medium vs light gauge strings

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guitarhound	medium vs light gauge strings	Lead	[-]
(10/01/08 10:18 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : martin, strings, d18, guitar I just purchased a Martin D18 and it came with Martin SP medium gauge strings. They sound great, but I have always used light gauge strings on my other, cheaper, guitars and was wondering if anyone has had experience using these medium gauges on their D18. What other strings have you tried?
Dunpipin		#1	[-]
(10/01/08 10:31 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I believe my D-18 sounds decent with lights, but really comes to life with mediums. A few years back, I hated playing mediums, but now I like 'em. FWIW, I'd say give 'em a try. Colin
Custom 15 lover		#2	[-]
(10/01/08 10:34 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	With the bracing on that guitar anything other than Mediums will not sound so good. My D-28 is the same way. If you need to build up you can use the SP med/light. Lucky owner of: Martin Custom 15 (Emma), Martin D-28, Martin DM, Martin J-41 Special (Pearl), Taylor 555 (12 String), CS 56 Fender Stratocaster (Blackie)
waterpoet57		#3	[-]
(10/01/08 3:40 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Depends in part on your style of playing. Without knowing this, you can't definitively say. Conor 2005 D-18GE (Gwendolen) \| 2006 000-15S (Georgia) \| Backpacker (Gaby) \| Forum Intro P56 "A highbrow is anyone who can listen to the William Tell overture and not think of the Lone Ranger" JACK PERUS
kydave		#4	[-]
(10/01/08 4:11 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Generally speaking a straight braced D-18 is going to give you "more" sound with medium gauge strings. "Better" sound is subjective, but I find it to be better. Kentucky Dave's Martins: 0-18 (1959) 00-28H (2006 Custom) 000-16R (1999 Special Edition) 0000-28H (1999) D-28 (1971)
Bearclaw Dave		#5	[-]
(10/01/08 7:59 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As we all know, all characteristics and attributes of our guitars are based on our individual, highly subjective feelings, likes, and dislikes...thank goodness! So, while it is always interesting to compare personal notes about strings, the only certainty is that derived by your ears and fingers, what sounds and feels right to you. And most likely that will continue to change, throwing you into a never ending quest for the perfect solution...I've always admired those among us who have found THE make and gauge string just right for them and have stayed true to it for years. For them, sleep must come easily. For the rest of us, we are doomed to fiddle and diddle our way through an often repetitive cycle of trying out a range of brands and styles. And when we get to the end of the line, we start all over. By contrast, ours is a destiny destined to keep us awake at night. That being said, here's my two cents: I currently have a 32 year old D-18 in the shoppe for repairs and asked the luthier if he would be restringing with lights or mediums (I brought a set of mediums to leave with him since these are the gauge I like). He simply smiled and looked at me the way a master looks at a rank amateur, and pulled out a set of Martin SP 4150s, which are gauged exactly between Martin lights (4100s) and mediums (4200s). He explained that, for my guitar and style of playing (medium, not light or heavy), the 4150s would produce an optimal tone for the wood, as well as for his ear to judge his work. So there you go...as I said, we all love to compare notes, but there is no right or wrong answer here. But I'm sure going to give those 4150s a good try, and hopefully get a good night's sleep.
Mtwood		#6	[-]
(10/01/08 8:41 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Bearclaw, I have those very strings on my D-18 right now that's about 9 years older than yours. They are a great fit for this guitar. Good volume and punch yet easy on the old fingers. I've tried the 3150 80/20 Bronze and liked them as well. That being said I'm probably going to try the 4200's next time around to see how much difference they make.
Bearclaw Dave		#7	[-]
(10/01/08 8:53 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks, Mtwood, I'm sure when I get my 18 back I'll have to A/B the 4150s with 4200s (or EJ17s), and then of course some Nickels, and then some EXP lights, and then... but to me, this comparing sets of strings is a big part of the fun...picks, too!
imwjl		#8	[-]
(10/02/08 9:20 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I liked lights for soft playing at home but my dreadnought really does its thing and holds its own at jams with mediums. Of course YMMV.
