EMERALD X-7 OPUS

[Matt_Adamas]

Originally Posted by PeteCady

Actually, 12-56 sets are fairly common. Often called "Bluegrass Gauge" or "Light Top/Medium Bottom." D'Addario EJ19 or EXP19, for instance: 12-16-25-35-45-66. But many brands make a similar set.

yes, I know of bluegrass gauges - I spend a lot of time working with string gauges and their tensions but the gauges originally given (12, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56) weren't a standard Daddario set. That's what seemed odd. I should have been more explicit.

[JimCA]

Originally Posted by kbenson

I have an X7 and I just started experimenting with DADGAD. I have Martin Retro lights on it, 12 - 54. It sounds as nice and full as a standard scale guitar but if you dig in there is some buzzing on the 2nd and 1st strings. Probably due to the dropped tuning combined with the shorter scale. In the future I plan on trying mediums on it. A pro is that 4 and 5 fret stretches are more comfortable! Hope that helps.
Kevin

Not DADGAD but, I switched to Martin Retro lights 12 - 54. First impression was, this is better. Second impression was low E string is too quiet. Put on an non-retro 56 on hand and back to, this is better.

I like the retro sound. I have ordered Martin Retro MLJ13 "LJ's Choice" to try. These have same total tension (advertised) as EXP19, 173.4 pounds, but different mix of lights and mediums.

EXP19: 12 16 25 35 45 56
MLJ13: 13 17 24 32 42 56

Jim

[Earl49]

When I first got into alternate Hawaiian slack-key tunings (most lower the bass strings) I switched over to the so-call bluegrass or Medium-Light sets. Otherwise a 52 or 53 gauge sixth / "low E" string got pretty floppy when tuned down to C. Even the 5th / A string from a light gauge set gets pretty loose when tuned to G and definitely when tuned at F. The slackest tunings I use is CFCGCE or taro patch F (CFCFAC). Mostly I use mediums these days to accommodate these tunings.