Home › Forums › Discuss Your Gear › Time to change the strings but I need advice :-)
- This topic has 30 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by Billy.
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August 17, 2017 at 12:23 pm #77936
Hi all,
Until about 2 months ago, I only played on classical nylon strings. Now, I have a new acoustic 3/4 size (travel) Yamaha APX-T2 and an used electric Greg Bennett Royale RL-4 and I guess it is time to change the strings on both of them but the choices I have… the brands, diameters, gauges … Oh, boy, I am very confused and I would appreciate any info and/or advice you can give me, please 🙂 Both guitars are just for home use and practice, no performing involved 😉
Here is more detailed info:
Yamaha APX-T2 came new with its own Yamaha Folk Guitar Strings, Light Gauge 80/20 Brass 0.12-0.53 and an extra set of those. I think I would like something lighter, easier to bend, and of course, better sounding. So what do I look at, the gauge, diameter, the material? Oh, and by the way, the scale length on that guitar is 22.835″ being 3/4 size and what does it mean when it comes to using the right strings for it?The semi-hollow Royale still has the whatever strings the previous owner had for who knows how long in the closet, LOL. No idea here when it comes to electric guitar strings. Where do I start? Anyone has any experience with the RL-4?
I appreciate your expertise!
🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 12:28 pm #77937
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August 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm #77939
Hi Jolanta
Very nice guitars. I’ve played the different models of the Royale series when they were in production and they are very well built and quality guitars.
For the type of music that Brian is teaching, I’ve come to believe that a pure nickel string gives the best tone. I personally use DR Pure Blues, I’ve never put a set of these on a a guitar that the tone wasn’t improved.
Ernie Ball, Dean Markley, Pyramid and D’Addario all make pure nickel sets so you can try them and see what you thinkFor the acoustic, if you want something a little easier on the fingers. Look at Martin FX string sets. FX stands for Flexible Core making them easier to fret the notes. Tommy Emmanuel uses these strings and states that there is no loss of tone with them
They are made in 80/20 configuration and the phosphor bronze – the 80/20 will sound a little brighter, the phosphor bronze will have a little more definition in bass and mids. Again, you will have to try it and see which you like the best.
Try the uncoated version first until you see which you like the best and then you can decide if you want to pay the extra for the coated versioas far as gauges is concerned, most electrics are strung with 10s but some like to drop it down to 09s. This will depend on your hand strength
Acoustics are generally sold with 12s on them, you won’t tell the differences if you drop it down to 11s . If you want to bend strings on the acoustic, 10s would a be good idea. I don’t bend strings on my acoustic except for some quarter note slurs b/c its hard on the wound strings and the bridge on an acoustic is only as good as the glue that its held one with-
August 17, 2017 at 3:26 pm #77953
GnLGuy,
Great advice! Your explanation really helps. Thank you!🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 1:52 pm #77944
Ah, “Strings”. A million different choices and a million different recommendations …. So I’ll chime in with my choice of strings.
Acoustics..
I use Martin Acoustic extra light .010/.047, nice bright sounding string which not only lasts a reasonable length of time, the price per bulk packet of 3 is about £10(gbp) from Amazon. Thinner strings don’t have a very deep voice but I feel you have to sacrifice something for playability
Electric strings..
I was using D’Addario 9’s on my electrics and for some reason I went to 10’s, eve changed brand and picked Ernie Ball Original Slinky( ernie ball was the inventor/developer of electric guitar strings), but I couldn’t bend them the same as 9’s.
I then changed to Ernie Ball Original slinky 9’s, I don’t like these either as the wear out way too quickly for my liking. I have one more packet of them to use up and then I am going back to good old D’Addario 9’s..
So Jola, My recommendation would be 10’s for acoustic and 9’s for electric, The make of strings is up to you as that is a personal choice imho..
Have fun..Billy..
