What Happens When You Put Electric Strings On An Acoustic Guitar?

Does it change the tone? Does it blow up your guitar? Does it sound amazing? Find out what happens when you put electric strings on an acoustic guitar and play.
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[@CAHouseMusic]

Thanks For Watching Everyone! Please Support the channel by clicking the SUBSCRIBE Button!

[@LNVACVAC]

Do you think heavy jazz flatwounds would work fine without much setup?

[@ToyotaTacomaOfficial]

You’re welcome

[@pynbiang7875]

Didn't know Johnny Sins can play guitar, too.

[@UnholyGraveAbortions]

Still in Slumber 😂

[@gouahh359]

Man can do anything. Doctor, nurse, plumber, por- guitarist.

[@amankharaliya158]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@piyush5617]

Thats his cousin

[@sebastianlopez7672]

Bru u play pubg mobile? U have season 12 RP avatar

[@joeygutierrez8930]

1:40 acoustic strings strumming 2:40 electric strings strumming

[@ozzy3933]

thank you kind sir

[@tenzindawasherpa]

Thank you!

[@lilith4961]

Thank you sooooo much

[@0000song0000]

thank you. now i think my acoustic guitar may have come strung with electric strings cause that's exactly how it sounds 😛

[@tumpachakraborty9127]

@@0000song0000 mine too

[@swaroov9236]

The short answer is its easy to play

[@thedillestpickle]

yes but the sound isn't as crisp and sounds kinda janky and cheap

[@minnesotajack1]

Good for learning to play. If you’re learning and not gigging it’s okay.

[@minnesotajack1]

@Nostalgia for Infinity Nah… when my kids were learning to golf I bought them clubs that were easier to hit than the ones I was using. They had more good shots when they were young and now they play more, enjoy the game and will buy nicer clubs when they’re adults. Same thing applies here.

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

@@thedillestpickle hey sometimes a cheap sounding guitar can work, listen to Polly by Nirvana, if that guitar sounded decent I think it would’ve taken away from the song

[@jonnehayesjr.9299]

@@jasonarmstrong5750 Great point

[@Jooosuaa_]

30% of johnny sins + 70% jeff bezos = this guy

[@CAHouseMusic]

110% broke - Eric

[@wayneknazek7362]

I've been using standard Fender or Ernie Ball 1046's on my acoustics for years. I either mic them or use a pick up, so EQ isn't an issue. EQ your mic if you lose a little low end. As a performer who has been gigging since 1965 I can tell you, NO ONE will notice any difference when you play for them. And the box is WAY easier to play.

[@txandroid7443]

what gauge do u use? thanks for your answer..

[@brian770]

sounds great with electric strings

[@sunjamrblues]

Good demo, thanks. I have several acoustics with pickups and I almost never play them unplugged. In that case, electric strings sound just fine and are much kinder to my fingers. Easier to bend and slide, easier to make those bar chords. Tone is not an issue , because it's totally controlled using the equalizer in the amp.

[@deltafour1212]

Been using Boomer 9's on my Gibson acoustic for 45 years. Works and sounds great! No string sloppiness, no special guitar setup and no damage to my guitar... EVER.

[@gomezfrancisco4577]

why would you use 9's anyways, get 11's at least

[@deltafour1212]

@@gomezfrancisco4577 Easy! Because 9's work for me.

[@gomezfrancisco4577]

@@deltafour1212 yeah i get it, but using 9s on an acoustic you basically lack loads of bass

[@deltafour1212]

@@gomezfrancisco4577 Not on my guitar you don't.

[@gomezfrancisco4577]

@@deltafour1212 pretty sure that'd be on any guitar ever

[@bolt4694]

How could you not mention string guages for both.

[@jimcamp2423]

Yep, that's my gripe with this video, an apples to apples, not apples & oranges comparison. Because at a certain gauge, and that would be 12's (12-53's) that 3rd string is wound not coated. The Applause by Ovation I have comes with D'Addario 12-53's EXP11's. And tone from those is even going to be different from Phosphur or Silks ? I'm thinking the nickel wound/coated combination of the E Ball electric strings are going to approximate the 80/20 Bronze for brightness with the difference being the nickel vs copper as plugged in for signal, even acoustically for vibrational properties. End of the day, the cool distractions of the commentary during the scientific test are unnecessary, even annoying. This test was a waste of time to present for anyone wanting to know the true differences in the strings. I figure in the same gauges, electric strings become a 4th option of acoustic with an even stronger and similarly lighter tone as the 80/20 bronze (actually a misnomer as it's copper that is used). I bet you can even put acoustic electric nylon strings as some acoustic electrics have those installed in the same gauges ?

