Medium gauge strings on a cedar-top Tak?

[angelo_]

Will the Tak GD20CE with a solid cedar top and a pinless pull-through bridge handle medium gauge bluegrass strings?

Thanks.

[musicman1951]

They come with 12's. I'd use the support tab on their site to ask them if medium strings were safe to use.

[Rosewood99]

Curious why you would want mediums. Isn’t cedar more responsive?

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by Rosewood99

Curious why you would want mediums. Isn’t cedar more responsive?

Yes, that's my feeling, too. If you want an instrument you can hit hard and create a load of volume, a spruce-topped guitar would probably suit you better.

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by ewalling

Yes, that's my feeling, too. If you want an instrument you can hit hard and create a load of volume, a spruce-topped guitar would probably suit you better.

Agreed. Cedar is really sensitive and could be overdriven with mediums, especially if played aggressively.

[jseth]

I agree that the manufacturer could tell you, but I can say that James Goodall wouldn't do it... his guitars with cedar or redwood tops have a caveat on the sticker inside the soundhole that "this guitar should be strung with 12's (or light gauge)"...

[RodB]

Too much string tension on a cedar topped guitar can cause the bridge to be pulled away, taking a layer of wood with it. The glue does not fail, but the wood shears.

I have a cedar topped McIlroy that is recommended to only use light gauge strings unless tuned down somewhat.

[FingahPickah]

I agree that checking with Takamine is the best thing to do.

I have used D'Addario EJ14 (80/20 Bluegrass .012-.056) on my cedar topped 24.9" scale OM Eastman E2om-cd with no problem. I play fingerstyle exclusively on that guitar. The shorter scale affords a bit less tension as does the 80/20 bronze (5 lbs less than Phosphor bronze EJ19).

But again - on a full scale dread w/ a pin-less bridge- I'd check with the manufacturer.

[Shishigashira]

Originally Posted by FingahPickah

I agree that checking with Takamine is the best thing to do.

I have used D'Addario EJ14 (80/20 Bluegrass .012-.056) on my cedar topped 24.9" scale OM Eastman E2om-cd with no problem. I play fingerstyle exclusively on that guitar. The shorter scale affords a bit less tension as does the 80/20 bronze (5 lbs less than Phosphor bronze EJ19).

But again - on a full scale dread w/ a pin-less bridge- I'd check with the manufacturer.

I use the exact same strings (but the Martin version) on my Eastman E2D cedar and they sound great. I'm planning to try Martin Monel Lawrence Juber version next which are a med/light hybrid. Anyways, always worth experimenting although there may be some issues with the bridge on the Tak.