What's the LIGHTEST gauge string your would play on an acoustic?

[FanoFan]

I just tried 11's on my Breedlove Concert and not crazy about them. Going back to 12's. I think I'll likely stick with 12's on all of my acoustics going forward.

[Golffishny]

I use .12's but I have tried tuning down 1/2 step on short scale guitars and a full step on full scale guitars.

[BlueBowman]

I have a friend who is a lifelong guitar player, and after he injured his hand quite severely, he began stringing his Taylors with 10s. And it seems to have worked for him.

As for myself, I can’t go any lower than 12s with the high E replaced with a 13. This holds true even for my dreads. I play exclusively finger style.

[MrDB]

I have 10-47 on my gigging guitars as they are plugged in anyway and ease of play for 3-4 hour gigs is a must.

11-52 on my 000-42 Martin, sounds good on that body size and my 71 yr old hands like it.

[Silly Moustache]

Another variation of "what strings"

I use Collings 12 fret dreads. Collings recommends D'addario EJ17s. (13-56)

Sometimes Martin MA550Ts.
I also use mediums on my SCGC "RS" my resos and Archtops (nickels)

On my 000,00and o guitars lights - 12-53/4 EJ16, MA540 etc.

On my 12 strings 12/12-54/30 (Ej37/M190) tuned down one tone.

That's all she wrote.

[martingitdave]

The lightest I have used for gigs in the past were Martin PB 12.5-55. Now I am using D’Addario XS PB 13-55. I am considering a switch to lighter strings for comfort and the fact that my main performing 6 strings have developed (arguably) too much bass.

[Zaam]

Well, I suppose I am splitting hairs here, but for my OM I find 11.5 to be the sweet spot. i just order them separately and replace the 11's on most sets of Custom Lights I use. For me they sound as good as 12s and feel basically like 11s. Going up from there it's usually 15, but sometimes 16. Low E normally tops out 52-53.

[SuperB23]

light gauge 12-54 for me unless it were a pre 1927 Martin that was braced for Gut strings then I might go lower. I've found anything lower than lights really robs tone and power from acoustic guitars. Most instruments are designed and built to sound their best with either lights and mediums and why argue with that....

[soma5]

I have put Custom Lights on vintage guitars (11-52). Rick Ruskin plays Extra Light (I think they are 10-50 or something) or at least he used to. I usually like 12-53 at a minimum. I go higher on some guitars, and the highest I go is mediums. I play mediums on my Pre-War OM. I've been experimenting with JP New Mediums. They are similarly gauged to the D'Addario True Mediums, which I also like. They have a medium low E, light ADG and medium Be. Seems to fatten up the trebles.

[birdsong]

I like 12’s. I have a few guitars so I put 11’s on one and 13’s on another.- just because. But these days my left hand is ailing a lot so I don’t play the guitar with 13’s.

[JoeYouDon't]

For me it depends on the acoustic. In my experience, dreads and bigger don't sound right with anything under 12s, and most really benefit from 13s.

With smaller guitars that's not necessarily the case. I have a Waterloo WL-K that's extremely lightly braced and recommended by Collings not to put anything heavier than 11s on it, so that's all it's ever had.

It still sounds full and great with those, with its own unique voice. I've taken it to a few jams and it cuts through surprisingly well on lead, moreso than some bigger guitars with bigger strings, so I think that it's really horses for courses.

If injuries or arthritis became a problem, I'd readily try lighter and lower tension strings, with the understanding it'd likely be a trade-off with how I'm used to my guitars sounding.

[DanLaFortune]

I play a dreadnought (Martin D-35) and have never gone below Light gauge .012's. But i could see if you played a smaller body guitar and were just playing in your living room or back porch where lighter gauge strings would work just fine. Also depends on the type of music you're playing.

[Wellington]

I played mostly .11's on my acoustics for probably like 17 years, I've also been using 12's more often The last couple years and really enjoying them.

[musicman1951]

With a hand injury I would use whatever worked - especially if amplified, which gives you an excellent chance to dial in some of the response you'll probably be missing.

Personally, I prefer 12s. I tried 11s and was surprised to hear such a small difference on my Lowden, with some lovely chime added in the upper register - but they felt a little too thin under my left hand. I suspect that would disappear if I stayed with the 11s long enough.

[Rosette]

I like 12s, and 13's are best on my dread. I don't like the sound of extra light strings but I could see myself using them if I ever develop issues with my fretting hand due to age or whatnot.