[@lewisgray4202]

Jim Camp Jesus Christ dude why did you write all of that

[@proinseasokiellig4388]

@@jimcamp2423 Thanks Jim, very interesting.. Lewis forced himself to read something he did'nt want to...we'll just leave it there,enough said...no need to say any more it will only trigger him..he'll probably kick a puppy or something..nah I don't like to assume..maybe he thinks writing (or reading for that matter) is no eco? Maybe people typing hurts ?

[@mrchrisbeaver]

Pretty eye opening, to me it sounded way better in every way with the electric strings

[@Kuhlyedascope69]

deff nice and crispy

[@billalax8362]

If Johnny sins and Jeff bezos had a kid

[@asdaven1]

String gauge isnt mentioned here. If you put 9s or 10s in electric strings , you will get this result. Go 11s or higher , preferably 12s or higher and a set with a wound third string.

[@markbundy1694]

Eric, you make playing look so effortless... U Rock Buddy... I actually liked the treble sound very much...

[@imbateman]

I keep a beat up old acoustic strung-up with electric strings and it's fun to play. If you're strumming songs at a campfire or playing a coffee shop, obviously not. If you want to experiment with different sounds or to practice electric guitar without plugging in, it's a great and affordable option.

[@philippetravich]

I did this 40 years ago on my old EKO. Sounded just fine.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Very nice sound that's a good balance between brightness & warmth. Nickel Wound Strings tend to outlast 80/20 Bronze & Phosphor Bronze Strings.

[@joshofofw945]

I've been using electric strings on acoustic / electric guitar for decades ,once u plugged it and balance the EQ its close enough , i dont want to destroy my fingers on acoustic strings and way easy to play .

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Step your game up...your fingers need to be able to take the abuse...you sissy

[@Vertic3D]

wtf lmao

[@jac4417]

@Peter Martins guitar boomer energy

[@justmarc2015]

I have an old guitar with super-high action. It was hard to play, so I put an Ernie Ball Turbo Slinky set on it, and it plays great now. It sounds just as loud and full as ever because of the high action.

[@sidgar1]

Adjust the truss rod, there might be excessive bow in the neck. If not, shave down the saddle bone (from the underside, not the top where the strings come into contact), it might be too high. Otherwise, the saddle is pulling and bowing up too much from the tension of the strings. Might need a good inspection and setup by a luthier.

[@db5145]

Actually I don’t disagree about the acoustic strings having a fuller sound/balanced equalization of the string note tones! Certainly the advantage to overall sound quality vs electric strings! However, if you like the playability of electric strings, you can try extra light acoustic as a compromise without having to drop your guitar off at guitar center and pray they don’t mess things up when getting “set-up”…

[@jimmyb4982]

Nice double negative

[@dudleybarker2273]

just put a set of Elixir Nanowire electrics on my old Angelica and it sounds better than it has ever sounded. stays in tune, no stress on the neck (and no adjustment). just perfect. rings like a bell.

[@forbiddensun9524]

I found this out cause I didn’t have more Nylon E strings...

[@mk_rexx]

I don't know if I'm too late but DON'T put steel strings on a classical guitar. A classical guitar's structure is only meant to withstand the tension of nylon strings and it could break if you put steel strings on it.

[@HelloFriend365]

The acoustic strings sounded muddy. The electric sounded good for picking. I like that sound. Kinda old school bluesy

[@je19662008]

I've always been partial to bright sounds and for that, electric guitar strings definitely fit the bill. As for the loss of bass, you might want to go with a heavier gauge for the bottom strings. Like maybe a .052 for the 6th string and using a set with a wrapped G string as well. But you're right about the buzz. That is a constant problem. I own an Ovation Standard Balladeer LX (my heart sank when I found out Ovations are no longer being made). I've always been partial to Ovations because of their bright sound and greater "acoustic push." But they're a bitch to set up because the one hexhead beneath the top is impossible to reach.

[@MrMetalclay]

Electric strings for the win. I also think they stay cleaner and last longer than acoustic strings.

[@cddum4992]

I have been using 09, 10 and 11 electric strings on my Ibanez electroacoustic (the pickup is under the saddle) for 6 months and i prefer using them. They sound brighter and get less corrosion over time

[@eddiemautone209]

😊😊yes thank you big difference good to have people like you to guide us into the abliss ha ha

[@WillowsDream]

My friend Bill Cook was using #10 D'addario guitar strings on his Ovation and other acoustics back in the 80's and they worked fine no neck adjustments needed. What gauge strings were you using?

[@RFWMusic]

Cool intro and the video answered my question, haha! Thanks !

