Does Acoustic String Gauge Make a Difference?
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- Опубліковано 19 кві 2024
- Does string gauge matter? In this episode we test whether acoustic guitar string gauges actually make a difference in your sound.
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I only just discovered that Rick has a second channel. Missed opportunity to name it Rick Bea-two
Omg someone has to make him aware of this suggestion - he can still change the name!
Nice
this is why the comment section exists
LOL!
It's easier to remember and search for Rick Beato 2. LOL
Whatever gauge pulls the bridge off my Martin is perfect!
That is a real concern if it is an old guitar, so be careful.
I think it's always good to try different gauges on different acoustic guitars because they respond differently. It really depends a lot on the player too. There's no "one size fits all" string gauge for acoustic.
Spot on, brother!!!!
Agree
I switched to lighter gauge strings to ease the load on my arthritic hands. A significant improvement in my ability to play, and to the length of time I can play.
I've recently put d'addario 10-47's on my Taylor 114ce. Never sounded better to my ears. I was stunned that the lower frequencies cleaned up, plus much more even across the spectrum. Plus, F/B/G/C barre chords much easier on my fingers.
I did the same. I own several Martins and switched from .013 to .012s due to arthritis and playing home a lot more due to the pandemic. It does make me play better with less hand pain. What I didn’t expect is how good the instruments still sound. It actually opened the mid tones and highs a bit, and with a bit of hearing loss, I can hear the guitars better. I find the .012s a bit better balanced and less stiff than 0.013s which I had been using the previous 40+ years. Another bonus is that a bit less tension, it is a bit easier on the instruments as well, likely prolonging the time between neck resets.
try eating ginger root , if you have wrist pain
Same Here although my guitars sound a bit better with bigger strings I definately go for 10s for the ease to lay with my old hands...
@@garrolou Wow, 10’s are really light for an acoustic. Not sure I’d like the sound of that, but you got to do what you got to do to keep playing!
Anybody who doesn't have big, strong hands rightly values the playability of lighter gauges.
I'm a preacher of the D'addario NickleBronzes (NB). Not many people realize, nickled strings were a standard for 60's acoustic guitar so if you're looking for vintage tone, bronzes are not the way to go! I play a 90's Yamaha and OMG what a difference it makes. ALSO nickel is softer and easier to play and get's oxidized way slower than bronze, so they just LAST and, to my ear, sound their best after at least 2 weeks worth of playing. Last but not least, they are a studio producer's dream. Record and mix seamlessly.
Early in my playing experience , I had seen a guitar player called Michael Hedges. I had been listening to his first 2 records, and thought they were really ground breaking as far as the
acoustic guitar and composition goes, after the concert he invited everyone backstage to talk if they wanted to, no one showed but me, I was kind of blown away
by that..we talked and the first question out of my mouth was, "What kind of strings do you use? He smiled and said " what ever is there". I laughed, in other words, Its like
the old Frank Zappa album..."Shut up and play your guitar". I ended up opening for him in Colorado in 1997..What a talent! I was one of the best days of my life..I was terrified !!! But what a
great experience !! There has really been no one like him since, in my humble opinion !!
Michael Hedges is a name I haven't heard in a while. I heard him play on record (it was a studio session as far as I remember) one day and was blown away by his rendition of "All along the Watchtower". I bought his "Live on the Double Planet" and have listened to this record quite often, though never got anything else by him. I just learned by the way your comment was worded and looking it up that he passed away two decades ago.
Thanks Jerry, I had never heard of Michael and am loving what I am hearing. It's inspiring to hear so much soul come through a guitar in a way I've never heard. Soul can make any guitar sound good. Sure, love and care can help a guitar sing, but at the end of the day the guitar just wants to sing.
Many players like Andy McKee for one emulate Micheal Hedges "heavy mental" style, it was a huge loss to the guitar world when Michael was killed in 1997 in a car accident. Like Lenny Breau, Hedges, outside of a small devoted fan base, never got the recognition that genius such as theirs deserves.
I was fortunate enough to see Michael in his early career many times at the New Varsity theatre in Palo Alto. He was a game-changer for acoustical guitar. His playing was effortless and demeanor always fun. Such a tragic loss.
I used to listen to Michael Hedges in college and thought that he was absolutely amazing.
Be interesting to put the recordings through frequency analysis to see whether the harmonics change.
seems like they missed out on an opportunity there. or they would be so similar the difference could be imperceptible.
Considering you could never have the microphone in the exact same spot during each recording, a frequency analysis may not show the difference in tone from string gauge in isolation. There would be TWO variables in that experiment: mic position and string gauge. My ear tells me mic position would provide a bigger change in sound/harmonic content than gauge of string.
I'm still at the beginner stage. Started 6 months ago. I started out with 12 gauge strings. I really couldn't achieve bar chords. Nearly everything was plunk and chunk. My teacher said I should change to a lighter gauge. I went to 11 gauge. Immediately noticed a wonderful difference. Not only was I finally able to play bar chords, but also my sound on all my other chords was so much better.
So you're learning on steel strings, that's great, when I kicked off fifty five years ago I played a Spanish and the nylon strings were a bit easier to play besides I couldn't afford a dreadnought. For the rest of my life I played electric until recently where I've packed the electrics away and play acoustic i.e. a Hummingbird and a Sigma Jumbo both with 0012s which suit me the best.
Try the EJ26 11-52 Custom Light - I usually play EJ16s 12-53 but just put some 26s on and love them, just a little easier all round…
This is the comment I came for. I really need to change my strings.
@@lilgreenmomo please do, makes a world of difference
I also like (extra)lights for finger style, the treble comes through better, but overall for strumming I prefer medium
That's an interesting experience, I'm a beginner as well and I'm switching to a lighter gauge for the same reason. Thanks for sharing!
