|
|
Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 2
| Hi,
Just bought this:
It's my first acoustic, I've been playing mostly Les Pauls my whole life.
So I have a couple questions about strings. Is there a recommended brand? Coated or not? What about gage? I use 10's on my electrics but I put a set of 10's on this thing and they buzzed like hell. I went to 11's and they seem better, but they seem light to me. Can I use 12's on this guitar? Thanks in advance for any help... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | First, welcome!
Second, nice guitar!
Third, I've always used light strings on 12s. I would suggest you do too, but it sounds like you'll need to adjust the truss rod some. If you're unfamiliar with the procedure, take it to a local and well reputed professional. It's very inexpensive to have done. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Welcome and a big WOW on the guitar. :cool:
I would stay with 11's no heavier. You might want to check under the pickup and add a shim. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Welcome, that's a beaut of a GC. I would go with the 10's. A simple adjustment should take care of the buzz. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2008
Posts: 2
| Thanks, so what do you guys use for shims? I assume they go under the bridge. I don't really want to mess with the truss rod because the neck looks perfectly straight to me and the buzz is minor. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Old credit card (library card, hospital card) material works well.
Tight grained thin wood shim might work... Never tried that.
But I have used the credit card stock. But that might limit you according to thickness...
Depending on what you have lying around the house.
Also circuit board material, if you are into that sorta stuff.
Hey Oddball.... Great Minds Think Alike! :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Nice guitar.
Cut up credit cards work as well as anything else for shims. Or the factory can send you some in various thicknesses. But you might not need them. Before you do anything drastic, go to www.ovationguitars.com and click on 'support' then 'owners manual' and print one out. Along about page 10 or so, they discuss bridge shimming and neck adjustment in easy-to-understand terms. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | That's a really nice one!!
AJ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | If the neck is perfectly straight as you say, that's your buzzing problem. The truss rod adjusts the neck so that there's a little curve to allow for string vibration. This curve changes with the seasons, so it's not something you can ignore. I have a similar model, and I have to make the adjustment 2x a year or so. Learn how to do it.
I use lights which come with 9's as the high-e's and high-g. I switch the 9's to 10's. Brand is a personal preference. I love Tomastik-Infeld, but I won't pay $30 for a set of strings so I've been using Earnie Ball Earthwoods for low price.
Enjoy that beautiful guitar! John <>{ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Beautiful guitar! One of the best 12-stringers, of any maker, ever made. Oh, yeah, welcome to the OFC! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Welcome
Is there a recommended brand? No.
Coated or not? Personal opinion, I like uncoated.
What about gage? Put on EJ38 Light 12 String by D'addario and put in another shim and adjust the truss rod. I'd be fearful of putting on EJ39 Meds due to the extra pull, and with the adjustment you might be happy. So first adjust the truss rod up to one turn. If that doesn't work then put it back, and put in a shim, and readjust.
I bet it sounds great. |
|
| |
A little help...
