Guitar Strings

Britton30 · 05 Apr 2012

boohbah said:

i find these strings really nice and the beauty of them is that they can double up to make a nice garrot for folk that talk too much.
and for slicing cheese. though its a swine retrieving the cheese from the sound box
helpful video

seekermeister said:

I nominate this as the most useless response on the forum.

It is right down there seeker.

boohbah · 05 Apr 2012

metalmania31 · 05 Apr 2012

Well first what type of music do you play on the guitar. That will make a difference too. Than find out what strings you favorite musicians play and give a few a try and go from their. I use Ernie Ball for electric. I think Martin makes good strings for acoustic.

Chilidawg · 05 Apr 2012

Seekermeister:

String preference is very subjective, as I'm sure you've found out. My preference is for D'Addario EJ17's The good part is that strings are a comparatively inexpensive modification that lets you tweak your sound. Try a bunch of different brands and gauges. Make notes on your preferences. Also, Martin and Taylor both have string-changing videos on youtube. Have fun!

(Of course, I've also changed my bridge pins to ebony and my saddle to bone. Lots of fun to be had with these things.)

Now, go play the finish off it.

seekermeister · 05 Apr 2012

profdlp said:

Go green and make your own out of catgut. You would also be reducing the population of strays.

Win/Win

No thank. sound like a lot of tripe to me. Instead of green, that would be red. Red as in a bloody mess, and as in embarrassment for listening to such an idea. I realize that you weren't being serious, but I shall cite this anyway:

Sheep and beef gut (called catgut, even though cats were never used for this purpose) were the original materials used as cores for strings for violin family instruments.

Guitar Strings

seekermeister · 05 Apr 2012

Chilidawg said:

Seekermeister:

String preference is very subjective, as I'm sure you've found out. My preference is for D'Addario EJ17's The good part is that strings are a comparatively inexpensive modification that lets you tweak your sound. Try a bunch of different brands and gauges. Make notes on your preferences. Also, Martin and Taylor both have string-changing videos on youtube. Have fun!

(Of course, I've also changed my bridge pins to ebony and my saddle to bone. Lots of fun to be had with these things.)

Now, go play the finish off it.

As I said, I was considering D'addarios, until I learned that they are round wound. I would like to find something similar that is flat or half wound, to reduce finger squeaking. Also the EJ17s are not as light of a gauge as I want, but as you said, it is all subjective.

I did read that there is some kind of string oil available for corrosion resistance, but I'm wondering what effect it would have on squeaking?

profdlp · 05 Apr 2012

seekermeister said:

profdlp said:

Go green and make your own out of catgut. You would also be reducing the population of strays.

Win/Win

No thank. sound like a lot of tripe to me. Instead of green, that would be red. Red as in a bloody mess, and as in embarrassment for listening to such an idea. I realize that you weren't being serious, but I shall cite this anyway:

Sheep and beef gut (called catgut, even though cats were never used for this purpose) were the original materials used as cores for strings for violin family instruments.

I feel quite sheepish for feeding you a line of bull. Guess that makes me the goat.

smarteyeball · 05 Apr 2012

seekermeister said:

probably some D'Addario extra lights. With the thin walls where I live, I think it would be best not to get something too loud or metallic.

Personally, one brand I can't stand. They become 'dull' very quickly.

seekermeister · 05 Apr 2012

Then would you have a suggestion for a brand more to your liking, that would also fit within the parameters that I have described?

smarteyeball · 06 Apr 2012

It really boils down to personal preference simply based on trying different brands/gauges.

Elixir Nanoweb is my current Acoustic choice, but I use custom light .011 - .052 gauge with my Fender Dreadnought, although they do come in the lighter gauges.