elz1903 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 My Epi still has the original strings if I went for Rotosound JK12's for example would this be a simple straight swap the top E string is slightly thicker than the ones that come with it from the factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish_Rover Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 My Epi still has the original strings if I went for Rotosound JK12's for example would this be a simple straight swap the top E string is slightly thicker than the ones that come with it from the factory. Not really sure what you are asking. You can put on any strings you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elz1903 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Not really sure what you are asking. You can put on any strings you like. I was reading that if you fit slightly thicker strings then you may have to get the action lowered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodger11 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I think the EJ200 is shipped with 12s so it should be like for like. Some people say you need 13s to drive that big body but I have 12s on my fake J200 and they sound great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzariahJames Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 D'Addario EJ-16, 12's all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I was reading that if you fit slightly thicker strings then you may have to get the action lowered? The thickness of the strings itself has no effect on the action of a guitar, since no matter how "thick" the string it lies equally flat on sattle and bridge; in other words, the distance from fretboard to string underside always remains the same. For example, .013" strings are only minisculely thicker than .012" ones. Higher string tension or string gauge (e.g., lights vs. mediums) can have an effect on action however, as it puts more pressure on the neck often requiring a re-adjustment of the truss rod, which you can do by yourself. For the EJ-200 I'd start with .012" J-200 Gibson strings, with the aim to finally settle on medium-gauge .013" strings to get the most sound out of the big jumbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohyew812 Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 The J-200 strings I saw are all are medium gauge... maybe they are available in light, but I haven't seen them. I have them on my EJ-200sce and they fit in the nut slots just fine. However... when they need replacing, I'm going back to Elixer PB mediums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acts Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 The J-200 strings I saw are all are medium gauge... maybe they are available in light, but I haven't seen them. I have them on my EJ-200sce and they fit in the nut slots just fine. However... when they need replacing, I'm going back to Elixer PB mediums. http://www.sweetwater.com/c927--Acoustic_Guitar_Strings?params=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJCcmFuZCI6WyJHaWJzb24gQWNjZXNzb3JpZXMiXX19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 The J-200 strings I saw are all are medium gauge... maybe they are available in light, but I haven't seen them. I have them on my EJ-200sce and they fit in the nut slots just fine. However... when they need replacing, I'm going back to Elixer PB mediums. It's kinda ironic that I couldn't wait to rip my brand-new Elixier PB (Ultra) Lights off my baby (SQ-180 ND) to replace them with J-200 PB Lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acts Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 It's kinda ironic that I couldn't wait to rip my brand-new Elixier PB (Ultra) Lights off my baby (SQ-180 ND) to replace them with J-200 PB Lights. ...and was the results what you expected. I broke the upper E string (unknown brand?) of the stock strings that came on my lightly used EJ200SCE/N while replacing the stock Nut/Saddle with Bone. I replaced them with the Elixer Phos Bronze Med/Lights (12-56). I've been playing them for about two months now and am just not satisfied with the way they perform, and even sound compared to the ones that were on it which I have no idea what they were. I've since bought a set of Gibson J200 PB Lights, but as of yet haven't traded them out thinking the Elixers need more time to break in. If I go ahead and trade them out now will I see and feel the difference with the J200s right away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 ...and was the results what you expected. I broke the upper E string (unknown brand?) of the stock strings that came on my lightly used EJ200SCE/N while replacing the stock Nut/Saddle with Bone. I replaced them with the Elixer Phos Bronze Med/Lights (12-56). I've been playing them for about two months now and am just not satisfied with the way they perform, and even sound compared to the ones that were on it which I have no idea what they were. I've since bought a set of Gibson J200 PB Lights, but as of yet haven't traded them out thinking the Elixers need more time to break in. If I go ahead and trade them out now will I see and feel the difference with the J200s right away? The switch to the rich and full sound of Gibson Jumbo strings was the right thing to do for my small-jumbo Epiphone. Had my local luthier had Gibson strings I would have settled for them right away while he was setting up the guitar. To my ear, the Elixier PB strings sound as if they are, for guitar strings, never at their 100% in terms of tonal performance -- more like 80%ish; with Elixier one trades in tonal performance for string longevity. I have, however, not meddled with their Mediums, only their Lights and Ultra Lights in various forms (PB, Nanoweb, etc). If you put on your brand-new J-200 strings, you're going to notice a krass difference in sound right away. And in my experience the Elixiers never break in. In hindsight, Elixiers are more the type of strings I would fit onto Ovation guitars (if any) or if I wouldn't be playing guitar