Dumb guitar string question...

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mjr

mjr

ADD -- blessing and curse
And yes, I know this is a dumb question, but I don't want to potentially waste two sets of strings...

Is there a sound difference if you put "acoustic guitar" strings on an electric, and vice-versa?

See, I told you it was a dumb question. :D
 
Yep. There is. Electric strings on an acoustic might sound OK, but since electric strings tend to be lighter guage, they may sound kinda plinky. Acoustic strings on an electric will be heavier than you want most likely and the wound third string is not going to bend very well (not a problem for very basic strumming, but for any kind of lead playing or even moderately interesting rythym guitar you are going to want to bend that third string.) Might be ok for jazz. HOWEVER, depending on what kind of acoustic strings they are it may or may not work well with your pickups depending on materials of construction. Could be quiet, could be unbalanced... could be fine. I dunno.

J
 
It has more to do with the alloys used and the way that the pickup on an electric detects them. String alloys are designed with a purpose in mind. If I was you I'd go with an electric set for an electric. and an acoustic set for an acoustic.
 
Acoustic strings on an electric will sound like poo. I know because when I was a dumb broke kid I tried it.
 
I think bronzewounds would tend to stimulate pickups less than electric strings? Just guessing.
 
Yes, bronze strings are not as electrically conductive and therefore do not provide a strong enough electromagnetic field for the pickups. In other words, weak shitty signal.
 
Murdersgalore said:
Yes, bronze strings are not as electrically conductive and therefore do not provide a strong enough electromagnetic field for the pickups. In other words, weak shitty signal.
Click to expand...

Bronze is not as electrically conductive as what? It is the electromagnetic inductive value that is important.
 
muttley600 said:
A good guess after post #2.;)
Click to expand...

It was a good guess before post #2. :p

I've noticed that in-hole pickups for acoustics just don't seem to get the same kind of response and I had always attributed that to the strings.
 
Heavier electric strings can work on acoustic, John Renbourn has been using them for several years. Gibson used to sell their Mona Steel strings as acoustic/electric.
 
John Renbourn used D'adario custom nickel sets for yearsi n later years mainly because they matched the Sunrise soundhole pickup he was using. When he switched to a Fishmann rare earth soundhole pickup he switched to bronze strings specifically because of the pickup and it's response. A case in point.
 
Just whatever you do, don't put acoustic strings on a classical guitar. My dad did this and completely ruined his guitar. And I was the one that got stuck playing it.
 
A good compromise is a set of jazz lights, which are basically nickel-wound 0.11's with a wound G. You can bend the G quite a bit, but not like a set of super slinky's or whatever. However, they rock for playing hard rhythm, like The Who. There are heavier jazz strings, 0.12's and even 0.13's, and they might as well be acoustic strings. I've used D'Addario jazz/rock 0.11's with a wound G for years.-Richie
 
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