favourite strings?

[clickhoward]

Hi, I'd just like to hear what kind of strings people are into out there, brands you think are good, and which ones really suck. I want quality! cost isnt an issue... (probably using a guage 12, but any suggestions of a lighter string with good tone - I'd be mighty interested)

[sbguitman]

I'm somewhat of a beginner. The only strings I've ever tried are Martin Mediums (.13) and I think they rule. So Martin is a good brand.

[sbguitman]

for some reason nobody's checking out this thread, but here...

http://www.cyberfret.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=1143

I had a similar question and this is that thread.

[Armstrang]

The "Strings" thread was supposed to be a reply to this one, not a brand new thread. Sorry...Steve

[clickhoward]

After writing the intial question, I got sidetracked onto the electric side. Just bought a new electric and was a bit obsessed for some weeks. I had to buy new strings for my acoustic and I went with Martin SP guage 12. 12 suits me fine, as Ive been playing a while, and clearly anything less seems to diminish the tone. Anyway, these strings are possibly the best Ive ever had on the guitar: beautiful tone and very little squeaking. Also, I seemed to have lost a rattle on my E string (my action is very low, like an electric). These strings are great. Intend to try some more different ones in the future. Still interested in hearing any others' ideas...:)

[Pezcore]

i put martin 11's on my 6 string acoustic

martin 13's on my 12 string (13's on a 12 string.. barre chords hurt haha)

and ernie ball custom slinky 9's on my electric

ive tried everything and always come back to these gauges/brands

[BZippi]

Ernie Ball Earthwood strings are pretty nice. The light-gauge strings have a nice sound and make the guitar really playable.

[Jook]

Here's what I prefer.

For acoustic guitar, Elixer custom light guage with nano web coating. Expencive, but oh so nice. My second favorite are GHS light guage.

For electric I use Earnie Ball medium or heavy guage strings. I was going right through light electric strings... had to take it up a notch.

As far as strings that suck, Dedario. I hate, hate, hate them. They rip your fingers up, turn them weird colors, and sound too... I dunno... thin. Plus they're very cheap. One time I was tuning DOWN my high E string and it broke. :-p If I was tuning up I'd understand, but down?? Heck no. Haven't gotten a set since.

[Classical Exile]

Originally posted by Jook

As far as strings that suck, Dedario. I hate, hate, hate them. They rip your fingers up, turn them weird colors, and sound too... I dunno... thin. Plus they're very cheap. One time I was tuning DOWN my high E string and it broke. :-p If I was tuning up I'd understand, but down?? Heck no. Haven't gotten a set since.

I find that a bit hard to believe, not only do you spell the name wrong, (D'Addario FYI), but it's physically impossible to break a string when you're releasing tension on it.

[The Fury]

Actually, I have done that in the past (broke a string when tuning Down) back in the day when I had an Encore and didn't know anything about guitar maintenence so my nut/string trees and bridge saddles weren't lubricated. It's probably nothing to do with what make of string, just a feak occurance.

[slaughteredsoul]

I was trying to remove a string once to get behind it and fix something and it snapped,just like that,though it was very loose.It was on an electric.They weren't D'Addarios but they were new.I just twisted the knob again and again till it was very loose and i was about to remove it and it snaps.I dont know how that happens but it happens.

[Classical Exile]

In theory, it's impossible to break something by reducing tension.

Whereabouts did they break?, if was at the nut then it's the nut, if was above that it will be the string tree or something to do with the actual machinehead or if was near the bridge then it's the saddles.

[Jook]

Settle down there homeslice. Yes, I spelled the brand name wrong because I dont use the strings enough to really know how its spelled. As I said, I dont care for that brand, mostly cause of the sound and how bad they are on my fingers.

The string broke at the nut. And yeah, it broke. It didn't slip off.
I was tuning down to C. Something I had done plenty of time with my last set of strings, plus something Ive done plenty of time since then with no problems, so the nut isn't to blame.

[Classical Exile]

If a string breaks by tuning it down it's certainly something to do with the guitar. A flexible material can not break when tension is being released without some kind of abrasive action on it, basic physics.

[flexistential]

..err... yes, "basic" physics is exactly it... strings *can* and often do break whilst tuning down... strings are designed to have a low level of ductilty (hard to stretch), but if you want a metal that is not ductile, it will be somewhat brittle... also guitar strings are deisgned to operate under constant linear tension, so when you tune down, especially a lot, suddenly, like tuning down to open D the new tension dynamics can cause them to break at existing weak points, created by normal bridge, nut or fret wear... it is also more likely that strings will break at points of unequal tension, or tension dispersion ie. nut, string tree's, tuning pegs, bridge... this is especially true for the unwound strings...

...therefore, a string that breaks whilst tuning down is not a "bad" string ...just a string that obeys "basic physics"...

[Classical Exile]

Wow, thanks for clearing that up.

*mental note, do not make unqualified statements again*

[Jook]

Hehe, yep. Thats that, then. Thanks.

I guess I just shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry bout that.

[Ibanez jones]

if you get the chance to0 try Elixir strings try them they aren`t cheap but they sound awesome..i use them on all my guitars i use 9-42`s on my Ibanez (cause on the Floy Rose) and on my Strat i use 10-48`s..they also have accoustic strings..they sound bright and last for tywice the length of your average pack of strings...

[Classical Exile]

I tried Elixirs once and I can honestly say I couldn't hear any difference whatsoever, my Dad loves them though.

I currently use Fender phosphor bronze 12s on my Simon & Patrick SP6 acoustic, Fender Super Bullets 10s on my Strat because they stay in tune when I use the tremolo better than ball end strings and I've recently switched to Dean Markley 10s from Ernie Ball 10s for my Explorer and Tele mainly because they have some kind of corrosion protection so I can buy them 5 sets at a time on specal offer whereas I had to buy Ernie Ball sets one at a time.