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August 17, 2017 at 1:58 pm #77945
Everyone has an opinion and these are subjective. Five different players will like 5 different strings and have 5 different reasons why. Let your ear be the judge. I like the DR strings as well. I actually left a set on a guitar for over 2 years once without noticing much drop off in tone. I only played that guitar about an hour per week. I think the colored coating must have protected them from my hands. On my Martin D18 acoustic, I spend the extra money and get Martin Lifespan or Elixer strings. Pretty much everything else gets whats on sale. Electric is often Ernie Ball and Acoustic is all over the map. Nickle is warmer, so if a guitar is ‘overly’ bright (maple soundboard), it can warm it up a bit. I guess if your acoustic has a mahogany soundboard, (already warm) you might prefer phospher/bronze. It’s just trial and error and it’s only one component to yur sound. Everything’s interactive. Scale length does matter. 10s on a Les Paul feel like 9s on a strat because the strat has a longer scale length. If the 9s on the strat sound too thin (it’s already single coil), you can move up to 10s and tune down a 1/2 step. Like I said, trial and error. Have fun with it. My favorite strings used to be Danelectro. I don’t remember if they were electric or acoustic. They don’t even make strings, so they were obviously selling someone else’ product with their name on it. When they quit selling them, I had no idea who the real manufacturer was, so that was that.
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August 17, 2017 at 3:32 pm #77955
Barry,
Really good advice, thank you! And thanks for clarifying the scale length relation to the strings, that really helps, I feel less intimidated now to try things out.
🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 2:25 pm #77947
That Royal is a lovely looking guitar..I darn near bought one..This is a dangerous thread.
..Billy..
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August 17, 2017 at 3:27 pm #77954
Billy,
Thank you for the info!
Haha, yes, The Royale was a love at first sight for me and I got a great deal on it, too <3🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 3:45 pm #77956
Hi JoLa, there are three reasons for changing strings (four if you count “I felt like it”). If one breaks, if the tone is diminished (and then everyone has to find their threshold), and if they won’t stay in tune any longer.
I’m no expert at this. I try to do it as infrequently as possible, but I do love the tone and feel of new strings from the second day through about the seventh or tenth.
I change them one at a time to hold the tension since hearing that was the best way.
I currently use .011 to .052 S.I.T. or D’Addario flatwounds on my Guild Savoy, which looks pretty similar to your Royale RL-4—but if I had unlimited funds or something important to play, I’d like to try to get the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Swing flatwounds. They have a nice sound and hold it for longer than the other brands I’ve tried. The “problem” with T-I strings is something they call a feature: the tone is balanced by making the weights more similar by reducing the weight of the heavier strings (I compensate by using a heavier gauge).
With flatwounds, I’m told, I don’t really need to change the three heaviest strings all that often, just change the G, B and E when they need it. I think it’s true, I have gone quite long without changing strings, and I used to change the whole set when I broke a G or B, but now I’m just changing the one that needs it (the extra brightness disappears in the same seven-to-ten-day period and it isn’t all that noticeable after a couple days, just more flexible).
Sometimes I wonder if my impressions and enjoyment of the T-Is are tempered by the packaging, advertising and claims. Hope not.
Don D.
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August 17, 2017 at 4:26 pm #77960
Don,
It sounds to me like you are an expert! But, I get it, the preference for strings is just that, a preference. I will keep your advice in mind when selecting my new strings. Thank you!🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 8:07 pm #77975
Jola
I will agree with everything that Don said about flatwound strings. They are smooth to the feel and you probably wouldn’t have to change the wound strings very often. I used D’Addario Chrome Flats and they are as smooth as silk
One trait to be aware of, they have a wound 3rd string and they will be a little more difficult to bend than regular electric strings
A string set that Ernie Ball has come up is Paradigm Slinky. I’ve not used them yet but they are advertised as being the most unbreakable and longest lasting string available. I know it could be advertising hype but Ernie Ball strings tend to live up to what they was about them. They are pricey but they are coated so they will likely last quite a while
D’Addario has something similar with their NYXL strings, I’ve included a demo video below.
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August 17, 2017 at 6:32 pm #77965
Jolanta just to chip in on the electric i have always used Ernie Ball Regular slinky (10 thou thinnest) until recently when I took to Elixirs. Ernie Balls are a sound choice to be getting on with but they don’t hold up forever the Elixirs seem to me tho have an edge on my Strat over the Ernie Balls. As for acoustic I haven’t played one for a long while but I always liked the Earthwoods or Martin but definitely phosphor bronze. Id go for Ernie Blls on the Electric as a starter you cant go wrong and it will give you a great gauge to decide from there if your next set are better or worse from your viewpoint. ultimately you will go for what suits you and the most widely used are likely to be the Ernie Balls regular slinky it will make a rock steady starting point for the Electric.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky
Pros Widely used and available everywhere. Great sound when new, reasonably priced, hold their tune well.
