davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,544
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Post by davewhite on Oct 24, 2013 8:46:31 GMT
Of course, once I've determined the correct gauges for my style I'll need to start shopping around for coatings. I'm no fan of string rasp. Creosote works quite well for that - or so I've been told.
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Post by colan on Oct 24, 2013 10:57:27 GMT
Hmmmmm. Rubber gloves might complicate my hammering techniques.
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 8, 2013 23:52:12 GMT
It's easy to make the mistake of poring over tension tables & getting all serious about it. Use what works on your guitar, but check that the overall tension isn't excessive. I can tune my Faith Jupiter down a whole step without changing strings. The same strings did FACFAC with a nut raiser just fine. Use what you have, then make changes when you're sure there's a need to. And if you have to use a needle file on the nut, to accommodate a fat 6th for example, do the minimum necessary. Coatings, Colan? Why? And Eagle Music: good folks, I've dealt with them for years, they'll see you right.
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Post by colan on Nov 9, 2013 8:11:10 GMT
Well, I like tape-wound strings but it's a different sound on an acoustic. Thomastik AC11s have slick bass strings but the G string doesn't last me even two days without the winding wearing through. Perhaps ' wrappings ' would have been a more accurate term.
Yes, Eagle were fast and efficient. I'm getting comfortable with my mixed gauges and they'll meet my requirements, I'm sure.
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windminstrel
C.O.G.
Posts: 147
My main instrument is: Tanglewood Sundance Historic TW40
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Post by windminstrel on Nov 9, 2013 16:58:30 GMT
That's going to depend a bit on the guitar scale length and the tunings you want to use. A general set that I use and works well for DADGAD and C and G tunings (CGCGCD, DGDGCD etc) are the D'Addario DADGAD strings, EJ24 : 13,17,24,32,42,56. ....just ordered some from Amazon, £6.00 is a good price because I was looking at buying some of these DADGAD Strings which are more expensive. I currently have Elixir Nanoweb Custom Lights .011 - .052 on, they sound okay but will try the D'Addario's at the next string change.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2013 20:00:10 GMT
That's going to depend a bit on the guitar scale length and the tunings you want to use. A general set that I use and works well for DADGAD and C and G tunings (CGCGCD, DGDGCD etc) are the D'Addario DADGAD strings, EJ24 : 13,17,24,32,42,56. ....just ordered some from Amazon, £6.00 is a good price because I was looking at buying some of these DADGAD Strings which are more expensive. I currently have Elixir Nanoweb Custom Lights .011 - .052 on, they sound okay but will try the D'Addario's at the next string change.
The wires you have linked to are what I use. Great strings with good tone for coated ones. They last me a lot longer than the EJ24's so for me they are more economical. They work well on my 12 fret Brook too when I use tunings. Robbie
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windminstrel
C.O.G.
Posts: 147
My main instrument is: Tanglewood Sundance Historic TW40
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Post by windminstrel on Nov 12, 2013 14:54:17 GMT
..... okay then, after the Elixir's and after the EJ24's I shall order some of the Bensusan ones to make a comparison. Thanks for the info, always welcome. I do change quite often so it shouldn't be that long. I suppose it's the old 'you get what you pay for'.
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stevedingle
Sore Fingers
Posts: 4
My main instrument is: Lowden O-25
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Post by stevedingle on Nov 12, 2013 15:08:40 GMT
Hi,
I play in a lot of strange tunings as I play William ackerman pieces and include tunings such as d# g# c# f# b e and c# a c# g# a c, as well as the martin simpson tuning of c g c f c d.
I use daddario exp16 which go from 12 to 53 and find they give good tone whilst being able to cope with the variety of tunings I use
Steve
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2014 12:14:18 GMT
Even after twelve years of alternative tunings I'm still experimenting, with some reserve because I've had a few necks go south with the wrong gauges coupled with the factors my unheated little flat brings.
Overall I like the fact that there are basically three different balance of light strings which suit the three tunings I use with the shape of the bridge saddle factored in. D'addario or John Pearse 12-53 for standard tuning a semitone lower; Martin Clapton's Choice or SP for Open D; Ernie Ball or Rotosound for Open C/Open B with more height on the bass side of the saddle. The fatter 3rd string in the Martins and the slightly heavier bottom string suit Open D. Some would want heavier treble strings for Open D but I think 13 and 17 sound comparatively muddy and that a tiny bit more height on the saddle works well with a 12 and a 16. Ernie Ball and Rotosound having a 44 and a 54 bottom pair of strings feels a pretty good weight for this quasi-baritone tuning of C G C G C E or B F# B F# B Eb.
I liked the 'bluegrass' gauge for Open C/Open B, they almost seemed designed for it: 12, 16, 24, 35, 45, 56 married to C, G, C, G, C, E but some LaSiDo guitars I've had (Norman, Art & Lutherie) didn't seem to manage with them even detuned. I've got a Stonebridge guitar now and have had Rotosound 12-54 on it mostly but I've tried the bluegrass set on it twice, one rubbish-sounding bronze Martin set and one John Pearse set that were nice-sounding and feeling. If I see no change in the neck I may use those more but as soon as I see any lift that'll be the end of using bluegrass or medium strings for me unless my living conditions change. I'm sure both the damp and cold and the string gauges have been involved in the neck troubles.
A very detuned light set of basses, 32, 44 and 54, has a sound of its own, it's not necessarily bad I feel. I like the firmness of 35, 45, and 56 in terms of feel though, but saddle height can help bring that about to an extent with lights/ light-mediums. I must have a stupid number of old Tusq saddles in a drawer here from experimenting and experimenting a step too far.
I've bought from Newtone before by mail order and at least it used to be you'd have to buy four sets but maybe now it's six as someone's just said. I had two sets of non-custom gauges and two custom ones and I think it was ten per cent extra cost.
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Post by clydeslide on Jan 26, 2014 14:50:50 GMT
I'm using D'addario EJ17's on my Moon at the moment and I'm liking them. It pretty much stays in CGCFCD/CGCGCD. I also tried some Rotosound Super Bronze beforehand. They are not wound where the string contacts the bridge. Has the effect of very slightly lowering the action on the wound strings and supposedly improves sustain and "presence". They were 12's and I was actually very happy with them, may try the 13's next.
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ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 33,971
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Post by ocarolan on Jan 26, 2014 16:26:17 GMT
Hi there @tpprynn - welcome to the Forum - great first post! Hope to see you around some more. Have fun.
keith
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Post by andyhowell on Jan 26, 2014 17:43:38 GMT
I tend to use D'Adarrio PB mediums not least because I can easily buy them in boxes of 10 for a reasonable price. The 1st string rarely goes higher than D these days and I never have any problems of tone. I could do with a little more tension on the bass D or C - I'll just have to invest in a fan fret!
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007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
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Post by 007 on Jan 26, 2014 18:33:56 GMT
Enjoying this thread a lot as I play a lot of C& W and try and play bluegrass wondered what the best strings to use were so I am experimenting with different brands
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2014 19:20:44 GMT
Hi there @tpprynn - welcome to the Forum - great first post! Hope to see you around some more. Have fun. keith Cheers boss. Weird how long it took to stumble on this forum...
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,546
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jan 27, 2014 11:58:31 GMT
I tend to use any strings that are made by 'Sale' or 'Special Offer'
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