#11

Yeah they’re nice guitars. Although as always - just play a load first and see what sounds best. Only complaint about my A&L is the actions a bit high. I’ve lowered it a bit by sanding the bridge myself. Although I’m used to it 'cos I play with heavy 13-56 medium acoustic strings so my hands can press anything down now.

#12

CHRIST!

Stick to electric 11s with a wound G-String mate :smiley:

#13

Yeah not gonna lie when I saw your video of you restringing your acoustic with electric strings I… I did feel a little bit sick. Enjoy your thin, wispy tone at Reading I guess.

#15

The thing is, it sounds absolutely fine. And it’s a common thing.

Part of it is that I used to use a Woody pickup in my 12-string as it was pure acoustic. Now as you know, bronze-wound acoustic strings are rubbish with standard pickups because they don’t generate the right field on them. Rare Earth pickups work better with them but cost a ridiculous amount. So you need to use actual steel strings on your steel string guitar.

Interestingly I’ve noticed some electro-acoustic guitars come with standard pickups embedded before the soundhole and obviously they sound like ass when you use bronze strings, the top two strings coming out far too strong.

#16

I don’t like it but each to their own!

I guess you’re talking about using pick-ups. Most of the time with acoustics I’m thinking mic’d or not at all. Obviously some gigs you can’t do that but with home recording etc. there’s no reason not to. Shoving an SM58 in front of it > any pick-up/string combo.

#17

Home recording I always did both if I could spare the tracks, to be honest, although I tended to use condenser mics rather than 58s for the flatter response. I did once record a mate doing solely acoustic so I used three mics - the 58, the condenser and my cheap bass drum mic, but there wasn’t a wild amount of variation in the end. Still, allowed for quite a lot of space in the recording, which was nice.

Live on stage mics are okay but feedback was always a menace as was moving about. I was always nervous enough that I didn’t want to have a performance marred by trying to stick in a particular position, etc, so I always wanted to use DI if possible. Most of those bridge pickups tend to come out pretty good through a DI box with a bit of careful mixing.

The thing with bronze strings is they sound amazing when you first put them on but they dulled so quickly. Electric strings have less initial punch but will last far longer with a consistent tone, as well as obviously being a lot easier to fret due to the automatic lighter action. I can’t develop finger callouses so that matters to me also.

#18

Seeings as this has turned into string talk, what are people’s favourites? I’m new to acoustic, and not keen on the zingy sound of bronze so tried some d’daddario silk and steel, feel really nice and sound softer. Tempted to try some gypsy jazz strings next

#19

'sfair enough! I learnt on a cheap Yamaha with a fucker of an action and then when I bought my own guitar the guy in the shop recommended medium gauge strings for the fullest sound so… stuck with them. Just assumed playing acoustic was always that hard/painful in the beginning but got used to it!

#20

I just use the D’Addario Phosphor Bronze 3 packs. Medium. Never anything else. Not really delved into the world of strings tbh.

#21

D’Addario is my favourite brand too.

#23

For a quality low-cost acoustic you can’t do much better than Faith guitars. I have 2. The preamps are better than anything else I’ve ever owned or played at that price. Used them pretty much exclusively for gigging and recording back when I was doing all that acoustic stuff.

They only make acoustics and are really damn good at it. https://www.faithguitars.com/

(My two faiths have actually better outlasted my tanglewood that was more expensive and not preamped.)

#24

Same here. D’addario Purples

1 Like
#25

How does one pronounce Takamine? I realise I’ve been reading that word for probably 20 years now and never heard it.

Cheers.

#26

I pronounce it tack-a-MEAnie but I might be wrong

#27

“You want an acoustic guitar? Take-a-mine!”

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#28

it completely ignores all your requirements, but I am going to talk about how much I love my gretsch style 1 parlour I got about a month ago. Never had any interest in acoustics before but this one called to me, haven’t played my electric since, and my right arm aches at the point where it leans on the edge of the guitar because I have been playing it so much.

#29

can recommend seagull guitars. i’ve had one a few years and it’s the best of the few i’ve owned.

i think strings are usually 10s, forget

#30

Tahk uh meanie

#31

This thread has confirmed my impression that I am a complete and utter philistine. I have no idea what make my acoustic is and I only put new strings on when one breaks. I play it with a big thick bass pick and I hit the strings “like it’s a percussion instrument” but, you know, I love it.

2 Likes
#32

ha! so this! - minus the bass pick!

:grinning:

1 Like