nixsbee
Sore Fingers
Posts: 8
My main instrument is: '94 Guild GV-70
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Post by nixsbee on Aug 28, 2022 10:00:18 GMT
What are your fav strings? Used on most of your guitars? (if you have more than one).
It used to be easy, didn't it? I remember playing my trusty plywood Eko* as a student 35yrs ago, and probably bronze strings...or whatever was the cheapest, never gave it a thought!
Now, I'm all geeked out on understanding the various tensions...how 80/20 has a "scooped mid-range", how Monels sound "thumpy"...and recently, I'm loving the D'addario Nickel Bronze (altho expensive) on my GS-Mini. Used to be all about Elixirs, but not anymore (hate them now...well, "don't particularly care for", "hate" sounds a bit strong). Also, Rotosound TruBronze are cheap and quite smashing on my Larrivee.
I suppose it's great to have all this choice. One thing I do know, reading most of t'internet, it tells me that I *absolutely MUST have* 13s on all of my guitars. Mediums! What!? I'll stick to my 11s, even on shorter-scale, thankyouverymuch!
All thoughts welcome!
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Post by Onechordtrick on Aug 28, 2022 10:30:52 GMT
I’m a big fan of Newtone Heritage I try other brands but keep coming back to them. Nice balanced tone and lower tension for the same gauge than other strings.
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Post by borborygmus on Aug 28, 2022 12:15:09 GMT
I tend to use Elixir Nanoweb phosphor bronze lights (0.012). This is based on an aversion to string changing and more guitars than sensible. Some instruments don't get played for weeks, and the coated strings last longer. Previous favourites were D'Addario EXP16 phosphor bronze lights (0.012). I have recently won on the forum giveaway some Cleartone EQ Hybrid acoustic strings, 11-52 - which I have yet to try. I have also bought some Newtone Heritage strings as a result of forum recommendations - again, yet to try.
I think you'll find that this is a perennial discussion, with as many opinions as members!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 28, 2022 12:20:09 GMT
Such a personal thing, string choice. And some guitars can be even fussier than their owners. I use Newtone Masterclass PB 12-52 or 12-54 on most of my guitars most of the time though there's a couple where I prefer 11-51. Other round core strings I like are DR Sunbeam 12-54. Aside from those I quite like Rotosound contact core strings, esp Superbronze (ie PB!) 12-54. Haven't tried anything different for many years. Maybe I should...? Keith @nixbee - I had an Eko Ranger 6 (and a 12) in my (1960s) student days too - I didn't change a whole set unless it was for a paying gig when I knew I'd cover the cost of a decent (probably Martin) set. Otherwise it was "break one, replace one" - with Black Diamond or Cathedral. Pretty heavy gauge too. By the 70s I tended to use Rotosound or Martin Bronze though still didn't change them very often.
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Post by earwighoney on Aug 28, 2022 12:24:24 GMT
I really should place an order for some Newtone strings, it's been many years since I last used them.
I currently have a set of Martin Monel's 11-52 on my 00-21S which I quite like, even though when they are brand new they sound awful and feel very stiff, but after a month or so they settle in and are more enjoyable to play. I've got a set of 12-54 D'Daddario 85/15's on my Eastman E10-00, which seem to work well on the guitar for now, but for both these guitars I will restring them both with Pyramid Phosphor Bronze strings, which aren't the best sounding strings I have come across, but they last a long time and once they settle in aren't the stiffest on the fingers.
Like yourself, I also I favour using 11-52's on my guitars, even short scale ones. The 12-54's on my Eastman are downtuned almost as long as they go, and I still find they are hard on my picking hand.
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nixsbee
Sore Fingers
Posts: 8
My main instrument is: '94 Guild GV-70
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Post by nixsbee on Aug 28, 2022 13:42:58 GMT
Hmmmm.... Newtone strings... I've heard a lot about them, must try ☺️ Ironically, I find it less forgiving when strumming (which is the majority of my playing...) - ie the string choice, too bronze and can sound overly jangly, too much tension or higher gauge and their is too much resistance, playing louder/harder slams the string into the fret (clang!). And for strumming duties, Phosphor Bronze can be a bit too "mid EQ" until they calm down to my ears...which would sometimes be an advantage for a small bodied fingerpicked (the guitar,not the person lol)... Except I've got mostly Dreadnoughts 😉
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 28, 2022 13:53:27 GMT
I’ve gradually moved almost everything over to DR Sunbeams PB 12-54
They sound natural and not too zingy right away, take very little time to break in and sound excellent.
They have a very good feel as well, slightly lower tension (my perception) than similar gauge pbs.
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 28, 2022 14:28:17 GMT
It tends to be whatever is on sale at the time I need new strings... occasionally, it's the strings that came with the instrument Mind you, HB12.5 is coming up - which means new strings on *something*... but what?
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Post by malcolm on Aug 28, 2022 15:54:52 GMT
My preference is for Newtone Masterclass 12 - 54 phosphor bronze, but since Brexit they have become much more expensive in Ireland.
