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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 11, 2020 11:10:21 GMT -5
Okay - so let's talk acoustic guitar strings... what works for you; what sounds good (to you); what you like and don't like; questions about others' experience with various brands or types or gauges of strings...
I've been using Martin strings quite a bit for the past few years and have been pretty happy with them. I use Phosphor Bronze and the Retro Monels a lot - both work for me, and both have their own personalities...
I've also used D'Addario strings off and on for at least a quarter-century (how long have they been around - I've been using them that long, I think!). They have consistent quality and offer lots of gauge options for good prices.
I've used lots of other brands over the years, GHS, Ernie Ball, John Pearse, Curt Mangan, DR Strings, etc. ...
What motivated me to start this thread was that I just threw some DR Strings Veritas strings in my cart at Musician's Friend the other day (along with my usual Martins, etc.). I put them on my Larrivee L-05, and I have to say - I am super impressed with the tone and feel of these strings! This guitar has always sounded very good - balanced, loud, articulate. But with these strings, everything went up a notch - I was rotating through my guitars the other day (3 Larry acoustics and 4 Martin 6-string acoustics - ALL with new strings on them) and I kept coming back to the L-05 with the Veritas strings - it just sounds amazing!
I just ordered about 5-6 more sets (in both light and medium gauges) to try on some of my other acoustic guitars. I may have to try the electrics, too...
What's working for you in the acoustic string world these days?
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Feb 11, 2020 12:40:17 GMT -5
Good relevant thread. I always used Martin Marquis, light gage for my 000C-16 as recommended by Martin for the guitar. Can't say I've tried anything else on the guitar since I bought it 20 years ago. It might be nice to experiment with it though.
My old 70's Gibson J45 needed as much livening up as it could get so I used bright bronze, likewise for my old laminate Washburn dread.
I've read alot of reviews on my new-to-me J35 and I'm eager to try new stuff on that one. I want to bring out as much of the Gibson acoustic sound as it's got. I'd like to try something that people refer to as vintage or retro - maybe the Martin Retro Monels?
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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 11, 2020 13:26:55 GMT -5
You'll just have to try 'em (the Martin Retros) and see if you like 'em - but HEADS UP: the Retros take at least 2-3 days to settle down and lose some of their initial brashness (for lack of a better word). Some folks even say it takes a week.
But after they settle down, I really like them - I call their tone "natural" and "honest". Very woody sounding on most guitars, with a solid fundamental tone. Not a lot of zing or Phosphor Bronze 3-D brightness, if you know what I mean.
What I found when I owned my J-45 was that it sounded best with light (.012 - .054) 80/20 Bronze strings - which I DID NOT LIKE on any of my other guitars. Go figure...
...so each guitar takes some getting to know and string experimentation. Have fun and spend a few bucks - you'll get there in time.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 12, 2020 5:33:41 GMT -5
My go-to strings on my dreadnoughts have been Elixir Lights for many years now. I switch back and forth between PBs and 80/20s, like 'em both. I like the tone, and I like the way they feel underneath my fingers. And I like that they last for a helluva long time, and hold their tune forever.
Plus they seem to pair up nicely with the K&K pickups I have in all three of my acoustics for a very natural tone.
However, for a change a pace I keep an all-hog 00 around. Had a Santa Cruz, now have a Martin. I put LaBella Silk & Steel Lights on both of those, and get a really nice tone. Very easy on the fingers, too.
So that's it. I've tried other strings once in a while, but always come back to the Elixirs.
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Post by snakeboy on Feb 12, 2020 7:11:59 GMT -5
I used Martin Marquis sets for a long time, until a few years ago when I started experimenting with the Monel strings.
They really do have a different, more fundamental tone after the initial break-in period.
The D'Addario nickel bronze are my current favorites.....a little warmer sounding to my ears, and they last a long time for me.
I still prefer phosphor bronze for my resonator.
YMMV.
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fernieite
Halfnote
Posts: 54 
Formerly Known As: Fernieite
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Post by fernieite on Feb 12, 2020 12:43:58 GMT -5
I've been preferring Ernie Ball Earthwoods (12 - 54) 80/20 for decades now.
