Strings - what a difference

[dwasifar]

I haven't had too many problems with Martin strings not holding up, but try DR Vertas. They have similar high and lows but richer mids than a Martin, but you probably won't notice too much of a difference on a mahogany or rosewood guitar but they hold up pretty well.

I'm lazy and probably change them at most every couple months.

Do you use the gold plain strings, or the silver ones? Do you hear/feel a difference?

For myself, the presence of those two extra strings in the set causes stress to my sense of order. I typically don't break strings, so I wind up with two extra brand-new strings that I will never need, but can't bring myself to throw away.

 

[Wilmywood]

I haven't had too many problems with Martin strings not holding up, but try DR Vertas. They have similar high and lows but richer mids than a Martin, but you probably won't notice too much of a difference on a mahogany or rosewood guitar but they hold up pretty well.

I'm lazy and probably change them at most every couple months.

My main squeeze is a maple archback.

 

[dwasifar]

Worst strings I ever tried were Orphee strings, made in China, very big on Aliexpress but way below the standards of western string makers. They were completely terrible. Not actual phosphor bronze, and way under gauge.

I wrote it up if you're curious.

Second worst was Dean Markley Alchemy, coated, with gold coloring. Every string was a different color of gold; some yellower, some darker. This in itself is not a problem, except inasmuch as it betrayed lack of QC. But they sounded awful; thuddy and dull. And they were stiff as barbed wire. A barre with them was physically impossible for me. They were so yuck that they soured me on the brand, apparently permanently. This was maybe 20 years ago, and I still have never bought another set of Dean Markley anything.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Ernie Ball are my worst. Fender too.

 

[plaidseason]

Do you use the gold plain strings, or the silver ones? Do you hear/feel a difference?

For myself, the presence of those two extra strings in the set causes stress to my sense of order. I typically don't break strings, so I wind up with two extra brand-new strings that I will never need, but can't bring myself to throw away.

Humorously, I've long thought the same thing. And then a month or so ago, while vigorously prepping for a show, I broke a high E string . . . and then couldn't find an extra one anywhere. Tons of Bs. So I gave in an opened another pack. No I might have buy another set of Veritas just to put the universe back in balance.

 

[Boomstick]

My main squeeze is a maple archback.

Absolutely try the DR Veritas then. They've been the best strings on almost every maple guitar I've put them on - and sound great on my '75 G-37 too. They sounded close to the Martin's on the G-37 but better with rich overtones in the midrange frequencies.

 

[Boomstick]

Do you use the gold plain strings, or the silver ones? Do you hear/feel a difference?

For myself, the presence of those two extra strings in the set causes stress to my sense of order. I typically don't break strings, so I wind up with two extra brand-new strings that I will never need, but can't bring myself to throw away.

I use the silver strings on my F-50 and G-37. The highs are actually fairly strong on the F-50, and with the silver ones, the mids end up being pronounced and the highs are tamed just enough where it's perfection in the balance of things. The G-37s highs are a little more subdued, but I always found it pretty decent, but haven't tried the brass ones on it yet, however I will next string change.

However on some guitars where the highs fade out up the neck, the brass string can often solve that issue. They are louder and a little bendier.

I hear you about having two extra strings. I keep them in the case as long as I have the set on my guitar, after that I toss them when I get new ones in, no point in keeping a ton around you know.

 

[dwasifar]

As long as we're talking about strings...

I have a newish D-55, and so far it has not had a lot of different strings on it. Right now it's wearing Elixir Nanoweb 12s, which is not something I would ordinarily choose, but I received them free in exchange for my evaluation, and they're still on.

Here's the thing. There's nothing wrong with them; they sound fine, they play fine, they're long lasting. And yet I have this itch to take them off and put on something else. I don't know why. Maybe subconsciously I feel like there's something missing. Or maybe I'm just impatient to tinker. But I have all these other strings on hand that I want to try, and I guess I just don't want to wait for the Elixirs to wear out.

Anyone else here experience this irrational impulse?

 

[Westerly Wood]

Anyone else here experience this irrational impulse?

Well…..

 

[Boomstick]

As long as we're talking about strings...

I have a newish D-55, and so far it has not had a lot of different strings on it. Right now it's wearing Elixir Nanoweb 12s, which is not something I would ordinarily choose, but I received them free in exchange for my evaluation, and they're still on.

Here's the thing. There's nothing wrong with them; they sound fine, they play fine, they're long lasting. And yet I have this itch to take them off and put on something else. I don't know why. Maybe subconsciously I feel like there's something missing. Or maybe I'm just impatient to tinker. But I have all these other strings on hand that I want to try, and I guess I just don't want to wait for the Elixirs to wear out.

Anyone else here experience this irrational impulse?

That actually makes sense. I put some D'Addario XT 13s on my dad's D-55, I like the bright strings on that guitar. D'Addario XL's and DR Sunbeams would also be on the top of my list.

