Nitebob wrote:
At the risk of being stoned...I now use electric D'adario 9's on both the Crafter Hybrid as well as my Cort Acoustic...
String gauges are always a trade off. On acoustics string mass is important as the top is driven by the vibrations of the strings. I'm not saying that there's some law that says you may not use 9s on an acoustic, but there will be a trade-off in tone and possibly volume - plugged and unplugged.
Why 9s? If it's for ease of playing then are you sure the guitar is properly set up by somebody who knows what they're doing. Unless you want to do lots of big bends, then the 9s facilitate that but IMO you will lose out in tone.
I also question the use of ELECTRIC 9s on an acoustic. Electric strings are designed to activate magnetic pickups. With acoustic strings the material used has a significant impact on sound - which is why they're usually 80:20 bronze or phosphor bronze.
Again, if it works for you, then it works. String selection is always a trade-off, and you have to find the trade-offs that work for you, but still.... it's worth raising an eyebrow at electric 9s on a flattop.
PS: Regarding setup. There's a pretty good chance that your Cort wasn't initially setup for 9s. The reduced tension may cause the neck to have more relief, which will have the effect of raising the action, which may reduce the benefit of going to 9s in the first place. If you haven't done so, have the guitar checked out to make sure the neck relief is correct.
