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Post by andyhowell on Oct 15, 2018 20:09:27 GMT
I HATE Elixirs. Make every guitar sound like a guitar with Elixir strings on it. And, they feel weird. I change strings very frequently using either John Pearse or D’Addario. Neither of these last more than a few weeks if the guitar is played frequently. I tend to agree with this! [ducks ...]
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Post by curmudgeon on Oct 17, 2018 13:44:29 GMT
I keep a spreadsheet of when I change strings. Yes I know that's sad but I have accumulated a few guitars now and I can never remember what gauge they are or when I put them on. On my guitars and with my playing, Elixers last 6 months and D'Addario's 3. Unlike some "normal" people, I don't think this is strange at all.
I don't keep a spreadsheet, but I do have an A5 ring binder with a smaller card for each instrument showing string change history, and maintenance done and actions measured periodically.
I also have my "Princess Mary" Pick boxes in each case with ...picks, capo digi tuner and in the lid the string change info.
OCD works well with guitars! Well, it isn't "OCD" it's more like OC..O.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Oct 17, 2018 13:51:08 GMT
I prefer C.D.O as I like things in alphabetical order.
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Post by oustudent on Oct 17, 2018 14:13:05 GMT
I HATE Elixirs. Make every guitar sound like a guitar with Elixir strings on it. And, they feel weird. I change strings very frequently using either John Pearse or D’Addario. Neither of these last more than a few weeks if the guitar is played frequently. I tend to agree with this! [ducks ...] I am giving the Elixir's another try, last time I tested them I thought they were very slippery. For sound, I would say they are good as anything else I have tried, the slipperiness scores low on playability. I am hoping I can adjust to give them a fair chance.
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David Hutton
Cheerfully Optimistic
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My main instrument is: The Colin Symonds All English Guitar
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Post by David Hutton on Oct 17, 2018 15:00:28 GMT
I tend to agree with this! [ducks ...] I am giving the Elixir's another try, last time I tested them I thought they were very slippery. For sound, I would say they are good as anything else I have tried, the slipperiness scores low on playability. I am hoping I can adjust to give them a fair chance. E I really like Elixirs. I replaced 2 month old Martin SPs with Elixir 80/20 Bronze Custom Lights on the "all English" last night. The improvement in sound (to my ears) was the most significant I have ever noticed on a string change. I little slippy yes but after an hour or so I did not notice it.
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Post by curmudgeon on Oct 24, 2018 18:47:59 GMT
The right strings fr you are the strings yu like best. Simples, but back to the Op's question. If your guitar sounds fine with 11 month old strings ...it;ll sound even better with a fresh set - treat yourself!
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Post by bleatoid on Oct 24, 2018 23:17:43 GMT
Some interesting stuff here and some very valid points.
I tend not to change strings as often as I should; I absolutely detest doing it - find it a complete palava and very frustrating - even on a paddle head - but when I do, finally, collapse in a sweating, terrified, exhausted heap at the end of the process, I'm glad I did it - because invariably, even if they sounded fine before, the difference in clarity and especially ringing sustain, is quite marked.
I don't have a lot of guitars, but like a couple of other posters I have decided to start keeping a spreadsheet to track where I am with what strings on which instrument and for how long, but also, I've started making a quick "before and after" recording on my ipad (with a decent mic) to try and better track the differences between different strings on each instrument and the degree of degradation over time. I used to think that this string business was all complete snake oil until I was on my hunt for a 00-18v and heard an immaculate second-hand model strung with nickel strings - it was awful (to my ear) - quite radically different to the other three 00-18v's (strung with PB's) that I was comparing it to.
The main point of starting the spreadsheet and recordings though, is to understand the degree of snake oil permeation here - I've never explored much beyond run of the mill Martin strings on my acoustics but there is a mass of apparently solid theory out there that different guitars, of different scale lengths and body sizes built with different tonewoods and played in different styles by different players over different times at different intensities will react in different ways to different strings of different gauges and different tensions made with different materials, core shapes and coatings made by different manufacturers.
Not too many variables then, for me to definitively crack the problem in a couple of months, though obviously I'll need to put the actual playing to one side for a while.
I'll let you know what the answer is.
Peter
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Oct 26, 2018 15:00:54 GMT
In the past I have always used d addario or John Pearce but was persuaded recently to go over to elixir by a good friend who plays professionally.The results on my Brook taw were excellent so I tried another set on a Huss and Dalton 00. You don't seem to get the zing of new phosphor bronze but equally you don't get the decay which sets in after a week or so, With me the jury is very much out-I liked Martin coated strings on my Bown SJ and also a bourgeois OM I also triec d addario XPs on a Martin 028 but they seem to squeak a lot. I heard an interesting quote from Tommy Emanuel which was along the lines of use the strings that your guitar likes?-so where now?
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Post by oustudent on Oct 26, 2018 15:48:26 GMT
I am trying the Elixer's again, not that impressed at the moment.
J
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Post by vikingblues on Oct 28, 2018 9:55:03 GMT
Elixirs, Thomastik Infeld, Newtone Heritage, D'Addario .... etc.
All have something in common for my guitars.
They all sound great on one or on some guitars but uninspiring or even bad on others.
Mark
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Post by oustudent on Oct 28, 2018 11:05:21 GMT
I am giving the Elixir's another try, last time I tested them I thought they were very slippery. For sound, I would say they are good as anything else I have tried, the slipperiness scores low on playability. I am hoping I can adjust to give them a fair chance. E I really like Elixirs. I replaced 2 month old Martin SPs with Elixir 80/20 Bronze Custom Lights on the "all English" last night. The improvement in sound (to my ears) was the most significant I have ever noticed on a string change. I little slippy yes but after an hour or so I did not notice it. I never thought to try the 80/20 I always go for PB's
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Post by curmudgeon on Oct 31, 2018 1:24:41 GMT
Hi, I sued to change my strings on everything every two months, but I'm ot playng so much now, so I' trying toget three months out of all my six strings.
They may well sound/feel Ok , but oh y a clean shiny set of PBs does make a difference. Anyway I enjoy string changing its a ritual that I have which includes an internal inspection (the guitars, not me)and then a thorough rub down with a damp rag, then a polish all over .... mmm .....that might be me!
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Oct 31, 2018 9:24:38 GMT
If they are sounding good then keep them on. I tend to change mine when a string breaks but as I’m tuning to different tunings often that third string doesn’t last long. I often retune to different tunings Andy but they never break Perhaps it's because my guitars are 'short scale' Phil
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Oct 31, 2018 9:34:04 GMT
I use Elixir Nanoweb PB 12's which I like a lot and they last ages..... I started using them because I detest changing my slot head Brook Lyn. Having said that I currently have a set of Martin M540 PB's on the Torridge since the end of July and they still sound good. They really suit this rosewood guitar so I think I'll stick with them. Cheap too... Phil
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Post by oustudent on Oct 31, 2018 9:49:34 GMT
Good point on the Martin PB's, you can buy three sets of these for the price of a single pack of Elixers
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