F-30 string recommendations?

[Sam Powrie]

Hi Folks,

As discussed briefly here a few months ago, I have found & purchased a 1984 Guild F-30 in great condition. I'm in Adelaide, Australia & it the owner freighted it to me via a very reputable shop in Sydney. I arranged for them to do a clean & set-up & they did a great job. However they installed D'Addario 11-52 light gauge strings (probably the EJ26 Custom Lights) & after a few months playing I've decided that they aren't quite getting this guitar's full potential. It just sounds a tad plinky on the G,B & top E strings. I suspect that many guitar techs are used to setting up very lightly built acoustics played with a pick & maybe don't quite understand the demands of tapered or straight-braced instruments played finger style!

Incidentally, many of the older Guilds I've played (I currently also have a 1970s D-35) have felt & sounded relatively 'heavy' compared to Martin-style instruments & they've also sounded to my ears as if they've been built a bit more heavily inside - tapered or non-scalloped bracing etc. I'm not complaining - I play finger-style most of the time & prefer an articulate & clearly-voiced guitar. Indeed I've found many Martins - especially smaller rosewood models - to have a really 'muddy' low-end thud which I dislike!

Anyway, back to the F-30. I'm wondering if heavier gauge strings might be worth trying. Maybe mediums? Or maybe the D'Addario 'True Mediums' (13-56 - heavier 1st, 2nd & 6th strings)?

Can I please ask what others have found to work best on their F-30s? Thoughts?

thanks, Sam.

 

[Canard]

I use D'Addario EJ17 medium gauge strings on my 1970s F-30. The heavier strings bring out its voice better. I also like the greater volume and better intonation with the heavier gauge strings. I also like the darker bell tones of D'Addario strings.

I tried medium gauge RotoSounds but found them too bright. Chime central.

Martin strings. Mehhh!

In a pinch I have used John Pearse strings which are excellent but offer more of a generic sort of NICE acoustic sound. They settle into pitch quickly and seem to stay in tune better than some other strings. They also last and last. I have friends who will use nothing else.

I have also tried Earthwoods. Didn't like them.

But what I like or don't like doesn't matter. It's your guitar, not mine.

Experiment. Discover what you like. It's a personal thing.

 

[jedzep]

11's are certainly wimpy on a 000, but I wouldn't necessarily jump to 13's, though I only play 13's on my acoustics, however tuned a step down, D-D. It's offers enough tension to drive my tops, but pulls 30 lbs less than 12's at concert pitch.

My F30's an old timer, but I imagine there will be more than one string set you'll end up liking on yours. It'll be interesting to see what you land on, but mine currently wears Curt Mangan 80/20s, but with the low E switched out for a D'Addario Nickel Bronze.

Before you throw Martin strings out the door, maybe pony up for the pricey Luxe Kovar to see what you think. They are remarkably rich sounding and long lasting. I haven't ever found PB's I like, so it's just 80/20s in my string basket.

 

[chazmo]

Absolutely. Anything/everything is worth trying!

I'd probably try medium gauge, but maybe you'd like the sound of 80/20 rather than PB. Strings make a huge difference in the sound. My advice is to keep playing around with different strings for a few months and see what you like. If you can't find any that make the guitar sound to your satisfaction then perhaps it's not the guitar/model for you.

 

[Westerly Wood]

EJ16s. One gauge up.
Like Canard, I’ve done EJ17 on my F30. I like them for a while, but my fingers prefer a lighter gauge as I mostly only fingerpick. Ironically I have EJ26 on my f30r now, and really like them, though I understand what you mean by the G B E strings being a bit thin. So the regular light gauge D’Addario be a good balance. My plan is to do ej26 up top and ej16 on bottom next time. That be about perfect.

 

[Canard]

Another thing you might try to speed things up is a visit to a luthier. I have a friend with some high-end, expen$ive Gib$on acoustic, not one of the trad models. He was a bit dissatisfied with it, and there were some minor issues that need addressing. I gave him the business card of my favourite luthier. She, the luthier, asked him to play for her. She listened intently for about 15 minutes and then recommended that he try Bluegrass strings, ones for flat pickers with heavier treble and lighter bass strings which offer a better volume balance when switching between comping and lead. My friend tried the strings, fell in love with the guitar, and has never looked back.

