Taylor String Guide Indicates HD Lights for 300 Series Up. Why?

[Taylor339]

I was browsing the pamphlets and information that came with my 214ce and noticed in the String Guide there is an asterisk indicating HD Lights are for 300 series and up.  Any reason why Taylor doesn't recommend them for 114 and 214 guitars?

[Guitarsan]

In a word, bracing. Taylor's determined (by my deduction) that lights are "better" (tone and balance string to string) than HD lights for the Classic X bracing used in the laminate side/back 114 and 214 models. And maybe to a lesser extent construction differences. Starting with the 300, other bracing architectures are used.

We all know these are guidelines, so give HD lights a shot if you like, you won't hurt anything.

[Taylor339]

Thank you for the explanation.  I thought it might have something to do with construction differences.  So you're saying HD Lights won't damage a 114 or 214?

[Guitarsan]

Thank you for the explanation.  I thought it might have something to do with construction differences.  So you're saying HD Lights won't damage a 114 or 214?

Absolutely not. They will have more tension (thicker gauge for some of the strings) than lights, so will be a bit harder to play, but might provide a bit more volume, sustain, etc. But, it might not be as balanced string to string as lights is my guess.

Always when you change string gauges you *might* need to tweak the truss rod a bit for proper relief and action, but my experience has been a Taylor will play fine with either of those two gauges interchangeably with no truss rod adjustment. One last tip, don't monkey with the truss rod adjustment unless you know what you're doing or have a guitar tech show you the right way to do it. But again, I doubt you'd need to do anything to it to play either gauge.

[Taylor339]

Good info.  Thanks

[Edward]

Thank you for the explanation.  I thought it might have something to do with construction differences.  So you're saying HD Lights won't damage a 114 or 214?

Check out the Elixir site and compare the string gauges of the HD and the Lights: just the G and B are different, that's it!  There is nothing "HD" or different in terms of construction about this set.  Like any string choice, it's all about not only the tone of the string, but the tonal balance across all six strings.  So you can personally bias the balance toward the treble side with the HD set, or bias toward the bass side with Medium-lights, or choose between 80/20 or PhosBronze, and even put medium gauge on your GA.  Experiment, and then settle with the set that fits your fingers and ears best.

Edward

[Taylor339]

G,B, and e.

Light .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .053

HD Light .013 .017 .025 .032 .042 .053

[doublescale1]

I have landed on Elixir Custom Lights for my 322ce:  11 - 52 with a wound G string, great tone and playability. 

[Matt23]

I have a new 414ce; it came with Elixir Phosphor Bronze Lights. I bought some HD Phosphor Bronze Lights for my next string change to compare to the Elixir Phosphor Bronze Lights. Some of my friends have said it's a more balanced tone with the HD lights, so I want to give them a run.

[MikeB]

My 310ce is a 2012, and it came with mediums, which is what I use.  013, 017 026 035 045 056

[mdallen5]

My 2016 324ce came with HD lights. I didn't like the low E or the Google. Now mediums are on there and they sound fantastic to me. However, my ears are definitely biased towards a darker, richer Tone.