....so I secretly (I didn't want Taylor to find out) began to explore string options. I tried a combination of Taylor Med/Lights (1/2 the strings are lighter gauge) and the treble seemed out of balance. I then went to all lights. That just resulted in a jangly guitar. I adjusted the guitars truss rod for each string changing.
Then I committed heresy and installed a set of Santa Cruz Parabolic Mid Tension Strings.... They rate their strings by tension, not gauge, but aftermarket measurements indicate slightly smaller sizes on a few strings than Elixir Mediums......the difference in tone was immediate and startling.
Okay, I know that tone is subjective. What I'm suggesting through my experience is that it is okay to try other strings. Ultimately, you may choose to stay with Elixirs, but if you play as much as I do, why not try something that may improve the quality of your music and your experience playing it? I am 100% sold on Santa Cruz Parabolic strings! I will continue to experiment with other strings. But SC Parabolics are my new standard.
Crashcup, it's OK to use some other brand. Taylor pioneered the use of Elixir strings because the coating meant that their guitars had fresher strings fro longer in a retail setting. That does not mean that Elixir was the best sounding string for each model, but it gave them a leg up on the other brands with old, crusty strings having been handled by dozens of sets of grubby little fingers in the store.
I like Elixir
Nanoweb on several of my guitars. I also use D'Addario EJ-16 lights and EJ-17 mediums on other guitars. I play in several different tunings, and usually use the cheaper uncoated EJ's for guitars that get tuned up and down regularly. (Multiple re-tuning is the quickest way to kill tone life). For my guitars that pretty much live in standard tuning, I go with coated strings, to maximize the interval between string changes.
We all have to experiment and find the right string for each guitar. No need to be apologetic about it. My only experience with SCGC strings is a set that came to me used on a guitar. The previous owner had problems with that neck profile and tried softer feeling SCGC strings as a last-ditch attempt to bond with it. I liked them OK, but starting with a fresh set would be a truer test. Someday.....