I am a bassist and am a big believer in light gauge strings, I feel I can control the dynamics a lot more by how hard I play. On a heavy gauge strings, especially flatwounds, you have to play very hard all the time to get a decent sound out of them. For some guys light gauge strings just feel like rubber bands because they are so used to playing hard on a heavy gauge strings. But you have to adjust to them. Play dynamically and have the amp do the work.
August, agree 10000% man. I was just going to say the same thing. The big myth, in my opinion, with bass strings is that lighter gauges can't sound big and fat. That has not been my experience at all. You don't have to play with anchor cables on your bass to get a big sound.
It's always easier to play on lighter strings, but does it really sound better?
@@hififlipper from what can be heard in this video, and in my opinion, it sounds different, not better or worse. But the playing (and ease of) makes a lot more difference.
I agree 100% with your assessment.
STFU Donny, you're out of our element.
Im actually surprised how subtle the difference was.
It's the difference in volume that is not subtle.
I think that a lot of the difference is lost on UA-cam. It is apparent the first time you play one after the other. I think that we become accustomed to the sound after a short while, though.
Yes, very subtle. So why are we busting our hands to play 13's?
What an excellent comparison! So well organised and recorded, with clear, expert and interesting discussion. Really helpful! Thank you.
Great video, guys! As someone who prefers 80/20s to PH/BRs, I like the sound of 12-53s best to get plenty of depth while still retaining brightness. I find this is especially important when playing higher capo positions, such as many of Jethro Tull's tunes with the capo at the 5th fret.
When Covid hit, my daily and weekly playing dropped considerably, so when I started doing acoustic gigs again I switched from .12s to .11s on my Martin OM-28. The change was so much easier on my hands and I didn't notice that much of a change in the performance of the guitar. Great Video!
Good to know, I'm thinking of doing the same with my new 000-28.
ohhh covid...............there's things coming that're gonna make you piss your slacks...
I use light gauge on acoustics as well and it's all about hand comfort. I find the difference in tone minimal and and changes that need to be made can be done using eq.
@@loontil 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Me too. Tendonitis in my forearm. I can pay much longer now. I like 13s a lot, but I really didn't notice a difference between 12s and 11s sound wise and there is no buzzing so I stuck with the 11 s
It's been more than 15 years since I play only on nylon strings, but maybe my input can be of any help:
I think string gauge affects the sound since it affects playability, mainly.
I used to play on hard/super hard tension strings and my left hand used to hurt a lot. When I switched to normal tension, I never looked back. My sound really improved, just by feeling more comfortable.
Found this video so informative Rick thank you for making it. I had 13's on and as I'm a beginner I wanted to know if a lighter gauge would help after watching this I decided to put 10's on. I found it so much more comfortable to play and barre chords became easier to play helping me become a better player . Love your videos, thanks again!
I've played for year, but finally got a new guitar with 13s and I just end up playing my old guitar because its easier. Time for a change.
Same. I've been considering lighter strings. This helped.
Just put on a set of EJ 11's (12-53) and they have very good projection. A good mix of bright and good tone. Bigger strings change your action and the right strings can give you a better overall feel ,bigger strings might have a bigger sound but if you're straining so hard that's it's difficult to play cleanly, that's a win-lose situation. I've noticed that strings that're too big can raise your action high enough that notes are pulled sharp when fretted. 12-53 seem to be a good balance on my acoustic guitars. Anything less than that seems to be a bit thin sounding.
I like the lightest strings I can get away with, I would always sacrifice a little tone for maximum playability.
Lighter gauge strings will sacrifice volume on an acoustic unfortunately.
I totally agree. I know I can get a little more mid out of heavier strings but for live performances I always use 10s on my acoustics and 12 strings. 8s on my electrics. Without 'maximum playability' as you say, there isn't going to be any good tone. LOL.
I agree with you. I’m an old geezer with hand pain so I need all the ease of play I can get.
@@brendonelton Or fortunatly if you singing while playing and you are not the loudest singer.
After a while, one can get used to playing with heavier strings. You just need to give them a chance.
To my ears, the .10s sounded the best on fingerstyle, but I noticed a pronounced improvement in projection and articulation with the .12 set in Rick's strumming. He may prefer .13s out of habit, but the .12s had clearer resonance to me.
Agreed, the 13s almost have a muted quality.
I agree Troy. My first feeling upon the demo played was the same as yours.
the notes being played is what sticks out to me
flatpicking the light gauge sounded awful. so much chitter-chatter mish-mash noise. 12s did sound good but i prefer the 13s as its cleaner - free of that chitter-chatter mish-mash noise! ...fingerstyle didnt seem to make as much difference - i expect as a player the lighter gauge much more enjoyable. ...with both flatpick and fingerstyle heavier gauge made them play slower - guitar seems to sound fatter.thicker.more bloom - so forces u to want to play slower. (and the thicker gauge may slow you down anyway)
I preferred the thinner sound on the strumming with the 10s. I put 9s on my Takamine and it still sounds huge, but plays way easier.
Great video ! Love these field tests !
I used to worry I was missing a whole lot of range by playing my 10’s, but not so much now. Thanks for doing this!
Thanks for validating my preferences! After playing for years on "light" gauge, I made the switch to "extra light" and haven't looked back. To me, while the overall tone of the heavier strings is a bit fuller, the ease of fingering and bending the lighter strings more than offsets the slight loss of tone. Using the lighter guage strings also minimizes the difference in feel when switching back and forth from electric to acoustic.
