Taylor 710CE Guitar Strings for a richer sound

[hash]

Just got my hands on the Taylor 710CE - Amazing guitar with good sound and playability. I got the guitar used so I'm not sure what strings it's carrying.
I'm looking to replace my strings to give me a darker, more mellow sound. Specifically:

• Would like the low end strings to give me a richer, darker sound, more low end oomph, dare I say - a "woodier" tone akin to high end Martins
• The D and G strings to give me more tonal character in decay rather than attack. Currently, the strings I have sound WAY too bright when I play, even when I'm using the meaty part of my fingers in fingerpicking.
• Overall, more balanced sound dynamics between strings.

These are the strings / gauges recommended by Taylor from their website -
Grand Symphony, Grand Orchestra, Dreadnought, GS Mini
Elixir® Medium Gauge Phosphor Bronze NANOWEB® (.013-.056)

What are your recommendations based on my criteria?

[krugjr]

I was wondering what year your 710 is and what is the top wood? most likely my answer would still be the same no matter the wood: John Pearse Phosphor Bronze Mediums.....half the life but twice the sound as the Elixers, IMHO.....

[Craig]

I'm with krugjr on those strings.

[tbeltrans]

I would suggest that the year the guitar was made might matter.  If Andy Powers has applied his ideas to the 700 series yet, then the sound of a guitar made during that period would most likely sound different than those made before his changes.  I had a 900 series from 1997 for a few months earlier this year, and never did bond with its sound.  My current 900 series is from 2016, after Andy Powers applied his ideas to the series, and it is a fantastic instrument.  Thee are folks who prefer the earlier 900 series, feeling that the mid 90s was the "golden era", and those who prefer what Andy Powers has done.

While strings do make a difference, and therefore whatever folks in this thread offer as suggestions would certainly be worth trying, I also believe it is possible that Andy Powers has made some very real changes to the fundamental character of the "Taylor sound", and that wold need to be taken into account too.  However, I am really not sure which products lines he has not yet changed.

Tony

[hash]

Great comments, I'm listening to some John Pearse strings being played on Youtube and they do sound pretty good. When you say short-term lifespan, how long does that mean?
My guitar is a 2000 model, I'm really unsure about the material of the top wood. It has a Pumpkiny orange color so I'm really not sure. Just emailed Taylor support to find out the wood type.

[Craig]

Great comments, I'm listening to some John Pearse strings being played on Youtube and they do sound pretty good. When you say short-term lifespan

I think Krugjr means that they are uncoated strings, they last as long as any other uncoated strings but not as long as coated ones.

Craig

[krugjr]

Hash.....I should also say welcome to UTGF! the 710 is a very fine guitar, no matter the year.....the 700 series mixed up the tops...not sure of the years, but I seem to remember them having Engleman Spruce, Cedar, and Sitka Spruce tops in diff years.....Cedar, a warmer sounding top, Sitka, the brightest, and Engleman somewhere in the middle.....I didn't research it, just trying to remember.....

string life? depends on how and what style you play, and how many hours you put in.....I strum and aggressive rhythm and go through strings cuz I like 'em fresh.....if I played just one guitar about an hour a night, every night, I would get about three months out of the Elixers, and about half that with the JPs.....I keep Elixers around (PBs) for the guitars that get the most hours, or for playing through sound system, like with worship team...don't need to be quite as "pretty".....but sit me down in a room and play acoustically, I love the character that comes out of my guitars with the JPs.....string 'em up, tune 'em up, they just lock in, stay tuned, and don't need much break in time at all....

would love to see pictures of the 710!

[hash]

I have just ordered the John Pearse Phosphor Bronze Mediums (.013-.056) Will share my results after changing the strings!

And check out the pic.. She plays like a beaut.

[krugjr]

very nice, hash.....sure looks like Cedar.....call Taylor service with the ser #, they should have the specs.....I get my JPs from Shoreline Music.....best price is from their own web site...about $xx for three sets.....they'll start off a little bright but warm up pretty quickly...an hour or two of strumming and probably a day or two of finger picking.....even when you eventually feel it's time for a string change, you'll find they still stay in tune, they just start to lose some of that definition and sustain, you may even like that "last stretch" with a set...like you said, you prefer the less bright sound.....hope you like them....I think they fit the 710s and 810s really well!


Price rule.