Went All Guild! D 50 String Recommendations?

[count savage]

All Guild all the time now, well almost. Sold the Larrivee and just purchased a great Tacoma-built D 50 w D/Tar Wavelength and am looking to the experts here with D 50s to suggest their string preferences. This guitar is stunning sounding already. A joy to play and hear. Looking forward to suggestions.

 

[FNG]

I don't stray too far from John Pearse Phosphor Bronze. I run lights on my Tacoma D-50.

 

[6L6]

Phosphor Bronze Lights!

6

'06 D-55
'06 F-412
'77 D-50
'74 D-40

 

[jazzmang]

On my Tacoma D-55 I actually liked the mellower tone of 80/20s, so just try a few types of strings and see what she sounds best with.

 

[iJamF47M]

I've tried a bunch and currently like DR Rare Bluegrass, .012-.056. They have a nice feel and the heavier gauge on the 3 low stings give it some extra bass punch. In my experience on my F-47M I would say the Rares are warmer and more balanced than Elixir Nanos, more authoritative than D'ddario EXP and last longer than Ernie Ball Slinky even though they are uncoated. I have about 5 weeks of daily play and they are not dead. The Slinky strings are coated and sound good and balanced, but were dull and dead in two weeks. That's not acceptable considering they are coated and cost nearly twice the price of the DR Rares. They run about $7, where the Elixir, EXP and Slinky are all in the $14-17 range.

iJam

 

[JHCrawLaw]

Another vote for the DR Rares. I have them on my viintage D50. As noted, they are great on the bottom end, but also give you great treble performance.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Another vote for the DR Rares. I have them on my viintage D50. As noted, they are great on the bottom end, but also give you great treble performance.

What he said.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I like the Rares but I get D'Addario strings in bulk for a great price and they run very close to the Rares in tone and life.
I like Phosphor Bronze strings over 80/20's and I'm not a fan of coated strings.
They all loose tone to get some extra live IMHO.

 

[Rich]

Elixir mediums.

 

[bluepen]

I like (so far...) JP New Medium gauge 80/20s the best.
Followed by JP PBs, Martin Marquis (silk wrapping at ball end) PBs and DR Sunbeams.

 

[killdeer43]

Knowing this crowd and the borderline merriment that usually resides here, I'm surprised that no one has come forward with the obvious recommendation for strings for a D50....
.....use SIX! :wink:

Thank you, thank you very much,
Joe

 

[GardMan]

I've got Pearse PB lights on mine.

 

[killdeer43]

In the 21 years that I've had mine, I've found that mediums sound/play better and I usually use Martin or D'Addario PBs.
Actually, mediums are on my other dreads, as well, with better results than lights.

Different strums, :wink:
Joe

 

[count savage]

Lots of great tips! Thanks to all. I'm going to try a bunch of them. The right strings can really make an instrument come alive. I've never liked Elixirs, but I put a set on my old Gibson J 50 and the guitar just came alive and stays lively sounding, which is unique for that Gibson. Wow. So that really worked. I put a set Martin Marquis on the Larrivee dread I sold to get the D 50 and that baby sounded louder and richer than the Martin D 41 the buyer also had. Again, an amazing transformation thanks to combination of the right strings with the right guitar. Will report after I experiment with some.

 

[Treem]

Martin Marquis 80/20 Mediums!!!

 

[jwsamuel]

I try different strings and keep coming back to d'Addario PB Mediums. They are EJ17 I believe.

Jim

 

[kostask]

GHS Signature Bronze Lights, LJ30L.

Kostas