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Posts: 32
Location: Columbus, Ohio | I have always used lights. Was thinking of trying mediums. DAddario exp's. What can I expect? Thanks |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Heavier gauge strings usually produce more harmonics, so you'll probably get a richer sound. You might also have to adjust the intonation and neck relief. |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | You should get more volume, and going from lights to mediums should not require any adjustment on most guitars. You would have to have your action on the ragged edge for that to happen.
Bailey |
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February 2003
Posts: 43
Location: South Africa | I got the following info off the Ovation website:
"We use D'Addario EXP16 (.012-.053) Phosphor Bronze strings on our guitars. Another string we like is the Adamas 1818 (.012-.053) Phosphor Bronze. You can use whatever string suits your playing style. Heavier or lighter strings might require a truss rod adjustment"
My Celebrity was purchased new, and so I assumed that it had come with these D'Addario's. I have just re-strung it with the same D'Addario's EXP16 (.012-.053) Phosphor Bronze, and this has raised the action quite a bit! Is this comment under FAQ on the Ovation website correct?
I prefer to play with the action as low as possible. What should I do - adjust the truss rod, or use a lighter gauge string? |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Mike
that comment probably applies to USA made Ovations and not the celebrity line. Although I don't see why you could not use the D'Addario strings. You probably need a truss rod adjustment. |
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Posts: 33
Location: Pittsburgh PA | "We use D'Addario EXP16 (.012-.053) Phosphor Bronze strings on our guitars. Another string we like is the Adamas 1818 (.012-.053) Phosphor.
I have a Celebrity and it came with the D'Addario EXP16 Phosphor Bronze Strings. The sound of those strings plus the playability of the guitar is what sold me. I have replaced the strings about three times since I purchased it last fall.
If those strings did make the action higher I think I would just get the neck adjusted.
--Mike |
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February 2003
Posts: 43
Location: South Africa | OK, Truss rod adjustment is the way I'll be going!
As a matter of interest, any idea how many players do this sort of adjustment themselves, as opposed to sending the instrument into a dealer? |
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February 2003
Posts: 32
Location: Columbus, Ohio | One question Mike. Did you replace the strings one at a time? I have found if you take off all the strings you will definately need to adjust the truss. It is very easy to do yourself. Go to frets.com. A full explaination on truss rod adj. You will need to turn it clockwise 1/2 turn. It will then take several hours to adjust itself. Just go 1/2 turn a night. No more. You might wake up in the morning and have to back it down. Most people expect it to move while they are turning the truss and just keep on cranking. Be patient, it will go back to where it was. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | I have never changed my strings one at a time. I have never had a problem, but I must tell you I have not heard what is consider proper here. I just take all the strings off and clean my guitars up before I restring them. Anybody have thoughts on this? .....Paul Hebert |
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Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | This should get you a download of the Ovation manual. ( http://www.ovationguitars.com/img/OVmanual.pdf ) |
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Posts: 18
Location: Radford VA | I just changed my strings yesterday on my CC057. I too went from light EXP's to medium EXP's and I'm sure they are the same size as yours Mike. If my memory serves me correctly the EXP line of strings only has two sizes so I'm almost positive the strings I just put on are the same gauge and all. To be honest I've seen no concrete evidence that my action has risen at all. Maybe this will take a few days but playability wise and visually I really can't tell a difference from the mediums and lights.
Patrick |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | EXP15 .010 - .047
EXP26 .011 - .052
EXP16 .012 - .053
EXP19 .012 - .056
EXP17 .013 - .056
EXP38 .010 - .047 (12 string)
EXP42 .016 - .056 (Resophonic Guitar)
The above are phosphor bronze.
the below are 80/20 bronze.
EXP10 .010 - .047
EXP11 .012 - .053
EXP12 .013 - .056 |
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Posts: 398
Location: So. Cal. | I switched from medium to light for over ten years. It seems to serve both finger picking and strumming equally well, although medium will definitely be more interesting for playing rhythm.
Just so you know, a number of manufacturers now offer .011 on the E string (they call it Custom Light), it's quite usefull especially if you have an older guitar and .010 is too light for you.
As for changing strings, I always do it one string at a time. Even though it may not be a huge deal, it won't hurt the guitar if you subject it with a less drastic change in pressure. Once in while, I would pull all 3 strings at a time to clean the fretboard.
Just me and my Adamas! |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Going from light to medium should not change the action, they may feel different or make a previously high action noticable. Most guitars will need an occasional neck adjustment as time goes by, and changing strings may reveal this. Today's lack of any follow up from sellers has eliminated that service that good sellers used to provide. "Take it home, play it for a few weeks and bring it back and we'll check it out and make some final adjustments. Bring it in if it ain't right and we'll fix it." None of that today so I guess you all better learn how to make the adjustments and if you screw it up I'll gaurantee you that you will be told what a piece of junk you have please fork over $300 bucks by some scrofulous repair shop freak.
