Official Luthiers Forum!

what strings do you use for "D" size guitars and why

That is a tough question to answer because it is so subjective. I am sure the answers you get will all be personal preference.

So with that in mind... I prefer D'Addario 80/20 Bronze Extra Light, (10-47) or Martin Traditional Extra lights (10-47)
I am always trying different strings but keep coming back to those 2 brands. I prefer the lightest strings I can find since for years I played electric guitars and like the subtle effects light strings have on pressure as well as bending. I am a very light player so I never liked heavy strings. Some people say that you can't produce a loud enough sound (or enough base)with lights but I don't find the difference that great for how I play.

Bob

SIT phosphor bronze lights

Chuck

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Here in bluegrass country, I wouldn't dare put anything but medium gauge strings on a dread. That's just a given baseline. Most guys prefer phosphor, but 80/20's tend to be a little brighter. I find D'Addario EXP's are a reliable choice.


Ken Jones
Mountain Song Guitars

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Back when everybody could carry Martin strings, I always put light Marquis sets on dreads.
Now I prefer D'Addarios.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I use D'Addario EJ18 Phosphor Bronze Strings 14-59 Heavy as when I was learning to play I was told the heavier the string the better the tone, I now know different but still use these on my old Eko Dread

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

D'Addario EJ 16 is my standard string set for all my guitars.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

thanks folks for your help Donny

I generally use Martin, but sometimes use a combination of light and medium. Light for bass ( 4,5,6) medium for treble ( 1,2,3) I remember a Gordon Lightfoot interview some years ago when he said that he used a combination of string gauges on his guitars.

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Under Compensated Nut!

I generally use D'addario phosphor-bronze mediums but not all guitars are created equal and some guitars sound better with different strings.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

if you are asking about guitars for sale, then i put on whatever the client wants. it's their guitar.

for my own stuff usually EJ15's, black diamonds, elixirs, or thomastik's. gotta be .010~.047 for me. then again i don't own any dreds.

I play Bluegrass. I like Martin bluegrass .012 threw .056 Light mediums. A little bit lighter on high end heaver on low end.

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Brad

I like the D'Addario EXP's as well and would probably use 13's.

I have quite a few different guitars. I use certain strings for different guitars. D'Addario. Thomas-Infeld,Ernie Ball. Elixirs,Dogal Diamantes from Italy. Depends on just what guitar I'm stringing. Don't use the same string on a Tele as I use on an Ibanez Jazz Guitar. Etc.


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