Social media is designed to validate your opinions. Generally gets better as you teach it what you like.
i think it totally depends on the guitar. different acoustics have different shapes, sizes, materials, bracing and voicing. even between the same models, the grain of the wood may effect tone. based on that, i say every guitar is different and only thing to do it try this at home with your own guitar and see what sounds best.
I agree. On my Gibson J30, Adirondack spruce top, mahogany back and sides I
have 11s and it’s a complete sound for un-mic-ed playing my other is a Martin DCG16 auria spruce top with rosewood back and sides and that I play 10s. Because it sounds best for that particular guitar and it’s internal mic-Ed with a pickup that I like though a sound system.
Do strings make a difference? Hell yeah. The trick is finding which set lights your instrument on fire.
... thats why they used the same guitar for the tests, to remove that variable.
@@PragmaticDany understand. But unlike the electric guitar string challenge, the guitar itself plays a much bigger factor in this experiment. All I’m saying is that 12’s is best for THIS guitar. But on my Martin om-28, the best sounding strings (balanced eq) may be 11’s.
@@jtrumbach Okay I see what you're saying, now. Understandable, have a good day, sir.
In total agreement. I learned at start of pandemic on my Yamaha FS800. No knowledge at the time what gauge I had but had it setup with 11s 4/5 months later b/c wanted bend easier. I couldn’t *stand* the sound and asked luthier to setup back to PB 12-53 and my Lola was back 😎 Now I’m set on the XS Lights.
I’m so glad you did this episode b/c I play more acoustic than electric, although your electric show helped out a lot. I actually thought that the 13s sounded muddy, especially on the fingerpicked song. It was hard to differentiate between the others, though, which would suggest that going with the lighter gauge is a better option b/c they are easier to play. I thought you might show the variation on the computer - because frankly, why even show it if you’re not going to present the results. In any case, helpful video as always. Thanks.
You guys are so dedicated and knowledgeable. It's a beautiful thing.
The .12 seems the most even and balanced for sure. The smaller gages are as if you used a HP filter. .13 feel like it's LP with a bump in the low end.
As someone who hasn't played in 30 years and just getting back into it, I always kept lightest gauge on my 12-string, mainly for playability. Now, because old hands can't remember much less have the strength, I was really glad to see this. Rhett's playing was beautiful. I have so much to learn, re-learn, re-enjoy.
Yeah agreed the thinnest strings give the most control and nuance, which I like
I play a Yamaha parlor steel-string. You've convinced me to stay with the 10's. Easier to play (have some arthritis issues developing), and use both hybrid and finger styles. Great demo for us acoustic guys!
Fingerstyle and strumming both sounded best on the lowest gauge. Thank you for the detailed demo.
It's subjective. Strumming? Heavier gauge sounds better (except for the 13, those just sound muddy). Fingerpicking? Lighter strings are always better.
@@smhdpt12yeah it’s subjective and the guy just gave his opinion on what he thought sounded better. Not sure why you’re acting like he’s wrong
Went from 12s to 10s after watching that video. So much easier to play and the sound is not that different. Thank you so much for testing everything out for us!
Something to consider especially on acoustic is the volume. Recorded I tend to like the lighter strings, my fingers prefer playing them too. I recently restrung with 10s to play bendy leads on acoustic and while the tone is nice the volume and fullness is very gone.
Man, they all sound great but I'm so with you on the ease of playability and impact on your performance being the most important factor. I recently went from 12s to 11s on my Martin (GPC 13e). I play 2-3 live solo acoustic shows a week and the lighter strings are so much better on my fingers.
IMHO, 11s are great on full scale lenght guitars like yours. That's my preference, I own a GS Mini now (short scale), they come with 13s, I want to switch to 12s.
Absolutely love how you give a full rig rundown so we can get a full picture of the sound we’re hearing. It might not mean much to many, but for the people who care, it’s a welcome feature of the videos with tracked audio.
Great test, thanks! As far as it's possible to hear the differences accurately on UA-cam-compressed audio, I completely agree with everything you all said here. I did expect the strumming to be pretty consistent across stering sets, but I had predicted that the .012 set would sound best when fingerpicked. I was way wrong! Not only was it clearly easier for Rhett to play the lighter strings, but the attack and crispness of each note was spunkier enough to matter. Very interesting. Cheers!
I took a lot of grief for years from guitar friends about using 9s on my electrics and 10s on my acoustics and with Rick's two videos I feel vindicated! The same people that gave me shit about it would play my guitars and wonder why they were easier to play and sounded better.
Exactly. I once put a set of 8s (!) on an old gibson and it sounded phenomenal.
@@jeramym9506 I figure if light gauge strings are good enough for BB, Billy Gibbons, Jimi, and the Wrecking Crew, good enough for me!
Completely agree. We are vindicated!
everyone has their preferences. I messed around for a few year until one day i slapped on 12 gauge elixers and haven't looked back in like 20 years.
@@penoyer79 "If we all liked the same thing everybody would be hitting on your grandma." - Grampa
As someone who used to play out acoustic, my experience is that the thicker strings absolutely sound a little fuller and the lighter strings sound thinnner, but when you're playing for 3-4 hours that string thickness makes a difference on your fingertips so I used Elixer 11s (nanoweb I think) to play out. Even though they were a little thinner sounding, I just upped the bass a little on the EQ and close enough.
Medium gauge is a nice balance between the 2. I like Martin Bronze Wound.
Downtune it. Its amazing. Oh also drop d sounds really nice.
