What gauge strings do you use?

[TBman]

I'm curious. To those that use lighter gauges (10-11), do you feel the strings drive the top enough, especially for finger style?

I like to use 13s as I'm tuned to DADGAD and lower tunings on most of my guitars. I like 12s for standard tuning. I've never tried 10s as I always thought they would sound too thin. I have used 11s but not often in the past 50+ years.

[Brent Hahn]

12's on acoustics, 11's on electrics, ignoring bass. :-)

[rollypolly]

lights on my OMs or 000s yes, but lights on my D-18 so far don't feel like they're moving it enough. I think it may be because it's a straight braced top. I'm speaking for fingerstyle mostly. Strumming is fine , it gets plenty loud with lights.

[DCCougar]

12s on 6-strings, 10s on 12-strings.

[Glennwillow]

I use 12s but I am tuned to standard pitch on all my guitars.

I need to renew my experience with DADGAD. It's been several years since I have played in DADGAD. And in DADGAD 13s make total sense.

- Glenn

[AcousticDreams]

It is no secret that gauge of strings is mostly related to the style of music you play, and the size-type of guitar.

Fingerstyle often use lighter gauge strings. Strummers and flatpickers often use heavier gauges.

But either can work for either style really. It just depends on each of our needs.

Since I am in between playing heavy fingerstyle and heavy strumming I have found medium gauge Roundcores work for both. Slightly less tension & easier bend-ability for fingerstyle, while still having the volume and dynamics for strumming.

[gfspencer]

I use light gauge strings and I strum.

[Brent Hutto]

I check 12 but I'm really all over the place.

Ten years ago when I was mostly playing fingerstyle (classical/Celtic/New Age fingerstyle, not the heavy-thumb blues style) and mostly using DADGAD or lower tunings I'd bump the treble strings up to 13 and 17 instead of 12 and 16.

But now I'm using a flatpick and almost entirely either standard tuning or drop-D and those heavier trebles are not needed, in fact they produce a rather unpleasant tone when tuned to E and B. Hence, selecting "12" in the poll.

That said, the past week or so I've experimented with first a 15-gauge B string which I really liked a lot and then dropping to an 11-gauge E string which I also like. The sound of those strings is much brighter on my somewhat warm sounding guitar. So the "custom light" sets looking promising.

[min7b5]

After using 13's on my 00 for years, last year I switched to 12's and love 'em. Though sometimes when I record I go back, or at least on the 6th string if it's in drop D...

[DBW]

I use 10's and 12's for acoustics depending on the guitar and my mood. 11's for electrics.

[Mark Stone]

I use 12-56 light mediums on both Taylors (110e and 814ce DLX) and play mostly fingerpicking.

[Brick is Red]

I use 12’s. But, it’s a bit more precise than that with one guitar. I use Earthwood Medium-Lights 12-16-24-32-44-54, or Martin’s lights strings with the .54. I’ve found that I need more than the typical EJ16 12-53 to get the lower end response from my Blueridge BR-40.

[Goat Mick]

I use 10's on my electrics and 12's on my acoustics. Specifically John Pearse 600L Phosphor Bronze light.

[MrDB]

12's on my 000-42 as that is what I play acoustic only since it does not have a pickup. 10's on the Eastman with a Baggs Anthem since that's what I gig with. 10's are easier on my 69 yr old hands for 3-4 hr gigs.

[Jodythebaker]

12's on everything except a little, old, dusty Stella. That one gets 11's.