Clear up my misconceptions about strings!

[Arbuz]

Hey,
since I play a lot in alternative tunings I was wondering what sort of strings would be the best (both for 6- and 12-string guitars).
So far I've been playing with the factory strings only (D'Addario EXP presumably) but I also bought a set of Elixir's Nanoweb 0.12s.

Should I get thick gauge strings for tuning low? Open G and Open C are mostly what I use and I'm going for a Daniel Bachman sort of sound (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKvFhPF0xYA - I don't mind some buzzing but I'd also love to retain good intonation which was a huge problem for my 12-string in lower tunings).

I'd be glad for any help!

[Jimi2]

I seem to do ok using 12s for tuning down, though I do best on my 2 standard scale guitars as compared to my short scale one. Now that I have a few guitars I’ve thought about using mediums or dadgad strings, but I haven’t done so yet. I sometimes go down as low as B on the 6th string and haven’t had any real problems.

Love Daniel Bachman by the way.

[rstaight]

Takamine comes with D'Addario, but the last one I purchased got change to Elixir almost as soon as I walked in the door.

I use Elixir on all of my Takamine's. The only reason I don't put them on the on my less expensive guitars is I have a hard time justifying a set of strings that list at 1/3 the cost of the guitar.

[musicman1951]

The quickest way to find out is to put those 12s you purchased on the guitar and tune down. It's a matter of both sound and feel. The more powerful your thumb stroke becomes might also be a factor. If the 12s feel/sound too loose on that low G you know to purchase 13s next time, assuming your guitar is built to handle them.

[mawmow]

I replaced the 0,012 with 0,013 while detuning to C.
Otherwise, I keep same string gauge.

I choose my strings according to the sound I want :
So I tried and used a bunch of different types and brands.

[Arbuz]

Thanks for your suggestions. So is it irresponsible to string up a 12-string with 13s? Is it going to bulge up the bridge area?

[TBman]

When I was spending all of my time in DADGAD and lower tunings I would use medium strings, including Pierre Bensusan's DADGAD set. I found though that because I capo'd often, the 56 6th string would tend to sound a bit wonky/dead as compared to the other strings. I moved away from strings that had that gauge 6th string.

I found that the mixed gauge set Elixir Nanoweb HD 13 17 24 32 42 53 work well. The Pierre Bensusans are 13 17 23 32 42 56 for comparison. Another brand, Woodtone's Country Series is 12.5 16.5 25 33.5 43.5 and 54.5 which work well also.

Now that I'm using standard more often I have gone back to 12s for all of my guitars for now.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Arbuz

Hey,
since I play a lot in alternative tunings I was wondering what sort of strings would be the best (both for 6- and 12-string guitars).
So far I've been playing with the factory strings only (D'Addario EXP presumably) but I also bought a set of Elixir's Nanoweb 0.12s.

Should I get thick gauge strings for tuning low? Open G and Open C are mostly what I use and I'm going for a Daniel Bachman sort of sound (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKvFhPF0xYA - I don't mind some buzzing but I'd also love to retain good intonation which was a huge problem for my 12-string in lower tunings).

I'd be glad for any help!

Hi Arbuz
As for intonation when I have guitars set-up and intonated, I provide a fresh set of strings for the intonation phase, and ask that the guitar be tuned down to D on the bottom string (C in your case) and intonated there.

I talked to professional players who frequently use alternate tunings and they were having lowest string intonated at the lowest pitch they regularly tune to.

I've had mine intonated to D, and still tuned down occasionally to C without issues (other than they are really easy to over-press…and they go sharp).

Started this about a decade back having them intonated this way, and it improved my intonation on the bottom string. The other issue is when I tune a string down one or two steps it is much more slack and it is VERY easy to overpress it and make it go sharp. VERY EASY…

I had to re-train myself to play much lighter when fretting strings 5-6. It improved my intonation on my electric as well (just lightening up my touch).

On a 12 string, I can only imagine this being even-more-the-case. Those octave strings are going to bend out of tune (by pressing them too hard). Bending strings is not only side-to-side, but an up-and-down side effect.

[EZYPIKINS]

Most of my guitars wear 11-52's. Action set extremely low. I use multiple tunings.

Standard, Open G, Open D, Drop D, Open Gsus for Rain Song, and Standard Dm for Yesterday.

Play both fingerstyle and with a pick. Seem to work fine for me.

[Matthew Sarad]

Santa Cruz has a DADGAD set.
I found the lower E on the Cruz set was more robust than
Elixir.
I have a set of D'Addario Mediums on my Cruz Dread for low tunings. Works fine for CGDGAD.

[rmp]

12s are fine I just need extra D and G strings as those tend to be more prone to breaking with all the tension changing.

[sevenpalms]

I find that a bluegrass set 56-12 works best for open c on a 6 string….as far as 12 strings…I tune to open g and slack it down 1-1/2 steps (B to B) using Richard Gilewitz’s D’Adarrio EJ37 54-12 (with a wound octave on the low g) or slacked down 2 steps (A# to A#) using mediums 56-13. It just depends on the guitar…lots of trial and error. Good luck!