Strings - what a difference

[Christopher Cozad]

When better ain't always better...

You: Did ya hear what happened to Billy?
Me: No. What?
You: Died. Tragically.
Me: What? How?
You: Mack Truck.
Me. No! I thought with that newfangled "ear cone" fixed his hearing.
You: It did! That weren't the trouble.
Me: So what happened?
You: Peripheral vision, son. He never saw what hit him.

 

[West R Lee]

Yeah, I've been through most available strings with the F-50 over the past 25 years or so (even before my dad gave it to me). I've never heard such a drastic difference in sound from different strings. It responds like a whole new guitar.

It is fun to try new strings, sometimes it's a hit and sometimes it's a miss but at the very least you got new strings so you might as well sit down and play

My old D30 had always been a so so guitar to me. One day I decided to bite the bullet and spring for about 5 sets of Thomastik Plectrums. For the first time, the D30 came to life........it was absolutely amazing to me ear. I was in love, not only with the strings, but with the guitar. With about 4 sets of the Plectrums left, I began to string my rosewood guitars with them......and YUK! I liked my old, cheap JP strings so much better. But on the maple D30 the expensive Plectrums were incredible. I think it was a maple thing.

The experience made me a big believer in finding the strings that match the guitar.

West

 

[Westerly Wood]

I know you liked DR Sunbeams from another thread.

DR and D’Addario are generally my go to brands, although I’ll try anything at least once. My goto strings are Sunbeams for rosewood, Rares for mahogany and Veritas for maple and XTs when I want something brighter.

On my electrics, I generally use either NYXLs or DR Veritas (which sound like pure nickels but hold up better). The NYXLs have a ton of highs and I like the clarity when playing leads with delay in particular, but then I like the sound of nickels on cleaner pickups best clean so I swap them a bit.

Thanks Boom. I think after Godins, I will go back to EJ17s and then Sunbeam mediuns.

 

[Boomstick]

My old D30 had always been a so so guitar to me. One day I decided to bite the bullet and spring for about 5 sets of Thomastik Plectrums. For the first time, the D30 came to life........it was absolutely amazing to me ear. I was in love, not only with the strings, but with the guitar. With about 4 sets of the Plectrums left, I began to string my rosewood guitars with them......and YUK! I liked my old, cheap JP strings so much better. But on the maple D30 the expensive Plectrums were incredible. I think it was a maple thing.

The experience made me a big believer in finding the strings that match the guitar.

West

If you haven't, try DR Veritas! They are almost always a hit with maple Guilds. On occasion, some guitars may want brighter strings if the higher notes are quiet, but most of the Guilds don't have that problem.

I went through everything on my maple F-50, but the Veritas have been a clear winner. And they hold up well and aren't expensive. Also great on the G-37 too.

 

[West R Lee]

If you haven't, try DR Veritas! They are almost always a hit with maple Guilds. On occasion, some guitars may want brighter strings if the higher notes are quiet, but most of the Guilds don't have that problem.

I went through everything on my maple F-50, but the Veritas have been a clear winner. And they hold up well and aren't expensive. Also great on the G-37 too.

I would, but sadly I no longer own a maple guitar. My wife gifted the D30 to my son in law. I sold my JF30 last year.

West

 

[adorshki]

I would, but sadly I no longer own a maple guitar. My wife gifted the D30 to my son in law. I sold my JF30 last year.

West

To pay for a divorce?

 

[Rayk]

Ah strings a journey in itself . lol enjoy !

 

[West R Lee]

To pay for a divorce?

As supportive as she is, she's always looking for a way to rid the house of another guitar case. Not just that, the D30 was technically hers as she paid for it so that she might have her own guitar on which she could practice. She was actually coming along, then just stopped practicing. Meanwhile, our son in law is a pretty fair guitarist and had always loved the D30. So away she went. ..........the guitar. At 5 guitars these days, she's comfortable with the intrusion on her space.

West

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Son-in-law: Your dad doesn't like me!
Daughter: Yes he does! What makes you say such a thing?
Son-in-law: He never talks to me anymore when we come over to visit.
Daughter: I just heard him tell you how much he missed having you around!
Son-in-law: It wasn't me he was talking to; it was his old guitar that your mom gave me when she cleaned out the bedroom closet!

