MLD88 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum and have a lovely vintage sunburst Epi EJ 200 which I absolutely love! What strings do you recommend? I currently use Martin SP Extra Light and they're okay, but if there's better ones out there then I'll try them! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverden Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would try Gibson J-200 strings. My personal preference is Elixir Nanoweb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennysmoke Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 If you really wanna bring out the best tone from your EJ you should try changing to mediums... I own an j 200 artist, an a '74 FT 570 ( which is basically a less adorned J200) both came with light strings... I swapped to mediums, which I do on all my acoustics, the difference is amazing... oh, and I also junked the garbage plastic bridge pins and installed Ebony pins instead... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinchemadcow Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 What are the guages on the sets? like the meds and by chance do you know that the original strings are at the store? I picked up my artist at the Guitar Center in San Antonio and loved every little thing about it so when i pick up a new set of strings i dont know what i should buy any help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennysmoke Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 What are the guages on the sets? like the meds and by chance do you know that the original strings are at the store? I picked up my artist at the Guitar Center in San Antonio and loved every little thing about it so when i pick up a new set of strings i dont know what i should buy any help? I use D'Addario EJ17 Medium .013 - .056 Phosphor Bronze... very warm, bright and balanced tone.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennysmoke Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I use D'Addario EJ17 Medium .013 - .056 Phosphor Bronze... very warm, bright and balanced tone.... oh, my artist was shipped with light strings... not sure of gauges though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGibson Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I play with lights on mine - sounds great and plays great. Which reminds me, I need to change them. Nothing like a new set of strings to bring it back to life. If you're playing with extra lights, might just want to move up one step at a time to see if you like the changes in tone and playability. D'Addario Phosphor Bronze works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Extra light to medium is a big jump 'tho a jumbo does need heavier strings to drive it. You could try Martin or Darco lights(54 bottom),Medium lights(slightly heavier 4th/5th) or Bluegrass(medium bottom/light top). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 If you prefer a mellow tone opt for the Martin light or medium phospher-bronze but if you like a bright lively tone go for the D'Addario Nickel light gauge strings 10-46 with a wound 3rd-they go by the name:EXL 110W-light wound 3rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennysmoke Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Extra light to medium is a big jump 'tho a jumbo does need heavier strings to drive it. You could try Martin or Darco lights(54 bottom),Medium lights(slightly heavier 4th/5th) or Bluegrass(medium bottom/light top). I totally agree it is a huge jump to go from XL's to Mediums, but the payoff in tone and volume and projection is well worth the pain of getting your hands used to the heavier strings... and the lights my Artist came with sounded good, don't get me wrong... but with Ebony bridge pin upgrade and the medium strings make this already great deal of a guitar, into an amazing sounding one! Honestly, this EJ 200 Artist is "The best" acoustic guitar value out there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennysmoke Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 If you prefer a mellow tone opt for the Martin light or medium phospher-bronze but if you like a bright lively tone go for the D'Addario Nickel light gauge strings 10-46 with a wound 3rd-they go by the name:EXL 110W-light wound 3rd. Hmmmmmmm? Electric strings on an acoustic? Those are the same gauges I put on all my electrics...I buy the Gibbys by the box.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Contrary to popular belief it's perfectly acceptable to put electric strings on an acoustic,it's when you put acoustic strings on an electric things can go pear shaped.Most acoustic strings have an amalgam of non ferrous metals such as copper and zinc,bronze etc. and these non ferrous metals don't react to the pull of the pickup so well and you end up with a somewhat less than perfect signal.Thats why most electric strings are steel core and steel wrapped or wrapped with nickel which is also a much better conductor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svannim Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 Hey, I don't know if you're problem has been solved yet but what about trying this before you change strings; Try getting a really heavy pick (I use a 1.5mm) and pick the guitar right over the sound hole. I used to use a flimsy pick and I find that a heavier pick gives me more control, also, I was used to holding a regular body style guitar before I got the jumbo so my hand naturally picked pretty close to the bridge because of the huge design. But when I started playing right over the sound hole and coupled that with a heavy pick, it gives the guitar a pretty deep and resonating sound, real good for strumming too because it's nice and loud. And just so I make sure this info isn't a COMPLETE waste of your time, I use D'Addario phospher bronze ej17 mediums. Let the strings break in a bit before you replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisMiller Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 I've tried a variety of strings on my EJ-200 Artist and pretty much decided I prefer Elixirs. Once I play them for about an hour, they sound good and last longer than anything I know. Polywebs, by the way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 i've used D'add's for years....13s, but I use 80/20s (used to be called "brass" strings) because they're brighter... i'll soon be swapping pins/saddle/nut for bone and slotting the nut for light or xl strings due to arthritis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I would try Gibson J-200 strings. + 1 on these. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Country Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum and have a lovely vintage sunburst Epi EJ 200 which I absolutely love! What strings do you recommend? I currently use Martin SP Extra Light and they're okay, but if there's better ones out there then I'll try them! Cheers Howdy MLD88 I have a J200 which I installed a Fishburn Matrix Transducer in, and I only use D'Addario EJ15-XL Phosphor Bronze round wound strings on it. It sounds amazing, plugged in or acoustically. It has fantastic mid tones, decent bass, and really crisp highs... AND the strings seem to last forever without losing their sonic abilities. I played it in a Country rock band about 3 nights a week, 3 hours a night, for 2 and a half years, and was only changing strings about every 6 to 8 weeks.. Buddy, that's a LOT of mileage from strings !!! But here again, it's all contingent on your personal taste and what you like. I hope this gives you something to at least consider. Best of luck with the choice. Stoney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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