Poll : Strings, your thoughts!

V8

Been a while since we had a poll?

Strings...recently I've been trying different strings across bass and guitar. With good reason, I'm finding my string choices have direct influence on the sound and feel of the music I'm playing.

On bass : Nickle roundwounds for everyday stuff. Stainless flats for that thumpy vintage-y goodness. Tapewounds...they're black and look cool... ::) Stainless roundwounds are definitely not my thing, if I was playing metal/rock w/plectrum - I'd probably be using them - but I find them too sticky for fingerstyle.

Want to try a set of nickle halfwounds soon, but the local stockist doesn't have the set I'm looking for yet.

On electric guitar : The strat used to get a set of the fender nickel bullets, but I thought they didn't sound strat-y. Changed to the elixir stainless, prefer the sound and feel is okay - but they feel a bit stiff? I've got a set of D'addario EXP's to go on next.

I have popped a set of flats onto the pimpocaster as I read they track better for midi. I reckon they do, but that may well confirmation bias! Feel wise...hmm, it's an adjustment - I wouldn't pop them on my daily player unless I was a jazzcat.

On Nylon string guitar : I've used quite a few and still be looking. Recently tried a set of Aquila nygut's - really liking them. Usually go for the Pro Arte composites (flamenco's with the black trebles) but the price (R350+) has become a bit silly.

Hannabach's are great but I can destroy a set in 3 weeks :-[ Tried a couple sets of Savarez's but I preferred the hannabach's. As a rule I avoid the ernie ball's and cheaper d'addario's - I've never liked them.

Steel string acoustic : No opinion. (I have no love for steel string acoustics).

So, what's your story?

(old forum) Poll Results: How do you feel about strings?

They all sound the same?: 0
Only change 'em when they break: 3
I've found my favourite and I never stray: 5
I'm always trying different ones: 3
I've got a guitar for each of my preferred types: 2

DaFiz

My local guitar shop didn't have the Elixir 80/20 0.12s that I've become accustomed to so I took the phosphor bronze instead. At the same time I also took a pack of Rotosound phosphor bronze 0.10s to fit to a pupil's guitar as well as a pack of Rotosound 80/20 0.12s to fit to my Cort (braai guitar).
The result was I really don't like the phosphor bronze and will revert to 80/20s again in future ?

On the Telecaster any make of nickel wound works of for me...
Used regular slinky all the years and d'Addario if need be,
lately fitting Elixirs and I love them ?

Stoffeltoo

'leccies get Dean Merkley Blue steels, 9 and 10's
Fender acoustic Elixer Nano's 10
Taylor acoustic Elixer Nano 12
Yamaha 12 D'Adario

Elixers are becoming a bit of a premium now and doubt if we will ever see them below 300 bucks again >☹

peterleroux

On my acoustic, I put aset of Elixirs on because I play it so seldom that I wanted something that wouldnt rust or tarnish ?
Guitalele- I'm still finding my way- happy with the nylgut set I've got on at the moment.
Telecaster gets nickel 10s- still figuring out if I ahve a brand preference
My bass has a set of Labella deep talking flats- the 45-105 set, which suit this bass perfectly. It took me a few different sets to realise that this bass prefers to flats to rounds.

V8

Stoffeltoo wrote: Elixers are becoming a bit of a premium now and doubt if we will ever see them below 300 bucks again >☹

Yeah...but bring them in direct from strings & beyond (in a three pack) will probably get them a bit under R300/set? I know that the local distributors don't offer retailers that great a margin on them either. The other coated strings seem very reasonablly priced in comparison (Ernie ball's , D'addario).

peterleroux wrote: Guitalele- I'm still finding my way- happy with the nylgut set I've got on at the moment.
My bass has a set of Labella deep talking flats- the 45-105 set, which suit this bass perfectly. It took me a few different sets to realise that this bass prefers to flats to rounds.

Ahh, I forgot about the guitalele - I can't remember what I put on there last - all I recall is that I went from a high tension to medium. Reckon those nylgut's work well on there?

I also got a set of Labella deep talking flats (short scale 43-104), not sure they work on that bass for me though - how did you quantify taht the work (or not) on a bass? Feel, intuition?

peterleroux

Meron Rigas wrote: I also got a set of Labella deep talking flats (short scale 43-104), not sure they work on that bass for me though - how did you quantify taht the work (or not) on a bass? Feel, intuition?

