kristo Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I currently have a Takamine EF407 electro acoustic guitar as my main acoustic. I usually just play at home but lately I've been to a few jam nights and taken it along. I'm struggling to get enough volume from the guitar alone (there are no amps etc). It's a small guitar (New Yorker style), and I'm pretty sure the last strings I put on were Extra Light Ernie Ball Earthwounds. I was wondering if putting a heavier gauge string on might increase the volume a little, and if so, how heavy would the guitar be able to handle? The guitar scale is 24 3/8 inches I think. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) Try any standard set of "Bright Bronze" or similar alloy in 12-52 gauge. You will probably need to tweak your truss rod. Edited May 9, 2013 by iiipopes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristo Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 [sub]I was thinking 12's might be the way to go. Cheers.,[/sub] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 The EF407 would originally have had 12s on, Daddario EXP16s. So it should certainly handle those, and probably some a little heavier too. And yes, heavier strings should give more volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 That's a fairly small body guitar so heavier strings will help, 12's will be fine as that was what the guitar was shipped with, I'd suggest an email to takemine before fitting anything heavier though as not all acoustics will take the tension of very heavy strings, I know that my mcilroy is only warrantied if I don't go above 12's, luckily that's my favorite gauge so I'm fine (newtone heritage are my all time favorites) Due to the size of the body I'd expect that volume wasn't on the agenda when it was designed. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 [quote name='kristo' timestamp='1368098305' post='2073093'] I currently have a Takamine EF407 electro acoustic guitar as my main acoustic. I usually just play at home but lately I've been to a few jam nights and taken it along. I'm struggling to get enough volume from the guitar alone (there are no amps etc). It's a small guitar (New Yorker style), and I'm pretty sure the last strings I put on were Extra Light Ernie Ball Earthwounds. I was wondering if putting a heavier gauge string on might increase the volume a little, and if so, how heavy would the guitar be able to handle? The guitar scale is 24 3/8 inches I think. Cheers. [/quote] Heavier strings, for definite. Try a set if 13s. A set of phosphor bronze. I'm currently using D'Addario exp acoustic strings at the minute. Lighter strings have less volume, heavier strings have more bass. I have a set of 11s on mine at the minute, and interestingly, I can downtune the bass E string by an entire octave. You can definitely go pretty light with the bass strings, but it wouldn't sound great (too trebly) or even be very loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1368211137' post='2074596'] That's a fairly small body guitar so heavier strings will help, 12's will be fine as that was what the guitar was shipped with, I'd suggest an email to takemine before fitting anything heavier though as not all acoustics will take the tension of very heavy strings, I know that my mcilroy is only warrantied if I don't go above 12's, luckily that's my favorite gauge so I'm fine (newtone heritage are my all time favorites) Due to the size of the body I'd expect that volume wasn't on the agenda when it was designed. [/quote] This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristo Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 Cheers for the advice. I put some bronze 12's on it yesterday and it is significantly louder, and the neck seems to be fine...., Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 [quote name='kristo' timestamp='1368363005' post='2076076'] Cheers for the advice. I put some bronze 12's on it yesterday and it is significantly louder, and the neck seems to be fine...., [/quote] it wouldn't be the neck that i would be worried about, the top of the body is the thing to watch, keep an eye out for any change in shape, the reason that my guitar won't take 13's is because it has a lightly braced cedar top which might not take the strain of the heavier strings, i wasn't sure how Koa was for strength, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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