on a frequent basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acts Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 The switch to the rich and full sound of Gibson Jumbo strings was the right thing to do for my small-jumbo Epiphone. Had my local luthier had Gibson strings I would have settled for them right away while he was setting up the guitar. To my ear, the Elixier PB strings sound as if they are, for guitar strings, never at their 100% in terms of tonal performance -- more like 80%ish; with Elixier one trades in tonal performance for string longevity. I have, however, not meddled with their Mediums, only their Lights and Ultra Lights in various forms (PB, Nanoweb, etc). If you put on your brand-new J-200 strings, you're going to notice a krass difference in sound right away. And in my experience the Elixiers never break in. In hindsight, Elixiers are more the type of strings I would fit onto Ovation guitars (if any) or if I wouldn't be playing guitar on a frequent basis. Partner..I'm gonna run with your opinion and restring mine with the J200 PB Lights also. From what I've read and researched, and by your comments also, it strikes me that the Elixers are a long lasting string, but you do forfeit a variable of tonal quality depending on the guitar you string them with. I'm for cranking out all the quality sound that this Jumbo can produce, so the Gibson J200s, being guitar body specific, seem to be the most practical choice. I'll keep you updated on how this comes out. And thanks for your opinions and information, it's greatly appreciated !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohyew812 Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 You can't compare mediums to lights, just as you can't compare 80/20 to PB. To each their own, and certainly when it comes to strings... but for a top this big, to me, nothing but medium gauge strings drives it properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djw171 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 What makes Gibson J200 strings different to their Masterbuilt strings? Why a string specific to a guitar? I notice that the J200 strings have silk wrap on the end, same as the Martin Marquis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohyew812 Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 What makes Gibson J200 strings different to their Masterbuilt strings? Why a string specific to a guitar? Marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Marketing. "Ya think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard McCoy Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 What makes Gibson J200 strings different to their Masterbuilt strings? Why a string specific to a guitar? I notice that the J200 strings have silk wrap on the end, same as the Martin Marquis. If we believe what's printed on the packaging, then the J-200 strings are slowly wound on top of having silk wraps on the end, both of which don't find mention on the Masterbuilt packaging. As to whether there are differences in wire diameter for the core and winding between the J-200 and Masterbuilt strings, we can but suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acts Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Partner..I'm gonna run with your opinion and restring mine with the J200 PB Lights also. From what I've read and researched, and by your comments also, it strikes me that the Elixers are a long lasting string, but you do forfeit a variable of tonal quality depending on the guitar you string them with. I'm for cranking out all the quality sound that this Jumbo can produce, so the Gibson J200s, being guitar body specific, seem to be the most practical choice. I'll keep you updated on how this comes out. And thanks for your opinions and information, it's greatly appreciated !! I wanted to get back in here and update this post as I said I would. I wound up running the Elixers for several more weeks of at least a hour a day playing, just to give them a full break in and show their stuff. In the mean time I did get some Gibson J200 lights in preparation to change the Elixers out. I also wanted to work up the nerve to change out the old Plastic Saddle with a new Bone Saddle. Knowing there was going to be some trimming, fitting and reshaping involved in getting the new Saddle to fit like the old plastic did without going to far had me a bit fearful, but in the end I overcame the anxiety, and went ahead like I knew what I was doing. I just finished the transition and I am really glad that I did. I fit the new Saddle in it's slot perfectly, restrung it with the J200s and all I can say is ... YES, you can tell the difference between the two string sets. The J200s are amazingly rich in tone and overall quality of sound. I wasn't really looking for overall volume, just overall tonal quality, and the difference between the two sets was striking. I think that's all I can add. I will never get any other strings for my Epiphone EJ200SCE/N other than the Gibson J200 strings. And a side note, the Bone Nut/Saddle change-out in my opinion is a must do for these big bodied babies. This guitar just keeps getting better and better !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8_4thesh0w Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 My humble recommendation would be to try a set of D'Addario EFT Flat Tops. I play light gauge EFT-16 12-53s on an Ovation and I am totally in love with them. I tried their EXPs and now I'm completely put off from using coated strings. I couldn't wait to change them. When I tried the EFTs - that was it. The drawback is they cost more and may not last as long but the fantastic reduction in finger noise is more than worth it to me. You may have to order them online. A lot of stores don't stock them. I also own an EJ212 and I'm seriously considering buying an extra set and extra strings to make up my own 12-string Flat Top set. If it was a EJ200, it would have EFTs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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