The Ultimate Acoustic String Comparison - Extra Light vs Custom Light vs Light vs Medium
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- This video is about The Ultimate Acoustic String Comparison - One guitar 4 guages of strings. We compare Extra Light vs Custom Light vs Light vs Medium strings.
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What looks like 5 minutes 52 seconds must have taken all day to swap all the different sets of strings. Thanks for the time you put into this demo. Custom light for me! 👍⭐️👍⭐️
Maybe he put strings on 4 different guitars yeehhehehehehehehheheheheheh
What? Changing one set of string takes like a few minutes - not hours - so changing them 4 times would take maybe a total of about 30 minutes.
berni2905 he also had to fix the action for each which would take some time
I'm guessing he did all shots on each set of strings then mixed the shots post.
Me too!
I always go to extra light on my acoustics. It sounds much more open and alive to me. Also it is much easier to play, especially when you have to play lots of barre chords for long periods of time... which is a pain on higher gauges, at least for me.
You can look into lower tension strings such as GHS thin core or Santa Cruz to help with barre chords.
@@akdomun thanks
@@akdomunMartin Silk & Steel are excellent lower tension acoustic strings
mediums seem like they lack in the high end frequencies. Custom lights, sound dope. Thanks for the comparison video
yeah I think so.
Depends on the guitar. I have a 10 year breedlove which just sound SO thick and meaty, with tons of sustain using mediums. It can be too thin being a fingerstyle type with light strings. But for this guitar, mediums balance everything to perfection. So that matters.
I prefer Medium -Light on my Seagull and it sounds like an orchestra. I've tried over a dozen brands/gauges. Tip: Don't hesitate to try a variety of strings because every guitar is different, even within the same brand/model number.
s6?
That's exactly what I was thinking. I couldn't help but believe the customs sounded louder and more defined than the lights. The mediums sounded downright diminished. Perhaps they really do require a hard attack. I'd like to try mediums but I'm afraid they'll break my Seagull. So I've got a 3 pack of custom lights on the way.
I’m looking at this video 10 years after the fact and the beauty of it is that the information and demonstrations are timeless.
Great job Tony and thank you for all of your other videos over the past 10 years. My how time flies!
Right?!
I would say the custom light sounds best, not bad with the light too.
Z Gor what about on a hummingbirds witch would you use
I agree. The custom lights are a nice balance of brightness and warmth.
Exactly my thoughts..... custom light for me
Mediums.... That warmth was lush... Especially in that very last chord progression
They all sound the same to me . Maybe that's why I'm not a great guitar player
The comparison starting at 5:03 is pretty interesting. It feels like the sound is getting more muffled with the increasing thickness of the strings.
True 💯 I think light were the best, all rounder for fingerstyle, strum ,riffs and lead
@@VINIT_5 yep. thats how I have always felt over the years. Sometimes I will do a custom of 11.5 on top but same low bass of 53 or 54. ernieball has a nice set of these so do martin.
It's amazing yeah since the custom light ones are the best in terms of playability however those echoing overtones on the medium had me dazzled.
Extremely helpful video. Custom light is the best sounding by far. Thank you Acoustic Letter
Always liked extra lights on all my guitars. Then I started going heavier due to the MYTH that heavier= better tone. When I watched Rick Beato's video where they compared a bunch of gauges, I went back to extra light. They sound better and more balanced to my ears and I much prefer the feel- I have a light touch.
Try bringing those to a bluegrass jam. You may like your tone, but nobody else will hear it. 😂
Oddly enough he puts 13’s on all of his acoustics according to a recent interview w the Anderton’s folk.
@@G_Demolisheddepends on the guitar - I have a OM that was starting to drop in front of the saddle with 12s, went to Martin Silk & Phosphor (11-47), and it is a canon - even up against dreadnaughts at a bluegrass jam, I have to consciously strum lighter to avoid drowing out vocalists/lead players.
@@G_Demolished Yeah, bluegrass players play hard and fast. Light strings will get lost in that style unless your amplified.
@@G_DemolishedPiezo Virgin Betas Vs. Unamplified Giga Chads
Great actor and musician, you rock ashton kutcher
I knew there had to be at least one of these comments lol
@@realhumphreyappleby Hahahahhha
They all sound good, so just go for the ones that are kindest to your fingers.
Why do I feel like your a wise man standing on a rock...
