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Post by stevie2sticks on Sept 20, 2019 7:04:56 GMT
Hiya some advice please.
I'm new to DADGAD and keep a guitar in this tuning, well I switch it between Open D and DADGAD.
I've tried DAddario EJ24s, but they seem bright for three weeks then change.
I've thought about splashing out on Pierre Bensusan's DADGAD and I see Newtone Strings have a specific set in DADGAD.
1. Does anybody have experience of these?
2. Newtone Heritage DADGAD seem lower tension.
3. Does it matter?
Kind regards and thank you.
Steve
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 20, 2019 7:43:32 GMT
Hi Stevie,
I play in DADGAD quite a bit and my preferred strings are Newtone. However, I'm not convinced about specific DADGAD sets. Some players use them and some don't. I'm happy working with a standard set of medium (13) strings. The only real advantage I see is the unsound 3rd string but not really because of DADGAD, because I am often moving this string from G to F and back again and they break! I've tried these but don't get the advantages of low tension especially with fretting. I think if you are playing in DADGAD you want medium strings for tone and you will have to build up your dinger strength naturally.
That being said players I admire like John Smith does something similar with custom sets. Martin Simpson doesn't and you can kind of hear that in his tone. Simpson, though, uses a thicker gauge first string which he feels is more effective for slide playing.
I guess the thing to do is to experiment and see what you prefer! But for me — and my degree of competence — I'm happy with standard sets (not least as I can get them more quickly).
Finally, strings are funny things and funny preferences. I do prefer Newtone. I've never really enjoyed Elixir though many players I admire swear by them. I recently had to buy a backup pair of strings and I picked up some Elixirs and I'll give them another go. I prefer lighter strings on my OM for ragtime stuff but mediums if I'm using it for a more cleric type fingerstyle. Some strings seem to suit some guitars better.
At the end of the day it is your choice. What sounds better? What feels better? And there is no right answer to this.
But I'd advise trying to avoid fashion (and al of the associated expense).
:-)
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Post by Onechordtrick on Sept 20, 2019 8:50:26 GMT
Another Newtone fan here; but I found their DADGAD set a little unbalanced and prefer their standard sets tuned to DADGAD. The bottom D is quite a heavy string, 0.059 so you may need to enlarge your nut slot to fit it.
But strings are a very personal thing; what sounds great to me on my guitar may not work for you on yours!
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Post by stevie2sticks on Sept 20, 2019 9:21:41 GMT
Interesting thoughts guys.
I exclusively use Newtone Michael Messer monel strings on my resonators and think their customer service is great.
I'm from Yorkshire and had an "how much" moment on Wyres Pierre Bensusan DADGAD.
Thanks
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Post by Onechordtrick on Sept 20, 2019 9:34:26 GMT
For that amount I'd expect to be able to play like PBS as well. The good news is that the gauges are very similar to the standard Newtone set that I'm currently using
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Post by dangad on Sept 27, 2019 13:05:13 GMT
I bought a packet of Pierre Bensusan DADGAD strings when I saw him in concert - had to buy something really coz I wanted to blag him for a picture!!
Hated them.... They lasted 2 days.
I love the Newtone DADGADs on my Lowden but aren't really buzzing on them on my 12fret Brook (because they are buzzing a fair amount!)...also the "don't cut string till at tension" is a ballache on a slothead.
I'll probably use the Newtone dadgads on my lowden again but will go back to John Pearse for the Brook.
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