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Post subject: Bending with an acoustic guitar?
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:35 am
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Is it harder to bend with an acoustic guitar than an electric? Do people who bend strings with acoustics tend to use lighter than usual strings? Thanks.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:51 am
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I would tend to say yes. The higher action and heavier gauge strings would make it harder to bend.


On my acoustic I have lowered the action and I am using 10's on it.

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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:28 am
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I've been using D'Addario Light 12 - 53, I want to change to a custom light so that the "bends" do come easier. I think the ol' fingers are strong enough now.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:41 am
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Hi Rudy: my Yamaha acoustic came loaded with 13s. My fingers are so puny I had to change those down to 11s to do bends the way I like. Feeble, huh?

Also, I guess some people just don't bend strings on an acoustic. Other playing styles are possible...

Cheers - C


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:44 am
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Rudy, it's not only harder, it's painful.

Gotta do it, tho.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:47 am
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I use Ernie Ball coated ph/bronze mediums 12-54 and i bend them all the time. It takes lower action than standard acoustic setup and alot of practice to do it right. When you first start you might want to play on lights 10-50 until you build up your callouses and finger/wrist strength.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:17 pm
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I play Blues and wanted to do more (ok, better) bends, so I just recently changed to the Ernie Ball Rock-n-Blues 10's. They're awesome and I can bend like crazy! For a lighter gauge they still sound pretty bluesy.

Check'em out.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:29 pm
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It's really hard but depends on the strings brand too.
I had 2 sets of D'addarios 11's Ph/Br. The ones the guitar came with and an extra set I bought. There was no way to bend these wires. Also the D'addarios lost their sparkle and became muddy and dull only two weeks after installing them new.

I had some similar experience with D'addarios on the electric so I made a promise to myself never to use them again. (I know, I know, many player's choice but not mine).

So I installed a set of GHS (11' gauge).
Wow... I CAN BEND. And a week later the strings are as good as new.
So experiment.
I don't suggest though to get smaller gauge strings. It's an acoustic after all. All the sound is coming out of those strings and hollow body. So strings must be loud and soft strings aren't as loud as they should for an acoustic that is.

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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:28 pm
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I like to do alot of bends with my electrics, but almost never with the acoustics.

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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:12 pm
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I usually play Martin M140 Light Acoustic Guitar Strings (.12 gauge) and bend all the time. Course, I play .11s or .12s on my electrics so I'm used to it ^^

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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:17 pm
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My personal preference is gauge 13 or higher on acoustic guitar and gauge 10/11 on electric. When i swap my acoustic to electric the transition is amazing. It makes bends easier on electric if you practice on acoustic in my mind.


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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 7:34 pm
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Not for me, I play a Telecoustic Deluxe. :wink:

Generally it will always be but all you need to do is try different string guages. Otherwise it's generally good to play a toughER acoustic because it works wonders for your finger muscles and when you pick up the electric it glides!

CC

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