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Post by Captain Donn on Jan 9, 2008 10:06:26 GMT -5
Just wondering what strings everyone uses. I have been using Martin phosphor bronze lights (.012). I like how they sound and how long they last. What else should I look and listen for when choosing strings. Capt Donn
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Post by billhammond on Jan 9, 2008 10:14:56 GMT -5
Just wondering what strings everyone uses. I have been using Martin phosphor bronze lights (.012). I like how they sound and how long they last. What else should I look and listen for when choosing strings. Capt Donn Herr Kaptain -- Different strings for different guitars and different styles of playing. You got Marty as your friend and adviser -- can't do no better than that, pal.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2008 13:59:26 GMT -5
Elixir Acoustic Guitar Light NanoWeb Coating, .012 - .053
i use the above for acoustics. hated them at first because i found them to be rather slippy, but the older they get, the better they sound.
for electric i use Ernie Ball Electric Guitar - Nickel Wound Regular Slinky, .010 - .046, though that is subject to change...........
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Post by billhammond on Jan 9, 2008 14:09:34 GMT -5
Connie, those are the strings I use, too, although I sub out the .012 and .016 for a .013 and a .017 on the top two strings, for a little more treble power.
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Post by Captain Donn on Jan 9, 2008 19:04:35 GMT -5
Bill, I'm bugging Marty all the time about all kinds of stuff. I thought I would give him a rest (while he's working on my new Taylor) and bug the rest of the gang. Also, it's fun to stur the pot and see what floats to the top! Capt Donn
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Post by billhammond on Jan 9, 2008 19:23:51 GMT -5
Bill, I'm bugging Marty all the time about all kinds of stuff. I thought I would give him a rest (while he's working on my new Taylor) and bug the rest of the gang. Also, it's fun to stur the pot and see what floats to the top! Capt Donn Fair enough! Which Taylor did you buy?!?!!?
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Post by Captain Donn on Jan 9, 2008 20:16:23 GMT -5
Bill, I got a deal that I could not refuse on a 314ce. I'll tell you the story later. Capt Donn
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Post by Cornflake on Jan 9, 2008 22:27:27 GMT -5
I use D'addario phosphor-bronze lights because I like the sound. Either those or DuPont fishing line.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2008 5:48:13 GMT -5
Connie, those are the strings I use, too, although I sub out the .012 and .016 for a .013 and a .017 on the top two strings, for a little more treble power. did you find them hard to get used to, or is it just me?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2008 11:57:54 GMT -5
D'Addario or John Pearse 80/20 bronze, 12 to fiftywhatever. I'm trying phosphor bronze again, but don't like it as much. The 80/20s sound a bit harsh for two or three hours of playing, but then mellow out nicely.
That being said, much as I think I can hear the difference on my guitar, there's no way I could tell you what kind of strings are on another guitar unless they're Elixirs (and that's tactile).
Cheers,
Paul
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Post by Don Clark on Jan 12, 2008 15:43:29 GMT -5
For years, I stuck with D 'Addario PB "Bluegrass" Lite top/med bottom (EJ19), then started adding John Pearse of the same specs. Finally broke my own mould and tried Elixirs.....PB Nanos, same gauge. Darned if I didn't actually like them after all. A bit pricier than the $5-6/set juststrings.com pricing.
My Guild will emerge from the shop with Elixirs, but I'm sure I'll try something else somewhere down the road.
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Dub
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I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
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Post by Dub on Jan 18, 2008 13:16:42 GMT -5
The thing is, every combination of guitar and player may require different strings. Same guitar, different player = different strings. Same player, different guitar = different strings. You must make an effort to play through a reasonably wide selection and let your ear (first) and fingers decide which to use on each instrument. Don't merely be guided by what is popular or what some "monster" player endorses, you have to spend time figuring this out for yourself. The process will go on throughout your playing life but at a slower pace than the initial selection. Buy a range of good quality strings in both medium and light (or bluegrass) weights. Include both coated and plain if you think you might need coated strings. In general, coated strings are only a good investment for those whose body chemistry causes strings to corrode and deaden very quickly. For each set of strings... - Put on a new set of strings and play them in for a week. Choose a standard set of tunes or exercises and record them noting the string used and the date. Make notes about your impressions to go with the recording; things like playability and feel, stiffness, buzzing, etc., anything you notice about them.