Yes indeed I now Downtune a semitone, the guitar neck loves it my voice loves it and a slightly more flexibility in the strings 😊😊😊
Thats one of the reasons I love so much Ricks videos. ALWAYS posting such new stuff we (musicians) thought off, talk about with other musicians or with nobody at all and always wanted to hear or talk about. Thank you very much for this, for taking the time it takes to produce this and get a wonderful masterpiece of information and entertainment at the same time. I left stoped using 13gauges looooong time ago. But till this day I switch between 10s and 11s depending of which Guitar Im putting new strings, which set of gigs Im having next and also if the guitar will be used right away or takes a brake for some weeks. Playing duo acoustic gigs (two guys guitar) with my Acoustasonic, I use Elixirs 11 or 12. Playing a full acoustic rock band gig with the Acoustasonic, I use Dadarios 11. Playing the full rock band and with the Acoustasonic (Im second guitar guy there playing both acoustic and electric sounds), I use Dadarios 10. For my acoustic Yamaha always 10s. Elixir. I just cant play a full gig in that guitar with something heavier. And the Godin A6, for that one 11 Dadario
I specific choose my model of guitar due to its incredibly loud projection to compensate for my use of lighter gauge strings.
I’ve been playing guitar since 1974 and need ease of play more than volume or EQ profile.
It doesn’t matter how loud or full the guitar’s tone is if I can’t play the piece with ease.
Attack changes with string gauge. For myself I prefer a hybred set (J19 Bluegrass set) which gives the high strings of a light set and the lower strings of the medium set. This allows me some versatility as far as tunings, especially those tunings which have you detuning the low strings significantly.
Fabulous playing, my favourites are the 10s as well... great idea to do something like that, too, thanks a lot!!
I am a rank amateur. I played drums for 10 years or so with garage bands and decided to learn guitar.
A relative gifted me a Washburn D10 they never learned to play which has been sitting in a closet for 15 years.
I figured a string change was probably in order so I picked up 2 sets of Ernie Ball Earthwood medium lights (in case I break the first set).
This video helped me decide to stick with lighter gauge strings as I learn.
Next, armed with a brand new string winder in hand, on to a video on how to restring!
THANK YOU for making this video!! Awesome education!
I hear something different. I did hear the change in mid-range, but I heard much more tinny-ness (like Steel guitar) in the lighter gauges. light = more pronounced highs.
Heavy gauge had less dynamic range - more equal in highs and lows. Heavier were warmer, and less tinny.
I heard more difference in strumming than picking.
Excellent point on better consistency of playing with lighter gauge!
I guess acoustic string guage is about compromise: easier to play on lights, but more tinny highs; warmer heavies, but harder to play (more pick sound?).
I’m a little surprised that there wasn’t a little bluesy string bending in the test samples as I think this is really where the lighter gauge strings maximise their playability advantage. As an intermediate player learning acoustic blues, the lighter gauges have been invaluable. Maybe when I get a lot better and have more finger strength I may try a heavier gauge but playability and having fun with an easier learning curve are my current priorities. Each to their own - just enjoy what you are doing and stay safe everyone. 🙏❤️
Yep, just open position strumming and arpeggios, not a comprehensive comparison.
You're exactly right. String bending, particularly at the lower frets, is substantially easier with lighter strings.
I could never in a million years bend a 13 set. I struggle with 11s.
I agree with the points above as valid, certainly. But being a beginner at 60, I'll be happy if I can ever just play what Rhett played in this video. Technique, constant rhythm and dexterity are my only goals at this point.
Interesting. I've developed hand issues but have stuck with 12's because I always believed that was the lightest acceptable acoustic I actually liked the 12''s the least - the attack transients seemed over emphasized. I'm definitely going to try 10's and 11's. My acoustic is one of the Breedlove DR Deluxes, a Martin copy and the only Breedlove I've ever liked. Nicely balanced. Thanks, guys.
GREAT video, I needed this one!! Thanks for doing this....
I aways had the impression that the string gauge was for ease of use. When I use medium gauge strings I notice I am uncomfortable playing them and do not like that feeling. Where Light and Extra Light strings feel right and so I play more. It seemed to me that the sound went from bright to Mello. You pointed out that the extra lights also made it easier to do hammer ons and offs.
I started playing in the 70s and I've always liked the lightest strings and lowest action I can get.
I agree. If your playing an acoustic/electric or with a pickup, you can EQ the sound you need, if necessary.
Great stuff! Strings have always been a mystery to me. Thanks, Rick!
Thanks for this outstanding video! I have recently been having some hand problems in my left hand. And have been contemplating a switch to tens, but was a bit reticent to do so. I think you guys have convinced me that that will be OK. Thanks a lot!
I liked the 10s, then the 13s!
With the other two, I heard like a droning or kind of booming on the lower mids.
But, I'm glad to hear you guys agree with me. I have 10s on mine cuz they're easier on my fingers! Then you can fine tune with the E.Q.!!!
I've always loved 10s on acoustics. Minor tonal difference, but the playability, especially with bluesy stuff, is really noticeable.
Thanks for this helpful video!
In an experiment you have to have a “control“ by which to compare the “variable.“ The point to the experiment was “do different gauges of strings sound different?“ In this experiment the control was the riff played by each musician. The “variable” was the change in string gauge. Rick‘s experiment worked because he had consistent technique regardless of the string change. Rhett, who is primarily an electric guitarist, lacked the strength to play his riff across the string changes, so the change was the result of his lack of ability instead of the string change. I think the result would change for Rhett if he had some practice time with a heavier gauge strings so that they would be more familiar under his fingers. Rick was readily familiar with the heavier gauge strings because that’s how he strings his guitar; he was used to it.
Couldn't agree more
Never thought about it like this, I use heavy strings and when I play a guitar with 9s or 10s I find the strings so unstable, so I can see how it would work in the opposite direction with someone with no strength in their hands.