[@garbear6899]

Thanks for saving me $20 and an hour of my time! Can definitely hear how rich the acoustic strings are, even through my phone speaker!

[@seanrosedotcom]

I heard what you were saying, but the electric string clips sounds really good recorded here... really seem they'd go well in a mix too.

[@garyrussell5559]

Electric Strings on an Acoustic guitar is a great option for kids learning the guitar. They can persevere with the guitar practice a lot longer without getting really sore fingers. Probably a good option for older people picking up a guitar late in life as well. I have midi sized acoustic with electric strings on it sitting by my computer which I can pick up and grab if some interesting music comes up on KZbin. It lets you learn acoustic or electric riffs. Sometimes you want a guitar thats a little bit quieter but more realistic than an unplugged electric. It actually sounds pretty good plugged in as well. So I wouldnt knock it. My other acoustic has a set of 13s Piano wound strings on it which are like playing fencing wire. Aesome sound . You dont want to have arthritis with those ones on though.

[@thekillcast1385]

I have a fender stratacoustic guitar and when my strings broke I got new ones and the guy recommended electric ones and after seeing this I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do, do you think it’s ok ?

[@x-STORMXX-x]

What happens if you put some really heavy electric guitar strings on it that are made fro drop down tuning or even a set for a 7 string guitar and you put the low 6 on it ?

[@LNVACVAC]

Do you think heavy jazz flatwounds would work fine without much setup?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I've done that when I got a new Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar. I restrung it with John Pearse Jazz Strings (2600 which is the Light Gauge) and they actually sound a bit like Silver Plated Copper Wound Strings so it's more of a Gypsy Jazz sound.

[@evs7505]

Eric, I just put D'Addario NYXL 11s on my acoustic Washburn, and it sounds great. It has an even better low end than the strings I had been using. I hope this helps.

[@lmfs4032]

Evan Wesley Stover i accidentally put D’Addario EXL125 9’s because the guy said they were acoustic strings and i didn’t noticed until i put them on there, and i like it better than acoustic strings. lol.

[@pinklightninggacha]

I just realised I bought electric strings for a couple of acoustic guitars I have lying around NYXL 10/52 STRINGS D'ADDARIO

[@Nikki-gv6gl]

i have hybrid strings, they're pretty thick for electric, would it work?

[@nicholassakamoto2455]

I have an Indonesian made Epiphone Texan and I just put D’Addario Electric Flatwound Strings on them about almost two months ago and they sound great.

[@Stratocus]

This is not really a valid demo and not a fair comparison because the electric strings being use are probably 10s or 11s. How about using a set of Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky? Gauges .012 .016 .024p .032 .044 .056 compared with a light set of acoustic strings of .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054. And if you prefer a wound third (G) Ernie Ball does a .24 or .26 wound. Nickel steel strings last longer than 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze. And if you use a comparably gauged set of electric strings you won't need to make any set-up adjustments to the guitar.

[@robertnewell5057]

Nickel/monel strings are favoured by loads of acoustic players, most notably Ton Rice, at the gauges you mention

[@steveymoon]

Yeah but I have Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge 12-53 on my Taylor and I've always hated a wound G string. Why can't I put D'Addario NYXL1254 Heavy 12-54 electric guitar strings on there. The tension is almost identical and I get an unwound plain G string. That should work, shouldn't it?

[@oskarkawulicz3956]

hmm and what happen if you put on heavy strings (12 size) or at least heavier bass string?

[@MrJackal43]

I like your energy man! I just typed the question “what happens if you put electric strings on an acoustic…” and you came up like 2nd… the reason being I’m to lazy to go and get acoustic strings when I have a bunch of electric sets sitting here..

[@chadandrews98]

Thanks. I am looking for ways to make an acoustic more playable due to some wrist injury issues.

[@user-ji4zx9ur9j]

what gauges of electric guitar strings did you use? I think a simple solution would be just using higher gauges - like '11 instead of regular '9.

[@The_Cadaver]

I think most acoustic guitars aren't designed to make fine adjustments at low tension. A lot is in the fingers too, but I suspect that the truss rod is the inherent limitation when it comes to trying this.

[@peppertvtv167]

Is the bending for it good also?

[@jeffbarton3562]

Glad I seen this was also wondering if it mattered thanks for the video does sound a lot different

[@pubicnozzle9775]

ive been doing this for a while because i enjoy the tone and the amount of slack they give to bend more easily

[@txandroid7443]

what gauge do u use?

[@TonyBurke100]

What gauge did you use? You didn't mention the gauge if you're using a wound G and the appropriate acoustic gauges e.g. 12s there shouldn't be much of a difference in tone.