Cons Maybe don’t last as long as some.Regards JohnStrat
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August 17, 2017 at 8:02 pm #77973
JohnStrat,
I have actually been considering Ernie Ball’s Regular slinky. I’m glad you said something because you just reassured me I wasn’t too far off. Thanks!🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 7:33 pm #77969
G’day JoLa. You might find this video on re-stringing an acoustic guitar a help if you’re doing the re-stringing yourself. The information is good and is equally applicable to restringing electric guitars.
All the best,
Rick-
August 17, 2017 at 8:03 pm #77974
I’ll watch it, thanks, Aussie Rick!
🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 8:12 pm #77976
Jola, So far I am using DR blues nickle on my Strat and my Big Lou and they are doing great. I will also try the Ernie Balls one day and see how they go also, but the DR Blues are very good. I use 10s my self and on the Strat and Big Lou they bend very easy. On acoustic I love the Martin 170 Extra light and they are great to play with and seem to last a while and are very reasonable. That royal is a sharp looking guitar and I bet that it sounds sweet. I am a Yamaha fan also as I have a Yamaha FG165 sunburst that I have been playing for almost fourty years and it just sounds better as time goes on. Wishing you the best with your string choice,
Gary.Boats'Blues.
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August 18, 2017 at 12:08 am #77983
Thank you, Gary!
And yes, I love my Royale and so far it sounds good to me although I am yet to learn how to bring out some good sounds from it.🎸JoLa
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August 17, 2017 at 8:47 pm #77978
Gary just remember flat strings are for jazz players so I was told.. just try different brands as you wish,, the expensive strings are more cause they probably sell more and get good reviews..elixir nanowebs i use for my acoustics in size 10s and 12s ..my electrics are cheap Ernie balls 9s for tele 10s for everything else electric
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August 17, 2017 at 11:16 pm #77982
Thanks for the advice John because I am always learning and I must say you guys are good to share your knowledge and it is very much appreciated. As I told my Granddaughter I want her to learn at least one new thing a day and I told her that it was still my goal to do the same. It was funny because she looked at me like Gramp’s do you really. Thanks for the good info,
Gary.Boats'Blues.
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August 18, 2017 at 5:00 am #77992
I had the Royale for a while, very fine guitar. A bit heavy and bulky for my taste, which is why I sold it.
I’m of the opinion that, as long as your guitars are staying in tune (that is, throughout the practice session — it’s still necessary to tune up from time to time when you start to play), then there’s no reason to change them. Especially if they’re for home playing only.
The only real reasons to change strings would be if the strings start breaking or you want to change string gauge. It’s not a bad idea to try out a lighter set (since you’re used to nylon) to see if you prefer that.
As for brands… everyone has their favorite ( me too), but to be honest, the difference is minimal. And I’ve read that most strings originate from just a tiny handful of factories anyway.
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August 19, 2017 at 12:02 am #78090
Marty V,
That’s really good advice, thank you, I needed that 🙂🎸JoLa
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August 18, 2017 at 12:27 pm #78031
Hi JoLa, just wanted to touch upon two more things about flatwound strings.
Until sometime in the recent past (I’d bet the 1950s, but maybe earlier, all guitar strings were flat, so they have an “old” or vintage sound). I tried finding the date for when roundwound strings were introduced in this Wikipedia article (I think the page is scrolled to the roundwound section but flats are also covered in the article).
Keith (GnLGuy) mentioned something important, they do come with wound Gs, which I still use, but maybe you could/should substitute the fattest B string you can find (from a different set). I’m just about ready to switch, needing and wanting the flexibility—I’ve been delaying because of the added cost and inconvenience.
Here’s a good place to get them (see if the prices are best first), JustStrings.
Don D.
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August 19, 2017 at 12:06 am #78091
Don,
That’s great info. The more I know the more complex this subject becomes, LOL!
I guess it’s all a matter of experimentation and experience then.
