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

[tomtetom]

After some months of Monelle 0.010s (and a fretting hand injury), I've gone down to 0.009s on a Martin 00-18v.

I can still feel the guitar resonating and there's an adjustment in the Right Hand needed to stop banging them out of tune- but aside from that they sound and feel really good.

There's a pickup in the guitar; it projects pretty well but the pickup does the lifting.

What's the lightest gauge string you would use on your acoustic guitars?

[Jeremy]

Custom Lights for me. Anything less I feel wouldn't drive the top at or near enough to its sonic potential.

[thefsb]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Custom Lights for me. Anything less I feel wouldn't drive the top at or near enough to its sonic potential.

Depends on the model but I like 11s on my OM (TI Plectrum and Pearse Silk and Bronze). The bigger guitars have 12s; 11s aren't enough for them.

[Glennwillow]

When a player has a hand injury and wants to keep playing, it makes sense to try to use the lightest gauge strings possible.

I don't have any hand injuries at present, so I never go below light gauge acoustic string sets, which are 12s. I have tried 11s and I just did not care for the plinky sound. I have tried 13s but I did not care for the loss of some of the plucked, sparkly character of the 0.012" E string. Also, 13s really caused pain in my arthritic finger joints.

I use 12s on my acoustic guitars. I would also note that 95% of my playing is with fingers. I am not into Bluegrass music.

- Glenn

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by tomtetom

After some months of Monelle 0.010s (and a fretting hand injury), I've gone down to 0.009s on a Martin 00-18v.

I can still feel the guitar resonating and there's an adjustment in the Right Hand needed to stop banging them out of tune- but aside from that they sound and feel really good.

There's a pickup in the guitar; it projects pretty well but the pickup does the lifting.

What's the lightest gauge string you would use on your acoustic guitars?

Hi tomtetom

I've strung some with .008 gauge for Nashville strung instruments for recording. Nashville tuning is accomplished by matching the weight of the treble strings of a set of 12 string guitar strings, and stringing a guitar with only those. The noticeable difference when you lighten things up is that your action may rise and the truss rod may need to be adjusted to lower it back to a normal height (or even lower without buzzing for recovery with less strain).

I think the consideration here should be your need to lighten tension to make room for recovery time from the injury. What difference should what we do matter to you.

Light strings will not injure you instrument. But heavier ones may stress or extend the length of time for recovery. And teaching the other hand to work in concert musically with the other one is a good thing for your technique as well.

Years ago I adopted the practice of 'play without apology' when people want to show off a guitar and just hand it to me and ask me to play.

So I've been handed super heavy strings with accompanying high action and some acoustics strung with nylon (classical) or electric strings which are buzzing.

Chances are what I play will likely match or exceed what they are playing on them, and I can help them later with advice and help restringing or setting action.

MY POINT IS - you need lighter pressure on that injury. So lower the tension without apology. Hope recovery is speedy, and restrengthening returns you to normal.

[llew]

12's are about as light as I can go. My wife has a set of 11's on her 000-28 and it sounds fine but I prefer 12's and 13's.

[rollypolly]

11s or 12s. Usually 12s.

[TBman]

12s is as low as I go right now.

[jaymarsch]

I’ve used extra light 10-47 hex core on a 24” short scale parlor when recovering from a hand injury. I also used 11-52 round core strings which felt pretty good for playing as well. Both sounded fine. You lose a bit of bass and projection but nothing drastic. Normally, I play 12-54s so not a big difference for me. It was worth going lighter to ensure my full recovery.
Best,
Jayne

[JayBee1404]

I used to have 13-56 on my Dreads but, since the onset of thumb basal-joint arthritis and Tenosynovitis in several fingers, I use 12-53/54 on all my acoustics. I don’t see me ever going lower.

[drtedtan]

I have an old parlor guitar from the 1930s that I string with 11s because I’m concerned about putting too much tension on the top, braces, and bridge.

Otherwise, I use either 12s or 13s depending on the guitar.

[Bridgepin]

I haven't gone lower than 12s. I prefer 13s.

[Russ C]

I’ll use 10-47 if playing with a pickup and 11-52 acoustically.

[Sadie-f]

T-I Classic S 10-38 flat wound.

They're different to play, I had them mounted on my OM-28 for about 3 months last year.

[Jim Owen]

I’ve used 10s on the 1890s parlor I play. It is very fragile. I do use 11s on my 50s Kay and 70s Gurian as both have very long scales. 12s fight me back on them.

Note that when I was in my 20s, 12s were much lighter and easier to play. Recently, they feel stiffer on long scale guitars. Something’s changed since the 70s.