Page 1 of Replacing acoustic guitar strings...

I snapped a string this morning and it`s been SOOOOOO long since I replaced my strings that I have absolutely no idea what I`ve got on there - or what the different gauges mean when I DO buy some...

My current set are fairly heavy-duty - the top four are thick (coil/spring-like construction if you know what I mean) and bronze in colour and the bottom two are standard thin silver-coloured wire.

It`s an Ovation deep-bowl electro-acoustic. I think I remember putting standard electric strings on it previously (does it sound like I have?) and can anyone suggest a replacement set that`ll take a bashing? I rarely plug it in these days so play it quite hard.

Thanks

julianf

Dont use electric strings.

Buy some 13-56 medium (acoustic) guitar strings.

They should take some bashing.

Plenty on ebay

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=acoustic+guitar+strings&category0=

This item was edited on Sunday, 13th August 2006, 23:27

Hi, the string guage is normally shown as two figures which indicate the size of the high E (steel) and low E (bronze wound) strings.
I have a pack here and it`s 0.12 - 0.54. Most people just quote the high E string, in this case it would be 12`s. Normally the pack will say whether the strings are classed as light, medium etc and just to give you an idea 12`s are light.
Acoustic strings are normally heavier guage as they don`t have the benefit of being amplified and start around 12`s but electrics are much thinner, I have Ernie Ball 10`s on my `leccie which is a pretty standard size.

It`s hard to say what you have on your Ovation at the moment. If they`re all steel then I`d guess they were leccie strings but Martin do do an ultra-light string called silk and steel which are all steel, so I guess it could possibly be these.

Have you been playing long? Do you have callouses on your fingers? If you have then I`d probably go for a light/medium bronze type string to have a good tone without needing too much pressure to fret the strings, otherwise go for a light such as 12`s or if you want something lighter I can recommend the silk and steel Martin strings (grey box) which are 11.5`s.

Cheers

Thanks guys.

I`ve been playing ten years now although I`m a bit of a wimp when it comes to knowledge/competency/progression... I`ve avoided tab like the plague and am strictly a rhythm man ;) Also, for example, I can`t tune by ear. Have had a couple of electrics and sold my last one, an Epiphone SG, to buy a boat :D I`d like a Les Paul at some point but it`d be a luxury more than anything and the acoustic fits my style of playing & singing much better.

I`d love to be able to get my head around tab but I prefer strumming out a tune to picking one.

Medium bronze sound like the ones for me, I`ll let you know.

julianf

Quote:
I`ve been playing ten years now although I`m a bit of a wimp when it comes to knowledge/competency/progression... I`ve avoided tab like the plague and am strictly a rhythm man Also, for example, I can`t tune by ear. Have had a couple of electrics and sold my last one, an Epiphone SG, to buy a boat I`d like a Les Paul at some point but it`d be a luxury more than anything and the acoustic fits my style of playing & singing much better.

I`d love to be able to get my head around tab but I prefer strumming out a tune to picking one.

Tab is super easy to learn, it`s certainly useful for lead but it`s really helpful in describing chords too (I`d never visualise a C7ADD6 without it - not that I can stretch to play it at the moment :) ). Tab was one reason I decided to take up the guitar - no difficult music reading for me thanks.
I stumbled on a website a month or two back which has really helped me with learning the fretboard and tackling barre chords, it`s got a tab lesson here: http://www.audio-guitar-lessons.com/how-to-read-guitar-tab.html

Do you play in a band, jam with friends or do you just play for your own entertainment?

I`ve been playing for about a year and I can`t tune by ear at all. I`ve got an acoustic but I`ve always wanted a Les Paul and bought this as a cheapie last month as a first leccie.



Got it from here:

http://www.stagebeat.co.uk/P/3082/V100CS+CHERRY+SUNBURST+WITH+WILKINSON+PICKUPS

Cheers

This item was edited on Monday, 14th August 2006, 16:01

Nice guitar - just what I`m after!

Thanks for the tab website, I`ll have a run through it this week. I did give tab a go years back and was amazed how competent it can make you sound but too much to remember and too much fast finger changing involved for me!

I can`t read music either, I use THIS kind of format to learn songs and play along with them until I`ve got it. I know the main dozen or so common chords and tend to stick to songs that use them - how lazy/safe is that?!

Never been in a band (not got the time although I`d love the idea of it) and mostly play at home but have done a few turns amongst friends in bars, parties etc. One of my local pubs has just started an open mic night on Fridays so you never know...!!!

BTW - I got 12s for an acoustic guitar today - spot on.

julianf

This item was edited on Monday, 14th August 2006, 17:32

Ah yeah I see what you mean. I`ve used those too - really handy to get going on a track.

So what do you play? Looking at the chord link you gave was Razorlight so I guess pop, rock stuff?

Quote:
I know the main dozen or so common chords and tend to stick to songs that use them - how lazy/safe is that?!

Hehe, doesn`t matter as long as you play it in time, I definately need a metronome :)

Glad you got your strings sorted, you`ll have to post something up on YouTube now. :)

Cheers