Strings

Squonk

I decided after all the years of using Daddario Phospor Bronze light acoustic guitar strings to try something different.
So I bought a set of Phosphor Bronze custom lights which are 11,15,22,32,42,52, just a slight variation from the lights and it's as though I have bought a new effects pedal.
The strings seem to control my fingers, I cant recognize myself.

LMinnie

Eeeek!..Hes possessed by the ghost of Jimmi Hendricks...!!!!!!

Somebody call a catholic priest with some holy water!!! ;D

Gearhead

Yeah, I changed the (I don't even remember) strings on my Fender DG3 to .011 Dean Markley Alchemy. The first chord I struck on it I felt like Michael J. Fox in Back To The Future I, getting blown away by your own sound. I would really, really recommend them, okay they do cost a lot but whaow it's worth it. Forget changing the bridge/nut/pickup/pick/whatever, just get those strings.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote: I decided after all the years of using Daddario Phospor Bronze light acoustic guitar strings to try something different.
So I bought a set of Phosphor Bronze custom lights which are 11,15,22,32,42,52, just a slight variation from the lights and it's as though I have bought a new effects pedal.

Well if you think about it, going from a 13 on the first to a 12 makes quite a difference. So going from 12 to 11 should make a noticable difference.

Squonk wrote:
The strings seem to control my fingers, I cant recognize myself.

You need to hang some garlic around your throat and sprinkle your guitar with holy water. You haven't been playing things backwards have you?

Riaan

Does anyone have experience with flat wound strings, and are they readily available locally? From what I've heard they reduce the sqeaky noises of playing somewhat?

Renesongs

A friend of mine use to have flat wounds on his ES335 - They were like washing lines but what a legend sound for Jazz - I think he used to import his strings but that was many moons ago.

AlanRatcliffe

D'Addario Chromes are readily available and many stores also carry the Thomastik brand of flatwounds. Typically only used by jazz players these days as they give a much warmer sound with few high frequency overtones. Gauges tend to be heavier than most electric guitarists are used to (0.11, .012 and .013 being popular) and the 3rd string is usually wound. They last a long time, as with no grooves to fill with grime and dulling of the tone not an issue (they have a dull tone when new!), they tend to last until they break.

Bob-Dubery

Riaan wrote: Does anyone have experience with flat wound strings, and are they readily available locally? From what I've heard they reduce the sqeaky noises of playing somewhat?

They do. They last longer. They sound much mellower. Jazz players (old guys with beards and berets and big-ass semi acoustics) generally like flat wound strings.

It might be interesting - if they're available - to use those strings that are wound like normal strings and then ground flat. That might be an interesting "in between" sound, with some of the plusses of flat wound strings.

AlanRatcliffe

Good point Bob. I've used half rounds (groundwounds) on fretless to keep roundwound tone, but for a smooth, squeakless feel. D'Addario do the HR series.

Another group who like the flatwound sound are the early Beatles aficionados - Ric guitars, Vox amps and Pyramid flatwound strings.

MikeM

I've been wanting to try some halfrounds!

Bob-Dubery

Riaan wrote: Does anyone have experience with flat wound strings, and are they readily available locally? From what I've heard they reduce the sqeaky noises of playing somewhat?

If your main concern is reducing squeaks then you might want to look at some of the coated round wound strings that are available. The coating is there to preserve string life and tone, but it does have the effect of reducing finger squeak. Ask my wife!

I believe D'addario do a coated string, and then there's Elixir which are all coated, although they have a choice of coatings.

Heath

IMO the squeak is as much a part of guitaring as strings themselfs ...... i love that sound

Ruan7321

Is this competition still on? When does it close?

Renesongs

@ Ruan - OK time for me to test my clairvoyant skills - if you mean the competition for shredders and metal heads that I mentioned in your introduction thread the answer is no, it's not still on. It will only be on on the 5th to the 8th of January 2009. However if I am wrong about your question then 16 years of marriage has taught me nothing. ?

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Good point Bob. I've used half rounds (groundwounds) on fretless to keep roundwound tone, but for a smooth, squeakless feel. D'Addario do the HR series.

Another group who like the flatwound sound are the early Beatles aficionados - Ric guitars, Vox amps and Pyramid flatwound strings.

A friend of mine who plays lap steel has had some dobro strings imported. These are sort of half half wound. They are round wound strings that are then ground, but not as far as the usual half round. You still get "valleys" between the windings, but they are slightly flatter and thus suit playing with a steel.