What strings do you use?

[johny]

What gauge do u use guys?

[roadbiker]

There are dozens of discussions on this subject. If you do a quick search you will get more than you'll want to read.

I use D'Addario EXP strings.

Jim

[kydave]

Martin SP4200 medium phosphor bronze.

[Wade Hampton]

The gauge depends on how the guitar itself responds, as does the alloy. The set I use most frequently is the John Pearse phosphor bronze in medium gauge. But some guitars sound better with the 80/20 alloy, and some instruments respond better to lighter gauges, so it's really on a guitar by guitar basis.

I do use John Pearse strings as my preferred brand, and have been using them almost exclusively ever since I first discovered them in the mid-1980's. In the late 90's John Pearse made me an artist endorser for the brand, simply because my enthusiasm for them is sincere: I think they're the best-sounding strings on the planet.

Naturally, your mileage may vary, but they're worth a try.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by johny

What gauge do u use guys?

Hi johny...

First of all, Hello and Welcome to the forum! Don't think we met yet.

I use two different weights of strings.

I use .012 Light Gauge on three of my instruments and .011 Custom Light Gauge on the fourth. I bump the weight of the 1st string up by one weight on each.

What weight do you use?

[jazzalta2]

D'Addario PB lights

[Cbdlx]

D'Addario EJ-19's. Bluegrass gauge.

[johny]

Originally Posted by roadbiker

There are dozens of discussions on this subject. If you do a quick search you will get more than you'll want to read.

I use D'Addario EXP strings.

Jim

Yep for sure, but thanks everyone who answered

[johny]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi johny...

First of all, Hello and Welcome to the forum! Don't think we met yet.

I use two different weights of strings.

I use .012 Light Gauge on three of my instruments and .011 Custom Light Gauge on the fourth. I bump the weight of the 1st string up by one weight on each.

What weight do you use?

Hey ljguitar nice to meet you! I use 13-56 on all guitars and I am thinking of getting richer sound with 14-59

[Silly Moustache]

Choice of strings is very personal, and depends on your instrument, playing style and musical genre.

Very generally, I'd suggest that for dreadnaughts medium to bluegrass guage are most suitable, and for OM/000 and smaller light guage is more appropriate.

For acoustic jazz style guitar I prefer mediums.

For National style guitars - I use heavy and the same for my square neck dobro

If you look at the makers recommendations - you will find that it is pretty much as simple as that.

As far as makes aer concerned - for me D'addario for my dreads and smaler guitars, and Jim Dunlop for mandolin and dobro.

Newtone strings for National and for archtops.

[D18Hoglover]

Martin SP Lifespan 92/8 Phosphor Bronze Medium Gauge

[reflected]

Originally Posted by kydave

Martin SP4200 medium phosphor bronze.

ditto. I wouldn't dare using anything havier, and I wouldn't need it either.

[GibbyPrague]

only 12's these days

[RussMason]

For steel strings, Newtone Master Class custom phosphor bronze. They sound better than any string I have tried.

Next are Martin strings, sometimes plain, sometimes SP. Very fine.

I love Rohrbacher titanium strings also - they last a very long time and are resistant to environmental factors, such as humidity.

[The Old Gaffer]

I use Adamas 1818 Phosphor Bronze or Gibson Masterbuilt PB (12 - 54) on:

Martin 000-18
Seagull S6+ Spruce
Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500 MENS
Alvarez Yairi WY-1BK

I use Adamas 1919 PB or Martin MSP-4200 PB (13 - 56) on my Martin HD-28V

I use Martin MFX-700 PB strings on my Martin D12-20.