I'd been chasing a 60s Jazz bass tone- think Abbey Road. Three different sets of roundwounds (Stock D'addarios, Dunlops and Elixirs) weren't working (original strings had a very weak E string, Dunlops were better balanced but not 'fat' enough), so when Attila organised a group buy on strings, I bit the bullet and bought the strings that would have been on a Jazz bass as stock in the 60s. They sound fantastic on this bass- just a really good, solid bass tone with good sustain that 'barks' nicely if you push them hard, but there are a few things to note:

They are much higher tension than equivalent guage roundwounds ( I don't mind fighting my strings a bit so that's ok)
there is much less variety in tone available from these than roundwounds. With roundwounds, I can go from a thumpy tone by palm muting, to a bright tone picking at the bridge, to a big bloomy tone by plucking at the 12th fret. On flats, there isn't much change in tone- I basically have a full tone, and a 'chunky' flatpicking tone on these strings
All flats are not created equal- D'addario Chromes sound nothing like Labellas. For me, the Labella strings are still bright, with a long sustain, whereas the Chromes are fairly dead
They last more or less forever. I'm into my 3rd year with these strings and the tone is unchanged

I imagine that they might be a bit much on a short scale bass- short scales are normally quite 'tubby' anyway, and flats on top of that might be very thumpy

Malkav

I've tried out pretty much every major manufacturers strings on my electrics, and even some lesser knowns like Kalium/Circle K, and I have come to the conclusion that Dean Markley Helix strings are it for me 8) I used to use the Blue Steels, but found that I actually prefer the Helixs ever so slightly and they don't eat through frets the way Blue Steels do :?

On my acoustic I generally use Fender's Duratones, they're not necessarily my favourite, but they're not bad either and I get a good price on them. I've yet to discover the "IT" string for me acoustically but as an acoustic dabbler and not really an acoustic player I doubt that I ever will ?

IceCreamMan

Fender bullets for my strat - I bought like 20 packs a long time ago so still have the real bullets

Slinkys for my Les Paul.

Never deviate and always 10-46.

V8

peterleroux wrote:
Meron Rigas wrote: I also got a set of Labella deep talking flats (short scale 43-104), not sure they work on that bass for me though - how did you quantify taht the work (or not) on a bass? Feel, intuition?
I'd been chasing a 60s Jazz bass tone- think Abbey Road. Three different sets of roundwounds (Stock D'addarios, Dunlops and Elixirs) weren't working (original strings had a very weak E string, Dunlops were better balanced but not 'fat' enough), so when Attila organised a group buy on strings, I bit the bullet and bought the strings that would have been on a Jazz bass as stock in the 60s. They sound fantastic on this bass- just a really good, solid bass tone with good sustain that 'barks' nicely if you push them hard, but there are a few things to note:

They are much higher tension than equivalent guage roundwounds ( I don't mind fighting my strings a bit so that's ok)

there is much less variety in tone available from these than roundwounds. With roundwounds, I can go from a thumpy tone by palm muting, to a bright tone picking at the bridge, to a big bloomy tone by plucking at the 12th fret. On flats, there isn't much change in tone- I basically have a full tone, and a 'chunky' flatpicking tone on these strings

All flats are not created equal- D'addario Chromes sound nothing like Labellas. For me, the Labella strings are still bright, with a long sustain, whereas the Chromes are fairly dead

They last more or less forever. I'm into my 3rd year with these strings and the tone is unchanged

I imagine that they might be a bit much on a short scale bass- short scales are normally quite 'tubby' anyway, and flats on top of that might be very thumpy

Peter, you are a legend for this post - thanks and thanked! If you was in Cpt (or I was in Jhb), I'd bug you for a head-u-cation session on bass tone - I havn't got my head/ears around 'bark' (I kinda get 'glassy' strats, 'chime-y' rickenbackers & 'spanky' tele's but that's about it)

I did put a set of D'addario chromes (guitar) on the pimpocaster and thought they was rather dead - glad to hear it's expected.

I'm kinda digging the tone of these labella's on the SS, it is SO different from the Curbow w/nickle strings it's mind boggling. The E & A are super thumpy, but D & G have some treble in them still when I really attack the string fingerstyle. As you mentioned, I'm finding I have to work the string a lot harder with my plucking hand, not used to it and I'm finding it quite fatiguing. Though I am enjoying the duller, percussive nature of the flats - ghosts notes sound great and with a pick, it's a useful tone (and a lot less fatiguing on my puny arm/fingers). I'll stay away from the D'addario chromes on the bass, from what you said, they'll likely be too dead for my liking.

EDIT: I am busy listening to Abbey Road - I know the tunes well, but now listening to bass tone. For sure, that is a tone I'd want in my arsenal too - dig the vintage bass of the 60's/70's - hifi clarity of Victor Wooten's is great, but there's a mojo to Carol Kaye, James Jamerson that is really...yum!

