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Post by Onechordtrick on Jun 2, 2024 14:20:10 GMT
Put a set of Martin silk and steel strings on my Lyn the other day and a little underwhelmed.
They sound like the old strings, Newtone, that I removed. I know they’re supposed to be more mellow but these don’t seem to have any life to them.
Will they liven up with time?
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dogwheel
Busker
Posts: 94
My main instrument is: Doodson by Phil-the-Luthier
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Post by dogwheel on Jun 2, 2024 14:51:28 GMT
I've tried them on a 3 guitars over the years, in each case they had one great strongpoint, the guitar always sounded so very much better when I replaced the Silk'n Steel with proper Phosphour Bronze!
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Post by bellyshere on Jun 2, 2024 19:54:43 GMT
The old ones always sounded a bit pants. The newer Martin Authentic silk and steel ones are so much better. However, they don’t suit all guitars and they don’t last long. The sound really nice on my HD28 but again just for picking not strumming. Sounded awful on my 70’s Guild D40.
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,270 
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 2, 2024 21:42:54 GMT
Steve Tilston uses silk & Steel on the crossover guitar davewhite built for him. Originally built for nylon strings, ST says the silk and steel work a treat and make the guitar 'ring'. I don't think I've ever played a guitar fitted with silk and steel. Not sure what the point of them is...  |
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Post by NikGnashers on Jun 3, 2024 17:17:58 GMT
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juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 430
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Jun 4, 2024 19:00:06 GMT
I've got low tension strings on all my guitars now, courtesy of the embuggeration that arthritis in both thumbs is causing (but at least it gives me a doctor's note to say I don't have to play barre chords any more!)
I find the sound acceptable, but then I'm easy to please in that department - I play almost completely for myself and don't tend to record anything, so as long as it sounds reasonable, it'll do.
So I currently have Martin silk and steel (Tacoma), Santa Cruz Parabolic (Lowden) and Newtone (Hiscox). Martin come out top for me - the Santa Cruz sound good, but they are dead expensive compared to Martin. The Newtones I don't like that much. I've got a couple of other low tension sets hanging around (DR and Thomastik) which I'll try when I get round to the Yearly String Change.
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Post by andy3sheds on Jun 4, 2024 22:48:49 GMT
I’m not sure what it was that first attracted me to Thomastiks perhaps it was putting a set of flats on my Godin 5th Ave, but I do remember reading an article in a mag that reckoned that Thomastik Plectrum Strings were the most misnamed strings on the planet as they were superb for finger style and low tension too. Which is why they are what I’m most likely to have strung up on my elderly Fylde Oberon
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Post by vikingblues on Jun 5, 2024 17:48:27 GMT
I use Thomastik Plectrum on one of my guitars and they do suit finger style more than a plectrum.
They kill on my all mahogany guitar - really enhance the warm mahogany sound.
Mark
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Post by Amit on Jun 6, 2024 13:34:05 GMT
Yep for one of my guitars, while trying to find some string solutions for my acoustics that’d be kinder to my hands, I tried D’addario Silk and Steels on my little Brook Bovey and it’s such a great match, that little guitar is naturally pretty bright so the Silk and Steel warm things up, still sound punchy, sort of percussive if that makes sense, and they feel lovely. They go dead relatively quickly, but they’re definitely my go to for the Brook.
I then optimistically tried them out on one of my Waterloo’s (a Stella copy), and it sounded crap, just lifeless really, it felt as though they weren’t driving the top enough. I’ve ended up landing on Newtone Heritage’s for my acoustic’s and they are INCREDIBLE
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Post by Onechordtrick on Jun 6, 2024 14:23:39 GMT
Yep for one of my guitars, while trying to find some string solutions for my acoustics that’d be kinder to my hands, I tried D’addario Silk and Steels on my little Brook Bovey and it’s such a great match, that little guitar is naturally pretty bright so the Silk and Steel warm things up, still sound punchy, sort of percussive if that makes sense, and they feel lovely. They go dead relatively quickly, but they’re definitely my go to for the Brook. I then optimistically tried them out on one of my Waterloo’s (a Stella copy), and it sounded crap, just lifeless really, it felt as though they weren’t driving the top enough. I’ve ended up landing on Newtone Heritage’s for my acoustic’s and they are INCREDIBLE Thanks Amit My go-to string is Newton Heritage but every so often I try something different to see if I'm missing out but always gravitate back to the Newtones. Having said that my new Furch came with d'Addario XS which sound great. But that one may sound even better with Newtone. The surprise with the XS is that I discovered that they're coated; I've never got on with the feel of coated strings but these don't feel coated. |
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Post by Amit on Jun 6, 2024 16:12:00 GMT
Yep for one of my guitars, while trying to find some string solutions for my acoustics that’d be kinder to my hands, I tried D’addario Silk and Steels on my little Brook Bovey and it’s such a great match, that little guitar is naturally pretty bright so the Silk and Steel warm things up, still sound punchy, sort of percussive if that makes sense, and they feel lovely. They go dead relatively quickly, but they’re definitely my go to for the Brook. I then optimistically tried them out on one of my Waterloo’s (a Stella copy), and it sounded crap, just lifeless really, it felt as though they weren’t driving the top enough. I’ve ended up landing on Newtone Heritage’s for my acoustic’s and they are INCREDIBLE Thanks Amit My go-to string is Newton Heritage but every so often I try something different to see if I'm missing out but always gravitate back to the Newtones. Having said that my new Furch came with d'Addario XS which sound great. But that one may sound even better with Newtone. The surprise with the XS is that I discovered that they're coated; I've never got on with the feel of coated strings but these don't feel coated. Yep I like XS’s too, used them on my acoustics for ages but shifted to the Heritage’s for the lower tension (and I find it the guitar sounds sweeter with them too). I use the electric version of XS’s on my electric and they’re great, they stay in tune pretty well |
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Post by Mike Fowler on Jun 8, 2024 10:04:02 GMT
I've got an old Aristone arch top from the fifties, that I hardly use. It sounded a little more authentic when I put the S&S on.
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Post by newdave on Jun 27, 2024 23:16:16 GMT
I put some Martin Silk & Steel on my Larrivee Silver Oak. I liked them but also I've not bought them again.
Don't know what that says about them. I seem to recall they lost their zing relatively quickly and being a bit lazy about string changing that was probably it. They just p***ed me off.
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