 

[dwasifar]

After a recent try again and ensuing disappointment with D'Addario PB strings, I got a set of Godin PBs in the amazon cart. Never tried them before. I hear they are great on Seagull guitars lol.

Am I the only acoustic player on earth who is not a fan of D'Addarios? It must be a personal problem. I don't like Martins either, or Elixir. I am running out of options.

I hate to break the bad news, but Godins are D'Addarios. If you ask Godin, they'll tell you so.

 

[Wilmywood]

I hate to break the bad news, but Godins are D'Addarios. If you ask Godin, they'll tell you so.

Yep

Godin Acoustic Phosphor Bronze Strings Extra Light A6 Made by D'Addari

Godin A6 XLT acoustic guitar strings.Phosphor Bronze Extra Light: (.010, .014, .023, .030, .039, .047) Made by D'Addario

jjmusicsales.com

 

[Westerly Wood]

I hate to break the bad news, but Godins are D'Addarios. If you ask Godin, they'll tell you so.

well, I didn't buy them after all, I went back to DRs, as their strings are way less greasy than D'As.
I like the following re DRs:

80/20s
Sunbeams
Rares

In that order too.

I tried Veritas once, and while many are fans, I was not. but I don't like coated strings...I try and try and fail lol.

Example of the DR 80/20s, not as bright as John Pearse of the same, but stronger.
Also, no grease, like DA likes to use.

 

[chazmo]

well, I didn't buy them after all, I went back to DRs, as their strings are way less greasy than D'As.
I like the following re DRs:

80/20s
Sunbeams
Rares

In that order too.

I tried Veritas once, and while many are fans, I was not. but I don't like coated strings...I try and try and fail lol.

Example of the DR 80/20s, not as bright as John Pearse of the same, but stronger.
Also, no grease, like DA likes to use.

Woody, have you tried the JP phosphor-bronze? Just curious. I think they're the bees' knees.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Woody, have you tried the JP phosphor-bronze? Just curious. I think they're the bees' knees.

Oh yes, there was a time Chaz when I used them exclusively. But since John died and the company was bought under new ownership, the strings aren’t the same. So I left for D’Addario. And only in this past year have I started to try DRs.

I don’t like Martins or Elixir and I don’t like spending too much on strings.

 

[chazmo]

Oh yes, there was a time Chaz when I used them exclusively. But since John died and the company was bought under new ownership, the strings aren’t the same. So I left for D’Addario.

Oh, really, Woody? Hmm, I haven't noticed that, but I'll have to stay alert... I've got a drawer full of strings that will take me another couple of years to use up before I have to buy some more.

 

[dwasifar]

well, I didn't buy them after all, I went back to DRs, as their strings are way less greasy than D'As.
I like the following re DRs:

...

Example of the DR 80/20s, not as bright as John Pearse of the same, but stronger.
Also, no grease, like DA likes to use.

I was not aware that D'Addario lubricates their strings. I'm not seeing anything about that on their website. Where did you hear about it?

 

[Westerly Wood]

I was not aware that D'Addario lubricates their strings. I'm not seeing anything about that on their website. Where did you hear about it?

They always feel oily to me. I have no evidence re my findings, but o don’t like them.

 

[chazmo]

Are you guys talking about XTs or uncoated??? All the coated strings I've ever played have a variety of "oily" feels which is why I don't use any of them regularly. It used to be most prevalent on the Elixir "polyweb" strings where were a very thick coat. I thought they were pretty cool actually until you started wearing the coating off in hair-like splinters.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Are you guys talking about XTs or uncoated??? All the coated strings I've ever played have a variety of "oily" feels which is why I don't use any of them regularly. It used to be most prevalent on the Elixir "polyweb" strings where were a very thick coat. I thought they were pretty cool actually until you started wearing the coating off in hair-like splinters.

uncoateds.

w

 

[chazmo]

Oily feeling uncoated strings. Hmm. I've never had that experience, Woody.