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Some of you (Bob Flatpicker?) may find some of the details in this post disturbing - best read with care and sitting down with a cup of tea. The story begins in 1971, when I'd just got into doing session work. I was playing bass on this session and was sitting in the rec (recreation) room chatting to an older guy who was doing the acoustic guitar parts. He had a Martin which I noticed was strung with steel strings and a plain 3rd string, like an electric set, so I asked him why that was. He explained that years before, someone had suggested it to him as a way of making the guitar sound brighter and cleaner and that he'd liked the sound so much that he'd used an electric 11/48 set ever since. Rec rooms are a great source of information - most of what I know was learned in rec rooms. Anyway, I'd just bought a Fender acoustic - one of the first that Fender had had made in Japan at that time, so the next day I strung it with Rotosound 11/48 electric strings. It sounded fabulous. Nearly fifty years on, I'm still stringing it with electric strings. Over the intervening years, I've converted SO many people to this trick, though most were very suspicious at first, but hearing is believing. If you give it a try, be prepared to let the strings settle in for a few days before they sound their best - they can be a bit scratchy at first. And be prepared for the traditionalists to faint when they see what you've done.
Of course, maybe you've been doing this for years as well, in which case I'd be interested to hear your story.
Stay safe all,
ROG.
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And why not if it suits. I’ve over the years gone different ways for different reasons. What I really liked but after a while could not find was a .017 wound G string. This gave my old Telecaster a really smooth sound I’ve never achieved with a plain G string.
At one stage on a Hofner Electric guitar I used to use a .009 banjo string on the E and .011 (E string) on the B ... Why because where I was super light strings did not exist yet. (Or at least we’re not available in my area).
Over 50 odd years many things have been tried.
Last edited by Teunis; 09/30/20 12:26 AM.
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There are always horses for courses. Why not? Great story, and why not experiment with ideas? Otherwise the Piano would still be a Harpsichord 
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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For many years I used EB SS 9s on my acoustic. I could bend the heck out of those strings. However, there's always a drawback to the gains. The tone of the guitar was noticeably thinner. Fatter strings equal fatter tone. You can get bright tone with new strings.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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If you actually appreciate the tone of an acoustic guitar, then electric strings are an immediate thumbs down.
In order for an acoustic guitar to sound the way it's supposed to sound, the strings have to drive the top and make it vibrate.
When I was playing a lot, I always used medium gauge strings because they sounded so much better than light gauge.
Using electric strings on an acoustic guitar will just make it sound like a small transistor radio.
Use whatever you want. It's your guitar. Just don't try to join a live jam session because you'll instantly and deservedly get grief.
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ROG, If you're just setting up the acoustic to sit around and noodle on the couch, then electric strings do make it easier. But they sound like crap. If you do want to actually play an acoustic guitar, then man up and use acoustic strings.  It's worth it to just hear what an acoustic guitar actually sounds like.
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ROG, If you're just setting up the acoustic to sit around and noodle on the couch, then electric strings do make it easier. But they sound like crap. If you do want to actually play an acoustic guitar, then man up and use acoustic strings. It's worth it to just hear what an acoustic guitar actually sounds like. Hi Bob, Here's a challenge for you then. A short while ago I posted a tune called "One Morning" on the Showcase. This is a link to the thread- https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=610165&page=1About ten minutes before I recorded that track, I'd just re-strung the Taylor with Rotosound 11/48 steel. I don't like playing anything critical with strings that haven't settled, but at the time I didn't intend to use the track for anything - it was just one take whilst I tested the action. Still, it will serve as an example. Listen to the track, read ALL the reviews and let have your comments, good or bad - I know you won't hold back! At the end of the day, I've spent my life in studios. I'm a session player, not a live performer and the steel strings have served me well for about fifty years without complaint. Having said that, you can't please all the people..... ROG. EDIT - It occurs to me that in the almost nine years I've been on the forum, I don't remember hearing anything which you've played. Maybe you could "man up" as you say, and play something with your acoustic strings, so that we can have a comparison. 
Last edited by ROG; 09/30/20 11:03 AM.
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It occurs to me that in the almost nine years I've been on the forum, I don't remember hearing anything which you've played. Maybe you could "man up" as you say, and play something with your acoustic strings, so that we can have a comparison. I'm too out of practice to play anything "fresh", but in my signature is a link to a radio program. I'm playing my Martin Custom D-28, medium acoustic strings. I'll check out that link later and get back to you.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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