I'm bored with my strings

[bluesypicky]

Hey Fred,
Yeah, talking about the PB's Medium Lite (11-50).
Can't tell you what was on the guitar before, they were new strings installed when I bought it...
I agree that the Martins are very bright, but I was actually finding a bit of similarity in the tone with the Rares....
Anybody else using the Rares PB think they're quiet strings?.... Still puzzled here. :?

 

[Ridgemont]

I recently tried the DR Rares on my Tacoma D50. Wow what a quiet set of strings. I usually use D'Addarios or Martin SP PBs. The Rares don't have that initial BRIGHT sound that I dislike on the Martin & D'Addarios, so that was good, but they are just too darn quiet, had too remove them after a couple weeks. So, YMMV.

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
The DR Rares? Quiet?..... Really?
Either it's the guitar or the level of alcohol in the blood (speaking about me of course :roll: ).
Because the set I put on my DV 52 is bright and twangy (and lovely I might add), so just puzzled a bit here. :shock:

+1. I just put them on my 000-15 yesterday. I was surprised to say the least. They have a very bright metallic sparkle to them. I think that should ware off in time. I kind of like them though maybe not on my all hog guitar. I have DR 80/20 lights on my F30 as of Tuesday, and they are much more mellow (probably broken in). I am going to play around with DRs for a little while....I think I like them.

 

[West R Lee]

I recently tried the DR Rares on my Tacoma D50. Wow what a quiet set of strings. I usually use D'Addarios or Martin SP PBs. The Rares don't have that initial BRIGHT sound that I dislike on the Martin & D'Addarios, so that was good, but they are just too darn quiet, had too remove them after a couple weeks. So, YMMV.

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
The DR Rares? Quiet?..... Really?
Either it's the guitar or the level of alcohol in the blood (speaking about me of course :roll: ).
Because the set I put on my DV 52 is bright and twangy (and lovely I might add), so just puzzled a bit here. :shock:

Are you talking 80/20s or the PBs? I used the PBs, definitely quieter than the Martin SP PBs. Maybe they were old?? What were you using on your DV52 prior to that?

Hmm, I can't speak to the Martins, but in JP strings, I went from PB to 80/20 because I like the subtlety of 80/20. The PB's are too bright for me. The opposite of what you're saying in Martin strings valleyguy. To me, when I play fingerstyle, some of the tone is lost in all the ringing of PB strings.....in other words, while one string is still ringing, and you pluck another, the second string is covered up a tad by the ringing of the first.....I don't get that with 80/20's. Now for flatpick strumming, I don't mind PB's a bit.

West

 

[adorshki]

To me, when I play fingerstyle, some of the tone is lost in all the ringing of PB strings.....in other words, while one string is still ringing, and you pluck another, the second string is covered up a tad by the ringing of the first.....I don't get that with 80/20's. Now for flatpick strumming, I don't mind PB's a bit.
West

I find that to be an extremely interesting observation, and precisely what I think is enhanced by an archback design regardless of the string type. I think a flatback like my D40 is better suited to fingerpicking for that exact reason. And why I've even said the D25 can actually get almost muddy from the overtones but the '40 has much better individual string definition at the expense of sustain.

 

[bluesypicky]

I have DR 80/20 lights on my F30 as of Tuesday, and they are much more mellow (probably broken in). I am going to play around with DRs for a little while....I think I like them.

I have yet to try these 80/20.... but so far I'm enjoying the PB Dr Rares, they're just as you say: "sparkly".

 

[playsvintageguilds]

Elixir Nanoweb

 

[yettoblaster]

My lately experience is that I've joined those singing the praises of John Pearse 80/20's (light) here, on my D40, though previously I used the JP Phos lights.

I have also discovered that putting Thomastik-Infeld Spectrum (12's) helps my dread for fingerpicking (de-emphasis the bass a bit, but still pretty strong), but I lost some wallop and that snappy bass spank. I got used to them pretty quick though. Nice balance and sound. Sweet even.

There's still some bite but it makes me seek out other playing styles, whereas with the JP's I just want to bash, and glory in that grand piano "ker-RANG!"

 

[Ian]

Hi Guys,

Well I put the Dr's on my old F30, which previously had the EJ26's, and I noticed a lot more tone, it was a warmer and more mellow tone than before. I have also put them on my Breedlove and they have filled out the sound of that guitar also. Actually I'm not sure I prefer them on the F30 or not, it's just a different guitar when I have the EJ26's on, more snotty....

I'm going to put a set on the D55 to see what happens there, I cant imagine that it's possible to fill that sound out any further but we'll see.

BTW: does anyone else get a bit peeved at the packaging on the DR's ? I can see the sense in saving packaging but for me it's downright confusing changing the strings. First time out I had to break out the verniers to measure the string sizes to make sure I got them in the right place, D'addarios colour coded ball ends are much simpler. If DR wanted to save $, why dont they just make the strings 6 inches shorter since I figure this is about what I cut off the end each time :?

