[billy16]

ok, i know that electric guitar strings put more stress on your guitar, but if i were to put some light guage strings, like 9's or so, would that do terrible damage?

a friend of mine took and put electric strings on his acoustic, it sounds awesome, but i don't know what or how much damage will be done.

[HurleySurf]

Yeah... I'm getting tired of paying so much for Elixirs for my acoustic. I use Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.11-.48) and am seriously cosidering putting some on my acoustic. I have the same question you basically. Is this not a good thing to do? ~N8

[theprik]

electric strings will have less tension on the neck, i put boomers on my acoustic once didnt sound very good

[dadfad]

Merle Travis, the great fingerpicker (Travis Picking, etc) used the same electric strings on both his electric and acoustic guitars. He used Black Diamonds (from the original Black Diamond Company that went out of business, not the new company) and then Fenders generally. But he wasn't picky. His son said when he'd go into a guitar-shop to buy strings he'd just say "Gimme ten packs of steel guitar-strings". and wasn't particular what they were. Diamonds, and then Fenders were just the most common brands around back then.

[lyra14]

I imagine it wouldn't sound particularly loud, however. Electric strings aren't made to have a lot of resonance- the main design goal is for their vibration to be picked up by the pickups well.

[grzegorz_panek]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

[dadfad]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The only benefit of using Elixirs is how long they last. They are merely a decent sounding string that lasts a long time. It really isn't cheaper to use them because of their longevity (assuming you change strings in a normal length of time). It just saves the time and trouble of doing so. I would never buy Elixirs based on their sound-quality.

[grzegorz_panek]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The only benefit of using Elixirs is how long they last. They are merely a decent sounding string that lasts a long time. It really isn't cheaper to use them because of their longevity (assuming you change strings in a normal length of time). It just saves the time and trouble of doing so. I would never buy Elixirs based on their sound-quality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see your point very well... If I had about 60 guitars I'd do the same with those that I wouldn't pick every day.

[dadfad]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The only benefit of using Elixirs is how long they last. They are merely a decent sounding string that lasts a long time. It really isn't cheaper to use them because of their longevity (assuming you change strings in a normal length of time). It just saves the time and trouble of doing so. I would never buy Elixirs based on their sound-quality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see your point very well... If I had about 60 guitars I'd do the same with those that I wouldn't pick every day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, those are the only guitars I put Elixirs on. Guitars I don't use very often but hate to bother changing strings when there might be only an hour or so of actual playing-time (or less) on them in a four or six month period.

[pimp_vince]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The only benefit of using Elixirs is how long they last. They are merely a decent sounding string that lasts a long time. It really isn't cheaper to use them because of their longevity (assuming you change strings in a normal length of time). It just saves the time and trouble of doing so. I would never buy Elixirs based on their sound-quality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see your point very well... If I had about 60 guitars I'd do the same with those that I wouldn't pick every day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, those are the only guitars I put Elixirs on. Guitars I don't use very often but hate to bother changing strings when there might be only an hour or so of actual playing-time (or less) on them in a four or six month period.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i use elixirs.... but i'm a taylor man... elixirs are pretty much made for taylors... plus they have a smoother feel... less squeak, but that's really marginal.

i just hate changing and buying strings... being in university and having no money

[The_buffalo]

I use electric guitar strings on my Epiphone EJ-160E because it has a built in magnetic guitar pickup. I phoned Epiphone and asked them what gauge string to use and they told me .011 - .050 so that's what I use. I have used them for about two years now, and so far they haven't damaged the guitar. On my other acoustics and acoustic / electrics that have a transducer, I use med. light acoustics - .012 - .054. Damage to the guitar usually comes from using too heavy a gauge of string, or tuning too high.

[billy16]

ok, thanks everyone. i can't get anywhere to but good strings though. the closest place is wal-mart. but i have to settle for what i can get.

[metallica_fan_03]

i put 10-52's on my tanglewood before. it was o.k the sound was aright but i prefered the feel of proper heavy acoustic strings.

right now i have 13's on, the intonation is way off, the action if about a mile high but the sound is o.k. i reckon with a proper set up every thing would be grand- i just have other things to spend my money on right now

[epearson]

I've heard guys who have put Boomers on their electrics, and they usually sound pretty bad, no volume, and sometimes intonation gets screwed up. Acoustic strings are always better if you can find them. A regular pack of noncoated strings shouldn't runs more than 6-8 bucks, as a matter of fact, you can get GHS at Wal-Mart now and they're one of the best brands.

[evileye]

You can put on electric strings, you can put on light acoustic strings, 9 or 8's. No prob with that.

Most acoustic strings are much cheaper than Elixirs... (you can buy them for the price of Slinkies, XL's or whatever) and (the following statement is a matter of my personal opinion) most cheap acoustic strings sound better than Elixirs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The only benefit of using Elixirs is how long they last. They are merely a decent sounding string that lasts a long time. It really isn't cheaper to use them because of their longevity (assuming you change strings in a normal length of time). It just saves the time and trouble of doing so. I would never buy Elixirs based on their sound-quality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see your point very well... If I had about 60 guitars I'd do the same with those that I wouldn't pick every day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, those are the only guitars I put Elixirs on. Guitars I don't use very often but hate to bother changing strings when there might be only an hour or so of actual playing-time (or less) on them in a four or six month period.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i use elixirs.... but i'm a taylor man... elixirs are pretty much made for taylors... plus they have a smoother feel... less squeak, but that's really marginal.

i just hate changing and buying strings... being in university and having no money

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I use Elixirs on my Gibson J185, but it's all a matter of taste. I love the tone they give once I've worn them in a bit, and the only reason I stil with them is they last exceptionally long. I'm not a huge fan of changing strings...

[SRVfan2004]

changing the strings will merely change the sound and the "playability"

generally, 13's and 12's will be harder to play than 9's or 8's as you have to press them down more....they will also give a thicker tone.

that said i use 9's sometimes 10's with a 0.6mm pick, so it glides across nicely and the fact that i play blues means my strings and picks are more suited to it.

i have martin 9's on my acoustic and d'addario 10's on my electric, but i prefer the d'addario's they give a better sound in my opinion..

just chop and change until you find something you like

[jarboerd]

ok, i know that electric guitar strings put more stress on your guitar, but if i were to put some light guage strings, like 9's or so, would that do terrible damage?

a friend of mine took and put electric strings on his acoustic, it sounds awesome, but i don't know what or how much damage will be done.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No damage, but lower volume. The best bet for less finger wear and good sound would be something like Martin Bronze wound ultra-lights. If they hurt you need to play more often to keep the callouses built up.