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

[rabbuhl]

I used to have 10s on my Fender acoustic. I tried different sets on my Taylor. I've settle on 12s as a minimum to get a decent sound.

[Jaxon]

12-53 replacing 12&16 with 13&17 with seldom used half-note bends at most

[Steve DeRosa]

12's on a flattop, 13's on an archtop...

[mercy]

11's but I prefer 12's. I cant anymore though cause I developed wrist problems. 11's still sound good though

[soups]

Originally Posted by llew

12's are about as light as I can go.

yup - me too

[alien]

I only play acoustic guitar. I will use xtra-light (10s)on my 12 string. I generally use lights (12s)on my 6 strings, especially the short scale ones. Though, just the other day, I did put custom lights (11s) on my D-28. The jury is still out but so far they sound good. And the feel is nice and easy to play for these nearly 68 yr old hands. Sometimes my hands just hurt.

[min7b5]

I used 13-56 on my 00 for many years, but switched to 12's in the last few years because of my aging hands. That's as light as I would go. However if I'm praticing a lot and worried about my hands I might tune down and/or capo up for a few days

[KevWind]

I use 10 -47's on my 12 string
Almost everything else is 12-53, except one with 12-56

[tinnitus]

Played nothing but electric guitars in rock bands for nearly half a century, strung with (10-46) Slinkys - like power steering/brakes. Great for decades.

When my last band tuned down a half-step to accommodate a growling singer, I went to (11-48) Power Slinkys on Strats and Les Pauls.

Not a serial chord-strummer, I also play boisterous tunes on acoustic guitars, which led to me to favor (11-52) Custom Lights on acoustics too (instead of popular 12s or 13s). Some players complain about loss of volume with lighter strings - simply not an issue given my style. All tuned in E now (no Eb anymore), 11 is just a handy gauge for electric and acoustic. Nothing feels funny when I switch from one guitar to another. Rock n' Roll Hoochie Koo plays well on both.

Having sworn by 11s for 15 years now, could I go back and play lighter again? Probably not unless I developed hand/wrist pain issues and then I'd have to adapt. As it is, when I pick up anything light, I tend to squeeze certain chords and high triads into dissonance and pull/push my bends too far. A player with a less heavy-handed style would probably not run into the same problem.

[ship of fools]

My last 6 string guitar here was strung with 10-48 Dean Markley's signature series.
But I also had the guitar set up for them which included having the bridge re-routed for a new saddle position and the neck was tweaked to accommodate for the set up.
Originally the guitar was set brand new with 11-52 and while it wasn't bad I just kept wondering if it was the sound I wanted and after a few string changes I decided that I wanted to try something different.
And honestly I just love the clarity and pitch that it has now after 20 years of playing it.

[Larrison]

12s for me

[Lance Lawson]

I have always used light guage strings on my acoustic guitars. I have never had a structural failure or tension induced issue on any of my 15 acoustics. When I was playing out a lot and fratranizing with other players I noticed that the players who used mediums or heavier had far more structural/tension induced issues. IMHO if you want a bit more punch use Bluuegrass strings which are light guage except for thhe low E and A which are medium guage. Any modern lightly built acoustic (read scalloped braces) is better off using light guage.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by soma5

I have put Custom Lights on vintage guitars (11-52). Rick Ruskin plays Extra Light (I think they are 10-50 or something) or at least he used to. I usually like 12-53 at a minimum. I go higher on some guitars, and the highest I go is mediums. I play mediums on my Pre-War OM. I've been experimenting with JP New Mediums. They are similarly gauged to the D'Addario True Mediums, which I also like. They have a medium low E, light ADG and medium Be. Seems to fatten up the trebles.

Still do. 10 - 48, the original D'Angelico extra light diameters.

[abn556]

I primarily play short scale electrics with Super Slinky 09-42s. On acoustic I have 11s and 12s. I did go to a set of 10-47 Monels on a ‘63 LG-0 after having a bridge and assorted brace repairs done. The luthier recommended that I run as light of strings as possible for a while.

[soma5]

Originally Posted by RRuskin

Still do. 10 - 48, the original D'Angelico extra light diameters.

You get outstanding tone out of very light strings, by the way. The light strings also allow you to get some inspiring string bends. I have always enjoyed your playing.