Clarky Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 My daughter has bought an Ibanez acoustic and the strings are so high tension she finds it unplayable (I find it hard too). I know many of you BCers also have acoustic guitars and wondered if someone can recommend me a low tension set of strings for an acoustic. I know nothing about acoustic strings so any help is welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 What do you mean by high tension? Is it nylon strung or steel? Do you mean the action is too high, or the strings are too heavy a gauge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 (edited) Its steel strung, the action is fine (fairly low) but the strings are as taut as cables so very hard to depress. Makes chordal playing very hard. My daughter spent all her birthday money on this guitar so she's a bit upset about it! Edit: its this guitar, the semi-acoustic Ibanez AEL 10e [attachment=31414:78_large.jpg] Edited August 23, 2009 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I would guess the guitar came strung with 12s. I would try a decent quality set of 10s or 11s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 [quote name='Pete Academy' post='578207' date='Aug 23 2009, 02:26 PM']I would guess the guitar came strung with 12s. I would try a decent quality set of 10s or 11s.[/quote] Cool, thanks mate. I have taken your advice and ordered a set of Rotosound 11s in bronze which seemed to get some good comements on Stringsdirect. If that doesn't work, I will go for a set of 10s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzibass Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Thomastiks are excellent and seem to last for ages and still sound great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Certain strings have more or less tension than others, but it generally relates to nylon strings. It's probably the string gauge she's struggling with. Let me know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.T Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 (edited) Hi Clarky, I had a similar situation and was pointed in the direction of Newtone strings.... fitted a set of light guage (9 or 10) and job done. The Newtones seems very flexy compared with regular accoustic strings, but make sure you get the 10's or lighter. If this is definately a string issue, not a set-up issue.... the Newtones will resolve it. Edit: Just checked, and they are called Newtone Master Class. Edited August 25, 2009 by Mr.T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 [quote name='Mr.T' post='579891' date='Aug 25 2009, 09:51 AM']Hi Clarky, I had a similar situation and was pointed in the direction of Newtone strings.... fitted a set of light guage (9 or 10) and job done. The Newtones seems very flexy compared with regular accoustic strings, but make sure you get the 10's or lighter. If this is definately a string issue, not a set-up issue.... the Newtones will resolve it.[/quote] thanks mate, the 11s should arrive today and I'll give them a go. If they don't work out, I will go for some 10s. The good thing is a new set of acoustic strings doesn't cost much, unlike with my basses! eg, TI Flats £33 a pop (albeit they do last for millenia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Just for future reference, Clarky. There is a relationship between the guage of the string on an any guitar, particularly an acoustic guitar, and the sound. The lighter the string, the weaker the sound but it is easier to play, the heavier the string, the better the sound but it is harder to play. It is a compromise between string tension and sound. Your daughter will definately feel the benefit of a lighter guage but, in the longer term, as she gets better, it may be worth going up a guage every now and then until you get the optimum sound/action ratio. It could, of course, be the action on the guitar (the height of the strings from the fingerboard) is too high. If this is the case, the neck can be adjusted but this needs to be done by an experienced luthier so don't try it if you don't know what you are doing. If you only just bought the guitar and the shop is nearby, they may do it for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='579903' date='Aug 25 2009, 10:01 AM']Just for future reference, Clarky. There is a relationship between the guage of the string on an any guitar, particularly an acoustic guitar, and the sound. The lighter the string, the weaker the sound but it is easier to play, the heavier the string, the better the sound but it is harder to play. It is a compromise between string tension and sound. Your daughter will definately feel the benefit of a lighter guage but, in the longer term, as she gets better, it may be worth going up a guage every now and then until you get the optimum sound/action ratio. It could, of course, be the action on the guitar (the height of the strings from the fingerboard) is too high. If this is the case, the neck can be adjusted but this needs to be done by an experienced luthier so don't try it if you don't know what you are doing. If you only just bought the guitar and the shop is nearby, they may do it for free.[/quote] Thanks Bilbo. The action is fine, as it happens, its just the string tension is a bit ridiculous. Its an electro-acoustic model so to some extent the unplugged volume isn't overwhelmingly important as she intends to play it through a little combo. At this stage I am more interested in the playability of the guitar (and stopping her being upset!) but - you are absolutely right - as she gets better we should review the strings/setup. As I said earlier, the good thing here is that new strings are pretty cheap for acoustics (a fiver a packet roughly - unless you are buying coated strings or Thomastiks!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.T Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 +1 to the above. Although a difficult to play guitar could put someone off learning how to play? It might also be worth looking at the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 Result! I just put the Roto 11s on the guitar and its playability has been completely transformed. Happy daughter now! Thanks everyone for your advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.T Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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