what strings to buy?

I was wondering what type of strings would be recommended for me? For my acoustic guitar which is a martin, I play folk and gospel at my church. I only play my acoustic on the weekends and I want a fairly deep or mellow sound. Should I buy light or medium guage? Any string brand recommendations. Thanks.
# 1
Hi Davis4,
First, your Martin guitar will have a lot to do with what kind of sound you get when you play it. (hooray for Martins!) The gauge and type of string will also have some effect, but primarily it's the guitar itself that will determine it's sound flavor. (that is, if the strings are "alive" and not "dead". Nothing sounds too great on dead strings).
In terms of the string gauge, let me ask you this: are you strumming, or playing fingerstyle, or some of both?
Unless someone is more of an athletic acoustic rock strummer, or hard-pickin' blues player, I tend to recommend light gauge strings.
It just so happens we're having a Strings discussion on my forum right now, with more info. Here's a link if you'd like to have a look:
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28622
Best wishes - Lisa
First, your Martin guitar will have a lot to do with what kind of sound you get when you play it. (hooray for Martins!) The gauge and type of string will also have some effect, but primarily it's the guitar itself that will determine it's sound flavor. (that is, if the strings are "alive" and not "dead". Nothing sounds too great on dead strings).
In terms of the string gauge, let me ask you this: are you strumming, or playing fingerstyle, or some of both?
Unless someone is more of an athletic acoustic rock strummer, or hard-pickin' blues player, I tend to recommend light gauge strings.
It just so happens we're having a Strings discussion on my forum right now, with more info. Here's a link if you'd like to have a look:
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28622
Best wishes - Lisa
Lisa McCormick, GT Instructor
Acoustic, Folk, Pop, Blues
Full Catalog of Lisa's Guitar Tricks Tutorials
Find Lisa on Facebook!
Acoustic, Folk, Pop, Blues
Full Catalog of Lisa's Guitar Tricks Tutorials
Find Lisa on Facebook!
# 2

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for this topic. I've got an Epiphone acoustic PR150VS. Not a very expensive guitar, but I liked the sound of it when I first played it. Went back a few weeks later, and bought the same model, but obviously not the same one on display the few weeks before. I don't think it sounds as good, but it may be just me. Any thoughts on that?
Anyway, to stay with the original topic: strings. You say you like the Elixir Phosphor Bronze, Light, Acoustic, coated. Are you speaking for acoustics, electrics or both?
Also, the strings I currently have seem to be Light, and as a consequence, I often find the e-string (high 'e') bending down and off the fretboard, when I'm not even trying to bend. Is this a problem with the light guage? What guage would you recommend for the high e?
One more question. As a general rule, should a new guitar be taken in for setup work? And if so, would you take it to those from whom you bought it?
Mine came from my local Guitar Center.
Advance Thanks for your comments.
PS) perhaps some of this should be in another forum?
Thanks for this topic. I've got an Epiphone acoustic PR150VS. Not a very expensive guitar, but I liked the sound of it when I first played it. Went back a few weeks later, and bought the same model, but obviously not the same one on display the few weeks before. I don't think it sounds as good, but it may be just me. Any thoughts on that?
Anyway, to stay with the original topic: strings. You say you like the Elixir Phosphor Bronze, Light, Acoustic, coated. Are you speaking for acoustics, electrics or both?
Also, the strings I currently have seem to be Light, and as a consequence, I often find the e-string (high 'e') bending down and off the fretboard, when I'm not even trying to bend. Is this a problem with the light guage? What guage would you recommend for the high e?
One more question. As a general rule, should a new guitar be taken in for setup work? And if so, would you take it to those from whom you bought it?
Mine came from my local Guitar Center.
Advance Thanks for your comments.
PS) perhaps some of this should be in another forum?
# 3