This may sound ridiculous, but...

[roadbiker]

Okay indulge me for a second and let me know if you think this makes any sense or not.

I prefer using light gauge strings (D'Addario EJ16 PB's) but I had a set of mediums, so last time I changed strings on my Epiphone I put them on. There is no doubt that they sound good, but at the cost of being a little more difficult to play, especially when be3nding strings - they beat the crap out of my fingers. They've been on for a few weks now and even though they still have some life left in them, I'm getting reasdy to take them off and put on the lights. But I got to thinking, and this may be the crazy thought that I had...

I was thinking that using the medium's is like working out with weights, or walking with those ankle weights that runners sometimes use. The concept being that when you go to the lower weight, or in this case gasuge, it makes it easier to lift, run, or play. The logic is that if I can effectively play with and bend medium strings, the using the light gauge strings should be easier.

I don't know if it's crazy or not, but I do know that when I switch from the Epi with mediums to either my Guild or Tayler, both of which are strung with lights, they seam easier to play. Of course this can be attributed to the differences in guitars, but it doesn't sound too far fetched to me.

What do you think???

Jim

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

I totally agree with your analogy.  I recently restrung my Taylor koa with mediums and my fingers are killing me still.....my other guitars have lights so when I pick them up it's alot easier.

At first I thought something was wrong with the action but I realized it's the heavier strings.  It's especially bad BC I've been doing alot of work with barre chords the last couple of weeks......ouch!!

[michaelw]

one of my friends learned how to play guitar on a classical with a 2 1/8" nut, flat fretboard &
'mile-high' action. he teaches & is an absolute whiz on a Tele, along with steel string acoustics,
so i would subscribe to the theory that the more difficult a guitar is to play, if one becomes
proficient at it, then a guitar set-up with lighter strings & lower action will be easier to play,
provided one continues to stick with it & that there are no issues that develop (carpal tunnel, etc)

using medium strings to build up strength make playing with lights easier could work, but it may cause some
difficulties, as one may try to fret the light strings with the same effort as mediums, which can also affect tone -
i've rarely used a full mediums (.013, .017, .026), as i prefer the tone & feel of .012, .016, .024, so i use EXP19s

i'd suggest playng what is most comfortable & then looking at stepping up
the gauges, if the tone desired comes from using those heavier gauge strings

ymmv

[Picken Pappy]

using medium strings to build up strength make playing with lights easier could work, but it may cause some
difficulties, as one may try to fret the light strings with the same effort as mediums, which can also affect tone -

There is some truth to this. From 1972 to 1977 I was on 12 string kick and it was the only guitar I played. When I went back to 6 a string I had to re-train myself NOT to have such a hard grip or heavy finger pressure.

[not darth]

There is definitely truth to this.
I have a xx0, a dreadnought, which is voiced for mediums and normally wears Elixir or D'a... PB's.
But, I'm trialing some Ernie Ball "Earthwood" medium-lights on it right now and there is certainly an increased ease in playability and bending.  There is also a decrease in volume, punch and depth (Newton's 3rd, I believe).

Not sure what I think so far, tone is king, that's the bottom line, everything else is secondary.  So, not sure if I'll stick with these lighter ones, but it's an interesting experiment.  (And more proof in my mind I should pop on a 12-fret GA BTO. )
-K

[Satsuki]

Maybe it's just me but I don't find my medium strings any harder to play than my guitars with lights. I think part of it has to do with how much pressure you use on the strings. I try to use as little as possible.