Light vs Medium strings

[kazoou]

I am having a hard time making up my mind between light or medium strings. Has anyone ever had this dilemma or is it just me? I love the added punch of the medium strings but the lights are easier on the fingers, especially for doing any kind of lead work on an acoustic. By the way, I am really liking the Dean Markley Blue Steel strings.

[guitarcapo]

I really think each individual guitar will tell you what strings sound best on it. It's an issue of what guage makes the top sing the best. Stiffer built tops will sound great with mediums. On a guitar that sounds unbalanced and bassy with mediums, use lighter guage strings. I have had guitar that sounded great new with mediums...but after a few years of playing in, required lights to keep balance going on.

[bjorn-fjord]

Have you checked out John Pearse Slightly Lights? They range somewhere between lights and mediums.

[notgonnadoit]

 

Originally posted by guitarcapo I really think each individual guitar will tell you what strings sound best on it. It's an issue of what guage makes the top sing the best. Stiffer built tops will sound great with mediums. On a guitar that sounds unbalanced and bassy with mediums, use lighter guage strings. I have had guitar that sounded great new with mediums...but after a few years of playing in, required lights to keep balance going on.

 

 

This is good advice. I've found the same to be true. There is a set of strings for every guitar. If there is any pattern to my selection it's probably 13s on dreads (sometimes 12s), 12s on OMs and Auditoriums, and 12s or 11s on parlors.

 

If it's a question of being able to deal with tension, I say just play what's right for the guitar and you will adjust pretty quickly with playing time.

[solitaire]

Doesn't this have a lot to do with:

* Size of the top

* Rigidity of top and braces

* Length of scale

* Style/ technique

 

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Then it's just not the gauge of strings that matters, but the EQ of the strings vs that of your guitar. Eg Maple might require warmer sounding strings in order not to sound harsh and cold; RW might also require warmer strings (espec with Dreads) to resonate fully with the wood.

[kazoou]

Thanks for the advice. I am playing a Martin D-28. Most people would say that this guitar sounds best with mediums. It definitely has more punch and volume with the mediums which I like. The mediums work good for basic rythym work although sometimes I do play lead on acoustic when playing with others and lights work good for that. Maybe I'll try the medium/lights.

[rh2d]

I've used lights for several years on my HD 28 and my D12 28. I now use them on my OM and my 0018V. They are just easier on my fingers and the guitar and I really can't tell the difference soundwise. Maybe on the HD 28 but the others are too close to call. For a while I used extra lights and while I liked them they just didn't have enough stuff especially for the HD 28. I think they did OK on the D12 though.

[guitarcapo]

EQ of the strings vs that of your guitar.

:confused:

[solitaire]

Originally posted by guitarcapo :confused:

This is what I was saying: every string has a certain frequency response and every guitar is tuned around one or a few frequencies. Too bright strings on a bottom heavy Dread can really be a letdown. With my Martin after trying a different set of strings on it, volume dropped like it had cought a cold or something, yet sounding interesting. In this case it obviously requires warmer strings to resonate fully, not necessarilly heavier gauge. Just wanted to make that distinction.

[Picker]

Blue Steel has a Medium-Light gauge 12-54. You might try them.