[@islandblues8084]

Thank you, I’m going to restring my accoustic now🤙🏼😎.

[@RiccardoPareschi]

Why compare Bronze 12/53 (factory standard) with Nickel 10/46 (I believe) or with plain G strings? There are lot of 12/52 electric strings with wound G.

[@jcthefluteman]

'Jangly' was the exact word I was thinking when I heard the sound, then he said jangly and I think I'm psychic now

[@itriedmany]

What gauge? Ernie Ball makes several gauges for electric, from extra light to heavy... so what gauge did you use?

[@mstoltz]

What kind of strings was the basic ones ? Sounded beautiful..... Greetings from Sweden.

[@petset77]

What gauge electric strings did you use? ...and how's the bending with bronze? (rhetorical question 😜). I'd agree that acoustic specific players would likely/maybe press hard enough to possibly be sharp when making a chord, and with lighter strings, full tonal qualities would suffer. Gotta wonder if it's mainly linked to the gauge, or if bronze really offers better tone than nickel. There some wacky (to an old guy like me) electric string sets out there now, like 12-52 or 13-70. Hey, I played bass when I was young. Roto Sound 66 Swing bass, 45-105, so am just wondering. When I play guitar as a second instrument, it was usually electric, 10-46. ....I have a Taylor acoustic with slightly high action, and it's been in the bag (detuned) for 12 years because it's so uncomfortable to play. Gonna string it with nickel and adjust the truss rod, just to play the thing around the house. Thanks for your vid... it was fun. Glad the guitar didn't explode.

[@s2musicvibes440]

Thanks u saved my lots of waste struggle nd time.. with this thankful to u

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

You can use D'addario EJ20s which are essentially Nickel Wound Extra Light Gauge Acoustic/Electric Guitar Strings.

[@Parisindahouse]

My top 4 strings are a bronze colour and the bottom 2 silver, don't remember what the gauge was etc.... pretty sure that the packet said 'acoustic'. Sounds like you are all experts, can anybody please tell me if I got the right ones?

[@IRessurectGrunge09]

Which Martin model is that?

[@FreeSpiritWriter]

the acoustic set sounds much nicer warm sounding, think i will be buying full set of acoustic strings at the mo i have mixed strings on it, thx mate

[@thewhodatbroadcastingsyste9908]

A lot depends on the tone or needs of the player. I've experimented widely with my trusty old Yamaha FG, and currently have .07 electric strings for acoustic blues. It's very easy to bend with my older hands (pushing 60 now), and a light touch is mandatory. I've tried mixing sets, nylon strings, and other odd stuff on that old guitar for sounds I liked, and it's fun messing around with a knockabout guitar I don't use on stage. I can see the poster's point with a nice Martin, but if I had my best friend's Martin Alternate X (the metal topped one), it might not be a bad experiment, as those had a tendency to have heavier strings pull the bridge off.

[@fine_gold]

Sounds better. I've learned to enjoy the thin sound of super lights on my electric too. Bb king, zz top, ac dc, all used super lights

[@lonewarrior6633]

Love that intro!!

[@taurus38splul]

What were the string gauges?

[@Goosemeyer]

I’ve always done this, the only drawback is the unwound g intonation is always slightly off

[@monicataarah]

Can someone please tell song he's playing...

[@PoundMountain]

Lmao that intro got me good right off the bat

[@tylerconley7739]

I have a 1952 maccaferri g40 gypsy jazz guitar and I put electric strings on it so it has the jangly thing on purpose. I think it sounds pretty cool. Could be the plastic body and whatnot acting with the string gauge.

[@sushibongg9057]

ive been using ernie ball super slinkys on my acoustic my whole life amd always thought the issues were just cos i had lower end guitars. about to buy acoustic strings on amazon and see if that fixes the issues ive always had

[@olsza6969]

I like electric on acoustic comfort of playing is great and this buzz is so great like snare in background. .

[@thataintitchief553]

margareta tola what’s wrong with you?

[@Charzilian]

@@thataintitchief553 I agree with him. Both sounds good. Tbh you have to play around with stuff like this to find your own tone. You think the greats just copied who they listened to? Mess around with strings, tuning, and so on to make your own sound.

[@thataintitchief553]

coomer it was a joke

[@robloxlover123456790]

@@Charzilian it's all fun and games till just your d string is buzzing

[@wretch1]

What gauge did you use?

[@chiquiabello4372]

Yes, there's a difference in tone. I think it's one most audiences won't notice and can be mostly mitigated by EQ, so if you can make the mental adjustment, should be ok for folks who prefer a lighter feel.

