Silk and Steel (plus the start of a moving experience)
Apr 29, 2018 22:00:49 GMT
Phil Taylor likes this
Post by vikingblues on Apr 29, 2018 22:00:49 GMT
I've been using Thomastik Infeld AC111 Plectrums (11s), which have silk inlays, on my all Mahogany TW133 Parlour for quite some time, and really like the sound and feel of them.
A wee while back I got a set of D'Addario EJ40 Silk & Steel 11s as they're a bit cheaper, with the intention of giving them a try the next time a guitar was in need of a string change.
This turned out to be the Vintage Giltrap VE2000GG (Cedar / Mahogany).
I changed the strings about a fortnight ago and haven't had the time to rapidly evaluate them - we've started the process of putting the house on the market and are looking to downsize and release funds so I can maybe retire sooner rather than the later that recent governments have decided is best for me.
Visits by property managers, surveyors, photographers, etc., and the start of de cluttering and myriad journeys up to the skip have meant minimal guitar playing time despite being on holiday from work last week.
We should have the "for sale" up and running within the next week, and we're not looking forward to it, and are nervous about the possibilities of ending up needing to find temporary accommodation between moving out and moving in somewhere. The de-cluttering and removals to the skip have also meant broken fingernails - not a help to guitar playing either!
This is me noodling about in Phrygian mode in DADGAD today with the silk and steels - I wasn't sure about the sound on day one, but it started to settle down on day 3 and it had resolved into something good on day 3. They are very easy to play on.
"Moving (Silk and Steel)"
I do like the general tone, but ......
Comparison of 3 types of strings for tension (lbs : string 1 to 6):-
Newtone Heritage Low Tension 12s (my usual) : 22, 22, 21, 22, 22, 22 = 131lbs
Thomastik Infeld AC111 11s (TW133) : 19.9, 18.3, 20.3, 22.6, 22.1, 22.1 = 126lbs
D'Addario EJ40 11s : 19.6, 17.9, 27.5, 21.2, 22.4, 18.5 = 127lbs
Yes - the EJ40s did feel a bit strange at first as the string tensions are so variable. Same overall tension as the Thomastiks but 35% more tension on the 3rd string on the EJ40s.
I have got more used to the unbalanced feeling of the string tensions, but I do believe the much more floppy 6th string is leading to some unintended sharpened notes and buzzes plus the first string seems slightly weaker than the other 5 strings in balance of sound. A shame because the tone is very good indeed. I don;t have that 1st string issue on the Heritage or the AC111s.
As for Silk and Steels generally I have seen 5 things said about them on a regular basis - those 5 as noted below and my comments in red:-
1) Because the nylon filament acts as sort of a padding - they have a much softer feel than regular steel string acoustic strings. This makes them easier on the fingers and many guitarist who play fingerstyle using the meat of their fingers instead of fingernails or finger picks prefer the softer feel. The softer feel is also more finger friendly in general for both the picking fingers and the fretting fingers. True - they do have a softer feel and that makes for more relaxed playing.
2) The sound is much more mellow than normal steel strings due primarily to the damping effect of the "silk" wrapping. Some players prefer the more mellow sound. The sound is more mellow and yes, I do prefer a mellower sound.
3) They tune up with lower tension than normal steel string wound strings. This is because the wound strings have a thinner steel core to allow room for the "silk" wrapping between the outer winding and the steel core. The plain steel strings (b and high e) tune to the same tension as any steel string with the same gauge but they tend to be on the lighter side in a set of silk and steel strings. Yes - they feel lower tension and the measured figures say they are. Not always a good thing if too light, and I prefer a balanced set of strings of near equal tensions.
4) The lower tension contributes to the softer feel because you don't need to press as hard to get the string to the fret. Because of the lower tension they are easier to bend. Although most folks who use silk and steel strings are playing more classical style music with fingerpicking and don't often bend strings. Also because of the lower tension - they are not well suited for heavy strumming because the string deflection will be greater than higher tension normal steel strings. Agreed heavy strumming is not a good idea - shame that with the EJ40s the string with the highest tension is the 3rd - a common string for bending notes.
5) They are quieter to play because string noise caused by fingers sliding on the strings are muted somewhat by the "silk" wrapping. This might be an advantage for fingerstyle players and a big advantage for players who use sliding as part of their technique. I can't say I notice too much difference in finger noise, but I don't slide notes much.