Shibbibilybob

For me it is all about the Wyres phosphor bronze. TI distribution in joburg used to bring them in, and sell them very reasonably. They stopped bringing them in about 2 years ago, and I bought several packs of 12-53s when I found out they'd not be getting any more.

I put the last set on about two weeks ago, and internet seems to show new Wyres sets will cost me 19USD before shipping, so I think I may be back to Elixirs on my next restring.

V8

So people are conscious of what string they are using - (no votes for "they all sound the same") and there's even two peeps who keep guitars with specific strings on them - didn't think there would be any of those.

A healthy number of Elixir users - marketing at work here I think - there's viable alternatives (& cheaper!) to elixir's but nobody seems to be using them?

peterleroux

Meron Rigas wrote: A healthy number of Elixir users - marketing at work here I think - there's viable alternatives (& cheaper!) to elixir's but nobody seems to be using them?

It might just be marketing, and also that the earlier coated strings were rubbish- I tried a set of D'addario coated bass strings about 12 years ago that really sounded like strings wrapped in plastic. They might've improved since then, but that was enough to put me off.

wern101

Meron Rigas wrote:
I've got a set of D'addario EXP's to go on next.

I used to always stick with strings I thought were good. Normally ''Slinky's''. Yesterday I bought new strings for my electric and decided on the D'addario NYXL 10's. (R150) They are supposed to be the 'next generation' of guitar strings.

Might I say that I am thoroughly impressed. I popped on the headphones this morning and was blown away. The strings certainly deliver a better sound than the EB Slinky's I had on. A deeper, fuller, crunchier sound, with bright and clear tone. (Especially on the B and e strings)

I don't know if i am imagining things but I tend to feel the guitar neck reverberate/vibrate on a full strum, not much, but certainly there, which is something I haven't experienced with other strings.

Lastly, the strings feel very smooth and 'easy' to play. Love em.

Can't wait to try D'addario on the acoustics...

V8

peterleroux wrote:
Meron Rigas wrote: A healthy number of Elixir users - marketing at work here I think - there's viable alternatives (& cheaper!) to elixir's but nobody seems to be using them?
It might just be marketing, and also that the earlier coated strings were rubbish- I tried a set of D'addario coated bass strings about 12 years ago that really sounded like strings wrapped in plastic. They might've improved since then, but that was enough to put me off.

I've read many a post that elixir's are coated Dáddario's...not 100% sure if that's so.

I was put off by : 1. When Elixir's die - they still feel great, but sound awful. I thought a lightly played set should go 9mths. Nope, even though they felt great...but they were dead. 2. The coating makes the string feel a bit stiffer than a equivalent gauge in the non-coated strings - which lead me to really listen to the set I stuck on the pimopcaster in Dec - The G string just didn't track and sounded acoustically like a dud string (Which happens infrequently - usually with cheap ass strings, ashton/dadi/etc...). 3. Alan (Ratcliffe) mentioned that he found he had grounding issues with elixir's but other coated strings were better - can't say I've noticed this issue though.

wern101 wrote:
Meron Rigas wrote:
I've got a set of D'addario EXP's to go on next.
I used to always stick with strings I thought were good. Normally ''Slinky's''. Yesterday I bought new strings for my electric and decided on the D'addario NYXL 10's. (R150) They are supposed to be the 'next generation' of guitar strings.

Might I say that I am thoroughly impressed. I popped on the headphones this morning and was blown away. The strings certainly deliver a better sound than the EB Slinky's I had on. A deeper, fuller, crunchier sound, with bright and clear tone. (Especially on the B and e strings)

Can't wait to try D'addario on the acoustics...

I did ask about NYXL's a while ago, as I strung two basses with em. Chad had used them on Guitar, he wasn't blown away...reckon he really likes Dean Markley's cutting through the mix!

D'áddario nickel strings do have a certain slickness to them I appreciate and these NYXL's hold a tuning unlike anything I've tried yet. Very bright initially and quickly settled down to fairly bright - a tone they'll apparently they'll keep for a while. I have hopes of them being as durable as elixir's - even though they are not coated - we'll see.

singemonkey

Got 2 guitars with .11s. One has elixirs on that were donated during a setup. Got 2 with .10s. D'addario nickel. I'll use basically any nickel strings quite happily. Acoustic still has the strings that were on it when I bought it. Should do something about that. The banjo always has Ernie Balls because that's usually what they have in a set of 5-string banjo strings.