@@millennialanimal not to mention Rhett was finger picking an intricate piece (lots of hammer ons and pull offs) which like you said would be noticeable for someone who never plays heavy
Fair point
They got noticeably mellower as the strings got heavier. However, when you move to the 11s on the finger picking the extra tension allowed him to pluck harder and it brought out a lot of the guitar there.
i had the same thought
Very true I noticed that myself on my guitars bought some used ones with med strings on them and did not like playing them at all
Roto sound offers a 9 gauge acoustic set... that’s what I use on my D 35, and with my tech’s expert setup, it plays like a Les Paul. I’ve never bought into,the heavier gauge strings sound better mantra, as there are so many tone shaping tools now available, that you can easily compensate for any perceived loss of tone. To me, the gains in playability far outweigh any supposed loss of tone.
Agreed, but they seem to go out of tune easier to me... I use 9s on my electrics and 10s on acoustics
Probably smart on the lighter braced 35 too!
try 12 gauge elixers. thank me later
Thanks for sharing your experiment. Very useful
To be honest, the 0.11's, maybe 0.12's at the most, just hitted the sweet spot to my ears. But I would be a lot more curious to hear different string materials, like Silk Steels, Silk Bronze, Flat Tops, Flatwounds, 85/15 Bronze, Phospor Bronze, and so on...
11's seem like the best compromise tonally. I think the high end starts to get lost in the 12s and 13s especially. The 10s to sound just a little more jangly, which could be why you and Dave perceived a difference in the midrange. I recently switched to a 10 set on my acoustics because I'm teaching a friend who hasn't built his finger calluses yet and I was surprised at how good they sounded! Lighter gauges are coming back!
I tried 12, didn't like it, as felt hand stress after long hours...10 is ok for me...
@@azharaz4140 It really depends.. Havier strings give more "depth" to the sound imo, however they require more finger strength. If you feel comfortable with 10th, you've got what you want. 12th and 13th are harder to pull off just because of the pressure you need to put on a string.
As for me I'm used to D'Addario 12, which makes it a breath to get tricks on lighter strings. However, I need to adopt with a struming pattern and play it closer to the neck to get the sound I want.
I always say play what feels comfortable. Performance is leaps and bounds more important than tone, and you perform best on what you're comfortable with. The tonal difference is so subtle between string gauges, that mic type and placement, preamps, etc are going to color it so much more than string gauge. When buying strings, don't even consider tone...just get what feels good.
Exactly. Doesn't matter how good the tone is if you can't play it.
Yup. Some of the physically messiest tone I ever heard comes from Maestros Tommy Emmanuel and Vic Wooten. Both obviously lean towards playability first with lighter gauges and dead low action.
@@damonreynolds6775 Doesn't Tommy Emmanuel play 12s and 13s? Not exactly light by the standards of this comment section.
@@HomoChomsky If so I stand corrected. Does he detune at all? Whatever he's doing the amount of noise he makes speaks to dead low action and/or lower tension.
Whatever it is, clearly nobody cares given the sheer magic produced.
Yes, if you are talking tone from string gauge alone, which is subtle, as evidenced by this video. However, tone from amps and pedals (electric world) and the guitar itself (acoustic world) - well that kind of does matter !!! 🙂
Dope guitar, nice gear - good knowledge shared - Love Rick & Rhett's content! Very very useful video here - Even for bedroom guitar enthusiast - Always interested to understand differences in tone for string gauge - Both recorded and acoustic...
Gauge is for player comfort mostly. Having resonate hammer pull ons/offs is important if you play that style. Lighter the better! 👍🏻
I've been using 10s and my old arthritic hands like them. I'm even trying electric strings on a couple acoustics that have magnetic sound-hole pickups blended with peizo bridge PU, and since I usually play them plugged in anyway, it's not so much about the acoustic room sound.
From my personal experience, the biggest difference when I play heavy vs light strings live, acoustic is the dynamic range. The light gauge is very even, so when I want to kick a solo, or any type of expression, the light gauge will be lost, I have to play that much harder to get a tiny bit of volume increase. Meanwhile, the heavy gauge have more room to get louder if I hit them harder, so I cut through the mix better by controlling my volume through my playing.
My experience exactly. Light strings are great if your style doesn't include leaning on them heavily at times.
i use the heaviest chrome flatwounds. i totally agree. dynamic range.
I think this very much depends on the guitar. I have a 3.5 lbs 12th fret Martin dreadnought that has huge dynamic range with lights. Mediums give more sustain due to more mass but may actually cut down on dynamic range. Some lightly built guitars, built for extra lights for example, will get choked in the dynamic range with medium strings. So it is guitar dependent. Most factory guitars are overbuilt to reduce insurance claims and these can benefit from heavier gauges.
Yes. Light gauges sounded more even to me as well. Which is what I'm looking for just strumming a solo acoustic act. Plus, methinks it will be easier on my arthritic hands.
Which bears out what they say in their summing up. More mid range = more projection, which is what they said heavier strings produce.
I took the info from this video. Tried 10’s, and loved the feel and tone. Thanks great video guys.
I was going to buy a new string set and have been looking for a vid like this.. Thank you!
the 13 guage strings are great for live gigs in a strum heavy role, especially if the acoustic guitar is the "driving force" sonically. They are louder and don't break as easily if you are playing hard especially if it's a hot and humid environment. However, the toll on the hands is noticeable and if you're prone to aches after playing, they can really take their toll if you are playing a lot.
Dude so true. I lead worship at my church and the acoustic is a big timekeeping piece for us. I use it to set tempo and change dynamics. Mediums let me dig in without worrying about the strings and I can get loud if need be. It's unrefined... but it serves the purpose. Bonus, they add a little depth to my Taylor to nudge it a bit closer to the Martin side of the spectrum.