I do recommend giving silk and steels a try if your preferences run to mellow sound and ease of playing.
Mark
A wee while back I got a set of D'Addario EJ40 Silk & Steel 11s as they're a bit cheaper, with the intention of giving them a try the next time a guitar was in need of a string change.
This turned out to be the Vintage Giltrap VE2000GG (Cedar / Mahogany).
I changed the strings about a fortnight ago and haven't had the time to rapidly evaluate them - we've started the process of putting the house on the market and are looking to downsize and release funds so I can maybe retire sooner rather than the later that recent governments have decided is best for me.
Visits by property managers, surveyors, photographers, etc., and the start of de cluttering and myriad journeys up to the skip have meant minimal guitar playing time despite being on holiday from work last week.
We should have the "for sale" up and running within the next week, and we're not looking forward to it, and are nervous about the possibilities of ending up needing to find temporary accommodation between moving out and moving in somewhere. The de-cluttering and removals to the skip have also meant broken fingernails - not a help to guitar playing either!
This is me noodling about in Phrygian mode in DADGAD today with the silk and steels - I wasn't sure about the sound on day one, but it started to settle down on day 3 and it had resolved into something good on day 3. They are very easy to play on.
"Moving (Silk and Steel)"
I do like the general tone, but ......
Comparison of 3 types of strings for tension (lbs : string 1 to 6):-
Newtone Heritage Low Tension 12s (my usual) : 22, 22, 21, 22, 22, 22 = 131lbs
Thomastik Infeld AC111 11s (TW133) : 19.9, 18.3, 20.3, 22.6, 22.1, 22.1 = 126lbs
D'Addario EJ40 11s : 19.6, 17.9, 27.5, 21.2, 22.4, 18.5 = 127lbs
Yes - the EJ40s did feel a bit strange at first as the string tensions are so variable. Same overall tension as the Thomastiks but 35% more tension on the 3rd string on the EJ40s.
I have got more used to the unbalanced feeling of the string tensions, but I do believe the much more floppy 6th string is leading to some unintended sharpened notes and buzzes plus the first string seems slightly weaker than the other 5 strings in balance of sound. A shame because the tone is very good indeed. I don;t have that 1st string issue on the Heritage or the AC111s.
As for Silk and Steels generally I have seen 5 things said about them on a regular basis - those 5 as noted below and my comments in red:-
1) Because the nylon filament acts as sort of a padding - they have a much softer feel than regular steel string acoustic strings. This makes them easier on the fingers and many guitarist who play fingerstyle using the meat of their fingers instead of fingernails or finger picks prefer the softer feel. The softer feel is also more finger friendly in general for both the picking fingers and the fretting fingers. True - they do have a softer feel and that makes for more relaxed playing.
2) The sound is much more mellow than normal steel strings due primarily to the damping effect of the "silk" wrapping. Some players prefer the more mellow sound. The sound is more mellow and yes, I do prefer a mellower sound.
3) They tune up with lower tension than normal steel string wound strings. This is because the wound strings have a thinner steel core to allow room for the "silk" wrapping between the outer winding and the steel core. The plain steel strings (b and high e) tune to the same tension as any steel string with the same gauge but they tend to be on the lighter side in a set of silk and steel strings. Yes - they feel lower tension and the measured figures say they are. Not always a good thing if too light, and I prefer a balanced set of strings of near equal tensions.
4) The lower tension contributes to the softer feel because you don't need to press as hard to get the string to the fret. Because of the lower tension they are easier to bend. Although most folks who use silk and steel strings are playing more classical style music with fingerpicking and don't often bend strings. Also because of the lower tension - they are not well suited for heavy strumming because the string deflection will be greater than higher tension normal steel strings. Agreed heavy strumming is not a good idea - shame that with the EJ40s the string with the highest tension is the 3rd - a common string for bending notes.
5) They are quieter to play because string noise caused by fingers sliding on the strings are muted somewhat by the "silk" wrapping. This might be an advantage for fingerstyle players and a big advantage for players who use sliding as part of their technique. I can't say I notice too much difference in finger noise, but I don't slide notes much.
I do recommend giving silk and steels a try if your preferences run to mellow sound and ease of playing.
Mark