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Post by curmudgeon on Oct 3, 2020 22:25:56 GMT
In this time of plague, few of my guitars are getting used much. When I(used to) gig, I always used my dreads, and they always wear 13s (not heavies - mediums). btw, whilst I mostly use D'addario ej17s, I've also tried Martin sps, and the later "authentic" versions, and also John Pearse which are fine, Martins appear a little less bassy ok, warm than D'adds wheras JPs appear to be warmer. However after a couple of weeks I can't tell the difference.
Now, when I play it is at home, and mainly when giving zoom lessons. 000, 00, ano all use lights and mostly ej16s although my 000 seems to like Dunlop pbs too.
Used to change strings every two months then when the pound fell against the dollar, I stretched it to three. Now, 3-4, but frankly for the reducing number of rehearsals with "the boyts" and no gigs, they'd probably be fine for 6 months or more.
My two 12 strings and archtops have not been changed for even longer, but when I do take them out of their cases they all look ans sound fine and are usually pretty much in tune.
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Post by oustudent on Oct 21, 2020 13:15:10 GMT
I am into Flatpicking at the mo and need the heavier strings on the bottom, trying the Elixer HD's which are middle ground between light and medium.
Still lovin my Santa Cruz strings but expensive at £18.00 a set
J
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Post by andyhowell on Oct 21, 2020 14:15:34 GMT
Like curmudgeon I have always preferred 13s (medium) — Newtone or D'Addario — on my main guitar an gigging guitar. I do have 12's on my OM which is used mainly for playing ragtime and such. I would change very regularly before lockdown but as I'm now mainly playing for myself I am not worried about changing that often. I can tell when the strings begin to go, usually through the bass strings — they seem to die quite quickly once they decided they have had enough. But I keep going at the moment. I have noticed that a change in temperature and humidity has quite an effect. These conditions do effect tone but they seem to emphasize the flatness of strings. But my main problems are string breaks. I am always changing tunings mainly as a device to convince people that I know what I'm doing. It is the 3rd string that gives me problems as it goes from G to F and back to G a lot. However, I'm having to adjust to a life of destitution and so now stay in 'G' tunings for a while and when I go down to F I stay in that for days. One good thing. I've been doing some recording over he last few weeks and can always give the strings a bit of extra life in the computer. New strings are a joy but they are expensive. Ad most audiences I play to are probably either too pissed or not that interested in guitar sound. I've been listening to Nick Drake a bit recently. Through a decent system you can tell that his strings must have been more than a few years old! I'm tempted to say it didn't matter but sadly I suspect nobody would have notices until after he died. If there is one thing I hate more than crappy old strings its the sound of brand new ones! I know. There is no hope for me.
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Post by skyetripper on Oct 21, 2020 15:40:13 GMT
I've always been one to change my strings regularly and change between types to see what I like, but I fitted a set of Elixir 12's to the Sobell 3 months ago and haven't got around to changing them, even though every time I pick it up I make a mental note to myself to change them before I pick it up next.... I don't know if that tells you more about my memory than it does about strings.
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Post by lavaman on Oct 21, 2020 16:07:10 GMT
I've been listening to Nick Drake a bit recently. Through a decent system you can tell that his strings must have been more than a few years old! I read somewhere that Nick Drake used very old electric nickel strings.
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Post by andyhowell on Oct 21, 2020 16:09:03 GMT
I've been listening to Nick Drake a bit recently. Through a decent system you can tell that his strings must have been more than a few years old! I read somewhere that Nick Drake used very old electric nickel strings. Sounds like it!
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Post by Gregg Hermetech on Oct 21, 2020 16:22:38 GMT
I also read loads of people trying to chase Nick Drake's tone by buying expensive all hog dreadnaughts etc., they should try just leaving the strings on their current guitar for a year or two. I like not brand new, not too old. As I think I said above, there's a window between about 1 and 4 months where I really love their sound. I have experience with 12s and 13s in 80/20, PB and Nickel Bronze (Monel). They all sound dead as a door nail eventually, but there's something about the 80/20s when they get really old and dead (past 6 months here) that is very appealing/old-timey, and absolutely perfect for recording some muted strummy parts. I did once put D'Addario Chromes (my favoured electric strings, flatwood, very strong fundamental, not so many overtones), on my Faith, and loved how it sounded, and got compliments about the tone, so might try that again with the Lowden at some stage. They certainly make finger squeak noises a thing of the past.
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,491
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Oct 21, 2020 21:18:17 GMT
I also read loads of people trying to chase Nick Drake's tone by buying expensive all hog dreadnaughts etc., they should try just leaving the strings on their current guitar for a year or two. So how come I don't sound like Nick Drake then?
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Post by lavaman on Oct 21, 2020 22:10:41 GMT
Reading "Standing in the shadows of Motown" reveals James Jamerson never changed the strings on his bass yet created a pretty cool sound.
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Post by andy3sheds on Oct 22, 2020 0:16:55 GMT
Oh the joy of flats on an archtop
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Post by curmudgeon on Oct 22, 2020 10:38:07 GMT
Ok, ol'man Andy here to set some matters straight.
Firstly 13s (13-56) are NOT heavies they are mediums and the appropriate string guage for dreadscand archtops and resos and such.
12s (12-53) are lights. and appropriate for 000,00,0 etc., and although designed as rhythm guitars, I suspect that ost would regard OMs as fingerstyle so ...probably lights.
I use only phosphor bronze on my flat tops and nickels on my archtops and mandolin.
Coated strings are NOT long life -unless you have an acid skin chemistry , or you play after eating American junk food. The optimum "life" of strings is extremely personal and depends on many variables: playing time, playing style, environment - temperature and RH.
In normal times, I used to change strings on everything every 2-3 months depending on usage, but in these isolated non gig, no rehearsal times, the guitars I use for giving Zoom lessons and living mostly in my lounge are getting quarterly changes, and those spejding the pandemic mostly in their cases - somewhat longer.
I've always tended to change strings when they start to look a little past coppery colour, but often changed them "when it was time" rather than if they sounded dead. (I rarely experience strings sounding dead - twice a week in festivals and bluegrass camps ...remember them?
Keep your guitars in a good, stable environment - play them, don't abuse them, check temps and RH, and rub them down after use, and only ever play with clean hands.
They'll last longer - (I mean the strings, but possibly your hands too!).
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Post by andyhowell on Oct 24, 2020 8:32:54 GMT
[mention]curmudgeon [/mention] wonderful. Made my grumpy morning ;-)
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