A question about Silk & Steel strings

[midnightright]

If you put these on, will you have some trouble when you go to do suspended tunings? I have my guitar setup for lights, and don't seem to have too much of a problem with them now. But were you to go with I guess what they call "extra light," and also the difference in the string material themselves, encounter further problems minus a new setup to accomodate the lesser tension and such?

I was looking into D'Addarios & John Pearse, which I'd noticed didn't have identical gauges, but perhaps would still be a lot closer to one another than what I've got on there now (phosphor bronze). Thank you!

 

[chazmo]

Can't answer your specific question, but why would you suspect that you might have tuning problems? Silk and steel have been around a long time and a lot of players love their quieter sound and relative ease of play.

I'd guess that the answer is "no," midnight.

You will certainly notice a difference in tone regardless of which S&S gauge you compare with the PBs.

 

[midnightright]

Oh, yes! Thanks. I wasn't sure if I'd get even more buzzing that way, when I drop the tunings down is all. I get a little bit now, but it is tolerable. If it say, arbitrarily "doubled," then that hypothetically might be enough of a reason to not get them. Or at least have it set up then. It's for an older guitar. Thanks again, chazmo!

 

[West R Lee]

Oh, yes! Thanks. I wasn't sure if I'd get even more buzzing that way, when I drop the tunings down is all. I get a little bit now, but it is tolerable. If it say, arbitrarily "doubled," then that hypothetically might be enough of a reason to not get them. Or at least have it set up then. It's for an older guitar. Thanks again, chazmo!

I think I understand what you are specifically asking Midnight. I've been playing a bunch of open D, and with the tuning requiring less tension, though I use light gauge strings in standard tuning, I use mediums on my guitars I keep in alternate tunings requiring less tension. As for Silk and Steel, I'd guess there's more deflection of the strings than say with PB strings, but if you're set up for lights anyway, and not getting any buzz there, I wouldn't think Silk and Steel would make a huge difference.

If you are afraid you might buzz with S&S strings, or already are, you might try a slightly heavier S&S string gauge. I do like the feel of Silk and Steel strings........easy on the fingers.

West

 

[midnightright]

I think I understand what you are specifically asking Midnight. I've been playing a bunch of open D, and with the tuning requiring less tension, though I use light gauge strings in standard tuning, I use mediums on my guitars I keep in alternate tunings requiring less tension. As for Silk and Steel, I'd guess there's more deflection of the strings than say with PB strings, but if you're set up for lights anyway, and not getting any buzz there, I wouldn't think Silk and Steel would make a huge difference.

If you are afraid you might buzz with S&S strings, or already are, you might try a slightly heavier S&S string gauge. I do like the feel of Silk and Steel strings........easy on the fingers.

West

Thank you West R Lee,

That's all I needed to know & more. I appreciate your in-depth insights! I played mediums for years. 15 maybe? Then at some point, I'd found out that I could use lights. So that's what I've used for the last little while, perhaps 5 years or so.

Mainly, I'd be wondering how they'd handle the Nick Drake numbers I try to play.
For those unfamiliar, at least of the songs I play, that's:

CGCFCE // BEBEBE

I get my guitar set-up in standard. And then leave it in Eb.

(consider any anxiety alleviated..)

 

[Rocky]

Familiar with the name, but not the product. Something of a hybrid between classical wound strings and regular steel?

 

[Rayk]

You can lose intonation by tuning down and the lighter string gauge the worse it can get depending how low you go . Different guitars seem to handle it differently . Fret/size height also is a factor .

I used to mix gauges , mostly the high E and B go out but depending on playing style and tuning , even Low E and A can go out .

The lesser tension can play havoc on tunings along with flutter , meaning much how the string moves/vibrates adding to intonation and fret buzz issues .

I’ve settled on 12/53’s but still run into issues on certain tunings .

 

[midnightright]

You can lose intonation by tuning down and the lighter string gauge the worse it can get depending how low you go . Different guitars seem to handle it differently . Fret/size height also is a factor .

I used to mix gauges , mostly the high E and B go out but depending on playing style and tuning , even Low E and A can go out .

The lesser tension can play havoc on tunings along with flutter , meaning much how the string moves/vibrates adding to intonation and fret buzz issues .

