Jumbo Acoustic advise

[TractorTed]

Hey there -

Just got a great, jumbo acoustic from Epiphone (EJ300s)... I'm new to the world of jumbos and love their sound. As usual though, the factory strings on it I know aren't maximizing its sound. Any suggestions on what strings to put on this beauty?

thanks
T

 

[stonepiano]

I've had two jumbos and use medium lights .013.

enjoy the guitar!

 

[cliff richard]

check out strings made by elixir, i use them on all my acoustics and they make a world of difference.

 

[Light]

Avoid Elixirs like the plague. They sound like shit. They have no brilliance at all, what so ever. They suck.

Of course, that is just my opinion.

What you should really do is buy a set of strings – any strings – and try them. When you change strings, try something else. Eventually, you will find the strings you like, and that is what you use. You will never find the ones you like unless you try a bunch.

The only thing I would recommend is that you avoid anything lighter than lights, or heavier than mediums. Extra-lights are too light to really drive the top, and heavies exert too much tension on the top. They can lead to damage of the guitar. All factory mad guitars are made to handle mediums; though if you want to use lights, they will be fine.


Light

“Cowards can never be moral.”
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Outlaws]

I use extra lights on my Martin.

but then again its basically just a giant subwoofer.


One other thing you can do is get creative. I like to use a slightly thicker string sometimes on a few strings ... namely the bass notes.

Just helps me shine and sparkle the highs while still pounding the lows at any given moment.

 

[foo]

I love D'Addario strings for acoustics.

They absolutely sparkle.

I use the 13's for my big jumbo, and the 12's for the OO-2 size.

foo

 

[c7sus]

Gee Light, I use the NanoWebs and they sound better and stay in tune better than anything else I've ever had on my Martins.

I used Guild 80/20 Phosper/Bronze for years until they moved production to Mexico. I gave up on Martin Marquis, after buying them by the carton for years, when I started getting LOTS of low-E duds.

I've tried Pearse, D'Addarios, probably all of the major acoustic strings. I guess I've used the Elixers exclusively for about the last 5-6 years.

I agree the PolyWeb's sound dull. But the Nano's give me enough of the deep tones I like without being TOO bright.

I use mediums on my D-35L, and lights on my D-45L.

 

[Light]

Gee Light, I use the NanoWebs and they sound better and stay in tune better than anything else I've ever had on my Martins.

I used Guild 80/20 Phosper/Bronze for years until they moved production to Mexico. I gave up on Martin Marquis, after buying them by the carton for years, when I started getting LOTS of low-E duds.

I've tried Pearse, D'Addarios, probably all of the major acoustic strings. I guess I've used the Elixers exclusively for about the last 5-6 years.

I agree the PolyWeb's sound dull. But the Nano's give me enough of the deep tones I like without being TOO bright.

I use mediums on my D-35L, and lights on my D-45L.

Well, as I said, it is just my opinion. I think all of the Elixirs I have heard sound like shit to me. Personally, I only use D'Addario's. I don't know that there is a major difference between then basic brands – GHS, D'Addario, John Pearse (nice guy, by the way), Martin – but I like the environmental advantages of D'Addario (they use less packaging, and they do not acid wash the strings, among other things). Also, we sell more D'Addario strings than any other, and because of the volume of strings we sell, we get very big discounts on their strings.

I use D'Addario EJ phosphor bronze on my acoustics (EJ-16 lights on most guitars, with EJ-17 mediums on one or two instruments), and XL nickel wound lights (EXL-110) on my electrics. And yes, I do have most of the D'Addario model numbers memorized. I place D'Addario orders about once a week, and those numbers stick in your head.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Reggaesoldier]

I agree the PolyWeb's sound dull. But the Nano's give me enough of the deep tones I like without being TOO bright.

ditto!...............