 

[adorshki]

Maybe subconsciously I feel like there's something missing. Or maybe I'm just impatient to tinker. But I have all these other strings on hand that I want to try, and I guess I just don't want to wait for the Elixirs to wear out.

Anyone else here experience this irrational impulse?

Well…..

@Westerly Wood is our forum Stringaholics Anonymous counselor and meeting organizer.

 

[plaidseason]

As long as we're talking about strings...

I have a newish D-55, and so far it has not had a lot of different strings on it. Right now it's wearing Elixir Nanoweb 12s, which is not something I would ordinarily choose, but I received them free in exchange for my evaluation, and they're still on.

Here's the thing. There's nothing wrong with them; they sound fine, they play fine, they're long lasting. And yet I have this itch to take them off and put on something else. I don't know why. Maybe subconsciously I feel like there's something missing. Or maybe I'm just impatient to tinker. But I have all these other strings on hand that I want to try, and I guess I just don't want to wait for the Elixirs to wear out.

Anyone else here experience this irrational impulse?

All the time!
I recently excitedly ordered some silk & steels for my Art & Lutherie parlor - thinking this would be the obvious next step to perfection. I took off the relatively new DR Sunbeams and put on the silk & steel. I hated them. Really hated them. And then I opened another pack of Sunbeams and put those on. I like to know these things. I was a little bummed to have spent 15 bucks in an hour, but at least I know!

The "something missing" thing happens a lot. But I've also had the opposite.

I put Everly Sessions on my F44 and didn't love them. I went back to DR Rares. Though, I'd still like to try the Sunbeams.

But for the sake of whatever, I put my last set of Sessions on my DCE1 and nothing is missing.

That's similar to what I'm saying about the D'Addario PBs on my recently acquired M40. While I'm somewhat curious about how Sunbeams will sound, right now I don't hear anything missing with the D'Addarios.

 

[chazmo]

All the time!
I recently excitedly ordered some silk & steels for my Art & Lutherie parlor - thinking this would be the obvious next step to perfection. I took off the relatively new DR Sunbeams and put on the silk & steel. I hated them. Really hated them. And then I opened another pack of Sunbeams and put those on. I like to know these things. I was a little bummed to have spent 15 bucks in an hour, but at least I know!

The "something missing" thing happens a lot. But I've also had the opposite.

I put Everly Sessions on my F44 and didn't love them. I went back to DR Rares. Though, I'd still like to try the Sunbeams.

But for the sake of whatever, I put my last set of Sessions on my DCE1 and nothing is missing.

That's similar to what I'm saying about the D'Addario PBs on my recently acquired M40. While I'm somewhat curious about how Sunbeams will sound, right now I don't hear anything missing with the D'Addarios.

Silk and steel are definitely not for everyone (myself included), Chris. Was that the first time you've used them?

In the grand scheme of things, the price of strings versus the huge effect they have on a guitar's volume and tone seems like a (very) small price to pay in the hunt for guitar perfection.

 

[plaidseason]

Silk and steel are definitely not for everyone (myself included), Chris. Was that the first time you've used them?

In the grand scheme of things, the price of strings versus the huge effect they have on a guitar's volume and tone seems like a (very) small price to pay in the hunt for guitar perfection.

I loved silk & steels on a Seagull Grand parlor I owned years back.

But . . . the Grand, while the same exact body dimensions as the the Art & Lutherie, was a 14 fret guitar with a cedar top (which leans more classical) vs a the A&L which is a 12 fret parlor with a spruce top.

 

[Westerly Wood]

@Westerly Wood is our forum Stringaholics Anonymous counselor and meeting organizer.

We meet daily via zoom, to make sure you don't want to change your strings.

 

[chazmo]

There's a 12 step string program for this.

 

[dwasifar]

Well…..

That actually makes sense. I put some D'Addario XT 13s on my dad's D-55, I like the bright strings on that guitar. D'Addario XL's and DR Sunbeams would also be on the top of my list.

@Westerly Wood is our forum Stringaholics Anonymous counselor and meeting organizer.

All the time!

We meet daily via zoom, to make sure you don't want to change your strings.

Well, I won't fret about it then.

 

[adorshki]

We meet daily via zoom, to make sure you don't want to change your strings.

Worked on me. My wounds're fraying like split ends at all my favorite frets and the unwounds look like tinsel. They transmit the state of my health exceedingly well.

Think the F65ce's due to replace those silk'n'steels I put on her back in 2016. Think they're up to a couple hundred hours now. Bass players ask me how to get better string life.

Speaking of which.... it's that bass playing thing that finally gotcha unhooked, isn't it?

 

[adorshki]

Well, I won't fret about it then.

On that note.......

 

[dwasifar]

On that note.......

... what? Don't string us along.