ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 25, 2023 7:54:16 GMT
...................... I suppose the question is is calling the SC strings low and mid tension a misnomer or am I missing something here Phil Ps despite what I said above the Newtone strings still sound quite good so there may be a compromise be done. I presume that SC mean that their "low tension" strings have less tension than their "medium tension", ie their terms bear no relation to what other manufacturers may mean by them. They are using relative terms rather than absolute ones. Not necessarily helpful of them. This is a common occurence among string makers (and some guitarists) when they speak of "lights" or "medium lights" - meaningless terms as, e.g. "lights" often differ in gauges within the set from maker to maker. Keith
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Jul 25, 2023 8:28:07 GMT
...................... I suppose the question is is calling the SC strings low and mid tension a misnomer or am I missing something here Phil Ps despite what I said above the Newtone strings still sound quite good so there may be a compromise be done. I presume that SC mean that their "low tension" strings have less tension than their "medium tension", ie their terms bear no relation to what other manufacturers may mean by them. They are using relative terms rather than absolute ones. Not necessarily helpful of them. This is a common occurence among string makers (and some guitarists) when they speak of "lights" or "medium lights" - meaningless terms as, e.g. "lights" often differ in gauges within the set from maker to maker. Keith Good point Keith. That's exactly what I was missing That's put that to bed then for me Phil
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Jul 25, 2023 12:02:54 GMT
Thanks. So, trying 2 sets and £10.00 off 1st order if you subscribe to their mailing list (can immediately unsubscribe if you want), so about £15 a set. Looking forward to trying them. FFJ
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 29, 2023 19:06:11 GMT
An interesting read! Went through my usual initial bursts of optimism and enthusiasm seeing possibilities for new strings I've never tried - followed by doubts having seen various less than happy reactions in responses. I'm reminded that whether strings are good for a guitar is dependent on the guitar, the string, the players style, the players ability and the players ears. So it's trial and error. When strings costs £20 and upwards it gets more difficult to take the gamble on the off-chance! Mark
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Post by forestdweller on Aug 2, 2023 14:08:20 GMT
Thought I would update this thread with my latest experiments, now that I also have a new Brook to throw into the equation.
First of all, the Newtones on my H&D- they have now come off. The 6th string was completely dead, as confirmed by my mate Dave when he dropped the Brook round at my house. I had a spare set of D'Addario XS lights that I got free, so whacked these on and normal service resumed. No more experimenting on this guitar now.
Then the new Brook Lamorna, The Elixir nanowebs (or they may even have been polywebs as the coating seemed extremely thick) had been on the guitar since its purchase 12 months ago, so were very frayed and in desperate need of replacement, so I took the opportunity of buying some Santa Cruz mid tension strings. After a few minutes of installing them I recorded a couple of pieces, comparing them to the Elixirs (I recorded a piece before and after installation). You can hear the video on my youtube channel. The strings seemed initially very bright, so I was hoping they would calm down a bit the following day.
Calm down? They were all but dead!! I began to suspect atmospheric conditions, as it was a very damp day, and when it dried up in the evening and I put the Brook into dadgad it seemed a little more lively. But no, the next day, put it into CGCGCD tuning and again it was like playing a guitar made of balsa wood fitted with rubber bands. I'm not even exaggerating ! I guess there just isn't much going on with the tension of the strings in that low a tuning to get the top excited.
To be fare, I doubt the Brook has been much played in 12 months, and it desperately desperately needs to open up. Playing it is like having a compressor on- I dig in and the guitar gives nothing back. I am sure when it opens up it will be a very magnificent instrument, but these SC strings are just not the set I was hoping them to be. I've never felt like ripping a set of strings off so quickly. They reminded me of the Newtone double wounds- very very strong fundamental, but very few harmonics/ overtones going on. Oh well, I just have to bite the bullet and either install some Elixirs (Brooks seem to suit Elixirs very well) or go for XS again.
I am sure my experience is not typical of these strings, as others have said here that they are the best strings they have tried. I have tried to establish whether they are round cores, as I think this is why they died so quickly. However, neither Mak's where I bought them,, or indeed the wider internet seems to know. Mak's did offer me another set, which is great service, but I declined and am just going to notch tis up as a failed experiment.
Robbie
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 2, 2023 16:30:51 GMT
forestdweller - you can easily check the Santa Cruz core by cutting one - if the wrap goes sproing or retracts along the core they were round cores, if the wrap stays pretty much as it is then hex core. But no doubt you've binned them by now! Keith
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Post by forestdweller on Aug 4, 2023 13:17:08 GMT
forestdweller - you can easily check the Santa Cruz core by cutting one - if the wrap goes sproing or retracts along the core they were round cores, if the wrap stays pretty much as it is then hex core. But no doubt you've binned them by now! Keith I took them off this morning Keith- certainly look like hex core to me. I can't afford new strings, so put the old Elixirs back on. Comes to something when the year old Elixirs sound 100 times better than the Santa Cruzs! Normal service resumed. Going to stick with Dadd XS now, but will probably bump up the basses a little. Robbie
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