Tried lighter acoustic strings

[Mincer]

I honestly don't mind lighter strings, especially since most of the time playing, the guitar is plugged it. I am hearing the pickup system more than the guitar at that point.

[Bogner]

It is amazing how much difference a gauge change can make on an acoustic. I like the 13's and at times tune down a step or half step (all strings equally). I could live with 12's if I had to but anything less for me doesn't sound or feel right.

[JB_From_Hell]

I like the smaller extra light 10_46 sets on acoustic

12s are just too much for me

Is your guitar setup properly? For whatever reason, lots of people think mile high action is necessary. I haven’t measured it, but mine doesn’t feel that much higher than my electrics.

[ehdwuld]

I like the smaller extra light 10_46 sets on acoustic

12s are just too much for me

[NegativeEase]

I'm usually 13, tuning is more reliable, sound is slightly bolder acoustically, harmonics and character of the frets is livelier and most important for me -I like the "bounce" from stiff stings returning from hammer ons etc... the instrument "bounces" more which is way more fun to play -especially if you are doing Leo Kottke type bluegrass playin.

-It's actually similar to playing a Chris Squire bassline on a 4001 versus a Pbass -the Ric's scale and tension is just more natural for that type of hammer on/bouncing rhythmic playing.

[PFDarkside]

100% agree. I hate the rattly tin can sound of an acoustic with strings that are too light. I’ve found for my specific guitar, “bluegrass gauge” is ok (12-56) but I really think everyone needs to try their acoustic with the string gauge it was designed for.

If all you are going to do is plug an ovation in and use the piezo lighter gauge is fine but the sound of an appropriately strung traditional acoustic is glorious!

[JB_From_Hell]

I’ve always been a 13-56 acoustic string user. Occasionally I’d try the poorly named Bluegrass sets (12-56), but always went back to 13s.

I decided to try 11-52 on my 60-something Gibson SJ, and really wanted to love them. I guess they’re a *little* easier to bend, but A LOT less in overall sound. It’s less dynamic, less full sounding, and just overall worse. Pretty bad overall trade off for being slightly easier to play.

The funny part is, the guitar isn’t hard to play with mediums. Yeah, minor third bends are questionable, but the action is reasonable low, and sounds awesome. Slide playing is obviously infinitely better, too, unless you like that all buzz kind of sound.