Strings for small body acoustic guitar

[mrbowes]

I picked up an old Aria small body guitar and I really love it - the action is nice and low, the intonation is spot on and the neck has a nice feel to it.

I'm kind of lost as far as strings for acoustic guitars go (I'm more of a bass player). I adore TI Jazz flats for my bass, so I know that company has something going on, but I'm not sure if I want flatwound strings on this guitar.

I'm looking for some easy playing, bright but full sounding strings (not nylon) that will last more than a week of playing an hour a day. Are there any such options?

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[Blue Groove]

...

As a fellow bassist, get medium or thicker. Anything smaller and it will sound fairly weak, I use medium/heavy on my Taylor 410 and love 'em. Flatwounds will make it mellow, round will make it bright. Hope this helps

 

[Slowrider]

When my students would ask that question, I'd tell them "If you strum hard, you need heavier strings". Small guitars will be OK with light guage , also.

 

[32-20-Blues]

Youll get away with a set of lights. I like Martin strings, they seem to last if you don't go crazy with the right hand. Good luck.

 

[Light]

At least try lights. Small toped guitars can get overwhelmed by the power in a set of mediums. NEVER use anything heavier than mediums on an acoustic guitar. But on a small guitar, a set of lights can have a very imediate, delicate sound that just perfectly suits the guitar.

As for brand, I like D'Addario, but I will be the first person to tell you that it has nothing to do with the sound of the strings (they all sound remarkably similar). I like the way they package their strings, and I like the fact that their manufacturing process is much less enviromentally distructive.


Light

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

 

[Dani Pace]

Light guage strings will have a little less volume than medium but if you have a light picking style they are what I would recomend. As mentioned round wound strings will have a brighter sound than flatwound. Coated strings also lack some of the brightness of round wound.
You might try a set of 10-46 guage strings and see how they sound, if they sound allright stick with them. If they seem lacking on the lower strings you can try 10-52 guage but I wouldnt go any heavier.
For brand I like Martin acoustic strings but that is a matter of personal choice.

 

[Slowrider]

Few months ago I put a set of Elixer med.s on a friends Washburn acoustic, man they were as smooth as butter. Think I'll get a set for my 12.