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jimnsr

Strung out!

Lead

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Posts: 10

(07/01/09 00:45:24)

Tags : None

Hi everyone,

Just wondering what brand/gauge of string people find to be the best for fingerstyle blues? I've been playing Martin lights, but find they lose their shine very quickly and become dull after a fairly short time. Any tips for strings that keep their playability for a reasonable amount of time?!

Thanks

Jim

JCook1

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Posts: 125

(07/01/09 05:10:51)

I like medium gauge bronze strings. They have more punch and power, to my mind, which is great for blues, and also better for slide playing than light strings. I usually use Martin strings, and sometimes John Pearce. I haven't figured out a preference for phosphor bronze as opposed to 80/20 - I like 'em both. I generally prefer medium strings for everything, because I like the sound, and frankly my guitar sounds much better with medium than with lights, but for blues I think they're ideal.

Jack

sands4us

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Posts: 348

(07/01/09 05:29:30)

If you already like Martin strings ....they have just recently come out with Martin Extended Life SP+ 80/20 Bronze Strings 12-54 Gauge. Pretty much everything I like about Martin string along with a very subtle coating to keep them fresh longer. You will notice that they are a bit slicker feeling than uncoated strings....but these are nothing like Elixers with that plastic coating that sreds after a couple weeks.

The PBs seem to be getting into shops, but for some reason the 80/20s are very hard to find. I have only found them through Amazon and just ordered 4 sets.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GZSKE/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Stephen

David EBA Beer Enthusiast

Taken out of context from a thread about medium gauge strings

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Posts: 201

(07/01/09 05:32:04)

Stefan Grossman	String choice	#10	[-]
Posts: 1164 (08/07/08 05:56:20) Administrator More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I agree with BrianG as almost ALL the students I encounter are using light gauge (.012-.053 or .054) strings. In fact this is usually the gauge I suggest for students to try unless they are playing a very small parlour guitar. Medium gauge strings just seem too heavy for general fingerpicking. Martin Carthy uses heavy gauge but he has a very specific sound. David Laibman uses extra (and sometimes extra extra) light gauge strings. On my Martin Signature I found that using .012, .014, .025. .032, .042,.054 worked best for MY touch. You can experiment with gauges as well as type of string: bronze, phosphor bronze, coated, nickel etc.

It has been said that phosphor bronze strings last longer than 80/20's although 80/20's begin life with a livelier tone.

Last Edited By: David EBA Beer Enthusiast 07/01/09 05:37:15. Edited 1 times.

RevGeo

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Posts: 585

(07/01/09 05:55:58)

I use Martin SP phosphore bronze or Martin 80/20 bronze, .011-.052.
After a scary bout with tendonitis/overuse syndrome a few years ago I went to extra light strings. I've noticed no loss of volume or tone. On my electric guitars I've gone from .10s down to .009s. Using a lighter gauge strings makes for easier bending and chording on acoustic and electric, for me anyway. After a four hour gig my hands aren't nearly as sore and tired.

Most of my students use regular lights - .012-.054.

Rev George

jimnsr

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Posts: 11

(07/01/09 14:46:27)

Excellent advice again from this forum! Thanks everyone, I'll try a few out and see what works best I think, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction

Jim

gcooper

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Posts: 1745

(07/02/09 01:08:25)

I use D'Addario 12s on my acoustics, including my 12-string, which I tune down to D. On my Michael Messer Lightning single-cone resophonic I use the Michael Messer 'National' brand made by Newtone strings in the UK (and fitted to all NRP Nationals when they leave the factory) and gauged 15-56: I mainly use it for slide and like the rather manly top string. I also use D'Addarios on all my other instruments (mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, Strat copy, harmonica - just kidding!). I've tried every other brand of string on the planet in my 40+ years of playing and I've been with the Ds for about 25 years. If it ain't broke...

I also make a point of properly wiping down the strings after a set, which gets rid of sweat, dirt and the residue of the talcum powder I use on my hands to reduce the problems associated with my chronic SPS*.

Cheerily,

Gerry C

*Sweaty Palm Syndrome!

RogueBrit

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Posts: 568

(07/02/09 01:54:24)

A subject discussed so much over the years. Strings are one of the things that we can experiment with, and do make a difference. I have arrived at my own preferences, and each must do the same. I like 80/20 (the composition is actually brass), I don't like so called phosphor bronze (actually bronze), of any make I've tried, on any of the guitars I've owned so far. Not just the sound - they feel different to me. But others love them. I mostly play round-shouldered Gibsons now and 12 - 52/53 or 54 (ie Light) are what I use - I like Newtones more than anything else, and Malcolm does two '12' sets - one slightly lighter throughout than the other - Google his site and take a look.
I personally don't like the 'new string' tone, but again I don't seem to have a metabolism that ruins strings quickly, like some folks do. In engineering you quickly discover that some people have corrosive hands, and some do not. Strange thing. Martin SPs are treated to resist corrosion and may suit you - I still quite like them. Strings with a more definate coatings, Elixirs et al, I personally hate - but many folk swear by them.
Another choice for fingerpicking being discussed more and more on the forums - and gaining popularity - are nickel strings. They look weird at first - but they last, and have a particular clear, separated, fundamental sort of sound that I liked on my J-45. They are worth trying. I've got so many sets of others, that I hesitate to change allegiances!

