A few questions on my T5

[R1balla]

Just recently purchased a 2009 T5 Red Edgeburst. I also have a strat and a 2003 312 CE Fall limited edition. I had to get the T5 because our lead electric guitarist moved out of town and for the worship team, i need to kinda play both roles now on some songs. Here is some info on what I am using and what i want. any help is very much appreciated.

I play through the PA system and have a tubed pre amp bypassing my pedal when playing acoustic. I want to be able to get a decent acoustic sound but be able to play and bend the strings when playing electric (like for swells and stuff). what gauge strings do you all suggest? Electric or Acoustic? I will be playing more acoustic than electric on it but want the freedom to play some lead like on intro's and bridges on songs. My guess would be a light gauge elixir acoustic or heavy gauge electric? again, all help is very much appreciated. Thanks.

[R1balla]

After reading through a few threads on here, I am thinking about the Elixir Electric .012. thoughts? just want it right for my setup.

[dcopper]

Hi and welcome to the T5 world
Search my posts and those of Coldshot and Gutch
You will find tons of information on the T5
Davidc

[R1balla]

Hi and welcome to the T5 world
Search my posts and those of Coldshot and Gutch
You will find tons of information on the T5
Davidc

i knew this was coming lol

[coldshot]

G day R1 from Oz,

Try the heavy electric strings they work for me and others. The T5 just take a lot of trying new things and see what works best for you.

G day Dave.

[R1balla]

G day R1 from Oz,

Try the heavy electric strings they work for me and others. The T5 just take a lot of trying new things and see what works best for you.

G day Dave.

12 gauge elixir? i think thats what i will start out at. thanks

[coldshot]

There're the ones ol mate. 

[Captain Jim]

I use the .12 Elixir electrics with my T-5, but these old fingers can't bend 'em like the lighter gauge on my 335.

[R1balla]

yeah i mean ill be playing more acoustic than electric on it, but will need it for electric. I can bend 12s a half step, but not a whole step. at least on my acoustic i cant.

[Gutch]

+1 on the .12's.  Best string for combination electric/acoustic work.


Equally important, get comfortable with the tone and volume controls to take full advantage of the guitar's capabilities.  Experiment!  Don't be afraid to crank the treble and bass controls up to full or down to zero when setting the tone.  Turn the volume up - remember the detent position is only the halfway point.


Have fun!

[R1balla]

i know this wont sound like a high end taylor acoustic, but my 312 with my preamp sounds amazing with the eq i have on the main sound board. hopefully i can get close to that sound or something similar with the T5 since i will be using the same set up. but like you said, i will have to mess with the controls on the guitar itself. gonna spend a few hours before worship rehearsal Friday setting it up through the PA

on a side note, i highly recommend using a pre amp to warm up the sound when running through a PA system. cheap and best decision i have made. people have come up to me after worship asking if i play on a 800 series (obviously they dont know much about taylors lol) and the look on there faces when i say its a 2003 312 is priceless.

[dcopper]

R1,
With the 12-52 Elixir electrics you will be surprised how little effect electric strings will have on your acoustic tone. The electric strings with the wound G, which is crucial for tuning stability, give a great clean, clear T5 tone, AND you will have the flexibility to A/B and run one side into an electric setup if you want. One of my favorite setups is an electric amp with a full range PA extension cab. Works great to capture the real essence of the T5 tone - just like Coldshot said, experiment. I usually cut the mids to about 9 o'clock if I am going direct and like Gutch, use the onboard treble/bass on the T5 and set the bass and treble flat on the board. I have found, after lots of time and $$ that simple really is better with the T5. It works well with some pedal boards if you go in that direction - my favorite and easiest to use is the BOSS ME70, using the clean channel or bypassing the amp sim altogether and just using the effects/looper. The guitar has tons of possibilities and you can make it your own tone.
Have fun and let us know how you are progressing.
davidc
Cheers out to Coldshot & Gutch

[R1balla]

Thanks man.  Atm I won't be using an electric amp but will in the future.  Wound G comes standard on the 12 gauge elixir electrics right?

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Nice, I love my T5 but haven't played it much lately.  I'll have to try the 12s.

[R1balla]

Nice, I love my T5 but haven't played it much lately.  I'll have to try the 12s.

what strings do you use? what set up do you have? PA? amp?...etc  just trying to gather more opinions on this.