Hahahahaha! @@rubinephiljames
best comment , thanks for your suggestion God bless you.
Rubine James lmao!!
@@rubinephiljames Well, for one thing, he can spell (you're). Also- common sense.
It’s Lights for me... thank you for this! I bet this took a week to make...
Dude. This video literally answered a question that has been KILLING my mind for years.
I can't THANK you enough for this. You've saved me money. you've saved me time. You've saved me so much heartache and confusion. Thank you.
What was your question that this video answered? Thank you
I own my production company and that is some fantastic editing. Whoever did that editing, the transitions were spot on, the lighting was great, whatever money you paid for that was worth it man. Also, your performance was informational. This was the 4th video I've watched on this and your video was unlike the others so far. Awesome job guy. Even though it was almost 9years ago lol.
I’ve been playing extra lights for a few years and they’ve been really nice. Easy on the hands (especially for long haul gigs) and good note separation. Honestly...that’s all I’m asking for with my strings. The rest can be added/taken away with electronics anyhow...
Just what I needed to hear, thank you! Time to get extra light!
I use extra light on all my acoustics. I originally started using them because I'm an electric lead guitarist first and I wanted a similar feel when switching between electric and acoustic guitars.
I later discovered I actually preferred the tone of a light weight string and the lower volume they give the guitar when doing the singer/songwriter solo acoustic gig. One doesn't have to constantly scream over the sound of the acoustic guitar to hear one's voice, which to me gave them a very practical application.
Just my experience, my two cents worth.
Interesting experience Von, mine is the opposite. I was the victim of a banjo player for years so only mediums on my D28 stood any chance of competing with his volume. Consequently, I got used to clamping my left hand down in a vice-like grip and hitting the strings hard. It completely screwed up my speed and all round playing. I'm still struggling with lighter strings flopping around my pick and I'm still trying to loosen my grip and stop the skinny buggers going sharp. Damn banjo players, they know not what they do.
Well, I tried to respond and Google just blew off my entire two paragraph reply. Light strings are also good for accompaniment, you don't have to constantly try to scream over the volume of the instrument to hear your voice. I have a luthier who is also a classically trained guitarist and now is starting to like my light string setups himself. It's good to experiment and know you have options. The lights have more tone and give one more control, of course they go out of tune easier.
Exactly. Dynamics, Dynamics for the good of the song and band members. Very important. My Brother and I always end up talking dynamics etc. and the basics, always lay back for the lead vocals and the solos, it is the respectful thing to do for ALL concerned. It builds that comradery; no matter what music you play. I'm not a blue grass guy, but I occasionally listen to Flat and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall from the 60's; just fabulous. The interaction is incredible.
loudness as well depends on the guitar - not only a matter of gaugesize thoug. By the way, you can combine thicker ones in the bass and the smaller ones at the high end for more brightness. consider this.
Custom lights are great, easier to fret and bend without losing so much tone on the bass notes. They are a good compromise
I have a J45, so I was really interested in this comparison. Here are my impressions:
EL - thin but clear, good for capo'ing and chords up the neck.
CL - middy, cloying, nasal
L - perfect balance of clarity, depth and sustain
M - harsh, hard tone.
I had the same experience in using Gibson strings, with the same tonal impressions with the different gauges.
Bottom line: a Gibson J45 really likes 12's the best for all-round playing.
Superb shootout video. The humna ear can only remember the first few seconds of sounds at a time, and your videos breaks the shout into similar chunks. 10 out of 10 video!
Major breakthrough for me! For the smallest of difference in sound between each thickness, it makes more sense to use use just what's easiest/most comfortable to play with as that'll make more of a difference in sound than the strings. Thanks, learnt a lot here!
I own a 2016 j45 and I must say that after a week or two the medium strings on my guitar suit it perfectly. The first couple of days they sound too jangly but after a week or two the mellow out and the balance on my guitar is excellent. I get nothing but compliments on the way it sounds. Each guitar player has to find out which strings suit them and their individual instrument.
Six years later and I'm still using Custom Lights on my Grand Auditorium, and plan to change over to those on my Taylor GS Mini. Suits my fingerpicking style very well.
Do u think the custom light will be great on gs? Planning to buy a gs mini guitar and wondering if i would buy a extra light or custom light strings.
Those light gauge sounded the best on that Gibson!