Roger

Last Edited By: RogueBrit 07/03/09 07:55:54. Edited 1 times.

markm55.theunofficialma...

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Posts: 85

(07/02/09 05:12:29)

i use the elixir nanoweb bronze lights, .012-.053 on my 1974 martin 000-28. actually my string preference is a .054 on the low E. sometimes i get martin's clapton pb's with the .054. but i've come to really like sound of the elixirs, they are easy on the fingers and they hold up for about a month (i am not a performer, though). i wish they had a .54 low E but a man can't have everything i guess!

mark

EasyRider

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Posts: 1034

(07/02/09 05:54:47)

BUY 'EM CHEAP AND CHANGE 'EM OFTEN.

That way you get to try all kinds of strings and find out what you like.

In the end, it's not the strings; it's the fingers that matter.

DrFunguy

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Posts: 84

(07/02/09 15:48:03)

I agree with easy rider. new strings always sound better. that said:
1. I think that heavier strings sound better, but like revgeo I sometimes have tendon issues which are thereby exacerbated.
2. I hate coated strings, they sound dead from the start.
3. I prefer 80/20's, light (12-54) or medium light (11-52).
4. its getting hard to find a _really_ cheap string.
5. of course you have to listen for yourself... find what you like, experiment etc.

Ahhjazuss

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Posts: 101

(07/03/09 15:04:51)

D'Addario 12's are just the ticket.

outfidel

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Posts: 694

(07/03/09 16:51:25)

I play Martin PB Lights (.012-.054), and I buy 'em cheap from StringThis.com

TooSteep

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Posts: 219

(07/04/09 07:52:24)

Newtone Heritage Series are the most unique strings I have ever used. I gave a detailed writeup in an ealier thread about strings:

http://stefangrossmansguitarworkshop.yuku.com/reply/10160/t/Your-favorite-strings.html#reply-10160

I have recently tried a set of nickel strings, as I was curious. I don't think I will use them again, but as Roger said, they REALLY last a long long time!

Cheers,

Ian

RevGeo

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Posts: 587

(07/04/09 08:57:22)

Recently I put a set of nickel strings on one of my acoustics. The guitar is a '61 Harmony-built Stella of approximately 000 size. The guitar was a gift from a friend and it had just had a neck reset, new nut and new saddle. It has a trapeze tailpiece and is all solid birch.
The strings were a set of Ernie Ball electric .011s. I replaced the plain third with a wound third I had hanging around the shop in my box of loose strings. For some reason, for all these years I have never tried nickel strings on an acoustic guitar.
I really like them on this old Stella. Especially the bass strings. They have a nice thump to them which is great for country blues. On my 'better' guitars I still use bronze or brass, especially on my 1910 George Washburn parlor, which I mainly play for classic ragtime tunes. The brass/bronze ring really nicely.
The nickel strings seem to have less sustain which is good for blues, at least the way I play blues. For a while I kept that guitar in D standard tuning and it really thumped, being down a whole step. Now I have it tuned to standard and play it as my go-to acoustic guitar, using a George-L soundhole pickup.

I really like using nickel strings on that guitar. After they have been on awhile and are broken in they sound almost like I'm palm muting the bass even when I'm not. The tone is really 'old' sounding, tough yet clear. I guess I should try some nickel strings made for acoustic and see if there is a notable difference.
It's nice to know that in my dotage I can still learn something new about guitars and guitar playing. Now I'm hot to try some real gut strings on another old Stella I have strung with nylon. Anybody tried real gut?

Rev George

Jamie

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Posts: 7

(07/05/09 17:41:03)

I used to think I got a long time out of a set of standard strings (about a month) and had tried coated strings on guitars in shops and didn't like them.
I was persuaded to try a set of Nanoweb bronze medium lights 12-56 and was converted. They took a few days to lose their excessive brightness
but then went on to last 2 months and I only really changed them to put on a set of phos bronze nanos to see the difference.
I change tunings every five minutes and they seem to stay where they're put and the tone has just stayed consistent.
In the end I think it's that consistency that does it for me.

RogueBrit

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Posts: 569

(07/06/09 02:14:16)

Hi Rev George and all

Interesting - I did not find any muting effect using nickel - just nice fundamantal tone - mellow, but with less overtones than 80/20 for me. I tried them after reading some of the recent threads over at the UMGF and have tried GHS White bronze Nickels, and 'dads in EJ-22's (I liked the former best - the latter were a recommendation of Frank Ford's - a man to listen to IMO!). Do a thread search on nickel strings in the technical forum and you'll find a lot of information.
A couple of comments. Some electrics I believe are nickel plated steel - not the same thing. Some folks, also, can apparently have an allergic reaction to nickel, so be aware and stop using them if any adverse reaction, Actually, of course, so called bronze strings also have a nickel content, so I guess they might equally cause problems. Anyway - I intend to try Newtone nickels one day, too. I'm a great believer in trying things out...

Roger

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