Can I use the HD lights instead of mediums?

Taylor-Taki · #1 08-02-2015, 04:48 AM

Hi - just got a taylor 810e a few months ago and need to change the strings. According to the wee book you get when buying it states gauge 13 medium strings to be used. As I have already had my 914 set up with the HD lights I was thinking of just putting them on my 810 without getting it set up. Anyone see any problems with that or should I just stick to the mediums? Reason I'm asking as I really like the HD's better but kinda skint to go and get my gtar set up just now.

Cheers

dhodgeh · #2 08-02-2015, 05:03 AM

If anything, maybe a slight tweak of the truss rod might be all that is needed.

I've been going back and forth between lights and HD lights on a couple of guitars and that's all I did when I changed the strings.

hth

D

#3 08-02-2015, 05:16 AM

I've been tweaking guitars since before I knew there were professionals who would do that for you or that it was called a "set up." Today I have all my acoustics set up for lights at standard tuning, which also allows for mediums when down a half step. My advice, though, is just go ahead and put the lights on without doing anything and see how it works out. I play pretty hard. If you don't, the set up might be OK as is. If not, go ahead and make small adjustments to the truss until it is.

cyclistbrian · #4 08-02-2015, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor-Taki

Hi - just got a taylor 810e a few months ago and need to change the strings. According to the wee book you get when buying it states gauge 13 medium strings to be used. As I have already had my 914 set up with the HD lights I was thinking of just putting them on my 810 without getting it set up. Anyone see any problems with that or should I just stick to the mediums? Reason I'm asking as I really like the HD's better but kinda skint to go and get my gtar set up just now.

Cheers

I doubt you will have to do anything. HD lights are half a medium set anyways.

mattcran · #5 08-02-2015, 06:10 AM

I've swapped medium to light on all my taylor guitars and think they sound and play better. I don't bother with "HD" lights either. You're only talking a couple slightly thicker strings for much higher price!

#6 08-02-2015, 06:26 AM

It's ironic that most of the threads like this (in my experience here, anyway) ask the opposite - Whether it is possible to replace light gauge with mediums.

I agree with the others. No harm will come to your instrument and adjustments will probably not be necessary.

sled · #7 08-02-2015, 08:04 AM

Several of my Taylors came with mediums and were switched to lights and never had to do anything to any of them.

SugarmillMan · #8 08-02-2015, 08:13 AM

My Taylor 810e also came with medium strings. While it sounded pretty good right out of the box, I thought the factory action was a tad too high for my aging hands.

I decided to switch to light strings (at the first string change) which resulted a in slightly lowered string tension and slightly lowered action. No further need for a set up, in my case. YMMV.

Taylor-Taki · #9 08-02-2015, 11:07 AM

Cool cheers I'll put them on and see - If I don't like I can always change them back I suppose.

ljguitar · #10 08-02-2015, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor-Taki

Cool cheers I'll put them on and see - If I don't like I can always change them back I suppose.

HI Talor-Taki…

I like that way of thinking! You certainly don't need permission to do it, and if it needs a tweak or two to make it more playable, you'll know where to go for advice!

Oldguy64 · #11 08-02-2015, 02:15 PM

As has been stated, the HD lights are already half a set of mediums.
And if you already like them on your other guitar, seems like an easy answer.
It is true that the guitar picks the strings. It is also true that there is some leeway in that.

Personally, if there are no banjos around, do you need banjo killer strings?