What guage guitar string are you guys using?

[Scizzi]

I've been playing guitar since June of 2002 & I think I'm pretty good for being completely self taught...

I was using D'addario .11's for a while, but recently tried .10's just to see the difference & haven't gone back. Is it true that lighter guage strings are for newer players? I just really seem to like the .10's more for some reason, so I'm curious what everyone else is using & how long you've been playing?

Mike

[unccrombie]

elixir lights, .053 to .012 i think?

[tdowe99]

Elixir Lights, .012 - .053
Polyweb

[unccrombie]

thought so

and no, lighter gugages are not always for newer players, sure it helps with the finger strength at first. it all depends really, im not a beginner and i use them, nor is tony. just a preferences on thickness

[HolyCow]

Elixir Lights, .012 - .053
Polyweb

meeee too.

[Rob]

Be careful to make sure your guitar supports lighter strings. Guitars are built to a specific tension on the neck- mess with it and you'll have a mess on your hands. At the very least, reset your truss rod (or have somebody who knows how do it for you).

[rochny89]

I'm using Elixir Polyweb Lights on my acoustic and Elixir Extra Lights on my electric.

[tdowe99]

I can't remember what I used before making the switch to Elixir, but ever since sticking to that one brand, I've always used Lights. I might try Mediums one day, but that would mean messing with the action / truss rod, and I hear it kills your fingers (like being a beginner all over again!).

[unccrombie]

I can't remember what I used before making the switch to Elixir, but ever since sticking to that one brand, I've always used Lights. I might try Mediums one day, but that would mean messing with the action / truss rod, and I hear it kills your fingers (like being a beginner all over again!).
try playing a guitar with high action. my uncle has like an '82 yamaha with action higher than the guitar. ive been playing it all week since i dont have mine in indiana, and let me tell you, you develop some insane precision and force :lol

[tdowe99]

Heh, and then you play a Martin Backpacker and snap the neck! ;)

[unccrombie]

:lol i'd never touch that evil thing

[PilotC150]

Elixir Nanoweb Custom Lights:
.011, .015, .022, .032, .042, .052

[brianlisk]

I am a beginner and my instructor suggested 9-42's.

[tdowe99]

9s seem so damn thin on an acoustic. When I string up my 12s, I swear I'm going to slice open my finger. I couldn't imagine trying to string up a 9.

[jmkratt]

Electric - 9's or 10's depending on tuning
Acoustic - 12's

[brianlisk]

Yeah... my bad. I should have said I am playing electric. :(

Sorry.

[JoelB2222]

10's on my electric and 12's on my acoustic. I dont really like that slinky feel you get with ligher strings on electrics.

Joel

[The Tan Man]

I use medium, for acustic i like having a louder sound

[Popeye2003]

I use .011, will try .010 next time, and then .012, and then make my mind :D

Interesting fact... Dave uses .014 :ugh

[AcousTronic]

Elixir Nano Lights on 3 acoustics, Elixer Nano Mediums on a 4th (Dreadnaught)

[dmb66]

I use .011, will try .010 next time, and then .012, and then make my mind :D

Interesting fact... Dave uses .014 :ugh

yea dave pounds the hell out of em too. I imagine he couldn't play lighter if he wanted with his style

[mmonier123]

yea dave pounds the hell out of em too. I imagine he couldn't play lighter if he wanted with his style

http://gear.dmbtabs.com/view.php?id=21
i thought dave used these..extra lights

[PilotC150]

From Road Crew Q&A:

Dave uses "Gauges 56, .45, .35, .26, .17, .13"

on his raised-B tuned guitar he uses:

"B .39, E .29, A .18, D .14, F# .12, B .16"

[dmbfan#?]

Right now I'm using D'Addario EJ11 gauges .012-.053 on my acoustic. I'm pretty happy with those. Using D'Addario XL .010-.046 on my electric. I think I'm going to have to go with a bigger gauge on my electric. After playing acoustic so much, 10s seem kind of flimsy.

