Heavier strings

Ray

Well, I'm wanting to put .14's on a Yamaha FG but poep scared it damages the guitar. I tried asking Yamaha US about it, they referred me to Yamaha SA and they're ignoring me. Currently got .13's on and ja, comfortable with that. I'm buying an APX700 within the next few days so I'll be asking about that as well.

AlanRatcliffe

Not on acoustic steel - I'm too much of a wimp for that, so use .012s. .011s on all my electrics and super high tension flamenco strings on nylon though.

Bob-Dubery

zohn wrote: Hmm, just as I typed the title I was reminded of that great John Mayer album...
So, I fitted a new set of medium (0,013 - 0,056) strings to my dread and my Grand Auditorium last night. The GA previously had a "Light" set (0,012 - 0,054).
In a nut shell: the GA produces jaw dropping bass and great tone, especially in a dropped-D tuning. :bopping:
Any other players use that gauge strings? gain for pain...

I've had 13s on my Morgan for some time now. Phosphor Bronze, so that's like medium-and-a-quarter. I have the same on the Larrivee since I got that. The Smoothtalker had 13s, but I'm trying 12s on it right now. Probably I'll go back to 13s but maybe 80:20 instead of PB.

Generally I find the bigger strings work well on an acoustic in terms of tone. If the guitar can take it. I used to have a Taylor Big Baby, and the word there was to not go heavier than 12s. Larries ship with 12s but I find they take 13s with no problem.

Mervyn Davis usually fits 11s or even 10s on a Smoothtalker. I was the caveman who asked him for 13s. When I picked the guitar up from him he said that he was so knocked out by the sound he was thinking about fitting 13s as standard.

For me the Morgan only started working when I put 13s on it. Things had got better when I went from 12s to a "bluegrass set" (low strings medium, high strings light) which beefed up the bottom end, but the 13s gave a better balance.

Squonk

I have ventured out and got some 13's phosphor bronze strings. Hopefully the Takamine will adjust accordingly.
I have been experimenting with dropped D and DADGAD, so I am looking forward to putting them on.

Hopefully I can still do string bends, but I think the time has come to join the club and acquire another acoustic, tuning down to DADGAD and back again between songs will be quite a nightmare (In a live setting)

Will post on my findings....

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote:
I have ventured out and got some 13's phosphor bronze strings. Hopefully the Takamine will adjust accordingly.
I have been experimenting with dropped D and DADGAD, so I am looking forward to putting them on.

Phosphor Bronze is a heavier material than that used for 80:20 strings, so there will always be more tension with PBs. If you fit medium 80:20 then PBs will be like medium-and-a-quarter. So you may need to tweak the truss rod a little.

Hopefully I can still do string bends, but I think the time has come to join the club and acquire another acoustic, tuning down to DADGAD and back again between songs will be quite a nightmare (In a live setting)

Maybe it's time to explore the world of partial capos. See the thread elsewhere in General Guitar Discussion

Ray

Ja now I think I am rather gouing to buy a FGX730 and go .14's. But maybe the 80:20's , still dont know. Anyway, it's not that huge and investmenet that it's going to be a disaster if the guitar gets gaar. Also the guitar will be in open G all the time or most of the time so that will reduce things a bit and I wont go for the heavier strings (for those detuned) like some suggest.

Bob-Dubery

zohn wrote:
I still want to try out the BG sets though - sounds like the ideal compromise with the 3 trebles from a light- and the 3 bass strings from a medium-set.
What brand do you use and who do you get them from?

They're not uncommon. I have used DR and Elixir. They are usually marketed as "medium/light" or "light/medium" rather than as "bluegrass"

Bob-Dubery

zohn wrote: I dislike Elixir - will look out for the DR's thanx.

I'm sure most brands offer such a set. Just won't necessarily be called a "bluegrass set".

evolucian

Wow... you guys go heavy on acoustic. Sheesh... my fingers will die a miserable death on 13's (seeing as they die on 12's already) ... let alone 14?

You guys doing the altered tuning thing or is that for the plain simple jangly jangly stuff?

I understand the tonal difference with string guage... its just the finger death that concerns me

Bob-Dubery

evolucian wrote: Wow... you guys go heavy on acoustic. Sheesh... my fingers will die a miserable death on 13's (seeing as they die on 12's already) ... let alone 14?

You guys doing the altered tuning thing or is that for the plain simple jangly jangly stuff?

I understand the tonal difference with string guage... its just the finger death that concerns me

Your fingers will die to live another day.

It's like when you first start playing - your fingers take a while to get used to the wear and tear imposed by the strings.

I use 13s (Morgan and Larrivee) and 12s (Smoothtalker) for regular and slack key tuning.

Bob-Dubery

zohn wrote: Yes they are heavier on fingers, but I believe a good setup is the key - heavier strings go lower relatively before they "fret buzz".

Yes. I wonder how many people are struggling with badly set up guitars.

Recently Arjun played my Smoothtalker - when it still had 13s on it. He said it played like an electric with 11s.

A friend of mine recently played my Morgan and was surprised to find out it had 13s.

Just putting the heavier strings on should result in the neck bowing more, so at the very least the truss rod needs to be adjusted.

evolucian

Lol... ok guys.. I'm a wuss... I use 11's on acoustic... bends are great for me there.

Was just a sideglance into these heavier guages... at least its you n not me, hehe

arjunmenon

X-rated Bob wrote: Recently Arjun played my Smoothtalker - when it still had 13s on it. He said it played like an electric with 11s.

That's true. The ST with 13s on felt very comfortable.
String bending was also not too much of an issue (went up about one & half steps before my ring finger started feeling the tension)

The action was also very good..very shred-friendly actually.

Thanks for raising the point Bob. I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise.

Bob-Dubery

Arjun Menon wrote: That's true. The ST with 13s on felt very comfortable.
String bending was also not too much of an issue (went up about one & half steps before my ring finger started feeling the tension)

?

So there you go peoples. Bending on 13s is no problem. You just need to eat whatever it is that Arjun eats for breakfast.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote:
Arjun Menon wrote: That's true. The ST with 13s on felt very comfortable.
String bending was also not too much of an issue (went up about one & half steps before my ring finger started feeling the tension)
?

So there you go peoples. Bending on 13s is no problem. You just need to eat whatever it is that Arjun eats for breakfast.

And get your guitar setup (or learn how to do it yourself) which is the main point here.

arjunmenon

X-rated Bob wrote:
Arjun Menon wrote: That's true. The ST with 13s on felt very comfortable.
String bending was also not too much of an issue (went up about one & half steps before my ring finger started feeling the tension)
?
So there you go peoples. Bending on 13s is no problem. You just need to eat whatever it is that Arjun eats for breakfast.

? Weetbix. Seriously though, it comes from bending the heavier strings on an electric.