Bailey |
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February 2003
Posts: 43
Location: South Africa | Thanks to everyone for all the info regarding string gauges and the like! I have always replaced all 6 strings at the same time, mainly because it's then much easier to clean the fretboard. I am going to try it one by one next time round, and see if it makes a difference.
Regarding Playadamas's comment about Custom Light strings. I tried them out once, but did not find any noticeable differences compared to normal lights. Does anyone know if increasing the relative gauge on just the high E string makes any difference to it's intonation? |
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February 2003
Posts: 43
Location: South Africa | BruDev
Thanks for the link for the Ovation Owners Manual Download - I got it! No reference in here to Celebrity's but very useful nonetheless. |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | On the D'addario website you can order various catalogs. The fretted string and Planet Waves catalogs are free (at least in the USA). You may have to search the site to find them (every time I visit the site it's different). ( www.daddario.com ) WARNING: if you don't have a fast connection, it takes forever to load. |
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January 2003
Posts: 92
Location: San Francisco, CA | My 2000 Custom Legend 1869 was wearing Elixer strings prior to a recent switch to EXP16's. I think I like the 16's better, particularly when playing unplugged.
By the way, there should never be any harm done to any decent guitar from changing all the strings at once. Just go to any good guitar shop and watch how they do it... ALL AT ONCE. I've changed my strings this way since 1963 and have NEVER had action or any other problems as a result. and it sure makes cleaning the fretboard a breeze! |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Martin has also started selling coated strings. I believe SP+ (Studio Phosphor Plus) is the designation. |
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December 2002
Posts: 29
| Since I'd been having an increasingly more difficult time picking up my Ovation after purchasing and playing my new Aslin Dane Jazz (335 style) guitar which has a lightening-fast neck and killer action, I made some neck adjustments and tried a set of Elixir .10s on the old "O" just to see if it would play alright. I did it last night and the preliminary report is WOOHOO! I love them. They don't play at all like I expected. Maybe the coating gives them more stability. Last time I tried that light of a gauge the intonation changed by just by pressing the string a little too hard. These don't seem to do that. The action is improved (less strain on the neck) and the strings are easier to push because of the lighter gauge. I haven't tried them plugged in yet, but my '72 Artist Balladeer rings better with these than with the Martin .12s they replaced. |
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March 2003
Posts: 9
Location: AZ from TEXAS | I like my very light Elixers. 0.10. |
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January 2003
Posts: 38
Location: Denver, Colorado | I've switched back and forth between lights and mediums many times with my 1617 without ever needing an adjustment. Can't say that with any other guitar I've ever had. Been lucky? Or maybe just one GREAT OLD GUITAR! |
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March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | I got curious the other night & tried to tighten the truss rod in my Celebrity CC255 12 string to lower the action a little more. I had read that the USA O's require a 3/16" allen wrench. I tried one (with a ball end) in my 12 & I'm pretty sure the Celebrity has a metric nut. The 3/16 wrench turned it a smidge (with a cheater on the little end) but it was a sloppy fit & trying to slip. I didn't want to screw it up so I stopped. I will look into it further asap, but in the mean time I thought it might be a good idea to mention this apparent difference between the Korean & US models before someone stripped out a nut trying to use a too-small allen wrench. Another thing I noticed was that turning that nut is *not* an easy thing to do, it will take quite a lot to move mine, it's pretty damned tight.
fwiw,
Nils |
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Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Nils
Just a suggestion, when you are adjusting your truss rod. My friend that owned a music store used to make a small adjustment and then tap and gently bend the neck to help the adjustment take effect. when I say tap I mean with an open hand or some such that won't damage the neck, sorta like a karate chop. then he would check the action and if necessary, repeat the process, until he had the desired effect.
Bailey |
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April 2003
Posts: 4
| I've been playing for 37 years - 6 string, 12 string, nylon, steel, electric, banjo, resonator - only thing left I haven't tried is a mandolin (but soon I hope), and I have tried many different manufacturers and guages of strings. It certainly is a personal opinion, but for me - the heavier you and your guitar can handle the better. Heavier guage strings really bring out the tone and volume in your instrument but you have to use caution - heavier guage = more stress, so if your bridge or top is weak you could have trouble. Right now I am playing medium guage Elixirs - best strings I've ever played, even if they are expensive ($12-15/set. They sound dynamite on my Balladeer, MUCH better than any other brand, and last a long time - 3x over others, so about an even expense over time. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Only make 1/4th turn adjustments at a time. And yes, sometimes pulling on the neck a little will assist, especially on older solidbodies where the truss rod is tight from age. Also, after I get the adjustment to where I think it should be, I tune up, and let the guitar sit overnight, then check it again before declaring that I'm finished. |
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string guage...