That chord progression at 5:04 is fire. Also, this mediums have the nicest warmth, volume and openness. There’s a reason Collings, Guild, Martin etc ship their dreads with mediums.
Couldn’t really hear the difference until the slow strumming. Great comparison!
The mediums are to dark for my taste. I actually like the crispiness of the extra light & the lights. Nice demo and thanks.
Geez , the extra lights sound most alive .
and easier to play
Agree!
Custom lights sounded best to my ear. The high end is basically the same but the low end comes up a good bit. the high end starts to diminish with the lights and the mediums sound basically dead.
Yeah. They ring out a little too much for my taste. The high end starts to sound cluttered. The customs have a great sustain as well, but sound significantly more balanced.
lt1caprice57l
The mediums sound very deliberate. They dampen out the overtones really well. They would be great if you want a straightforward sound that isn't too bright and doesn't ring out a lot.
The custom lights and lights both sound good to me. Maybe the lights slightly fuller, but the custom lights should be easier to play. The extra lights (thin sound) and mediums (muffled sound) were both not my taste.
On a good guitar:
Lighter tends to emphasize higher overtones, have more sustain, more string noise, and a more open sound.
Heavier tends to emphasize lower overtones, have less sustain, less string noise, and a tighter sound.
Which to use really depends on the style of music, even the style of a particular song.
One also can *play* differently depending on the tension of the string. For example, if I were to play lighter strings, I might not pick as hard so as to reduce string noise.
I personally prefer mediums because notes are more distinct from each other in the sonic landscape; their tone doesn't wash together. I also prefer less string noise as well as the feel- greater resistance in plucking with my fingers or a pick.
Depends on the guitar and bracing
Sir , which will be good for my C neck shape, X bracing guitar?
It seems like the light strings (.012 to .053) give the best of both worlds.
@Sushovan Shakya You get used to 'em.
@Sushovan Shakya 12s aren’t even bad especially if your coming down from 13s
A lot of the choice in string gauge depends on all the variables such as playing style, your guitar, tone woods etc. and your own ears.
For instance, if you own a J45 and you are a hard strummer, the mediums will bark out the best and project the most. If you own a Martin OM with rosewood on the back and sides and you play a delicate finger-picking style, you probably would like the lights or custom lights because those gauges will enhance the overtones and sustain that guitar produces.
The string material and design also comes in to play.
I have mediums and ready to switch to extra lite now that i heard it a lot clearer.mediums are louder.the light strings will definatley work for me.thanks
How it's going?
@@fisheatbrocoli3696 It's been 7 years, he's still waiting for Fedex.
@@gutenbird Hahaha what is FedEx?
@@fisheatbrocoli3696 shipping company
@@9thsense79 ooh ok thanks
8 years old and still an extremely helpful video, thank you!
The mediums sound like they are dead already
No they don't ! You have to grip them tighter to get a good sound out of them . This is why beginners shouldn't use medium gauged strings . If you know how to play on them they sound great !
Mediums don't work so well on Gibson J45's because of the shorter scale length of 24 3/4 inches which means the string tension is higher making thicker strings less responsive. A lighter gauge gets the most out of a J45 in my experience, certainly on my J45 Rosewood.
nice
toomuchrose Wouldn't a shorter scale length mean less tension seeing as you don't need to pull the string so much to get to the same note?
Yeah I learned that one the hard way. I had an old set of light gauge on one of my dreadnoughts replaced it with medium to get more bass response once and only once. The new strings were deader than the old corroded light gauge on that guitar. Unless you have a real short fret scale (under 25") I would avoid them. Shorter scale length means less string tension to get to pitch that is where a medium gauge will work well. The C.F. Martins typically come in two scale lengths long (25.4) and short (24.9) I only use Martin as an example they are the most copied of the top sellers but that is one of the custom thing you can play with if you are building guitars.
Seriously .. who are the 109 idiots that gave this post 109 thumbs down? I own a J45 ... and this post is so helpful! Kudos to the creator of this episode! 👍🏼 Thank you 🙏🏼
I liked all of the sounds...each with it's own flavour. What I noticed was that the tones also get a lot brighter on light guage strings. I'm a poor man with only one guitar, and i get to change my strings only once a month, so with me, it's only one tone per month.
I'll buy you a couple sets.
How?
allen lambrecht How?
