What acoustic guitar sting size do you like to strung your guitar with ?

Question

I like the gold plated ones from Germany the best but they are $30.....but beside the coating I knew an old man who used the lightest he could find for his Martin and i assume the strings were not hard on his fingers while picking...i bought a Jasmane for it's great guitar case for $100 and it has the same sound as the Frank's Martin but he died several years ago and now five years later the strings are dead.....The Jasmane seems to give the base strings volume so i've been thinking of going 47-50 using light strings on the guitar but playing with a piano, the deeper sound of the base seems to go well.....I mostly play my other guitars and just thinking of getting the Jasmane up and running again and just wondering what size strings others like to have on their $1000 guitar...

husoski · Accepted Answer

I use Martin's "Light" (.012-.054) strings most of the time, since that's what came on the guitar when new.  I've used others, too, and they're okay too.  Elixir and D'Addario seem to use the same gauges for "light" sets except for the low E string.  Martin uses 0.054 and it seems everyone else uses 0.053.  I haven't noticed a difference.

I like the sustain of the '12s.  Use your own ears for comparing tone, though, since my ears are old and don't hear the highs as well as they used to.

If I played professionally (no, I'm not even pretending to be that good), maybe coated or plated strings might be worth it to extend the playing life, but with the $5-6 80/20 strings I get that "new string sound" twice as often as with an expensive set for the same amount of money.

Campbell Hayden · Answer

Depending on the sound I am looking for 
I will use Martin Silk & Steel .0115 - 047 
or Martin Phosphorous Bronze .012 - 54. 
 
I used to use Guild Phosphorous Bronze *exclusively*.
 
*Additionally, I have found that on older guitars that have 
neck issues, the Silk & Steel strings do not pull on the neck 
anywhere near as badly as normal light gauge strings do. 
Yes, there is a slight sacrifice in bass response, but the 
improved action is worth it.

Tony B · Answer

I've recently gone up a gauge to 0.012”-0.056”. I've just about got used to them. They give a much better sound than the “elevens” I was using.

What acoustic guitar sting size do you like to strung your guitar with ?

3 Answers