I’ve settled on 12/53’s but still run into issues on certain tunings .

Oh, that's great Rayk!! Thanks... Yeah, for me I've been lucky in that it's worked for me through a number of Guilds, and now a Yamaha. So if I do encounter any problems with the switch, I'll know how to correct it or have someone else make the necessary adjustments. Much appreciated, as always!

 

[midnightright]

Familiar with the name, but not the product. Something of a hybrid between classical wound strings and regular steel?

You know, I'm really not sure. I just tried the search function for the first time since the site upgrade. And I got a lot of results just with, "Silk and Steel." Before I could never do it right (the search). I am nothing if not an idiot! I think the only time it worked for me was before I'd joined and was looking up a DV6. This was in '06. If memory serves, which these days, is rarer & rarer. . .

 

[plaidseason]

I preferred silk & Steel on my long gone Seagull parlor. It gave hint of nylon string. I don't use a ton of alt tunings - drop D, double drop D, EADEBE, but I never had an issue. The only reason I don't use them on my current parlor is that I'm using the same magnetic pickup on two different guitars and don't want to mess with too much variance.

 

[Rayk]

Oh, that's great Rayk!! Thanks... Yeah, for me I've been lucky in that it's worked for me through a number of Guilds, and now a Yamaha. So if I do encounter any problems with the switch, I'll know how to correct it or have someone else make the necessary adjustments. Much appreciated, as always!

You’re welcome , after reading it again string tension should be added as well “ factory spec “ wise . When you tune low it’s easier to fret but also easier to push the note down to hard where it throws it sharp . That’s were the fret height comes into play a bit .

Custom sets comes in handy but if you play a lot in low tunings such as C variances using 13’s helps a good bit as the thicker gauge handles the lower notes better . Anywho you know all this . Lol

I’ve not tried silk and steel strings yet myself so they’re an enigma to me . Haha . I’m just trying StringJoy’s coated strings out .

Sound wise they’re good but my luthier just texted me warning that the windings on the ball ends are too long and will eat into the bridges , his name for them is “ Bridge Killer “ lol yikes . Well I didn’t catch that and after checking he’s right ! So for anyone reading this make sure to watch out for that .

 

[kitniyatran]

Normally, going from PB to silk and steel shouldn't be a problem, but if you're going to tune down you're definitely more likely to have problems with buzz and intonation if you use lighter strings, so for down tuning, if you want to prevent those you should go to heavier strings.
Personally, I found that I like GHS Silk and bronze. It's a good compromise between the two

 

[adorshki]

Normally, going from PB to silk and steel shouldn't be a problem, but if you're going to tune down you're definitely more likely to have problems with buzz and intonation if you use lighter strings, so for down tuning, if you want to prevent those you should go to heavier strings.
Personally, I found that I like GHS Silk and bronze. It's a good compromise between the two

Been running GHS S&B's on the D25 for a couple of years now, S&S on the F65ce for almost 5, I think. I use Martin MA130 which has the thickest high E and G, and add a GHS S48 (or SO48?) single to get an extra mil over Martin's .047 E.
They both silver plate all the strings so the mix is fine.

When I first put the S&B on the D25 I discovered I did have to loosen the truss a bit less than an 1/8th turn. Had an idea that perhaps the truss, being adjusted to the tension of regular PB lights, might be back-bowing a bit under the reduced tension of the S&B's, turned out to be right. Just needed more relief. And a lighter attack on my part.

Also discovered my archbacks have more intonation problems when tuned down, but the D40, a flatback, seems to work fine, so I keep it tuned to D.

 

[jgmaute]

I use Martin Flexible Core Phosphor Bronze Authentic Acoustic Guitar Strings MA130FX Silk/Phos 11-47​

on my Martin 00-21NY and love them but if you’re concerned about buzz when dropping tunings you way want to look at the ​

Martin Flexible Core Phosphor Bronze Authentic Acoustic Guitar Strings MA535FX Custom Light 11-52 or ​

MA550FX Medium 13-56 they are not silk and steel but flexible core, just a thought.​

 

[Brucebubs]

For Silk & Steel strings in a slightly heavier gauge I suggest these 2.