String Gauges

[fishwatcher]

What string gauges (or range of string gauges) do you favor on each of your guitars? and why? When you change string gauges, what kind of adjustments are typically necessary?

My guitars:
Bristol BD-16 (laminate dreadnaught): 10-47. I like the ease of play on this guitar with this extra light gauge. The tone is awesome too, though it doesn't have the same boom of bass that's in the Yamaha below. I'd specifically like to know if others are putting heavier strings on this guitar, and what the results are. I've tried 11's.. and didn't love the results, so wonder if it has to do with my setup (which was specifically with 10-47's). Can this guitar take 12's? Higher? Just curious and assume it would take some set-up adjustment, or could I get away with just a truss rod adjustmenmt?

Taylor Baby (solid top, laminate back and sides): 12-53. This plays nice and easy. I followed the recommended string gauge from Taylor and it seems to work fine.

Yamaha F345SY (laminate dreadnaught): 12-53. Plays nice. I wonder about going higher or lower in gauge and wonder what the results would be. Maybe going lower will make it a bit easier to play. I'm guessing since this model is an older product, that maybe it's built similar to the F335 model (other than the Sycamore top), which is much more pervasive and modern.

Adding:
I've been playing and liking D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings, but am trying out Santa Cruz Strings Low tension strings on the Yamaha and Baby Taylor. I've been told they provide about similar tension to 12-53's. Not sure about the Bristol. Was told by Santa Cruz Guitars that the mid tension might be too high for my guitars, which is one of the reasons I'm asking this question to the forum. Thanks!

[J.DrewPetersen]

Taylor 710 L-1: .013-.056 It's a rock solid neck dreadnought, built for mediums, they provide the best voice for this guitar. yes they are stiffer but if you play numerous altered tunings like me, they are more stable.

Taylor 214 Grand Auditorium : HD lights, .013, .017, .025, .032, .042, .053
The stiffer high strings also handle tunings better than regular lights. This set was developed by Elixir & Taylor for GA style guitars. I don't think they are any harder to play than regular lights and the presence improves noticeably.

Taylor GS mini mahogany: .013-.056, as recommended by taylor due to lower string tension on this very short scale guitar. They feel much lighter on the GS mini than on the 710.

Always Elixirs, they last.

[stormin1155]

I have a couple of antique parlors that I use 10-47, but on all of my everyday players, 12-53/54. Occasionally I'll feel especially manly and throw a set of 13s on one of my guitars, but will usually go back to 12s at the next change.

[ChrisE]

I've been switching back and forth between mediums and lights on my Martin dreads and I think I might just stick with Bluegrass Gauge on both now to make it easier. No adjustments necessary.

[Matt G]

I use one of these three on all my guitars:

• Light guage (.012 - .054)
• Light tension with medium guages (Straight Up Strings, etc.)
• Medium guage down tuned 1/2 step

I think lights sounds fine on my dreadnoughts. In alternate tunings, the first and second strings can get rubbery and wobbly, so I prefer medium guage for those two strings. I never have tried HD lights, but maybe I will someday.

[donlyn]

My 2 cents, plus 'for a few cents more' :

List sorted by string gauge.

I like Elixir strings.
Currently all my guitars sport Elixirs, but that is not necessarily always the case. I just seem to always re-string with them after each failed experiment. Maintains my baseline anyway.


Elixir PB 12 string Lights (.010 - .027 + .010 - .047) :
. Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jumbo
. Taylor 458e-R sitka/rosewood 12 string Grand Orchestra


Elixir PB Lights (.012 - .053) :
. Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam md Jumbo


Elixir PB HD Lights (.013 - .053) :
. Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra
. Epiphone EJ 200 spruce/mpl lam Jumbo
. Taylor 512ce L10 mahogany Grand Concert
. Taylor 412e-R sitka/rosewood Grand Concert

plus in near future, probably trying on for its next string change,
. Gibson J 200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo


Elixir Medium (.013 - .056) :
. Taylor walnut Jumbo

* * *

Notes:

I fingerpick all my instruments using my fingernails for picks.

My 412e-R Grand Concert was shipped with the PB HD gauge. Actually bought used, but it was truly in mint condition, no scratches and still with the transparent 'Elixir' string sticker on the pickguard. Liking the strings a lot, I began experimenting with this HD gauge for some of my larger guitars, one at a time, and I have been very satisfied with the results so far. Except the Alvarez didn't like them much; thus the Lights.

Don
.

[C-ville Brent]

My acoustics generally get Martin phosphor/bronze custom lights (11-52). Guitars for students get extra lights (10s). I like the playability, durability, and tone of the phospher/bronze custom lights, but put extra lights (D'Addario) on guitars that students use in class. The extra lights are easier on tender fingers, but seem less durable. It's a trade off and I try to keep extra E's and B's on hand for replacements, but they're not extra lights.

[TBman]

13 to 56 on the Avalon, Guild and Larrivee.

12 to 54 on the Alvarez, Gibson, Martin and Washburn

11.5 to 47 on the Seagull folk.

I'm going to try 12 to 54 again on the Avalon when they arrive this week.

[boneuphtoner]

Lights 12-53/54 for everything- see signature