Acoustic guitar strings

daveza

daveza

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Now that I have some time I want to get new strings for my acoustic - and go through the finger pain once again.

I normally use medium gauge strings - but am wondering about going light gauge or Silk and Steel to help ease the fingers into playing again.

I'm just concerned the tone will be too mellow/wussy. The Silk and Steel seem to be great for finger-picking but less so for strumming, and I want to do both so somewhere I'm going to have to compromise.

Any thoughts ?
 
D'addario makes a flat wound string. I had them on mine, some years back... Very easy on the fingers and sounds pretty good too.
 
I've heard of flatwound but seems they are more for archtop jazz guitars - and generally seem not recommended for acoustic.

Could perhaps use them for a bit until the callouses are there.
 
daveza said:
I've heard of flatwound but seems they are more for archtop jazz guitars - and generally seem not recommended for acoustic.

Could perhaps use them for a bit until the callouses are there.
Click to expand...

Had them on my Washburn semi-acoustic. Was a nice sound, even for someone who plays mostly alternative and indie type music.
 
daveza said:
Now that I have some time I want to get new strings for my acoustic - and go through the finger pain once again.

I normally use medium gauge strings - but am wondering about going light gauge or Silk and Steel to help ease the fingers into playing again.

I'm just concerned the tone will be too mellow/wussy. The Silk and Steel seem to be great for finger-picking but less so for strumming, and I want to do both so somewhere I'm going to have to compromise.

Any thoughts ?
Click to expand...

You can't go wrong with Elixir's in my opinion - coated strings, I use 10's as they aren't so hard on the fingers and give a "bright" sound :)
I use them on my Electric as well
 
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Personally, I would just get bog-standard D'Addario 11's and suffer through the pain for a month.

Once you build up your callouses and get a bit of finger strength, you will wonder why this was ever even a consideration.
 
Play through the pain! Medium gauge Dunlops are pretty good(13's). If you can afford it, also check out Elixir's strings.
 
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