 

[Boomstick]

I put D'Addarrio XT Phosphor Bronze 12s on my dad's F-30 a few months ago and they sound great! They're bright and have more bass and highs than most other strings. Definitely recommend trying.

The other strings I would suggest are DR Rare 12s, which are a more traditional sound but typically sound great with mahogany Guilds.

You could also try 13s, but I would try 12s. If you pick heavy, you might like 13s.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I put D'Addarrio XT Phosphor Bronze 12s on my dad's F-30 a few months ago and they sound great! They're bright and have more bass and highs than most other strings. Definitely recommend trying.

The other strings I would suggest are DR Rare 12s, which are a more traditional sound but typically sound great with mahogany Guilds.

You could also try 13s, but I would try 12s. If you pick heavy, you might like 13s.

I have liked DR Sunbeams on my F30R, but perhaps Rares are better for hog vs rosewood.

 

[Westerly Wood]

This could be my perfect F30 set...Strings by Mail

 

[Boomstick]

I have liked DR Sunbeams on my F30R, but perhaps Rares are better for hog vs rosewood.

As a rule of thumb for DR strings.

Sunbeams = rosewood (brighter)
Rare = mahogany (warmer)
Veritas = maple (full midrage)

Rares work well with maple too, but the Veritas have some rich overtones in the mids that really shines with maple.

 

[walrus]

D'Addario EJ26's on my '11 F-30. 11 - 52. I'm not convinced I'm giving anything up in sound on this particular guitar, but I do know I love the playability.

 

[Sam Powrie]

Thanks everyone - you've all provided me with a rich field of suggestions & recommendations which I'm sure will keep me occupied & experimenting for some time! As a start, I have today replaced the light gauge 11-52s with a set of EJ-24s (D'Addario 'True Mediums') I had to hand. The difference is astounding. Suddenly the guitar has gone from having both 40-year-old volume & sweet sustain to all of the above PLUS amazing tone! Really piano-like basses & tremendous thick & solid trebles (previously rather thin & plinky with the light gauge strings). The dynamic range also seems significantly extended suggesting that this rather robustly built instrument really did need a bit more tension to get it going. I really like this last change as it suits my sometimes heavy-handed finger style playing. Thanks again to the LTG community! Sam.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks everyone - you've all provided me with a rich field of suggestions & recommendations which I'm sure will keep me occupied & experimenting for some time! As a start, I have today replaced the light gauge 11-52s with a set of EJ-24s (D'Addario 'True Mediums') I had to hand. The difference is astounding. Suddenly the guitar has gone from having both 40-year-old volume & sweet sustain to all of the above PLUS amazing tone! Really piano-like basses & tremendous thick & solid trebles (previously rather thin & plinky with the light gauge strings). The dynamic range also seems significantly extended suggesting that this rather robustly built instrument really did need a bit more tension to get it going. I really like this last change as it suits my sometimes heavy-handed finger style playing. Thanks again to the LTG community! Sam.

EJ24s are great, if your finger pads can stand mediums, and the F30 can totally handle them.

 

[davismanLV]

I can definitely recommend strings. Tried without them but it just wasn't the same.....

 

[Westerly Wood]

I can definitely recommend strings. Tried without them but it just wasn't the same.....

But my songs sounded way better.

 

[Canard]

I can definitely recommend strings. Tried without them but it just wasn't the same.....

But my songs sounded way better.

A lot of people even forgo the guitar.

 

[walrus]

Air Guitar Champion 2023

 

[wileypickett]

I can definitely recommend strings. Tried without them but it just wasn't the same.....

I know! Without totally kills the volume --

 

[Rayk]

My go to in order ,
Elixer nano webs PB12’s
Martin monels 12’s
D’adderio nickel bronze .
And that’s a wrap !

 

[WaltW]

I've got D'Adderio Nickel Bronze 12s on my two Ds, and like how they sound across the spectrum, but will have to wait to try them on a F30 'cause I don't got one......................................................yet!