Aninda Nahiyan ebay. Email me, xykaru@gmail.com
Sorry. ebay doesn't cover deliveries to where I live. I really appreciate it though.
I'm a soon-to-be retiree....just getting interested in playing an acoustic. Never had time but always wanted to play.
Very helpful re string types. Thanks.
Thanks for taking the time to do this video, I doubt most people realize how time consuming it is to make a video like this.
Custum Lights are the best, good balance and playability! I'm using D'Addario EJ26 Phosphor bronze, they rule!
Just bought the D'Addario Light strings and now I am about to head down and switch for the Custom Light's after hearing the difference. :) Very good comparison video.
I like the balance and smoothness of customs lights, but I prefer lights.they cut better thru the mix and has a better projection than customs.i don't like mediums and extra lights nope.
12-53 best o 12-56
@@ancientslav4863 take 12-53, but it depends on your playing style.
This video was actually extremely helpful in helping me distinguish between the best sound for me. But would you mind making a tutorial on how to play some of the things you played? All the tunes were pretty amazing.
I'm waiting for my extra lights to arrive! Sounds really good. I'll probably try out custom lights after. Awesome video and quite insightful.
Extra light sounds the best in all instances.
I think custom lights are the best. Same at the high end and sound a bit clearer at the low end.
This video is a great piece of work. I use custom lights on my old Takamine. Sounds nice and the lower tension keeps the guitar in good shape in the varying weather conditions here..
I play j45, and I am happy about what I hear in this video, I use custom light gauge. It really sounds the best for me!
Custom light is 11-53 set
Who’s this young’un? Nine years ago as of this message. Amazing how consistent your playing is. Edited together back to back they go by quick. Knowing there were four string changes and many examples and so consistent with timing. Not to mention attack. Spot on! I knew you could play. Nine years since then ya must be Killin it. Thanks for Exactly what I was looking for.
Seems like i'm a custom light guy :)
Just ordered up an Epiphone EJ-200SCE (southpaw) and wanted an extra set of string since I'm working overseas. Made a guess on the custom lights looking at thickness. New player and wanted something a little lighter until I get my fingers toughened up. From the sound of things I think I made the right selection. We'll see later on I reckon. Excellent video!
*****
Yes it is a cutaway. Was reviewing the cutaway vs full body video and not sure if I did a wise thing or not. Not having developed skills yet, it'll probably be awhile before I even use the full range. Since my guitar is on back order I think I'll review options but I do like the sun burst look. Had a right handed Yamaha that Mom bought me back in 1966 but I recently gave it to my niece in hopes she'll be more resolute in learning.
no one asks
@@RockNRoll__. Exactly.
I have a J45. Fine, fine guitar. The Extra Light and Custom Light were my favorites. Thanks for the comparison. Jim in Alberta.
Thank you for sharing this great video! I got so surprised because people tend to say thicker gauge sounds better, but in this comparison, I really liked the sound of the extra light. Your way of comparison is really helpful. Thank you :D
Kei K
●●● ABSOLUTELLY, mee too ! I EVER heard that THICKER are the STRINGS, BETTER is the sound. But in this video, it SEEMS to be the OPPOSITE ... 🤔 ●●●
It depends on the guitar, the wood it's made out of, the material of the fretboard, top material and many other factors.