I play mainly on the sidewalk, unamplified, and play with the heaviest strings I can find for this reason. Heavier strings respond better to being hammered away at and can take the abuse
I think it also depends on the guitar. With that particular guitar, strumming sounded very stiff with 10s, much better with 12s and the top seemed to get moving with the 13s, but on a lighter braced acoustic 10s may work well. I agree with Rhett that with fingerpicking it was just frequency emphasis rather than better. However, the 13s fingerpicking again had a bloom around the note from the soundboard.
.010: 2:25 strumming, 2:54 picking
.011: 3:35 strumming, 4:02 picking
.012: 4:43 strumming, 5:13 picking
.013: 5:58 strumming, 6:28 picking
Fricken awesome vid! Thank you dudes. I just aquired and restored my first nylon classical,after 50 yrs of steels.....so for a couple weeks,been exploring with it. Then, the transition back to my couple of steels is treacherous to say.the least. So was thinking of goin from 12's to lighter. This helps alot. Peace
On my D28 I only run 13s playing straight up bluegrass, purely acoustic & competing with F5s and Mastertones, the little extra punch& vol in the bass is worth it. Otherwise for normal all purpose playing I run 12s. Almost as good as the 13s but easier to play and less stress on the guitar. But I'm pretty much a flatpick only guy with perhaps a bit of hybrid thrown in. For delicate finger style like in this vid the 10s sounded great. IMO Ricks strums sound best with the 13s, nice and fat, but the 12s were pretty close. the 11s and 10s sounded too thin and stringy. Of course all this goes out the window when you add pickups and eq into the equation.
I agree... My 28 was made for 13’s,,, but I noticed that when I recently went to 12’s it was a completely different guitar......
I largely agree with MrWhit30 that if you do a lot of acoustic (i.e. not EQ'd) strumming, the lighter gauge strings are just too stringy and slappy sounding. I play all day every day doing therapeutic music in hospitals. I have to be able to get a really fat rhythmic strum, plus I do a lot of fingerpicking. After years of experimentation, I go with Thin Core phosphor bronze 13-56. Is it a bit harder to play? Yes - especially fingerpicking. But there is simply no way for me to get the sound I need with lighter strings. It's live - no PA to compensate. I am astounded at the people who have said here that they heard no difference in the strumming on different gauges. To my ear it's very clear: heavier strings = more mid, less high edge, and much meatier strumming. It all depends on what setting you're working in, and what you like. Everybody's right!
I went to a friends acoustic duo gig. He had a really killer acoustic tone. When I played his guitar it had a 10 set with a plain 3rd and played easier than my electrics. I learned a lesson that day.
What does a plain 3rd mean?
@@NewBlueType unwound string
@@Billywagner22 how did he keep his third in tune. My experience of that set up is that the G string goes out of tune to easily.
It depends on the guitar - his must be lightly built or perhaps had a superb pickup and processed signal. Likely both.
Nice works again Rick. Would love to hear your general take on the acoustic Baritone - I'm just coming to know a Taylor 6 String - and the optimum stringing of this lovely instrument.
Cheers
Really great video thanks to all of you sir 🙏
I think Rick's Gibson is short scale, and that makes the 13 gauge more playable; in 25,5" guitars is a bit too much for most people.
I have found that out with a new beautiful Taylor. Even with 10’s it’s a bear to play. I’ve been thinking of letting it go. I have a 1992 Taylor Dreadnaught and it feels like an electric. I have looked up the specs but do I really need to? My fingers tell me all I need to know.
@@syn707 you need to either adjust the truss and or sand down the bridge. Getting a closer action will make it not feel that way.
My Guild is roughly 26" scale and .013 gauge are quite easy to play on it. I'm unsure if it's the way the fretboard radius is or not, but it feels like .012 gauge does on many other guitars. I'm not sure if Rick's fretboard radius is the same as mine or not, but this might also be playing a factor in the comfort of .013 gauge on his as well????
13’s are way too thick for me.
@@sspbrazil That's what she said.
Rick's strumming of the 10s makes an interesting bright jangly texture which could be useful in a production
I started off on 10s, 30 years ago but was going through a set of strings every week which I couldn't afford at the time. (Always the G string). I discovered piano wound (Rotosound or Country gold) guitar strings and changed up to 13s. Absolute game changer. These really chime, last forever and I would even now struggle to go back to a standard wound string.
I would love you guys to have a look at them to see what you think. They are so different that it can take a couple of weeks to get used to them. A fellow band member hated them as they were so loud when he tried them and went back to his normal set. You would never change a set before a performance if you could help it.
I have dropped back to 11s now on my Yamaha Acoustic but use 10s on my KYairi semi acoustic. The 10s let you bend and play down the neck so much easier.
ive been really curious about this, this is a great insight into what happens. Cheers everyone
I've always always played 11's on an acoustic and I've been playing 38 years. With anything heavier I start making mistakes and feel like I'm fighting the strings. 10's sound a little too jangly to my ear.
agree on the 10's being more jangly
i play 12' /54 Earthwood 80/20 mostly ....except for Ibanez brand...almost impossible to play above the 5th fret in the EBG..they sound GREAT tho..i but Ibanez when the Earthwoods are out of stock and just change the basses.
I would play Elixir's but a bit pricey for consistent use...Earthwood's are as good, and the basses brighter, which i like.
@@leonpetersen7346 I've jumped around on brands and types so many times its been like a merry-go-round and i'm sure I've gone all the way around at least twice. Back in the 80's I liked Adamas...thought they sounded really bright and loud, almost electric. For some years after that it was a rotation of Earthwoods & Blue Steels. Got to be a bit of a cork-sniffer in the 2000's and spent about 10 years only playing Thomastik Infeld Plectrums & Markley's coated Alchemys. These days I've been enjoying DR Sunbeams when I want bright and D'Addario Nickel Bronze sound nice and balanced across the frequency range.
