chinanight
Strummer
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My main instrument is: Taylor and National
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Post by chinanight on Mar 7, 2015 18:21:18 GMT
hi all, this has probably been discussed before. However I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on coated strings. My Taylor came with Elixir medium gauge strings. I've never used them before as I feel that they are a bit expensive and logic tells me that any coating on guitar strings would dull the sound / tone. kind regards. Malc
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mandovark
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Post by mandovark on Mar 7, 2015 18:35:00 GMT
I thought the same thing, but that hasn't been my experience. If anything, the coated strings I've used (both Elixirs and D'Addarios) have sounded brighter than the strings I was using before. The Elixir polywebs are a bit less bright than the nanowebs, and I stay away from 80/20 bronze because they're far too bright for my taste.
I was put off by the cost for a while, but actually they hold their tone for so much longer that they pay for themselves. I've had the same set of Elixirs on my Oddy mandocello for about 6 months, and they're only now starting to show a few signs of wear. The only thing to keep in mind in terms of cost is if you use a lot of altered tunings - coated strings might resist wear, but they still fatigue and break like any other strings if you're retuning a lot.
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Post by earwighoney on Mar 7, 2015 18:35:24 GMT
Some people like them, others don't. Strings are a very personal thing, everyone has a different touch and playing style. If you like Elixirs or other coats strings then it's fine for you.
I myself prefer uncoated strings. Newtone 80/20's or PB's are my preferred choice.
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Post by Cams on Mar 8, 2015 10:45:25 GMT
Coated strings last much longer, which for me is the killer feature. They also squeak less when one's technique is sloppy. My new Walker came with GHS True Mediums, and I liked how they sounded, but I found the wound strings were sticky with more friction that I'm used to, so I just put some Nanowebs on. I don't like the tone quite so well, but I'm willing to compromise for the longevity and feel of Nanowebs.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 8, 2015 12:56:32 GMT
Never did get the hang of coated strings for guitar, deffo not for me. Occasionally use for mandolin though as I hate changing strings on that!
Keith
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Post by creamburmese on Mar 8, 2015 14:20:00 GMT
I'm almost a convert to coated strings. The new Taylors come with the elixir "HD" strings and I've yet to find a string my 712 sounds better with, including the Newtones, though admittedly I wasn't using the medium newtones. Then I got some of the D'Addario coated strings for the classical and I liked the sound. They lasted so long that eventually I took them off just to get a change but when I put my previous favorite carbon strings on I didn't like them so much. The only reason I say I'm nearly a convert is I do find them to be slippy.
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chinanight
Strummer
Posts: 25
My main instrument is: Taylor and National
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Post by chinanight on Mar 8, 2015 15:12:25 GMT
Thank you for your replies. I shall probably try a number of different strings before I settle on a set to use permantly. Thought I might try a set of Newtone low tension strings to start. I'm a great fan of Richie Havens and thought I might try D' Angelico which he uses,but they don't appear to be readily available in the UK.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Mar 8, 2015 18:06:59 GMT
Thank you for your replies. I shall probably try a number of different strings before I settle on a set to use permantly. Thought I might try a set of Newtone low tension strings to start. I'm a great fan of Richie Havens and thought I might try D' Angelico which he uses,but they don't appear to be readily available in the UK. Maybe not in the U.K., but elsewhere in Europe and therefore in reach. Have a look if you please. The shop has a site in english. schneidermusik.de/shop1/advanced_search_result.php?sort=5d&manufacturers_id=16&search_in_manufacturers=1
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Post by surfguy13 on Mar 8, 2015 18:32:35 GMT
I did try coated strings, many years ago, but what put me off was not the sound but the feel. I found that I lost all my reference points on the fingerboard mainly due to the fact that there was less resistance. This was particularly the case when sliding notes or chords.
Although this may have been a problem that has since been designed out, I also found that the costing on certain strings degraded more quickly than others which I really didn't like at all.
I'm sure that coated strings have come a long way in recent years but for me the resistance and feel I get from a non-coated string is all part and parcel of how I play. If it ain't broke......
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Post by vikingblues on Mar 8, 2015 18:42:00 GMT
I've found coated strings effectiveness varies from guitar to guitar and some guitars seem to suit coated strings better than others. Plus not all coated strings behave in the same way. I have also find that some brands of coated strings have a feel to them that I don't like.
I suspect that some guitars are designed with a coated strings sound in mind and others are just for sale with coated strings on them as they'll last longer in the shop.
While acknowledging the benefits of longer lasting strings I find myself having to consider the overall sound of the guitar as the number 1 priority.
I have found for example in the most recent experience with the Lowden that coated strings brought more clarity to notes than the Newtone Heritage strings now on it, but that clarity of the coated strings was negated by a more bland sound. Overall in that instance I will go for the more complex sound of the un-coated strings - I would prefer the guitar to be allowed to sing more.
Of course this was just one particular type of coated string v one particular type of un-coated.
Mark
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