It really comes down to the guitar what gauge you should be using. When i was about 14 i had this great Alvarez acoustic guitar that my Dad bought me before he passed and id been using lights on it but on a whim i decided to pick up mediums and i remember immediately not liking them. When i was 18 living in my first apartment i went out for the night with some friends and when i got back i found out someone had broken into my second floor apartment from the balcony and stolen every single thing of value i owned including that guitar that was my prized possession. That was 2008, for the past 12 years ive been looking for a guitar that sounded as good and played as good as that Alvarez to no avail. The only guitars that sounded as good were Martins and even though ive been playing guitar since i was 11 (started taking it seriously at 11 at least) ive never been able to afford a Martin. But i always told myself for my 30th birthday id get a Martin and thats exactly what i did on April 26th. Its a Martin D10e (Sitka Spruce top sapele back and sides, an mahogany neck). It came with Phosphor Bronze 13's and i do not like phosphor bronze at all. They are way too dead sounding "broken in" is just a better way to market dead sounding strings if you ask me. Anyways back to my point of writing this. Since the strings were old and Phosphor Bronze it was hard to tell if i liked the gauge so i just went to my go to string joy lights. But the D10e was lacking something. It doent have scalloped bracing because its part of the road series which is supposed to be a durable guitar you can take on the road, that and the price point makes non scalloped bracing more logical. So i decided to pick up a set of custom lights (which i used to like on a Fender full size dreadnought i used to have) and a set of Mediums, both 80/20. The custom lights were way to thin (on the right guitar custom lights can sound really full) so i decided to try the mediums expecting to hate them just as i did when i was a kid. But as soon as i had them tuned up a bit (not even all the way, about a half step down) i started to play around and they sounded great. After the fooling around in a random tuning was over i tuned them up all the way and stretched them in a bit. Long story shorter, they sounds excellent on this guitar and sustain a ton. Theres zero doubt in my mind ill be using the mediums from now on. I even find them easier to bend cause theres more string to push up against. On my 7 string in B standard im using .0105 - .068's and thats a lot of tension but im used to it. Anyways all i was trying to say is unless your a beginner you should get the strings that the guitar in question sounds and plays best with, not the strings that you just think will be more comfortable/sound better based on your experience with other guitars. Each guitar is different and demands different set ups and playing dynamics/style and has its ideal gauge. At the very least it wouldnt hurt to try different gauges. With String Joy custom sets are even possible and cost the same price as their pre-selected gauge sets.
1:40 extra light 1:57 medium 3:46 extra light 4:06 medium
extra light sounds good to me. I'll definitely buy 1 . thankss for making this video. it's very informative.
Well, the mediums certainly aren't doing the job on this guitar. I'll just say the mediums brought my Martin DM-15 to life vs. the lights. Strings are instrument specific. Just gotta try and see which ones do your axe justice.
totally like mediums on mine for example bring in a great tone.
+Nate Ngzcaz Mediums were preinstalled on my Martin D17M, sound great, will not change. My J-45 has Gibson lights- rich tone, but not nearly as loud as my Martin. Considering Elixir lights for that one, they work out really well on my cheap Yamaha.
Whenever other people play my guitars that aren't use to mediums, they never sound as good. If you dont play mediums, don't expect them to sound as good as they should. Fretting hand pressure has a lot to do with the sound.
I've been using elixir medium strings on my Martin DR for years and I'm very happy with the result. I also prefer the sound that elixir bronze strings provide over the phosphor bronze counterpart.
True word ! ;)
I use custom light strings, it just helps me play with more precision. I have an OM guitar with a cutaway so the volume is still good and it still sounds full with phosphor bronze, I used to play with 80/20s but it was too low on bass for fingerstyle, I love when I can hear the bassy notes clearly. With 80/20s they would just meld in the song (for the size of my guitar I mean).
Thank you so much for that side by side. It confirmed a lot of what I thought about the subject but surprised me somewhat in the extra light's performance in the lower end. I didn't expect that. I should have guessed it would have more ring and probably fretted a little easier but the bass tones really came out on that dreadnought with the extra light strings.
I appreciate the work that went into this video, but I don't know if it captures my experience with medium strings. I switched to medium strings probably 10 years ago. Recently I brought Light gauge by accident and didn't like the sound as much. I think the human ear is better at picking up the full tonal range of medium strings. I also wonder if the musician in this video regularly plays medium strings to ensure the proper action is being applied. Lastly, depending on the genre of music you play you may prefer medium strings. You can get more nuanced sound in the lower register. This is useful for critical for genres like post-rock, emo, mathrock, and metal
either custom light or extra light I'd pick
Light to me is best overall. Brilliant comparison.
I liked the sound of the extra light the most.
Extra light all the way - plus the benefit of playability ! Thank you,for posting this.
This was a great comparison, covering just about every style of playing. Not perfect...too many variables involved, especially mic placement which even being off less than an inch between resets would make a noticeable difference. I was surprised at how little difference there was between extra lights/lights/custom lights during fingerstyle examples. This confirmed for me that the EXP Custom Lights are still the ones for me on my acoustics, except my resonator. Thanks for such an elaborate comparison!
Thanks for delivering a video that actually does a comparison of string guage tones. Went through a half dozen videos of talking heads that do anything but compare.
Custom Light is my favorite.
