12-53 vs 13-56 vs 11-52 acoustic strings: 12-53 is the safe bet for folk-rock rhythm guitar

12-53 strings give you enough tension for volume in a band mix while still letting you bend strings, unlike heavier 13-56s that project better but fight bends or lighter 11-52s that bend easy but get swallowed by a drummer. Most folk-rock rhythm players settle here for that compromise. If you’re tuning down, drop to 11-52s; on a short-scale parlor, you might prefer 13s.