Home › Forums › Discuss Your Gear › Strings……what are you using?
- This topic has 15 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 5 months ago by blues rat.
-
CreatorTopic
-
October 19, 2017 at 1:53 pm #82707
Hello all, just wondering what strings are you using? I am new to the guitar world and I own a Seagull Artist Mosiac.
Thanks, Arv -
CreatorTopic
-
AuthorReplies
-
-
October 19, 2017 at 2:17 pm #82708
Hi Arvin there have been a few post recently about strings this was one of them.
I have been using Elixir nao web but recently bought Martin retro as others said they were good, still to try them.
-
October 19, 2017 at 2:30 pm #82709
Donald, thank you sir. The links were very helpful. I am currently using martin marquis extra light and I find them to me too light. I was using elixir nanowebs but I found them to be too tangy. But I will try the Martin Acoustic sp and retro. I would like a mello jazzy/blues tone.
Thanks, Arv -
October 19, 2017 at 3:10 pm #82713
Hi Arv, welcome to a great guitar community.
You’re looking for a “mello jazzy/blues tone” as are many of us, but before you start spending money on different strings, guitars, amps, etc, I’d recommend studying your “fingers” – how close to the fret are you placing them (the closer to the fret the fuller the tone), how hard are you pressing the string, how are you striking it (finger nail, finger flesh, pick – how hard or soft?) etc etc. You may find different tones just from studying different ways of touching and attacking your strings.
Someone once asked Santana how he got his tone and he said “give me your guitar” and got his tone. There’s so much tone variation just in your fingers – that’s a good place to start. You can’t buy tone, you have to develop and find your own, and that starts with your fingers.
Just my 2 cents. -
October 19, 2017 at 3:36 pm #82718
With a mahogany guitar, you should already have a pretty mellow tone.
Maybe try a few different types — try a slightly heavier string gauge for example. That should bring out more of the bass from the guitar.
And try different materials — nickel strings instead of phosphor bronze, for example.
Strings don’t cost much, so it’s worth experimenting until you come across a set you like. A big part of my string choice comes in the way they feel, more than how they sound. For acoustics, I generally prefer Dean Markley or Ernie Ball over Martin.
-
October 19, 2017 at 3:46 pm #82723
I’ve used Dean Markley Alchemy Gold Bronze and Gold Phosphor and liked them I an not sure if they still make them.
-
October 19, 2017 at 4:30 pm #82729
On my Acoustics I have Elixer nanoweb. They are fine and last a long time.
The things you need to narrow down are gauge, string material, coated or uncoated, round wound or not. People will swear by brands but I’m not sure they make much difference. Also, new strings always sound better than dead ones, and it can take a few days for strings to settle in. All of this can make it very difficult to detect any subtle differences between strings of the same type.
-
October 19, 2017 at 4:35 pm #82730
Hi Arvin, for the tone you want, you may want to sacrifice volume and use flatwound strings. Flatwounds are what most jazz players and many blues players use (don’t have any idea about the percentage who use them, but the stereotypical jazz sound in made with them).
Until sometime in the 20th century, all wound strings were flatwound (can anyone tell us when? Wikipedia article didn’t have info where I looked).
I use D’Addario Lights .012-.052 on a Guild Savoy hollow-body electric (usually unamplified), and it’s mellower than if I were using roundwound.
Don D.
-
October 19, 2017 at 5:41 pm #82731
Thank you everyone for your inputs. Looks like I’ll have to do my homework but it will be fun homework.
-
October 20, 2017 at 2:00 am #82739
Thank you everyone for your inputs. Looks like I’ll have to do my homework but it will be fun homework.
Next up: which pick to use! 😀
-
October 20, 2017 at 6:23 am #82744
Next up: which pick to use!
[/quote]Take your pick…er..
..Billy..
-
October 20, 2017 at 2:04 pm #82758
Obviously you’re feeling pretty strung out….
Sunjamr Steve
-
-
October 20, 2017 at 11:26 am #82750
ha…ha…ha…..good one….
-
October 20, 2017 at 2:02 pm #82757
Here in New Zealand it’s very humid much of the year, and lots of people have trouble with their first three strings (the unwound ones) rusting very quickly. I just read up on stainless steel strings, which would be ideal except that they wear the frets down very quickly. The consensus seems to be that Elixir Nanowebs for electric guitars seem to be the best option for those of us living in humid climates.
Sunjamr Steve
-
October 20, 2017 at 3:20 pm #82762
Here in New Zealand it’s very humid much of the year, and lots of people have trouble with their first three strings (the unwound ones) rusting very quickly. I just read up on stainless steel strings, which would be ideal except that they wear the frets down very quickly. The consensus seems to be that Elixir Nanowebs for electric guitars seem to be the best option for those of us living in humid climates.
Or stainless frets too…
Only acoustic string I had a bother with were “Gibson’s strings”, the sounded great a sort of deep and rich tone but the went off way too quick for my liking…
Electric horrid strings for me where Ernie Ball Slinky, those too went off way too quick.
I am happy now with Martin strings for my acoustics and D’Addario on my electrics. So I say, play what makes you happy and gives you VFM...Billy..
-
October 26, 2017 at 1:24 pm #83084
I generally use Martin Marquis light but over the years I find that each Acoustic guitar is different and may need strings to get the best sound so when I get a new or used guitar I order 3 sets of different strings and in time will try all of them . I have a Breedlove concert likes Elixir .012/.053 but me guild d40 likes the Martin Marquis so experiment and find you sound.
-
-
AuthorReplies
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.