Rec79		#9	[-]
(10/02/08 9:50 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Since I put a set of D'Addario EJ17´s (medium) on my HD-28 and started playing with a 1.2 mm Wegen pick or a Red Bear tortis, I sleep good at night.
georgebud		#10	[-]
(10/02/08 9:53 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I always use mediums on dreds just to get the top moving, but depending on your playing style, I'm sure if you were sitting on the couch, playing to the four walls, lights would probably sound fantastic. George
guitarhound		#11	[-]
(10/02/08 11:02 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks everyone. This is what I admire about Martin Guitar owners/players--always ready to share experiences and help. Not a better bunch of people in the world. As to my style of music: I play at a lot of bluegrass festival jams and on stage as well as a few country jams and I do quite a bit of classic rock playing solo. I use a pick most of the time and do a bit of finger-picking on select songs. I think I am going to leave the medium strings on. They sound good and they don't hurt these old fingers much. I was just concerned about the neck and bracing. I think i may give those 4150s a try though. Sounds like the best of both worlds.
dave42		#12	[-]
(10/02/08 2:02 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	guitar hound.... D'Addario EJ17 rock! That being said... I'm a light gauge guy. 1 .. There is no way I can get into one of those 'play for 6 hour' times with mediums. 2 .. searching the net you'll find that wonderful (to me) Neil young tone comes from lights But, <<<They sound good and they don't hurt these old fingers much.>>> leave'em on! Tone is everything! Go with what ya like. <<<I was just concerned about the neck and bracing>>> Don't be.. Enjoy!! Dave Forum intro pg.1 Avalon Nine
powerandwisdom		#13	[-]
(10/02/08 5:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well, for me it seems to be an adventure with each guitar to find the strings that complement it best. My "foundation" strings are John Pearse New Mediums, which are essentially lights, with a medium e and b string. My Lowden (jumbo, cedar/rosewood) sounds incredible with DR Sunbeams and tuned down a step. And I do own a D-18, which is strung with medium gauge JP Nickels, the best-sounding strings I've ever had on this guitar. I have not yet found the "optimal" strings for an adirondack-topped (rosewood) OM I have - the New Mediums sound harsh in the trebles to me. Maybe nickels will sound warmer... I am brand new to red spruce, so who knows? Like I said, it's an adventure. I now understand why some players just have one guitar... BTW - I play mostly with my fingers and some nail. This is an important (and overlooked) factor in choosing strings IMO. Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire. -William Butler Yeats
WaveRay		#14	[-]
(10/03/08 12:11 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Play the 4200's. I've tried some others (not all) and personally like the MSP's the best for my D-18. They don't last as long as some others but I prefer the sound. I don't use the MSP's on rosewood anymore but on my two hog guitars (the D-18 and the M3M) i still like them. They just have a nice "snap" to them. The EJ's are also good but not quite as snappy as the Martins. That is, of course, in my opinion. I even started using the MSP 4100'son my Seagull S6. What a neat tone I get from that, now. Play around, you'll find something you like. Ray Page 63 in the introduction thread 05 HD-28V 03 Taylor 455ce (dealer custom rosewood) 05 M3M 71 D-18 99 Seagull S6 2/3 of my hair
Jasper		#15	[-]
(10/04/08 7:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It's always fun to play around with different strings (sounds like an invitation to have an affair, doesn't it?). Just as with everything else on this delightful, frustrating, informative, educational and fun forum, the string question will boil down to your own perameters, I think: playing style probably matters most, especially attack. I've recently been playing with light gauge phosphor strings, and although I'll say up front I probably won't be sticking with them, I'm learning some new stuff about my D-35 in the process. Phosphors are a little matallic sounding, twangy even. Light gauge strings flop around a lot -- I have a pretty aggressive style. I've always been a medium to light-medium gauge player, but every now and again I test the waters just to see if anything's changed in my own playing. Good luck in the search. 2008 D-35 2007 Fender Telecaster Thinline '69 RI 1952 00-18
DMT		#16	[-]
(10/09/08 7:27 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'd be curious about your collective experiences with respect to the medium ESP 17s vs the EJ 17s vs the Elixer PBs. Thanks. PS. I apologize for hijcking the thread..I realized as I was clicking on "post" that I should have posted my question on another thread...my appolgies to all. Mark 2008 D-18GE Last Edited By: DMT 10/09/08 7:41 AM. Edited 3 times.
American Made 99		#17	[-]
(10/09/08 12:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My new D28 came with the medium 4200's. I always used lights previously. I have come to really like the medium guage strings on this guitar. I do not notice too much of a difference in playability. But, strings are cheap....so experiment and see what works for you.