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Permalink Reply by Tom T on June 22, 2015 at 11:49am

Don't put too much store in the title of these string packs (light, medium, heavy, etc). Look at the gauge of the strings in a pack. You may end up playing around with a lot of different strings to finally get the sound you are seeking. I tried a lot of combinations and ended up with three wound strings to get the mellow, bassey sound. Try a lot of combinations until you find the sound you want.

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on June 22, 2015 at 4:27pm

Well...

all of those gauges would probably be capable of delivering a fairly warm and bluesy sound...

I kind of like .24 .32 .42

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Permalink Reply by JL on June 23, 2015 at 12:17am

my 2 cents, not worth a nickle...

The numbers (GAUGE) are the thickness of the strings, the terms "light, medium, and heavy" refer to the tension the set is intended for.  For a CBG tuned to Gdg a set would be something like :

light  23/30/39
medium 28/35/45
heavy 30/42/54

The 30 can be under light tension and used as the middle string tuned to D, or under heavy tension by tuning it up higher to the g.  More tension lets the string ring longer (sustain) with more of its voice coming from the fundamental tone  for a bassy warmth.  less tension lets the string's harmonics give more voice for a brighter sound.

hope I got this right...lol

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 23, 2015 at 4:36am

I prefer 024, 032, 042 gauge for G D G tuning...the top (024) string has little more tension in it than the other pair, but I like this extra resistance for working with the slide. I'd regard this as a medium to heavy gauge..some people like a much lighter set, but I find they feel weak and wimpy, especially under the slide and with heavy picking and my percussive right hand technique. Hollowbelly uses 022, 032 042 and tunes to A E A (I know, because I put together custom gauge string sets for him).

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on June 23, 2015 at 10:12pm

just bought 5 x 3 sets of D'Addario medium strings nickle wound 24,32,42.

so we'll see how these go.

they worked out at £4.18 this inc shipping.($6.60) so they are cheap enough for me.

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