Re: My New Martin D-18


"Grimly fiendish" <juju@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Les Cargill" <lcargill99@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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LenBum wrote:
Well, because it's a new "toy", I've ordered new pins and a new precut
bone saddle for my D-18. I also took the Martin Phosphor Bronze .12's
off and put my normal Elixir nanoweb .11's on. While they sound very
good I have noticed some very minute rattles in certain locations when
picking that were not there with the .12's on. Very clearly this guitar
is set up for the .12's. And with how good they did sound it looks like
I'll be heading back in that direction. Not wanting to waste these new
strings I'll leave them on for a bit. Any harm in doing so? I should
think not but someone with more knowledge might want to let me
know...........................

I've been really superstitious to use only the exact same
strings that my Martin came with. Ain't broke, don't fix it.

They need changing roughly twice a year, (much) more if I gig
it outdoors.

--
Les Cargill

Put the string gauge you want to use on it from the get go, in my opinion.
If you like your elixirs however it may just need a neck tweak with the
lighter gauge. Settle on the strings you want, put them on, let the
guitar settle down, do the tweaks and your Martin probably won't move much
(depending on your climate of course).

While I can appreciate the nature of your remarks, they've spurred me on to
make a couple of comments. One is factual, the other opinion, but arguably
sensible.

The first is that, while Martin D's have a truss rod, I don't believe
they're user adjustable. If I'm right, then "tweaking" them is out of the
question. "Tweaking" these guitars for different gauge strings sometimes
involves making adjustments to the bridge saddle and or the nut.

The second goes like this. Martin Dreadnaughts are made for .12 gauge
strings (ie. Mediums). They're set up for them, braced for them, and their
tonal responses are partly dependent upon them. If you preferred to use
lighter gauge strings, you should have considered the slightly smaller 000
series guitars (ie. 000-18) which are designed for light gauge strings and
sound best with them. A Dreadnaught is a dreadnaught, not a parlor guitar.

When I was much younger, I started stringing my '64 D-28 with light gauge
strings. It made some things easier to play, but it affected the response of
the guitar. Many years later, when I brought my guitar into Martin for a
"checkup", the technician pretty much insisted on replacing the strings with
mediums again. He reset the neck and adjusted the nut and bridge saddle for
mediums. I don't use anything else anymore.

At the same time, I have a '46 000-28. That gets light gauge strings only.
Putting mediums on that might be a formula for disaster.

Of course one can do anything that one wants. But generally speaking, and
especially with acoustic guitars, the builder knows what's best.


.

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