iwalktheline Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 hey guys, I just wanted to ask what strings I should go with for the setup? I have been looking all day and to be honest it's really confusing. I will go with d'addario but I wanted to know what gauge to use. Right now I have mediums on it but it seems like everybody else uses lights. Is there a major reason why?? It's even on the Gibson site that they use lights. Just curious boys and girls..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I certainly prefer lights on both my Birds, find the tone more open and bottom end not as tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 12 - 53 or 12 - 54. 11's get to thin for the Bird. It can work, but you'll want that steel to pull the volume and nectar from the flier. . . ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I've always used lights on my Hummingbird. I like the tone. It's also a bit less stress on a guitar's neck and top. I used to think it made a guitar easier-on-the-fingers (and it might), but I've found for myself that over the years my fingers have few issues over whither or not I'm playing lights or mediums. A good setup seems to take-care of the situation. Not saying that for some folks lights are not better, etc. Just saying that I personally don't find much difference between the two in regards to playability.. Of my current 14 guitars, I think lights are on all but 2-3 of them. Two have mediums and my J60 has light-mediums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salfromchatham Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I had mediums on most dreads I have owned - D-18, HD-28, CEO4r, D-15, Gibson Sheryl Crow, as well as a J200 I owned in the early 90s. They are louder with more punch. My recent Gibson slopes have all been treated to lights though, and I find I like lights better for vocal accompaniment, as well as more string bending and general ease of play. Your bird should be able to handle both, and if you are flatpicking ala bluegrass, then the mediums would be the way to go. Otherwise I would put on lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markini Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 I tried 11s on my Bird and the sound was very low volume. Went back to 12s and the volume went up. Playability no difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 I tried 11s on my Bird and the sound was very low volume. Went back to 12s and the volume went up. Playability no difference. yeah, that's the route I'm going. I know its a matter of personal taste but I like big volume in my guitars, as much as I can get from them at least. If I remember correctly, when I got her she had 11's on her and I could tell it was not as "big" sounding as it could be. I mean no disrespect to people who choose 11's, to each his own but I just couldn't pull the trigger with the 11's myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Depends on your hands.You said Mediums...that's 013's...if you like them keep using those.Most find them thick. If you go light,thats .012's & want D'Addarrio, use the EXP .012-.053. They dont really feel coated and if you are lazy changing strings these will sound brassy & new for a long time. The Ernie Ball Slinky .012's are probably nicer than the D'Add E16 in non coated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 Depends on your hands.You said Mediums...that's 013's...if you like them keep using those.Most find them thick. If you go light,thats .012's & want D'Addarrio, use the EXP .012-.053. They dont really feel coated and if you are lazy changing strings these will sound brassy & new for a long time. The Ernie Ball Slinky .012's are probably nicer than the D'Add E16 in non coated. Your right, sorry about the ##'s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 hey guys, got the bird back and she sounds great. just had a quick question though. In the pictures below, the low E string there isn't much saddle to the right of it, is this a problem? I had the tusq saddle put on today. DSCF2403 by johnjel80, on Flickr DSCF2401 by johnjel80, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Looks fine to these old eyes. What gauge did you settle on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 I went with the 13 -56. I'm just used to them. They are on all my guitars, even the 76 Dove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 I went with the 13 -56. I'm just used to them. They are on all my guitars, even the 76 Dove. Some of my saddles are almost even with the bridge(lower than yours by quite a bit) If you ever get a very lightly built guitar I don't suggest you use the 13-56 strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 hey guys, got the bird back and she sounds great. just had a quick question though. In the pictures below, the low E string there isn't much saddle to the right of it, is this a problem? I had the tusq saddle put on today. The low saddle doesn't give much break angle, but if you don't have intonation problems or buzzing frets, it's not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 . I'm sorta where Nick is on your saddle. To me it looks like both ends of the saddle are getting fairly low, but the middle has room. If you're not noticing any difference in tonality/sound/volume between the two E strings and the rest of them, no worries. If you do notice some differences (that are bothersome) in the tonality/sound/volume between the two E strings and the rest of them, you might consider ramping the two E strings. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 Well that's the weird thing, when I bought it, it wasn't like that. It had more room on both sides. For whatever reason the guy I took it to sanded it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwalktheline Posted May 28, 2013 Author Share Posted May 28, 2013 I meant, when I bought the new tusq saddle recently. Keep in mind, this is supposed to be a brand new saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 Well that's the weird thing, when I bought it, it wasn't like that. It had more room on both sides. For whatever reason the guy I took it to sanded it that way. Adjusting the saddle height is a normal part of a setup. If you asked for lower action, lowering the saddle may be the only way to do it, depending on how the neck relief is set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcorner Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 If you want the guitar to last forever, lights. If you want to max out volume and tone for ten years until it starts to explode, mediums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry K Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 If you want the guitar to last forever, lights. If you want to max out volume and tone for ten years until it starts to explode, mediums. It won't explode. It might need a neck reset somewhat sooner than if you had used lights, but eventually a guitar with a dove-tail joint wearing lights will need a neck reset too. It's a tool to make music. Go with what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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