Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). String gauge for a 3/4 size guitar. Help please. Steel strings. - Acoustics Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

String gauge for a 3/4 size guitar. Help please. Steel strings.

FastEddieFastEddie Frets: 471
edited April 2020 in Acoustics
Ok. I've got a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic. Forgot we had it.

I've never owned such a guitar, this is my son's who never played it. 
Because it's smaller, do we need to adjust the gauge?

Your guidance and help are greatly appreciated. 
If I had talent, I'd be talented.
Persistent and inconsistent guitar player.
A lefty, hence a fog of permanent frustration

Not enough guitars, pedals, and cricket bats.
USA Deluxe Strat - Martyn Booth Special - Electromatic
FX Plex - Cornell Romany
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Comments

  • GTCGTC Frets: 241
    D'Addario do a specialist set for a 3/4 size guitar in their Classic Nylon series https://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-EJ27N-Classics-029-044-Classical/dp/B003B0S1JI
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    Steel string or nylon string?

    If it's steel I would probably go with 12s - with the short scale they will feel much lighter. You could go as high as 13s but the nut grooves may not be cut wide enough for them if it came with 12s originally.

    If it's nylon, either the ones GTC suggested, or just use a normal set of Hard Tension or even Extra Hard Tension, for the same reason - Normal tension will feel like elastic bands and not play in tune properly.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • GTCGTC Frets: 241
    ICBM said:
    Steel string or nylon string?

    If it's steel I would probably go with 12s - with the short scale they will feel much lighter. You could go as high as 13s but the nut grooves may not be cut wide enough for them if it came with 12s originally.

    If it's nylon, either the ones GTC suggested, or just use a normal set of Hard Tension or even Extra Hard Tension, for the same reason - Normal tension will feel like elastic bands and not play in tune properly.
    Hah! - stupid of me - I assumed it was nylon strung. For steel strung, I agree with virtually any decent 12's or 13's. Personally I found the D'Addario strings for a 3/4 guitar worked much better than using hard or extra hard tension strings designed for a full scale length.
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  • FastEddieFastEddie Frets: 471
    Thanks all. Went for D'Addario Bronze 12-53. They seemed to have great reviews and your help was great as well. thanks.
    If I had talent, I'd be talented.
    Persistent and inconsistent guitar player.
    A lefty, hence a fog of permanent frustration

    Not enough guitars, pedals, and cricket bats.
    USA Deluxe Strat - Martyn Booth Special - Electromatic
    FX Plex - Cornell Romany
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    GTC said:

    Personally I found the D'Addario strings for a 3/4 guitar worked much better than using hard or extra hard tension strings designed for a full scale length.
    I’ve never tried them - but D’Addario know what they’re doing so I don’t doubt they’re good. It would be interesting to know what the difference is - when I’ve worked on 3/4-size guitars I’ve always just stuck normal hard tension strings on them and they’ve seemed fine, but I’ll see if I can give those a go...

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • FastEddieFastEddie Frets: 471
    ICBM said:
    GTC said:

    Personally I found the D'Addario strings for a 3/4 guitar worked much better than using hard or extra hard tension strings designed for a full scale length.
    I’ve never tried them - but D’Addario know what they’re doing so I don’t doubt they’re good. It would be interesting to know what the difference is - when I’ve worked on 3/4-size guitars I’ve always just stuck normal hard tension strings on them and they’ve seemed fine, but I’ll see if I can give those a go...
    I've never had a steel string acoustic. I learned classical to grade 5 and stepped over the acoustic into Strat land.
    This is a guitar I bought for my boys to see if they got into it. Forgot I had it!
    Am looking forward to getting it restrung. 
    If I had talent, I'd be talented.
    Persistent and inconsistent guitar player.
    A lefty, hence a fog of permanent frustration

    Not enough guitars, pedals, and cricket bats.
    USA Deluxe Strat - Martyn Booth Special - Electromatic
    FX Plex - Cornell Romany
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom · Share on Twitter
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