Extra Light String Suggestions

JoeJazz

I have been more and more encroaching on playing this gypsy style of guitar very recently. I have been an electric guitar player for quite a long time and I am making a transition to playing acoustic jazz guitar.

I own a Dell'Arte Pigalle, small hole with a 26.4" scale length. I have been experimenting with different strings on it.

Can some people recommend a very light guage strings that would be passable for this type of guitar. I am not after the pure gypsy-jazz sound. I am after anything that is silver plated alloy or silk core. I am trying to get the loosest feel while I make the transition to gypsy-jazz.

Thanks in advance

Steveareno

Any of the popular GJ string brands work fine and are guaged right for these guitars. The wound G strings wear out fast, so you might want to get extras. I use Argentine 11s (I like their logo of the Gaucho). The feel and action is pretty close to my Fender Tele strung 10-46. If you want to go ultra light, experiment with custom guage Ernie Ball nickel strings...they work too. You could go down to .008 on the high E to.036 on the low end but you would probably lose volume (James Burton uses super light guage strings on his Teles and gets away with it). I would stay away from bronze acoustic strings. Some suppliers string up Sel Macs with bronze strings...don't sound right and feel way too stiff.
Swang on,

MichaelHorowitz

Argentine strings have the most supple feel of all the standard Gypsy strings. They are the only strings with a round core, the hex cores of other brands make them stiffer. See:

http://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/Argentine-Strings

If you want a bit darker sound and an even less string tension than try silk and steels, the Gallis are nice:

http://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/eco ... rings.html

I wouldn't go any lower than 10 gauge....anything lighter than that would likely kill the volume and tone of the guitar.

Michael