- Play them regularly for two more weeks and go through the same process again recording the same tunes and exercises and making notes about your impressions.
- Now install the next set and repeat.
When you've run through all the strings you intend to try, go back and listen carefully to your recordings and read through your notes. You can't accurately remember your impressions from possibly months ago so you really need the recordings and notes if you seriously intend to choose the best strings for your guitar. This process must be repeated for each guitar you own as each instrument must be given enough respect to allow it to choose its own strings. For me, tone is everything. If the strings that sound best don't play to my liking, I'll have a setup done so they do play well. Failing that, I'll just work a little harder as I play. My 1970 Martin D-41 seems to prefer SIT Royal Bronze Medium strings but my new Blueridge BR-240 hates them. That guitar is happy with D'Addario EXP-19s and even happier with D'Addario EJ-17s, the "standard" string for most flatpickers. I usually keep Thomastik-Infeld flat-wound jazz strings on my Tele. It has a humbucker at the neck position and I play it through a Yamaha G50-112 ii. - Dub
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2008 22:04:14 GMT -5
D'Addario .13's. I play strictly fingerstyle and that brand/gauge gives me the best treble response for the guitars I have.
Comes down to player/style/guitar, ultimately.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2010 10:25:12 GMT -5
Been using Elixir 11077 (Nanoweb, light top/heavy bottoms) on my Martin D-41 for 5 years. Acid sweat has no effect on these puppies! Used t change string between sets in the late 60's! Could never keep a set om for more than a couple of days until I discovered Elixirs. Now all that I use on my Martin D-41, D-12-28 and OMC-AURA as well as a 1925 Washburn parlour guitar; repectively, light gauge, light gauge and extra light gauge. Highly recommend!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2011 17:27:29 GMT -5
Elixer Custom Lights for a long time now. They came with an Alvarez I picked up and, after trying half a dozen other types, I found that Alvarez knew what they were doing all along. My last Alvarez came with D'Addario EXPs. Once again, they know what they're doing.
Cleartones... got a bunch of 'em sent to me for trial. Meh...
In a pinch, I'll use Martin Studio strings, but I usually change them out pretty quickly.
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Post by Lonnie on Jul 13, 2011 22:16:48 GMT -5
D'Addario Phosphor Bronze on the Martin, Elixr 80/20 nanos on the Goodall... Ernie Ball dayglow green slinkys (10-46) on the electrics, except the ES-175 which is strung heavier with a wound G.
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Post by drlj on Jul 25, 2011 10:24:13 GMT -5
I use EJ-17's on my HD-28, EJ-12's on my D-18, PB EJ-19 Bluegrass on a couple guitars and PB GHS True mediums on a couple. Every so often I try another brand---Martin FX right now--but I always come back to the usual suspects.
LJ
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Post by kallesandria on Sept 18, 2011 15:46:29 GMT -5
Martin acoustic SP, medium phosphor bronze. I change them about once per month, and every time I'm surprised by how bright the new strings sound!
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Post by Lonnie on Sept 18, 2011 15:56:39 GMT -5
We were discussing strings at breakfast the other day. Just a bit of advice on changing strings, prompted by Karen's post. If I have time, I change strings, tune the guitar, and walk away for 24 hours. If I do that before I stretch them, they retain their tone and brightness two to three times longer than if I put them on, stretch them and play.
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Post by kallesandria on Sept 18, 2011 16:20:34 GMT -5
I should try that Lonnie....I change mine and it seems I have to keep retuning them every day for 2-3 days at least. Plus its so dry here in Arizona that I have to keep my guitar in the case with a small humidifier thing, to keep it around 50%
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