Leo Kottke gave me a tip on string gauge. He uses a standard set tuned down half a step and replaces the 12 and 16 to a 13 and 17 for strings 1 and 2. He felt the guitar just sounded better. Great video. Something to be said for making a guitar easier to play.
Thanks for answering questions i had watching this vid. Like what about mixing and matching string gauges and such
Do you mean 1 and 6 ? Because 1 and 2 doesn’t make sense. 13 and 17?
We were just talking about six string guitars, not twelve strings. Where the open high E string was a .012, he switched to a .013 . Where the open B string was a .016, he switched to a .017. Because the string action is generally lower plus the string break angle over the bridge is less on the upper strings, the additional string tension offsets the affects of a lower bridge The end result brings out the melodies for fingerstyle players in a positive way. Hope this clarifies this . If it doesn't, I'm happy to keep trying ways to explain this. :)@@stogies3
@@bootlebeats6331 ok 13 17 and the rest?
Thank you
@@stogies3 Third string- .024 |Fourth string-.032 |Fifth string-.042 |Sixth string-. 053 or .054 depending on string brand. Remember that all six strings are to be tuned down half a step from standard tuning. You could go lower if you want less tension or like lower pitches.
Hi Rick and gang.
Great job on this video!I
i would love for you to do a similar study/comparison on Flamenco/Classical Guitar Strings because they are also vastly different and it’s actually maddening when you go to record nylon string guitar if you’re a solo finger style player like I am.
I’ve tried so many different brands, and the ones that hold up for more than a few hours live don’t seem to sound super balanced in the studio. Also there are so many different ways that they list attention sometimes by the whole cumulative tension of the set and sometimes per string etc.
Anyway thanks for all the great info that you always post
Just found this, illuminating, thanks! I have a 1992 Taylor 'dreadnought' style body - a bit like the Gibson here, and for that I stay with 12s Bronze (wound 3rd) mainly for 'big chord strumming' with a hard pick. I also have a nice 1978 S. Yairi, more of a 00 (or 000?) 18 Martin style 'parlour guitar'. I switched from 10-47 Bronze to the same as my electrics, 10-46 Nickel. Perfect for more intricate finger picking, which is my main thing (+ a bit of 'bossa grabbing'). I recently bought an unusual K. Yairi that has a Fishman Piezo rig and starting that with same electric 10-46 with a very light pick for strumming. Agree with a lot of the conclusions drawn here - I think it really comes down to individual style of playing. Thanks again - always interesting when you guys do this sorta thing.
Great video. I really liked the sound of the 10s. Rhett made a great point about the performance. He sounded comfortable and great on the 10s and 11s. I wonder why most acoustics ship with 12s?
So another video I watched made the point that manufacturers usually design the guitar to resonate (especially the top) with a particular gauge in mind. If you put too much tension on the top (with a heavier gauge) it may not resonate as efficiently, and you actually lose tone/volume. Vice versa for a lighter gauge. Then there's a whole bunch of stuff about truss rod setting and relief. So perhaps 12s is just an industry standard.
I have thirteen through fifty-six elixrs on my short scale Johnson acoustic tuned to B standard and they work really well, no buzzing, no tubby sound, very loud and play and bend very well, i would really recommend elixir strings for anyone looking for a good set for down tuning acoustic guitar.
Elixirs without a doubt....the Earthwoods [ 12/54 ] detune quite nicely for Baritone as well.
I did a test a few years back on my Lowden and Avalon guitars using 12s on the Lowden and 11s on the Avalon and I found the Avalon more comfortable on my fingers which in turn allowed me to play it longer without my fingers getting sore. I'd definatley recommend new players use extra light strings like 11s.
Thanks Rick...awesome demo!
Great video guys, thanks for filming and posting this!
I'm no Doc Watson but I've been playing guitar as a hobbiest for 20 years. I really appreciate the differentiation that was demonstrated between strumming vs fingerpicking. However, one thing I noticed in the video is that no one mentioned setup. It seems that the different gauge strings were just slapped on the guitar with no additional tweaks. The action alone could have possibly allowed Rhett to play the heavier gauges a with a little more ease as was mentioned during the playback.
Several years ago I put 13s on my Martin D16, which I use mostly for strumming. I had it setup professionally and the tech explained that the action required being lowered slightly from when I had 12s on it. So although the string gauge was a little heavier, with the lower action I honestly haven't noticed much more difficulty in playing.
I also have a Yairi OM, which I use exclusively for fingerpicking. I have 12s on that one but it is setup for 12s. I would consider bumping down to 11s but if I stuck with them, I would probably have the action adjusted for that gauge if it was deemed necessary by my tech.
What do y'all think? Does anything I say resonate with anyone?
I've found the tonal difference between Phosphor Bronze and 80/20 Bronze strings to to be more pronounced than string gauge. The overall play-ability and articulation of 10s on my acoustic is an absolute must for me compared to any tonal deficiency they might have compared to heavier strings.
The 80/20 Bronze is so much brighter which I prefer. The original strings I had were 80/20s, and now I have the Phosphor Bronze which definitely sound duller and darker
As a rock climber, I’ve noticed over the years I can play much thicker strings with ease now. I guess that’s to say it could be worth experiencing with increasing finger strength as a way to help with playing guitar
Yeah. I don't play enough acoustic to not be on the lightest gauge. But I've also never not bought others. I've played other players guitars with thicker Guage and never thought much about it tho either.
Great comparison guys, very informative.