[@ajrodrigues5728]

What's the model ID of that Martin?

[@ninstendo1416]

Something about this guy. He cool

[@rigormoritz]

I used to have a beat up cheap travel 3/4 acoustic guitar that my sister dropped after she got disinterested in learning to play. I slapped some 11s on that guitar (didn't have anything else lying around at the moment) and never went back. It was my favorite guitar to play. I wasn't looking for a beautiful, melodic or serene sound out of it. Even when setup properly it wasn't a great sounding guitar. But having 11s on it gave it some grit I found pleasing. I probably wouldn't do that with a Martin. But cheap, flawed guitars have their own charm for me.

[@davidportnoy3237]

How about an alter top with converted pickups?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Some people do that to make their Acoutic feel like an Electric.

[@princes.vpatel1179]

It sounds great😍

[@infiniteandroid]

Could you play through a bass amp????.... just a thought

[@greekpapi]

I've been using .009-.042 stainless steel strings on all my acoustics for years. Use round-wounds if you want a bright sound, flat wounds if you want something a bit more mellow.

[@bigjalapeno5347]

Question, have you noticed more wear on your ftets

[@YIDARMY08]

I had a bad high action guitar that killed my hands to play and stuck on some 10 gauge electrics. Plays lovely now!

[@seventwistsclockwise]

Yes but what gauges etc?

[@japonaliya]

I think some miss the point... It also depends on your style of playing and what type of music. I am a mostly lead blues rock player who just recently bought a couple of acoustics. I am used to bending strings rather than play single note runs. I use. 09 on my electrics, sometimes. 08. Even using "rock/blues" plain G in. 10 gauge was very hard for me. I don't finger pick or play like an acoustic player. I play Delta and Chicago style blues but mostly std. tuning. As people said, I can equilize the low end or just live with it like many old bluesmen with Sears & Roebuck Stella's...

[@abrieldelarosa8671]

What if you just get the same gauge strings and put them on

[@Wompwomppppppppp]

I like it tbh cause it sounds so bright

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

C. A. House Music There are Electric Guitar strings who's gauges are the same as Acoustic Guitar Strings called Jazz Gauges & they tend to sound more full bodied.

[@Dr.Turkey]

Why would you not use 12s or 13s? They make standard electric strings in those gauges.

[@WorshipGuitarist4life17]

I love the sound of electric guitar strings on acoustic. I know I'll lose volume but it's very hard to tune to F# standard with regular acoustic guitar strings and 10 gauge acoustic strings with setup, I find a bit too hard

[@kraigsmusicalworks4400]

It sounds a lot brighter, I feel like if one adjusted their playing to the lighter strings it could sound awesome!

[@blartslimpson8967]

The trick is is by using the thinnest nylon pick to soften up those sharp notes. You’re welcome.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Nice to know thanks

[@jamesfrederick99]

Next he should install Bass strings on an acoustic. Then I would subscribe.

[@santan_v_manman247]

How about bass strings on 3/4 classical guitar

[@LuisMartinez-bx9up]

I don't think it's possible since the strings are to big for the tuners

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

C. A. House Music The Guitar still holds up, the Nickel Wound Strings advantage is that you have more Longevity.

[@rochellelisa7959]

Beautiful

[@sidgar1]

What if you used regular bronze strings for the bass (654) and lighter gauge electric strings for the treble (321)? Seems like a good compromise between fuller tone and playability.

[@DarthCiliatus]

That would just be acoustic strings. The plain strings are identical between the sets. The difference is in the wound strings with the acoustic being wound with bronze wire and the electric being wrapped with nickle plated steel wire.

[@peteplumley1521]

Sounds great when using the pickup and running it through an amp.... can have fun gettin' bendy.. I'm considering a locking nut to battle bend detuning.

[@kurisutan3560]

Whats the song at 2:40? Sounds familiar

[@neilsmith9473]

I have a very nice solid top guitar but recently bought a new Yamaha F370 as a beater for open mic. It has a short scale length of 634mm (25”) and a great neck so is extremely easy on the fingers, even with 012 gauge strings. In fact, I did try 011s and hated them as they cut into my fingertips. Seriously, if you want a straightforward, budget guitar that sounds great and is easy on the fingertips, try an F370 and fit some quality 012 strings. Or maybe you'd like to try other short scale length acoustic guitars. You'll be absolutely amazed at how much easier they are to play. I've been playing for well over 40 years and the F370 short scale is by far the easiest acoustic guitar I've ever played.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Electric strings sound bright and metallic, and that is the only sound I like. A slight loss of volume I can handle.