Custom lights sound awesome. I might be biased cause those and Nickle brass/bronze (I think they are called retros?) are my go toos for my style. I tune the lights to Eb cause I have some issues with my hands and they aren’t that strong these days. Thanks for the review 7 years down the line it still helps me make decisions!
I'm surprised, but I like the extra light best. The mid strings (particular the G and D) have better tonality than the other sets. The sound of the extra light is a little more live/authentic to my ears. Anyone agree? I typically play elixir light gauge, but may try extra light next time
Bought a set of extra lights a while back, and they really helped me to learn. Just ordered a set of D'addario mediums to see what they're like.
Great idea for the video, Tony. It's amazing how drastic a difference in sound can be just by changing a string gauge... I believe every guitarist should try it, because it's hard to really grasp that over RUclips video. I would never go bellow .13 gauge, especially if you're a strummer.
Hello, I know I’m 5 years late to reply but would like to know more about why you think you shouldn’t go below 13 if you are a strummer since I am one. Also, what strings do you typically prefer? Thank you!
EXTRA LIGHT FOR ME VERY FOLK CRISPY SOUND, SLOW STRUMMING SOUNDS SWEET. AND GOOD TUTORIAL , I NO WHAT TO BUY NOW
hearing this through Sony headphones I could tell a pretty noticeable difference extra light had crisp clean sound, custom light had a nice vibrato effect when strumming, light had a nice all around sound, medium is getting more into a blues sound almost a flat sound.
I think the tuning was off on the custom lights
Agree. Mediums would even be great for fingerstyle jazz chords thru a flat amp. I put flatwound .14s on an electronic guitar, jacked the action up, and threw in a pair of p90 style pickups and it's smooth
Custom light is what I want. Thank you for the vid 👍🏼
Omg! Im coming from 2019! I just started to watch and WOW, Is this the same guy?
Kkkkkkkkkkk
Isaque lol right!
No it's not the same guy. Listen to their introductions and their names are different. They look like different people... Because they are
The lightest sound the best to me. Balanced. The string noise is greatly reduced and nuances in the playing are more evident.
The heavier strings require more work, and finesse takes a hit as a result. Not to mention the highs are way more zingy, low mids jump out and both of those are major issues when recording. Cheers!
You do smart vids. Thank you. Just reconfirmed for me that I am happy with the extra lights I have been playing for the last 20 + years, and despite all the blah-blah hype about volume, tone, and sustain, the tonal differences are subtle, the biggies weren't noticeably louder then the easy benders I prefer, and that fat does not equal more sustain.
So hey - thanks!
I think the real fun with mediums is when you drop tune it. Maybe going down till drop C, it can hold the low tunings well and sound great
Ashton Kutcher plays guitar?
Asian Ashton Kutcher*
I thought it was Jimmy Falon
LOL!
TitaniumGuitar22 He does look like Ashton Kutcher with beard
No but Jack Black does
No joke, I bought my first guitar 10 years ago. Been picking it up recently since I got back into it, and I realized I wanted to change the sound. Couldn't have found a more perfect video, I reeeeeeally vibe with the medium strings
Custom light sounds the best for me here. I’ve never used it myself, my guitar is rocking 0.10 but I’m considering changing to 0.11, I’m just a little bit concerned about my fingers with the new gauge. So, I've been using 0.11's for about 10 months and it's much better
Blessings....your comment just encouraged me to change to 0.10,... I been using 0.12 for couple years in electroacoustic and even though I have calloused still hurts when I play..., maybe 0.11 s could be a good change for you!
Lol I changed to 0.12 but I’m seriously thinking about going back to 11’s, I don’t know I guess they are the perfect balance between playability and sound, at least for me. It all depends on the set up of your guitar and the way you play it
Just a quick update, I'm using 11s for a good amount of time already and love it
I think the reason some folks have difficulty discerning the difference is because there is not a large difference between close gauges (extra light to custom light). If you mixed them up - extra light to medium and back, the difference is more pronounced.
You can hear the difference, but it helps to have played different gauges - then you kinda know what to listen for...
To my ears, there are no bad choices among the four string sets. I've circle the sun 59 time now and as a lead guitarist my hands much prefer the .011s and .012s - with good quality strings my ears are also very happy.
The guitar makes the difference. I always felt medium strings really choked a Gibson round shoulder guitar. I actually get more volume out of lights because they don't make the guitar so stiff. Mediums make my Advanced Jumbo so stiff it seems to choke the sound down.
what's style of music you playin, any references, I love the sound
I personally liked the extra lights, sounded nice and crisp. I'll have to try them next.