However, I've been thinking about trying Pyramid round cores for the next string change. I think they only make PB though, not 80/20...
I've switched to Pyramid round cores on my electrics and like them. (Nickel and monel)
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Post by Lefty Rev on Feb 12, 2020 12:44:39 GMT -5
My go-to strings on my dreadnoughts have been Elixir Lights for many years now. I switch back and forth between PBs and 80/20s, like 'em both. I like the tone, and I like the way they feel underneath my fingers. And I like that they last for a helluva long time, and hold their tune forever. That's one of the biggest issues with 80/20 Bronze strings for me - at least in my experience - they seem to go dead quicker than other types. So if the Elixer's fix that issue, that's a big plus. |
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Feb 12, 2020 14:58:26 GMT -5
Elixirs and Daddario coated strings here, usually light gauge (12's).
Yeah, Nano-web/Poly-web/coated strings don't have the 'zing' of uncoated bronze strings, but that nekkid-string zing doesn't last long anyway, and the tone continues to degrade as uncoated strings age. You can use Finger-Ease/Fast Fret to prevent string corrosion on uncoated strings, but that stuff builds up between the windings and makes the strings sound a bit deader than the coating on coated strings does. To me, at least.
Coated strings are far more consistent in tone throughout their lifespan on a guitar. They're not as zingy when spankin' new, but even when they get a little raggedy/fuzzy they still sound much better than older plain strings.
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Post by jazzguy on Feb 12, 2020 15:50:29 GMT -5
my old stash of D'Aquisto PB's is almost gone so it'll probably a comperable D'Addario next. |
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Post by budg on Feb 12, 2020 16:54:38 GMT -5
I like the Martin SP lifespans on mine . Phosphor bronze and 12s on my d35, 13s on my d18.
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Post by rickyguitar on Feb 15, 2020 22:15:22 GMT -5
I have been using D'Addario phosphor bronze for a long time. Always sound good to me, and the life is...ok. It seems I change strings more frequently than many so I guess I an used to that. I used to use mediums but old hands like lites better now. I tried coated strings once and thought they just sounded old and tired.
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Feb 16, 2020 10:24:46 GMT -5
So, how long should a set of strings last? I know there are many variables such as skin Ph, time in storage, etc. But what's the average life expectancy in, say playing hours day or weeks of regular use?
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Post by rickyguitar on Feb 16, 2020 13:29:35 GMT -5
I had a music store guy say strings only have 8 hours good playing tone, but I call bs.
I think that is something you have to evaluate for yourself. Change strings, mark it on calendar, track how much you are playing, and see how it goes. For me the tone diminishes long before the fret divots would make me change them. Then again, I like bright and snappy string tone. Not every one does.
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Feb 16, 2020 18:40:19 GMT -5
When I was gigging regularly, I would change strings on my electrics every 2 weeks. Not so sure about acoustics especially where I'm just playing at home. Which is why I asked.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 17, 2020 5:30:31 GMT -5
I was playing my old Guild yesterday, and was thrilled, as always, by the tone of that thing. Man, it sounds good.
As I was putting it away, I noticed that the coating on the Elixir strings is getting pretty raggedy, especially in the first three frets. So I checked to see how long they've been on there, and it looks like I put them on last April. So about 10 months. And they still sound exceptionally good.
(When I change strings, I write the date on the box and put it in the case compartment so I always know.)
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Feb 17, 2020 9:46:51 GMT -5
I checked with the P.O. of the J35 I just bought and he said he thought the strings it had when he sold it were Martin SP's and about a month old. They sounded pretty new to me. In contrast, I'd been playing my 000-16 for some time and lost track of how old the strings were, until I was A/B'ing it with the new guitar and their age was readily apparent. A new set of Martin Marquis lights and I have my snappy 000 Martin tone back!
I'll have to stop by my local guitar shop, check on my consignments there, and pick out some different flavors of strings. Retro Monels, and SP's. What else would you recommend for comparison?
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 17, 2020 18:38:51 GMT -5
swampyankee, I had a J35 for a short time. I put my usual Elixir Lights on it, and they sounded great.
If you haven't tried Elixirs yet, you might grab a box.
