Dreadnought Strings

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

So it's all my fault is it?

Obviously you can put whatever strings you want on whatever guitar, but I'm pretty "normal" about this really.
My logic is simplistic.
Dreadnoughts were designed to be BIG, and LOUD, rhythm boxes, so why put on strings that don't bring out the best of them?
.

Yes, you are the culprit.
Seriously, it is something I always wondered about and you indeed were the inspiration or catalyst, if you will.
I understand your logic completely. As you can see from the poll results thus far though, Mediums are not the "norm".
I would also add that Gibson puts lights on the J45 for a reason and it works.
It's really all subjective ain't it mate?

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by boneuphtoner

To the original poster - can you add an option for those of us who split the difference with medium lights? As I posted a few days ago, medium lights come in many different varieties

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=548844

Or Light Mediums.
There a whole world of folks who split the difference.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Mbroady

Or Light Mediums.
There a whole world of folks who split the difference.

And I am one of those.

The poll was to find out light vs medium only. The reason behind that was to see if lights came into play vs. Mediums and how strongly.

[boneuphtoner]

Medium/light dread player here and I didn’t vote consequently- but what I think is interesting is that Yamaha and Eastman, two of the better Asian manufacturers, string their dreads from the factory with lights - I can speculate that this could be a result of their thinking that more people prefer lights, or they think their designs work better with lights, or perhaps a combination of the two.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

D’Addario EJ-16 since the beginning of time

Yes, they have been mostly my default strings, too, except on my old (1967) D-35 that has gotten very bright over the years and on that I use John Pearse PB light.

Light gauge strings are lot easier on my arthritic finger joints and allow me to keep on playing.

- Glenn

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by boneuphtoner

Medium/light dread player here and I didn’t vote consequently- but what I think is interesting is that Yamaha and Eastman, two of the better Asian manufacturers, string their dreads from the factory with lights - I can speculate that this could be a result of their thinking that more people prefer lights, or they think their designs work better with lights, or perhaps a combination of the two.

In my experience, some Asian cultures are not nearly as in love with heavy bass response as Western cultures are.

I sold high end electronics at one time. The Japanese made speakers were more biased toward mids and highs.

JBLs and other domestic speakers were definitely built for more thump.

This may be part of why Asian made guitars go with lighter strings.

Then again, Gibson goes with lights on many of their guitars.

[SuperB23]

The best dreadnoughts for flat picking and strumming I've played have been designed for mediums and they sound best with them. Now some super lightly built fingerstyle dreadnoughts do sound better with lights but those are usually over $6000 and not quite as common.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

The best dreadnoughts for flat picking and strumming I've played have been designed for mediums and they sound best with them. Now some super lightly built fingerstyle dreadnoughts do sound better with lights but those are usually over $6000 and not quite as common.

Play a J45. It's comes with lights. Unless you don't consider a J45 a "best Dreadnought".
I tried Mediums on mine and it lost all its mojo. Back to the Gibson Masterbuilt 80-20 lights that came on it stock. Back came the mojo.

[BFD]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

The best dreadnoughts for flat picking and strumming I've played have been designed for mediums and they sound best with them. Now some super lightly built fingerstyle dreadnoughts do sound better with lights but those are usually over $6000 and not quite as common.

My experience also, though those that I've sampled are fewer by far and not nearly as fine overall as the guitars I see you routinely playing

[rokdog49]

Well, the slotted poll time is nearly over.
Seems that among the respondents, it's close to 50-50 Lights vs. Mediums.
Thanks to all who participated with your responses and comments.

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

The best dreadnoughts for flat picking and strumming I've played have been designed for mediums and they sound best with them. Now some super lightly built fingerstyle dreadnoughts do sound better with lights but those are usually over $6000 and not quite as common.

I've read this claim made by others.

Which guitars are "designed for mediums", and where do they state this?

[Bear Davis]

Originally Posted by Tony Burns

Im in favor of finding out what your guitar is braced for and find the best strings for it.

This...

Going to 13's on a guitar that is braced for 12's can sometimes choke the dynamic range and overall tone of the instrument.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

I've read this claim made by others.

Which guitars are "designed for mediums", and where do they state this?

I'd like to know that as well.
Might be true... might be another piece of misinformation dreamed up by a well-intentioned but incorrect individual or group thereof although I doubt that could happen here on the AGF.

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

... my old (1967) D-35 that has gotten very bright over the years and on that I use... light. Light gauge strings are lot easier on my arthritic finger joints and allow me to keep on playing...

Same here on an old D-35.

[BFD]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

I've read this claim made by others.

Which guitars are "designed for mediums", and where do they state this?

In a couple ways I'm aware of: If they ship a guitar with mediums, or say they do, that's a pretty clear indication they've designed it to be strung that way. Also my OM-28V says inside, along with other ID'ing info, (something to the effect of) 'use medium gauge or lighter stings'.