I have this guitar and love it. I’m going to try some lighter gauge strings for a change after listening to this review. I’ll give the custom light a try as I’m getting into fingerstyle and they should be easier to play than the master built 13s I have on it now. I must admit I’ve never been one for changing strings often, I’ve maybe changed them 3-4 times in as many years. 🙄 as nice a guitar as she is, she deserves strings at least every few months from now on. Thanks Tony for the comparison.
Bravo! A very informative video! And the playing was remarkably consistent from scene to scene, giving us a good benchmark for comparison. Many thanks!
It seems to me, the Custom Lights sound the best. Bright highs, mellow mids, full sound.
Thanks, this is helpful; just bought my first acoustic (Taylor 410ce) and wanted to go lighter, this video shows that volume wouldn't be a major hit and that the light strings sounds better too.
I think if we spent more time playing our guitars and less time debating minor technicalities we would all sound a whole lot better.
This is a great video and great comparison. I'd venture to guess that people's favorites may depend a lot on what type of device they are listening on. You may be missing the mid-range and low-end boost that the mediums give you if you are only listening on phone speakers. They all do sound pretty nice though. Thanks for the vid.
I've used light and extra light but I think my next set will be the custom light. I've gotten sick of light because I've used it so much and needed a brighter sound but extra light may be a little too much. Medium is definitely too heavy and too much strain on my fingers.
+melissa anthony I m going from medium to extra light .medium sound so dead with little sustain
Fuk I just realized I had medium strings on my guitar! I was usually fond of nylon strings and once I got this guitar I felt the strings were much harder to press. Is light strings easier to press on?
+Mustardcake Yes, they are.
borhanus There's a huge difference. When I got mediums for the first time, I was in love with the nice warm, bass sound but the strain on my fingers from pressing so hard was just too much. And of course they sounded dead after a few days or so.
Mustardcake Yes! I don't usually play nylon strings at all but I know what they feel like so I definitely recommend getting some light or extra light strings.
I put a set of 9/46 electric guitar strings on my acoustic guitar. I had always used medium acoustic strings because of the belief that heavier=better tone and volume. I made the swap because of arthritis in my 62 year old hands. I only wish I had made the swap 50 years ago. They're plenty loud and easier to play for longer sessions. They are a perfect match for magnetic sound hole pickup 😊
I can even lower my action now and use more of the fretboard.
I really liked the custom light ones
I liked how it was apparent that he was having trouble playing with the heavier strings. Not so comfortable.. It's a part of the decision of which gauge to go for.
The mediums sound dead to my ears. I never knew about loosing sustain, thank you for the info!
For me the issue of swapping to a light gauge wasn't about tone, volume or anything related because I never got that far. On every acoustic guitar I ever strung lighter than 12-gauge, the guitar's intonation went nuts, and all of them were absolutely unplayable.
man i must be hard of hearing because they all sound the same/good to me
....lol oh the irony!! You know what...you must be quite the listener!!..There's so many factors as to logically why they might sound the same yet all I get is "amateurs can't tell." Lol right on man. I bet you love to bowl with those ears I bet you can hear pins drop!
***** or maybe the real reason you will never know because you don't know me..I don't know you, so where do you get off trying to know me? I'm not the best out there, but I'm far from amateur and that's all you know about me. Think about it I could give several good reasons why, other than calling somebody an amatuer knowing good well that I have no way to know that. you "pros" make me sick
+killerbrovid then don't comment Einstein if you don't want to be judged by other people
REKT
+killerbrovid I couldn't tell either when he strummed it first, but I can catch it when he plays a tune. I feel it's kinda subtle, but meh, I'm a newb.
i put 13's on my J-45 today. Previously had 12's on it. I think louder is always better!
I use Erie Ball everlast medium lights.. They're perfect!
Dude thank you. This video needed to exist.
I honestly couldn’t tell a sound difference at all.
@4:46 you can tell
Same here. I think it's hard to tell because he is using 4 sets instead of 2. Going from one extreme to the other would be much easier to notice.
Nice video. I can hear slight differences, but not enough to over analyze the choice. Play-ability and brighter sounds + more sustain seems like a better trade off than volume...if you need volume you can amplify.