[JHacker]

Elixir Nano Lights (.12s) on my Taylor and D'addario (.11s) on my PRS...I love the heavier electric strings...its not harder to play and adds so much to the sound.

[mboskovs]

I just read in Guitar World that Dick Dale used .018, .038, .048, .039, .049, .060 on his strat. Talking about a heavy gauge strings...

[waterwalker]

i have only been playing for a couple of months and only restrung like 3 times. but do u guys find that elixirs are worth the price differnece and really are the best?

[cptnhansel]

i have only been playing for a couple of months and only restrung like 3 times. but do u guys find that elixirs are worth the price differnece and really are the best?

That is ALOT of times to restring in only a couple months.

I restring every two months, and I play a lot.

I used Elixers for awhile, and they are excellent strings. When they get old, though, it looks like dead skin is peeling off of them.

I would rather get 3 packs of D'Addario medium gauge strings. But whatever your prefer.

I'm playing a Taylor acoustic by the way.

[Fiverz]

I read somewhere that at one point SRV used a .018 - .074 set at one point in his career (usually used 12s or 13s though).

I use GHS Boomers 9s on my strat and 10s on my G-400 and Jet King. For acoustics I'm using 12s.

[waterwalker]

That is ALOT of times to restring in only a couple months.

I restring every two months, and I play a lot.

I used Elixers for awhile, and they are excellent strings. When they get old, though, it looks like dead skin is peeling off of them.

I would rather get 3 packs of D'Addario medium gauge strings. But whatever your prefer.

I'm playing a Taylor acoustic by the way.

the reason i have restrung so much is that i use to be real careless on how i treated my instrument and my friends stole it and used the strings to shoot pencils :mad i know better now and i keep it locked up when its not in use

[RandR]

To the dude wondering if Elixir's are worth it...
It depends on the sound you are aiming for...
On my Taylor Big Baby, nothing beats them for that crispy clean sound I have always wanted, and they also last alot longer due to the coating they have. Hence what the other dude was talking about (the coating peels off when the're really finished). Nevertheless, Elixirs let me cut threw the sound of any other relatively equally priced normal size accoustic. I just bury them with the crispy crunch.
But I'm real dazzled with Dave's sound, I never would of thought that D'addarios were his choice, since Elixir's come stock on Taylor's and my guitar sounds as clear as the luther college tracks for example (something I havent been able to reproduce without Elixirs).
Anyway, I'm obviously loving 'em on accoustic but find them too clear on my strat, and don't like the bluesy fenders or the cheap ernie balls, and I'm getting tired of D'addarios.
Any suggestions?

[MGH4007]

i am really pissed of about elixer, i have boughten 3 sets and the fucking g strings always breaks after like a week..anyone have a suggestion on some cheaper long lasting strings

[tdowe99]

Is there a problem with your nut?
There could be a small burr on there that causes the g string to rub or pinch and thus break.

[watchtower08]

That is ALOT of times to restring in only a couple months.

I restring every two months, and I play a lot.

I used Elixers for awhile, and they are excellent strings. When they get old, though, it looks like dead skin is peeling off of them.

I would rather get 3 packs of D'Addario medium gauge strings. But whatever your prefer.

I'm playing a Taylor acoustic by the way.

wow every 2 months? i HAVE to change mine ATLEAST once every week or two. i hate the dull sound on an acoustic. also having a taylor it embarrasing when your playin out and your $2000 guitar sounds like its $100. but i do wish i could change them once every 2 months.

on acoustic i use d'addario .12-.54

[nonewdirections]

i am really pissed of about elixer, i have boughten 3 sets and the fucking g strings always breaks after like a week..anyone have a suggestion on some cheaper long lasting strings

Where is the string breaking? It's probably not the strings. If you don't want to fix the possible problem (nut or saddle are possible locations where the string is rubbing, creating enough friction to break the winding, like Tony suggested), I guess going for cheaper strings is your best bet. But you won't find Elixir tone and wear-resistance for half the cost. Best to see what the problem with your guitar might be before changing your string brand.

