How much bass is lost with string change?

[sloar]

My new Taylor has medium strings. I love the deep base but I prefer lights and extra lights for fingerstyle. I realize I can just experiment but I was wondering if anyone has already experimented. Thanks

[musicman1951]

This is a good video for comparing string sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZb9YjL-N8

[slooky]

Get a single E string in medium if your worried about losing bass.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by slooky

Get a single E string in medium if your worried about losing bass.

Another route is going with a brand that provides intermediate strings sets. I like medium gauge for trebles for a fatter tone, and can use a lighter gauge for bass if the guitar already has a rich bass tone. Which is why I like to use intermediate 13-52 strings sets.

In other words, you're not stuck with just extra lights, lights and mediums.

[justonwo]

I don’t think it’ll be very noticeable, but agree about using the larger E string.

[Oldguy64]

Since both of your guitars are Dreads, not near enough to worry about.
I have 11-52’s on half of them.
The other half have 12-53’s.

My Taylor 110 Is currently strung with EJ16’s and it has bass aplenty.
You don’t “need” 13’s unless you are regularly trying to overpower a banjo.

[Goodallboy]

As many of the comments below the video attest, the lighter gauge strings seem to allow the guitar to be more tonally complex than the Medium gauge strings and this has been my experience.

After owning several D series Martins, J-45's, Goodalls in GA and larger body styles I've found none that sounded better with Medium gauge strings and most sounded noticeably less complex and balanced with the heavier wire.

I can understand a bluegrass guitarist needing the extra volume but that isn't a need that I've had in the past 35 years.

[guitararmy]

Sounds like the bluegrass 12-56 gauge might be worth a try for you...

[JTFoote]

This is exactly why I use John Pearse custom lights on my dread. Light strings, well-balanced, with a slightly heavier bass "E" string. (.055 instead of .053) I fingerpick the vast majority of the time, but these also strum very well. Great sound.

... JT

[Joe Beamish]

I think that each guitar happens to respond best to particular strings, a particular brand, with particular materials (80/20 or PB, or nickel), in a particular gauge. You just have to experiment to find the strings your guitar really likes the best. I have yet to find a "formula" that can be universally applied to any particular body size, scale size, or tone wood.

[cdkrugjr]

Strings are cheap.

Try them all at least once.

Heck, treat yourself and try 'em twice.

[Vancebo]

By going lighter gauge your fingers should not have to work as hard. You might lose apparent volume and bass. Like others say, ya gotta try it to see if you like it.

[RalphH]

If it came with mediums then there's a good chance it's a GS mini, or one of the other smaller Taylors?

I've tried 12's on my mini and it sounded noticeably weaker and worser. I went back to 13's.

YMMV

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by sloar

My new Taylor has medium strings. I love the deep base but I prefer lights and extra lights for fingerstyle. I realize I can just experiment but I was wondering if anyone has already experimented. Thanks

Hi s

There have been plenty of experiments. Unfortunately they were not done with your guitars, and you playing them, in the style you like, and with the strings you chose.

What works for me may not be pertinent to you.

[fuman]

I have a Taylor GSCE, and they recommend medium strings. I happen to like mediums, more for the projection than for the bass. I got a set of Martin Authentic 80/20 Bronze lights for Christmas last year. I tried them out and was surprised how much I liked them. My guitar is maple, and 80/20s tend to be kind of bright, and they weren't my gauge, but they sounded pretty good.

I have Authentic PB mediums on there now, and I really like them. But I do plan to put lights on there next, just to see how that goes. I didn't miss much bass and maybe only a little volume with the lights. I think for fingerpicking, light strings might project as well or better, depending on your style. You could also try the "half-lights" as someone has suggested (martin makes a set in-between for the authentics). I would certainly try the lights. But I will say that I didn't like Elixir nano lights on this guitar.