2014 Taylor 814CE String Selection..

[mmarchi]

Folks,

I just purchased a used 2014 814CE and I was wondering where most of you veterans have ended up with your string choice.   Are most of you using the Elixir HD Lights?  Lights?  JP New Mediums?    D-Addario True Mediums?    Thanks.

Mike

[Sprintbob]

If you want to try something other than the Elixir HD Lights, I've gotten good results with TI Plectrum 10's & 11's on both my 2013 814 and my 2014 812. I'm trying out D'Addario EXP .010-.047 on my 812 currently and they are brighter than the Plectrums with a bit less clarity to my ears but preferable to me over the Elixirs. I'm trying out a set of Martin SP Lights on my 814, OK but not great, they'll be coming off. On my 522, I just put on a set of Martin Retro Monel and they sound great. I'm thinking about trying them on my 814 or 812.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

[mmarchi]

Thank you.   I may try lights on the 814 but I often find that something a little beefier can make quite a difference in sound although it is so much easier to play with lights.  I often gravitate in between traditional lights and mediums.  Elixir HD lights are one option (and I assume the Taylor recommended option) but the JP New Mediums and D'Addario True Mediums are another option.   I've tried the Martin Monels (Medium) on another guitar and they are awesome but harder to play vs. the in between gauge set.  (I wish there was a Monel set in between light and medium).     But, they may be fine on a Taylor since everything seems easier to play on a Taylor vs. a Martin (for example)....at least for me.   Anyone else want to chip in?  I don't have the guitar yet so I can't tell you what I've experienced so far. 

[Veloz]

I have one of the new 812ce's, and I switched to Elixir PB "Mediums" to get a bit more grunt in the low end.
They felt pretty much the same to my fingers, but my ears are happier. I'd have to imagine they'd work equally as well on the larger bodied 814ce.

Michael

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I've enjoyed Martin FX 80/20 lights and/or mediums (when I had a GS8).  They're kind of gritty sounding...and are the strings Tommy Emmanuel uses.  They don't last that long because they're uncoated/undtreated, but Martin does have a Clear Tone treated string called Life Spans.  They're cheaper than Elixirs, and "treated," rather than coated, and I would say they last about 3/4 as long as the Elixirs.  I feel like their tone is pretty bright though, which works on their deeply toned martin dreads, so maybe they'd work well on the revoiced Taylor 8's.  They're worth a try if you want to try a treated string that isn't Elixir, though.  I always revert to the Elixirs when I'm trying to record a song and want to avoid finger squeaks, I'll even go Polyweb because the coating seems thicker than the nano, for that purpose.  Oh, and for some reason I just can't cotton the PB's...I just prefer the 80/20's.  They seem to have more girth of tone (lower lows and higher highs) to me while the PB's seem compressed...

[Jersey tuning]

I've used elixir or JP PB lights on my 614.  I have begun using HD lights on my custom GC -- the HD lights work well on the short scale GC and yield string tension akin to a GA strung with lights.

[Sprintbob]

My 2013 814 came with Elixir 80/20 Lights. I changed the Martin SP's I had on this guitar two days ago with a set of Elixir 80/20 Extra Lights I had sitting around. To my ear, much improved over the Martin strings. I might try these on my 812 in the near future. Not a fan of Elixir PB's though.

[mmarchi]

My 2014 814CE arrived!   It came with Elixir HD lights which sound very good on the guitar.   I put on a set of JP Lights to see if I would notice a significant difference in sound vs. playability and, yes, there is certainly some difference in sound but the playability is even easier than before so it seems like a fair trade off....so far at least.  I may try the JP New Mediums down the road for fun....   

[mgap]

I like the feel and sound of the Elixir HD Lights.  Great tone, longevity is excellent, no squeeks. . 
They make me sound better than I really am, Ha

[Jersey tuning]

Hey, great tip on the JP new Mediums.  Sounds like a perfect set on my GC and GA from my favorite string manufacturer, although I do like the HD lights on my GC.