Blueridge players--what strings?

[Mark Miller]

Hi everyone, I'm a new member, and pretty much a newbie flatpicker.  Having a lot of fun trying to keep up with Brad Davis's medium-fast tempo in fiddle tunes in the Flatpick Jam dvds (and not quite making it).  Anyway, my guitar is a Blueridge 160.  I have always used light-gauge strings, most often D'Addario PB EJ16's.  But I get the impression most flatpickers use medium-gauge, so I have been contemplating switching to EJ17's.  My questions:

1) I see a number of you also have the Blueridge 160.  What's your experience with strings on this guitar?

 

2) If I switch, should I bring it to my local luthier to do it?  Might it require re-setting the action, rod adjustment, or something?  I can change strings but that's about the extent of my abilities in tinkering with a guitar.

 

3) I also play some fingerstyle, mainly old-time country blues such as Mississippi John Hurt style.  As I understand it most of those guys use light gauge (or so says Stefan Grossman, far be it from me to question him).  I'm more of a flatpicker than a fingerpicker, but I hesitate to mess myself up in this other area since I'm hardly proficient yet anyway.  If I had the money I'd buy another guitar for fingerpicking, but I don't.

 

I welcome any advice.  Thanks!

Mark

[Doug Lindhout]

Hey Mark,

I have tried a number of strings on my 160.  For my tastes, I like the GHS True Mediums TM335.  David Grier played my guitar for about 45 min this past summer and told me he was really impressed with the tone, so I guess I'm not the only one that thinks that is a good combo.

I'd start by just changing the strings and see what it does to the setup.  I'm guessing you won't notice anything.

 

Good Luck!

[Mark Miller]

Thanks Doug.  I've never tried GHS strings at all, I'll give those a shot.

[Shawn Corley]

I like Cleartones 56-13 Phosphorus Bronze. If your guitar is bright you'll like em...It seems to have more boom......If your guitar is dark try using Elixers...... or any 80/20 Bronze each guitar reacts to strings.....just try em all and see what you like....

[Mark Miller]

I just threw on some Dean Markley medium-light PB's and I love them.  Much better than the D'Addario lights.  Don't know if it's the brand or the heavier string gauge, but it's a start in the right direction.

[Dylan Harper]

Best string depends on what you are playing. I prefer the D'Addario line of strings specifically the phosphor bronze. It's what I use on my 6- and 12-string acoustics, and it sounds great.