puppies in my guitar. Also,13's means the lightest string on the guitar. Thanks guys.

[Dirty Bill]

Originally Posted by Bingoccc

Here's John Pearse's string list. It may help. http://www.jpstrings.com/brstring.htm

Thanks for that link.

[Silly Moustache]

As I use mostly D'addario strings, I am most familiar with their system, but I believe they are the best reference point:

EJ15 - extra light 10-47 - Maybe for old non re-inforced instruments.
EJ16 - light - 12-53 - standard for 00,000, and maybe OM guitars.
EJ17 - medium - 13-56 - standard for dreads, acoustic archtops, etc
EJ18 - heavy - 14-59 - frankly I don't know who uses these - I have had them on a resonator, and maybe some use on archtops for Freddie Green style big band rhythm.
EJ19 - bluegrass - 12-56 - light gauge 1,2,and 3rd, medium 4,5,6.

They do offer some other funny mixes , but these are, I think standard gauges.

I use EJ17s on my dreads, but often put light gauge (12 & 16) on 1st & 2nd.

[Teleman52]

I think the reason that we refer to "13s" as mediums and "12s" as lights etc, is because of dastardly companies like DR who decided that they would call 12s mediums and 13s heavies. So referring to them by the numbers does away with that confusion

[kydave]

The Marketing dude at any company calling .012 medium and .013 heavy should be tarred & feathered and made to wear a sign saying "I am a New Age Dork".



"dastardly companies "... I like that!

[Dirty Bill]

Thats funny right there.