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Post by lavaman on Aug 28, 2022 16:52:38 GMT
I can never remember what strings I’d put on each guitar or how long they’d been on so I created a spreadsheet to remind me.
Over the years my most common strings have been D’Addario EJ16s (12-53 phosphor bronze) because they last a reasonable time, sound ok, and they’re inexpensive when you buy the multi-packs.
Currently, I’m using D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings. I have the balanced tension set on my 00-18V and they sound warm and even, but they are a little quiet. Very comfortable to play too. The gauges are 12, 16, 22, 30, 39, 52 so its like light gauge on the outside and extra light in the middle.
I tried D’Addario Nickel Bronze 11’s on my Eastman OM as I found EJ16s were a bit stiff and hard to play. I guess that’s because it has an Adirondack top. At first I thought the NB strings sounded a bit weak, but they’re growing on me.
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Post by vikingblues on Aug 28, 2022 18:24:09 GMT
This is quite possibly useless info as you mention dreadnoughts and strumming. Quite at the opposite end to my fingerstyle and mostly smaller guitars. Plus I'm sure your finger joints are young and healthy - ahhh, I remember those good old days. But for what it's worth ..... I have a mixture of strings I use, due to the 5 different steel string acoustics having distinct likes and dislikes which don't match each other. The mostly used are Newtone Heritage 12s - on my 3 cedar top / mahogany B&S guitars (Tanglewood TW73 parlour, Vintage Gordon Giltrap VE2000GG, and Tanglewood TW45DLX. 3 very different sizes / shapes. I like to use these strings if it suits a guitar as it suits my finger joints - lower tension helps stop my old finger joints sending urgent messages of complaint. A Tanglewood TW133 all mahogany (slightly larger than usual) parlour doesn't like those strings at all, and until recently I had a large all mahogany guitar that had the same problem. The solution that worked for me was Thomastik Infeld Plectrum AC111 Plectrum. Their sound seems to suit the mahogany effect on tone. These are 11s as it's a full scale length guitar and they just take a bit of tension out. Finally a Rathbone Baby Concert is fine with a type of strings recommended by the guitar maker that did a full set up for me. Ernie Ball Earthwood PB 12s. I haven't used Ernie Ball strings since I used to play electric. I get away with 12s in this case as the scale length on this guitar is only 590mm (23"). Mark
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Post by andy3sheds on Aug 28, 2022 20:34:09 GMT
I’m a firm believer in horses for courses certain guitars get certain strings. An ancient Patenotte Grande Bouche guitar gets Saverez Argentines which compliment its lack of truss rod and tend to be THE string for Manouche style guitars. My 70s Fylde with its non adjustable truss rod stays with Thomastik Plecs which I find great for finger style,low on string noise and low tension which is appropriate for a geriatric guitar I find Rotosound Super Bronze really suit guitars with a strong bass and I use them on my Symonds and my cedar topped Linklater. I started using these strings in first lockdown when I couldn’t get what I usually ordered My Guild 12 gets Elixirs for their longevity I must admit I’ve not faffed about with alternatives The guitar chimes away and sounds great so why change! Who changes strings on a 12 on a whim? My Archtops get Thomastik flats. They made my humble Godin 5th Ave sound far better than it had a right to sound, lasted forever, and of course were squeak free So it seemed a no brainier to use them on my Milsom. I have purchased a set of Heritage archtop strings which I’ll try out on one of when I run out of Thomastiks I’ve no idea what I’ve got on my Beharrell mandolin and I can’t find my Moon Octave mando!
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brianr2
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Posts: 3,070
My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
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Post by brianr2 on Aug 28, 2022 22:06:27 GMT
It’s Newtone Heritage for me. The lower tension helps my creaking joints and I love the sound.
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nixsbee
Sore Fingers
Posts: 8
My main instrument is: '94 Guild GV-70
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Post by nixsbee on Aug 29, 2022 11:50:22 GMT
I’m a firm believer in horses for courses Some strings and guitars I've never heard of there! Must research... But have you got more or less than 3 sheds?
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Post by curmudgeon on Aug 29, 2022 12:30:49 GMT
Hi, I used to use Newtones but the round core ting means lower tension, and lower tension means less volume.
I'm an old Bluegrasser so I likes volume.
I prefer to perform with my dreads, and AFAIC big guitars are about projection and hat means medium gauge.
I also use 000,00 and 0 at home and for teaching, and these use lights.
For years I bought Daddario Ej17s and EJ16s but when I last enquired to D'addario about why their ten pack boxes were made too small and too thin too thin, damaging the strings inside, I was told to go buy another brand, which, under advisement from Daddario customer dis-service, - I have done.
I mostly buy Martin MA540/550 strings and find the "treated" versions quite good although I don't need/don't like "coated" strings.
I've also tried DR Rares with good results so just ordered half a dozen sets of both medium and lights.
I try to resist all the marketing stories as it is a mater of encouraging everyone to try the lasted super duper , or probably only "rebadged" strings.
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