Thanks!🎸JoLa
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August 27, 2017 at 10:55 pm #78901
Hey Jola,
I just put on a set of D’Addario nickel wound 10-52’s on the Strat today. I’ve been trying quite a few different strings lately. These are a light top for easy bending (10) and heavy bottom for great tone (52). The D’Addario # is EXL 140. So far they seem to be just what I was looking for. I’m not over bending like I did with 9’s and the tone is much better over all. These strings won’t break the bank either.
MikeMike
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August 27, 2017 at 11:09 pm #78905
Mike,
I’m glad you said that because I have seen a lot of good reviews for D’Addario strings and the type you described sounds like a perfect combo. I’m still thinking of different options but I think that’s what I’m going to get.
Thanks for sharing the info!
JoLa🎸JoLa
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August 27, 2017 at 11:27 pm #78908
Cool! Give us a review after you try them out. Can’t get enough “string theory”.
MikeMike
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September 6, 2017 at 12:47 pm #79827
UPDATE
Hi all,
First of all, thank you everyone for all your thoughts on this subject, I appreciate your comments.
So I finally went to see a guitar tech yesterday. He just looked at them and immediately presented 2 packets of guitar strings…. Ernie Ball Earthwood 80-20 Bronze Light 11 – 52 for Yamaha and Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound 10 – 46 for the Royale. He recommended either good old Ernie Ball or D’Addario strings and said he does not believe in any fancy modern age expensive strings at all. It makes perfect sense to me.
Now, it’s only been one day but I can tell you that the difference is unbelievable! Even my husband, who is self-admittedly tone-deaf, noticed the difference. The Royale sounds so sweet and crispy, and the bass notes actually sound like bass rather than just buzz. The tech also lowered action on both guitars, and oh, man, what a difference a good set-up and a new set of strings make!
A funny thing, I got the little Yamaha just about 2 months ago, brand new from Yamaha on Amazon, and so I assumed the strings were also new on it. The tech looked at the serial# stamp and told me that the guitar was actually made in 2013 so it’s already 4 years old and so are the strings! Never been played but still, hahaha! It sounded pretty good before but now it’s irresistible 😉
The more you know…🎸JoLa
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September 6, 2017 at 1:52 pm #79829
Jolanta,
You cant go wrong with Ernie Balls, Clapton, Kieth Richards etc are said to use them. They will loose tone though gradually but the best tone doesn’t last that long. Then they settle into a good level for a long time. I always used them but have just started to experiment with nano web Elixirs and I have a set of Ernie Balls newest addition to the range Paradigm string waiting. The Elixir Nano webs have been on about 3 months and still seem to have good rich tone so I will keep them on for a while longer yet. They are certainly very good strings but twice the cost of regular. I am really looking forward to trying the Paradigms as they are likely to be excellent too.So now you have some new strings and you can appreciate the amount of tone that was lost you will start to be able to objectively make your own assessment. A tip might be to keep the pack so that when you change these ones you can put the old ones back into the envelopes so that if you break a string you will have a spare of the same set to hand. Also you might note the date on the pack you first put them on and then you will know for sure how old they are. I would think you might want to think about a new set coming into Christmas but that you will have to judge. If you want to keep the best tone then they probably only last a month or so. It will depend on the wear and tear they receive from your playing. Some folk may keep them on for many months as I have in the past,
I am glad you got started with the Ernies it does make such a huge and irresistible difference compare to old strings and you have chosen a great set to start with. Many years back I used the Earthwoods too and think the are in exactly the same league but I haven’t yet got back to my acoustic playing as my guitar an Epiphone Parlor is in need of serious setup and fixing but that may happen soon I hope so and I will go for Earthwoods or Martins in all likely hood.
Best regards
JohnStrat -
September 6, 2017 at 2:08 pm #79830
hah, coincidentally I recently ordered from amz three set of the 12s or maybe 11s i forget.. think either is good choice earthwoods (on sale under 5$ per pack! ..I tried them a year or two ago and was impressed with them.. 11s 12s are good choice and most popluar for acoustics. Right now I still have expensive coated elixirs on all mine but looking forward again to try the earthwoods ,,besides an excellent set of uncoated strings ,they were less half the price to the elixir strings selling on amz.good luck enjoy and keep practicing Jolanta
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September 6, 2017 at 3:04 pm #79831
Aye JoLa, Its amazing what a fresh set of strings and a set up can do for a guitars voice.
..Billy..
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