As usual I’m loving what you guys are doing! How much more interesting would it have been if the players were in isolated in their impressions of the playback not knowing what gauge they were hearing.
I kinda knew what to expect on this test. In person, as the player, I find the heavier gauge strings sound best. They resonate better in the space I'm in. But once you start going through a mic all that is lost, and the ease of play on the lighter gauge strings plus the way the mic evens all the gauges out makes the lighter gauge strings win hands down.
Yes, that's what I thought. After many years shredding an electric, I just started playing acoustic. I don't even know what gauge is on my guitar I just bought from the shop. I am determined to learn fingerstyle and proper strumming - and was really wondering about string gauge and action. A lot to figure out. But as you say, whilst one gauge might sound great acoustically in a room you are sitting in, that might be cancelled out by the recording process. I actually thought the 11 gauge sounded best (when recorded), and that is probably relatively easy to play fingerstyle. I'll try those next.
@@zx7-rr486 I play electric, but I'm getting an acoustic for practice, so I can play it where ever. I'm thinking of going with 11's. 10's are what I'm used to, but it seems thin for an acoustic. IDK.
I recently bought my first "good" acoustic guitar, a 00 body size model. Since I'm not an advanced level player I use 10 gauge strings on pretty much all my guitars - both acoustic and electric. The guitar manufacturer had put 12s on the guitar, and so I told the retailer about my wanting 10s. The store manager said 10s would do the guitar an injustice (exactly what the triggering issue was I never did understand; maybe ruin the setup?), and he refused, saying he'd compromise by installing 11s. Since he was adamant about not allowing 10s on the guitar, I walked out and bought it elsewhere. The guitar is an Eastman e10 OO ss with a professional setup and Daddario 10-47s - gorgeous tone from a $1,200 instrument.
You should never put up with that kind of temperament from a tech. You're paying for what YOU want. I'm glad you took it elsewhere.
I kinda admire the guy’s integrity.
There is nothing wrong with playing 10s on an acoustic. I've been doing it for over 30 years. It is much more friendly on the hands and fingers, not to mention the acoustic guitar top, bridge, and neck.
@@kevinmcgrath3431 It's not integrity. It's ignorance. What did the Beato test just show us?
@@JPVanderbuilt He stood up for what he believed to be true. Even though it cost him a $1200 sale.
That is integrity.
I would love to see this type of comparison for acoustic guitar strings! Great info, as always.
Well, you’re in luck because the video you just commented on is exactly that 😂
@@sleepyhorses6100 lol (at myself) - thought I was commenting on the electric video....
It really depends so much on the guitar (wood, construction, frets!, setup) and the player (technique, taste) and what the musical situation is, which string gauge will be best. Recently played my friend's guitar with 10's and thought it felt and sounded like 12s while he thought my guitar had 10s and it actually it had 12s on. Also I once played one (standard tuned) with 16s on and it was great tone and feel-wise.
Curt Mangan 9-42s are my string of choice now, age 64 , arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and a repaired detached bicep tendon on my left arm. I was shocked that I found the tone of them on my Ovations to be useable, obviously not much projection but I’ve never been really picky sense I mainly write songs and play covers for my personal enjoyment .
I answer the phones when I take my gear into the local music shop so the owner can resolve issues a bit quicker without interruption. One time I asked who it was that was calling and lo & behold it was Curt Mangan himself. Was more than a bit surprised and told him I buy his strings. Whenever I stop in the store I make it a point to buy at least one set of Mangan's. I owe it to myself and to Curt.
Same here, only steel-string 9's on a Taylor. I only own one acoustic and usually play electric, so the string tension is similar. Plus also in my 60's, so arthritis and hand pain....
I use Ernie Ball Super Slinkies…I get to do most of the solos at acoustic jams.
When I started playing guitar in 1984, I spent the 1st 10 years playing my acoustic with 13-56 because it's all I was used to. Now, I play 10-47. All the dynamics, playability & clarity are there. There's no need to work so hard playing bridge cables when the law of diminishing returns show that the benefits are slim to none with heavy gauges.
Shannon - Please remember that "all the dynamics" are there ONLY if you are being amplified. My experience over decades is that if you need power and volume in an unamplified setting, there is absolutely a loss of sound with lighter strings. Gain in playability? Sure. But each person has to use what works in their own setting. There is no absolute answer.
Thanks for this great video. I find it interesting that Martin uses .13’s on their new D28’s. I played one on Saturday to compare it to my DCPA4R that was just restrung with D’Addario XS 80/20 .12’s. Both felt and sounded great!
I'm late to the party (July 2022) but... my 2 cents:
They all sound great for their own unique low/mid/high balance. Rhett's comment about pick noise on 13's is spot on, and mainly why I don't use 13's. Best is 10's to 12's depending on the guitar's own frequency balance and lower-mid (i.e. between low and mid) resonance/response. 3rd cent: My favorite sound is the tight lower-mid / mid sound that a parlor sized guitar brings, for both rhythm and lead parts. Also, humidity can really change the sound, due to the change in moisture content of the wood (for the porch and beach jammers out there). Cheers all!
I have a Martin D28 and love the sound of the 13 gauge however they really eat away at the frets and after having a fret job lam now using 12 gauge instead and haven’t lost any of the tone.
Scale length also factors into this. In my experience, 10s on a short scale neck are too floppy for flat picking for me.
I agree that there was not much difference between the sets with strumming, but there was a very noticeable difference for the finger picking.
Huge difference... probably more than moving up/down 0.001" in gauge...
I just put Dadarrio gypsy jazz 10-44 on mine before I saw this. The playability is so good, the tone is different. So good to see this video as I have been questioning this for a while.
So very helpful thankyou