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gdw3
Halfnote
Insert clever statement here
Posts: 81
Formerly Known As: Gordon
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Post by gdw3 on Feb 18, 2020 15:54:43 GMT -5
I just put on a set of D'Addario XT Phospor Bronze. The XTs are coated, apparently.
I've done some practicing, and had a rehearsal the other night. I'd already been using the regular Phosphor Bronze in the past, so it wasn't a huge difference. My first impression is that they feel like the regular strings, but already broken in. The regulars would have a sharp brightness that goes away fairly quickly with some use, and then levels out. These seem to start at that point. They feel pretty much exactly the same. So far, I'm very pleased. Have more rehearsals and a gig next week, and am playing it a lot this Spring. Looking forward to seeing how they last.
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Post by rickyguitar on Feb 19, 2020 0:58:52 GMT -5
Keep us posted.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Feb 21, 2020 22:59:27 GMT -5
My D-18 came with Martin phosphor bronze medium strings iirc.
I immediately changed them out for Elixer light bronze 80/20s and it felt like such a different guitar.
It may be because I use those strings on other guitars so am used to the feel, but that string change definitely helped me enjoy the guitar.
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
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Post by pdf64 on Feb 22, 2020 4:50:24 GMT -5
Another happy Elixir phosphor bronze user, 12-53. They stay nice and bright, sitting nicely in the mix, for many months.
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Post by BluzLvr on Feb 29, 2020 12:39:28 GMT -5
Been playing D'Addario PB lights for some time now. They work well with my Taylors to tame the high end. Tried some John Pearse(again PB lights) recently just to see if I was missing something. Did not like the way they felt or sounded. Never cared much for the Elixers, even if they lasted longer. I know Taylor sure loves 'em. I wonder how much $$ they pay Taylor to endorse them. Different strokes, I guess.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Mar 3, 2020 8:07:54 GMT -5
The strings I use depends on the guitar. For my Taylor I use elixir lights. For My Martin I use Martin strings light. For my Fender Strat I use Bullets, And for my Gibson I use Nickle lights. I should add my strings last a while due to not having acidic sweating of fingers and mostly because they are not played nearly as much as when I was younger.
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Post by LTB on Mar 5, 2020 3:25:11 GMT -5
I like Elixer Nanoweb .012 Phospher Bronze that my Son in Law uses on his Gibson so I put them on my mother's old 79 Takamine and they do well on it, but on another cheaper acoustic John Pearce Phospher Bronze seemed to work better.
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Post by budg on Mar 5, 2020 5:54:16 GMT -5
Just checked and my Martin SP lifespans 2.0 are over 2 months old. They still sound good , but I dont play them every day. More like 3 times a week.
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Post by rangercaster on Mar 6, 2020 20:10:22 GMT -5
When they go out of tune or sound like poop or break ... time to change ...
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Post by oldfartbassplayrwalt on Mar 7, 2020 22:01:11 GMT -5
I found a set of Martin phos-bronze mediums packed away from my old Martin Shenandoah days.
Swapped out year-old elixirs from my Taylor 510CE, and was kind of immediately disappointed.
Not bad, but they didn't seem have the snap, the 'ring' that my Phos-bronze elixirs
had. After a while I went back, and at least for my guitar and finger picking/
thin-pick strum style, they gave me exactly what I was missing. Medium gauge, shaken, not stirred..
the suckers usually sound great for 8 months of 2 church services, and decent for the last 3 or so...
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Post by Lefty Rev on Mar 8, 2020 14:38:29 GMT -5
I found a set of Martin phos-bronze mediums packed away from my old Martin Shenandoah days. Swapped out year-old elixirs from my Taylor 510CE, and was kind of immediately disappointed. Martin strings on a Taylor? No wonder - that'll never work!  |
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Post by willie on Mar 12, 2020 9:42:48 GMT -5
D'Addario EXP-26 have been a long time favorite.
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Post by Ragtop on Apr 4, 2020 10:39:49 GMT -5
I changed the strings yesterday on my old Guild. The old ones had been on there for a year and a day. They still sounded just fine.
But I wanted to polish up the guitar and treat the fret board. So I did, and it's looking mighty fine now.
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