Cheers, Ian

 

[playsvintageguilds]

I am color-blind.
If it does not come in a package that clearly states..."This string goes closest to your chest..." :?

 

[Ian]

I am color-blind.
If it does not come in a package that clearly states..."This string goes closest to your chest..." :?

Have you tried the Dr's Raj ? Their packaging I find very confusing, but maybe it's just me

Cheers, Ian

 

[playsvintageguilds]

Not yet,bro'.
Next trip to town I will grab a packet and give them a try !
Thanks !

 

[Ian]

Keep your vernier handy !!!

 

[P-E-Z]

Try Adamas 1818
you might like them and they are cheap!

 

[hojo199]

Rares and Sunbeams

After all the hoopla, I bought some Sunbeams and Rares. I put the Rares on DV52 and ripped 'em off within an hour. They did nothing for the tone of that guitar. D'Addario's are the only way to fly with that axe. I put the Sunbeams on the Martin D28 and they are going bye bye too. The "G" string buzzes; the guitar has half the volume. I do like the way the round core feels on the fingers, but I need TONE -- and those DR strings just don't do it for me.... I will probably put Elixirs back on that guitar...easy on the fingers and sound very balanced on her....

 

[hojo199]

Rares and Sunbeams

After all the hoopla, I bought some Sunbeams and Rares. I put the Rares on DV52 and ripped 'em off within an hour. They did nothing for the tone of that guitar. D'Addario's are the only way to fly with that axe. I put the Sunbeams on the Martin D28 and they are going bye bye too. The "G" string buzzes; the guitar has half the volume. I do like the way the round core feels on the fingers, but I need TONE -- and those DR strings just don't do it for me.... I will probably put Elixirs back on that guitar...easy on the fingers and sound very balanced on her....

 

[bluesypicky]

I actually mis-stated which guitar I put the DR Rare on.... it was the Dove, not the DV52.
I have Elixirs Nano on the DV52 right now. Sounds good.
Which D'addario's are you talking about Hojo? (Being the only way to fly with it)....

 

[West R Lee]

Re: Rares and Sunbeams

After all the hoopla, I bought some Sunbeams and Rares. I put the Rares on DV52 and ripped 'em off within an hour. They did nothing for the tone of that guitar. D'Addario's are the only way to fly with that axe. I put the Sunbeams on the Martin D28 and they are going bye bye too. The "G" string buzzes; the guitar has half the volume. I do like the way the round core feels on the fingers, but I need TONE -- and those DR strings just don't do it for me.... I will probably put Elixirs back on that guitar...easy on the fingers and sound very balanced on her....

Do you flatpick, plat fingerstyle, or both? If you're a fingerpicker.....I'd strongly suggest the JP 80/20's if you haven't tried them. I think they're as finger friendly as Elixers, but sound twice as good.

West

 

[hojo199]

Re: Rares and Sunbeams

After all the hoopla, I bought some Sunbeams and Rares. I put the Rares on DV52 and ripped 'em off within an hour. They did nothing for the tone of that guitar. D'Addario's are the only way to fly with that axe. I put the Sunbeams on the Martin D28 and they are going bye bye too. The "G" string buzzes; the guitar has half the volume. I do like the way the round core feels on the fingers, but I need TONE -- and those DR strings just don't do it for me.... I will probably put Elixirs back on that guitar...easy on the fingers and sound very balanced on her....

Do you flatpick, plat fingerstyle, or both? If you're a fingerpicker.....I'd strongly suggest the JP 80/20's if you haven't tried them. I think they're as finger friendly as Elixers, but sound twice as good.

West[/quote

West,
I finger pick and flat pick. I haven't tried the JP sets yet. I will. Finger friendly is important! We can't make tone if we are fighting the guitar!

 

[hojo199]

I actually mis-stated which guitar I put the DR Rare on.... it was the Dove, not the DV52.
I have Elixirs Nano on the DV52 right now. Sounds good.
Which D'addario's are you talking about Hojo? (Being the only way to fly with it)....

Bluespicky:
For D'adarios, I am referring to the straight up PB variety.... the same ones they have been making since the seventies.... Elixirs sound good on everything. The best always? No, but consistently good, (like the D'Adarios), and like West says, they are "finger friendly."

 

[wontox]

Boiling Strings


I assume some LTGer’s have heard of boiling used guitar strings to restore the tone. Urban legend or fact?

I haven’t been able to get to the string store in some time and was doing a little mental math about the cost of three or four sets of strings costing nearly eight dollars apiece every few weeks, and the D’Addario 11’s on my D-40 were sounding pretty lackluster, so I removed them, boiled the them for five minutes, dried them with a hairdryer, then polished the 1 and 2 strings back to brightness with metal polish. My conclusion? The wound strings did have a little more life, but the 1 and 2 sounded just as poor; I guess the stretch or zing goes out of them.

Anyone ever buy strings in bulk?

Wontox

‘70 Guild D 40
‘67 Vox Country Western
Modern Blueridge BR 70
Modern RK SDJ
‘84 Epi Sheraton

All with dog-tired strings.