Back to the Future - Acoustically

[andrewsrea]

I bought my Takamine EF340-S new in 1986 and it came with 12 to 53 gauge strings, which as being primarily an electric player, I found too hard and quickly went to 10-gauge strings. Two years ago I went to 11's.

I've been playing this guitar a lot in the last four years and decided it is the most recorded / most songs written on it guitar that I own. My fingers not only became accustomed to the 11's but I was on occasion pressing them out of tune and could use a little more sustain you get from heavier strings.

I had a pack of John Pearse Bronze 12 to 53's on hand and decided to give them a try. Well - its back to the future!

I am not a fan of the bronze and prefer phosphor-bronze brightness, but the feel is nice. Bronze strings are great for bluegrass and strumming, where IMHO the phosphor-bronze is better for fingerstyle and all-around pop acoustic tone. Accordingly, I'll order a set of DR Sunbeams in the same gauge to replace these.

Anyone else ever go thought this type of guitar journey?

[tlarson58]

My acoustic is the equivalent to the cookies you won't leave out for Santa.

[sabasgr68]

I bought my Takamine EF340-S new in 1986 and it came with 12 to 53 gauge strings, which as being primarily an electric player, I found too hard and quickly went to 10-gauge strings. Two years ago I went to 11's.

I've been playing this guitar a lot in the last four years and decided it is the most recorded / most songs written on it guitar that I own. My fingers not only became accustomed to the 11's but I was on occasion pressing them out of tune and could use a little more sustain you get from heavier strings.

I had a pack of John Pearse Bronze 12 to 53's on hand and decided to give them a try. Well - its back to the future!

I am not a fan of the bronze and prefer phosphor-bronze brightness, but the feel is nice. Bronze strings are great for bluegrass and strumming, where IMHO the phosphor-bronze is better for fingerstyle and all-around pop acoustic tone. Accordingly, I'll order a set of DR Sunbeams in the same gauge to replace these.

Anyone else ever go thought this type of guitar journey?

1986 Takamine 12-24.jpg

That guitar looks like new! Keep enjoying it!

Answering to your question, no, I haven´t gone through that type of guitar journey.

[tonebender]

I use Martin extra light 10's on my acoustics. When Billy Gibbons was a young man 22 years old BB King came into his dressing room and asked Billy if he could check out his guitar. After picking it up and playing he asked Billy "Why you working so hard?' Billy had heavy gauge strings. Billy went on to play with 8's. I use 8's. When I first started a band I was rhythm only and I used 11's. I played like a gorilla and broke a lot of strings, mostly G-stirngs. After about a year I went to third string wound D'Addario's hoping to solve that issue and it did. As I progressed into playing lead I went to 10's. It has only been a few years ago that I went to 9's and now it is 8's. I ain't working hard. LOL

As far as brand, as I said Martin in my choice for acoustic and has been that way forever. I can't remember using any other brand. It was Marquis until I started using the extra lights. For electrics it was D'Addarios for any years then I switched to DR's. I really like their strings in general but I was buying them by the case and they kept arriving with corrosion. At first it was just a pack or two then it was every pack in the box. I contacting them and they could not have been less interested in providing a remedy. They admitted it was happening but did not offer to make me whole. I switched to Ernie Ball Limes (10's) until these days when I switched to the blues (8's).

[Tonray's Ghost]

I found I enjoyed playing my electric unplugged at night far more than I ever enjoyed playing my acoustic. Now it's not a bad guitar, but I was just looking this morning at finding a local school I could donate it to. It would free up a wall hanger for something like a resonator that would get more use for sure.

[tonebender]

The only time I play electric is at band rehearsal or band gig. All other play is acoustic. I am sure it is causing my lead skills to diminish. In the past I rarely played the acoustic and was constantly playing along to tracks honing chops.

[andrewsrea]

I use Martin extra light 10's on my acoustics.

I used those exact strings from 1986 to 2021. They were great for blues and bends. But I noticed when working on recordings I was accidentally pushing notes out of tune during some chording, clanking frets when playing slide and was getting 'pinging' from some notes (my action is set a little lower than factory height).

The more I play, acoustic, the stronger my fingers get and when adrenalin kicks in, I drive the notes sharp. I still play 9's on my electric and due to muscle memory, have a much lighter touch in that style of playing.