josemarques
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 82
My main instrument is: guitar
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Post by josemarques on Jul 8, 2018 7:59:34 GMT
hello
Sorry if this is a re-post if yes please delete, I just didn't found a post with this subject
Well my question is this, we have lots of stings in the market and I have tested some , I like same and dislike others.
I wish to test new ones and know your opinions before I try, well if I must try all brands until I find ones that I like most I must sell my house ahah
I know that in this subject all we have opinions and different tastes but lets see if I can find here opinions that helps me to buy my next strings
All the best JM
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Post by vikingblues on Jul 8, 2018 9:44:32 GMT
Good question JM.
It can be such a hit and miss and long process to find strings that you like. Complicated by the fact it also needs to be strings that the particular guitar likes. I've ended up with a mix of different strings on different guitars due to finding that a set of strings that I like when played on a guitar that also likes them are no use at all when put on a guitar that doesn't like them. It seems to be from my experience that all Mahogany guitars have different needs to cedar top / mahogany b&s guitars as far as strings go.
However my preference for strings will probably be of little use to you as the choice is largely dictated by having arthritic finger joints.
My two cedar top guitars (Vintage Giltrap VE2000GG and Tanglewood TW73) have Newtone Heritage strings on them. These strings are 12s but they are special low tension 12s so they have a similar tension to normal Extra Lights and don't have that thinner feel. Virtually equal tension on each string is a feature of these that I really like - makes for a comfortable playing experience. They have round cores and unique core-to-wrap ratios. They do take 2-3 days to settle in and teh initial sound on day 1 can be misleading. As well as being useful for us arthritic people they are more gentle on Vintage guitars and light braced guitars. A marmite brand though - some like and some hate.
My smaller parlour size all mahogany guitar has Thomastik Infeld Plectrum Bronze Light AC111. These are soft sounding strings with low tension on the bottom end. The plain strings are made of brass coated steel, and the wound strings have a silk inlay in combination with a highly flexible steel core. Bass-A, D, and G strings are polished bronze flat wound, while the Bass-E is polished bronze round wound. Rather expensive, and I tried these after trying a good few normal price brands. They seem to enhance the warm mahogany sound from this particular guitar very well.
My other all mahogany guitar - a Vintage Gordon Giltrap V2000MGG currently has bog standard D'Addario 11s on it and they work well. It's not a short scale guitar and 12s would be too much for me - the all mahogany aspect to the guitar means the Newtone Heritage strings don't sound right to me on it. I'm intending to try the Thomatik Infelds on it in the future, but the D'Addarios are what the tech put on when the guitar got properly set up.
You'll notice none of these strings I use are coated. I just don't like the muted sound I get when I use these, maybe muted due to my light playing style. Other people swear by them though.
Mark
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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 Jul 8, 2018 10:29:40 GMT
The never ending question- yes I have found that one guitar tends to sound good with a particular set of strings whereas using the same ones on a different guitar tend to provoke a mediocre sound.Generally as a rule Martin phosphor bronze coated seem to work well for 000, OM and smalljumbo sized instruments whereas daddarios work better with 0 and 00 sizes.John pearce strings are also good but beyond that its really a question of trial and error I am afraid.
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brianr2
C.O.G.
Posts: 3,055
My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
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Post by brianr2 on Jul 8, 2018 10:45:53 GMT
Another Newfone Heritage fan here. Good for weak hands - and discerning ears.
Brian
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Jul 8, 2018 11:20:05 GMT
I love Newtone strings, but recently I have been using Martin Acoustic SP Phosphor Bronze 12-54 as they are cheaper, more available and sound great.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,320
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Post by colins on Jul 8, 2018 11:42:08 GMT
I tend to fit Martin phosphor bronze MSP4050 (11-52) Custom Light strings on all of the steel string guitars I make. They are a very reliable string with a good even tension, maybe they won't blow your socks off, but they give a good starting point to work from. The D'Addario version in the same gauges just doesn't seem to compare. I have found the Newtone to be a bit hit and miss, sometimes they are amazing at other times disappointing.
For the Torres type Spanish guitar I make I tend to put on Aquila Alabastro solid silver wound, they have the closest sound to true gut stings, they are expensive, but worth every penny. If you want a slightly cheaper alternative that are still very good the Hannabach Goldins, are the next best choice. On my own Torres I always had pure gut.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2018 11:58:43 GMT
Well, as in another thread I started recently I am really really enjoying D’Addario Nickel Bronze strings. Three weeks in I am usually killing the strings, but these are remaining quite vibrant.
Robbie
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josemarques
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 82
My main instrument is: guitar
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Post by josemarques on Jul 8, 2018 14:00:49 GMT
thank you all yes I know that is not a easy thing choose strings, in classical guitar I have tested to many, unhappy with lots and happy with some, at this time I just tested the Goldin ones and until now are my favorites, but I need to test I other guitars in the future, not cheap at all this ones. for acoustic the path is to long ahah I must say that I know some that you talk about here but others I never tested like the Newtone's is a pain to find out some that works with that specific guitar I will continue to see your posts and knowledge and in a few days I will make one choice, I must test one each time
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Post by NikGnashers on Jul 15, 2018 6:56:39 GMT
I like Martin SP phosphor bronze too, they sound very good to my ears, seem to last a while, and are cheap. I use fast fret on them, as I find you can get quite a bit of 'noise' when performing slides otherwise.
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josemarques
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 82
My main instrument is: guitar
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Post by josemarques on Jul 15, 2018 7:57:22 GMT
thank you NikGnashers i have used that ones and I like them as well. My idea of this post is that , share knowledge and help each other is this particular aspect. There are some strings I never tested, to be honest I didn't know them at all , like Newtone Heritage strings for example and I wish to tested them as well. This is a long journey but like in classical guitar, I have tested a lot for yeas and finally I found my 2 or 3 favorites , I wish to do that in steel strings as well. One of my clients loves the addario he really use them a lot, I tested a few days ago wen he changed the strings and I believe that those are not bad at all, but like I said , I need to find the ones
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2018 8:11:23 GMT
I spent a year trying lots of different strings on my Faith Naked Venus, but kept coming back to Martin SP 80/20, first 12's and now 13's, the uncoated versions (not Lifespan). No going back, I love them, and I really like how they sound after a lot of playing in. I had a set on for four months at one stage and wish I hadn't changed them as it takes a while to get there!
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Post by oustudent on Jul 17, 2018 21:09:29 GMT
I have nearly tried them all, Newtone Low tension or Martin Flex Core would be my normal choice, both are round core. However, I am now using these strings on all of my guitars. siminoff.net/straight-up-strings/ Great feel to them and so far they are sounding very good. J
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Post by pender on Jul 22, 2018 0:35:45 GMT
My Martin 000-18 came with SP phosphor bronze but I've changed for EJ16 and I'm loving it.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 9, 2018 15:13:38 GMT
I have recently had Thomastik Spectrum bronze strings on two guitars and I think they’re fab. Lovely warm sound.
I’ve just ordered a load of them so they’ll probably be my strings of choice from now on.
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Post by ukpacker on Sept 9, 2018 16:42:46 GMT
Ernie Ball Earthwood strings are my favorite go to strings, cheaper than most and sound good enough to me. For longer lasting strings the Elixir Nano Webs are nice, but i would not buy coated strings with a thicker layer than these, the sound is a tiny bit quieter but they do last months, Clive Carol uses them and he is very particular as anyone who plays a Brazilian Rosewood OM must be!
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