I know I just broke the D (!) string on my 6-string using Elixir Polyweb, but since it broke at the bridge when I wasn't playing hard, I can be quite sure that it wasn't the string set and that my saddle will need some adjusting. I'd never broken a string before while playing on one of my guitars, so it seems like I can most likely assign blame to my equipment. I haven't had much problem with breakage on Elixir strings, either.

And I guess to keep this on topic, I use D'addario EXL110 Regular Lights (.010-.046) on my electric and Elixir Polyweb 12-strings for my 12 (ridiculously expensive, but long-lasting). I've used light gauge Elixir Lights with my 6 in the past, and I've tried out cheap uncoated D'Addario Lights which are good for the cost, but leave too much residue on the fingers and are not easy to play.

[pay4whatuget]

daddario phosphor bronze lights...nothin better

although for mediums, the martin sp's are nice...

[TheRealGuyute]

i am really pissed of about elixer, i have boughten 3 sets and the fucking g strings always breaks after like a week..anyone have a suggestion on some cheaper long lasting strings

I had the same problems when I switched to the new Elixir Phosphors, but it seems to have been remedied after rounding off the leading edge of the saddle a bit. Check your saddle for burrs and also make sure the leading edge (the edge where the string leaves the saddle) and make sure it's rounded a bit. Elixirs are more sensitive to saddle flaws, but if you can tweak it, it should fix your problem.

In answer to the OP, I'm using Elixir PB's in medium guage on my Taylor dread. As Rob mentioned, it's important to figure out what your manufacturer recommends for string guage. Taylor's dreads and jumbos are braced for mediums so using lights won't drive the top as well meaning you're sacrificing tone if you string up the lights. The x12 and x14's are braced for lights. Martin's dreads are generally built for medium strings (and leave the factory with a slightly higher action to give increased volume) while OM's and smaller bodies are built for lights. Other manufacturers may not follow this same formula, so it's a good idea to check with your guitar's maker.

If you're going to change your guage, you're going to want to adjust your neck relief to compensate for the different tension on the neck. Too light, you'll end up with buzz, too heavy and you can not only get high action, you may damage your top at the bridge.

[defcon]

D'Addario (sp) light gauge...I can keep these things on for over a month and absolutely no loss of tone. Dave has a great choice in strings. I use light because I'm mainly into lead, trying to teach myself modes right now...enough to make my head explode.

[bullox005]

Elixir Lights, .012 - .053
Polyweb

ultra lights
NANOWEB....much more durable

and if you have a problem breaking strings, it's probably not the strings fault. 90% of string breaks are because of player error.

[dave1399fan]

Elixir Nano's .12-.53

[tdowe99]

I've never had a Polyweb string break on me.
I love the slickness... same reason I love your girlfriend. ;)

[ryangibson]

HAHA.......good one


this may have been already answered, what guage does dave use?

[tdowe99]

From Road Crew Q&A:

Dave uses "Gauges 56, .45, .35, .26, .17, .13"

on his raised-B tuned guitar he uses:

"B .39, E .29, A .18, D .14, F# .12, B .16"
:hump

I have an extra guitar laying around... should I tune it Raise B, or sell it?

[ryangibson]

Thanks

I have an extra acoustic and I keep it around for alternate tunings and such. I would say keep it, unless you need the money!!

[KitKatRaven41]

i use custom light elixor nanowebs----and these bitches are def. worth the price--they last me a couple months and i play everyday---cant beat that

[Fisherman]

D'addario mediums on my Taylor 812, nothing gets a broader sound if you have the right setup on your guitar. Elixirs always get a tinny sound that I have never been happy with. The elixir G string also breaks for me quite frequently as well. I just assumed that Taylor used them because so many people handle the guitars in the stores that they would lose brightness due to absorbing oil from people's fingers otherwise.