[georgb25]

Just wonder what strings do you mostly use on your western-type acoustic? What are your favourite brands, considering sound, how much they last before they lose some tone and so on. Which strings are best in their price range

So write about your favourites and your dislikes, you may help me to choose mine!

Thanks!

Georg

[el_burton]

I hate Martin steel strings. I put some on my acoustic 2 days ago and they've already rusted enough to need replacing.

Fender strings are much better - longer lasting and stay in tune better (the B string doesn't go as quickly).

[evileye]

It's a matter of personal taste. I like elixirs but I allways have to replace the G string because in the .12 gauge the G string just isnt thick enough. They do one with a boosted G but I cant seem to get it. Elixirs last for ages and that's what i'm after.

[wannalearn01]

I would stay away from "super light" Elixurs(sp?), they are too light IMHO. Some notes are dead unless you press super hard.

I think the lights were just about right, but really till you test some out and figure out what tone you yourself like for your guitar.

I would though ante up and pay for some good name brand strings, they don't break that often, so why not have some smooth Elixurs.

T^roy

[cornstalk]

I play Ernie Ball Earthwoods light guage on my Seagull, and refuse to put anything else on! It's just a great combination.

This post has been edited by cornstalk: 16 April 2004 - 01:58 PM

[evileye]

I would stay away from "super light" Elixurs(sp?), they are too light IMHO. Some notes are dead unless you press super hard.

I think the lights were just about right, but really till you test some out and figure out what tone you yourself like for your guitar.

I would though ante up and pay for some good name brand strings, they don't break that often, so why not have some smooth Elixurs.

T^roy

You might want to go light-medium if your a heavy strummer even though I think that their string gauges are a bit stupid. The lights and the light mediums both go "12, 16, 24". If I wanted to stay with a .12 gauge but reduce string breaking i'd want a boosted G, up to a 26 or so, and on elixirs the G is particulerly week.

[eetdrinkanbmerry]

Elexirs are nice! they have that awesome slidey thing goin on. I use John Pearse Bluegrass guage personally. It all is really down to preference and what works on your guitar.
'Peace in the middle east'

[goldrush]

I've used John Pearse light gauge phosphor bronze for about 9+ years. They hold up well and sound great (in my humble opinion).

[eccentric4]

Martin Silk & Steel's, no comparison on my Yamaha. A crisp, clean tone that only Martin strings on a Martin guitar could top. I've tried Elixirs, Fender's, Ernie Ball's...all of them sound way to tinny and thin. D'Addario Silk & Steel come close, but they break wayyyyyy to easily. I was visiting the music store a few times a month. My Martin's go months without breaking, and are hard to get out of tune.

It really depends on your guitar and how well it's strung. Try a few brands out, try some phosphor bronze, try some silk & steel, just see what works on your guitar, and the overall sound you're going for/you like.

[wannalearn01]

Yea it does really depend on what you play. Thicker strings are good for strumming, but remember that this also makes it a lot harder to press down for a clean note. I would suggest starting with something pretty thin so that you can learn easier, then when you get some chords down you can upgrade strings to whatever style of music you play. I strum, but not all the time so i am going to be using some medium-lights(vs. super lights now) the next time I switch them.

T^roy

[goldrush]

It's good to experiment, but remember that switching string gauges can affect the neck of your guitar. I would recommend finding a brand and gauge you like then take your guitar to a good luthier so he/she can adjust the neck and intonation around your choice. Otherwise you may adversely affect the way your guitar plays.

[okiejohn]

On my blues guitar, open D and D minor, I like Earnie Ball Earthwood mediums (13's). I've tried different strings and different sizes, and have settled on those.

On my Seagull, regular tuning, I still have the strings that it came with, and not a clue what they are. I'm sure I'll be shopping around for the "right" strings for it soon.

[aedøn]

ELIXIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You pay more, but man, they last 5 times as long as other brands. They sound glorious forever. They've got a coating on the strings that protect them from foreign matter like dirt, oil, and all that other bull######. **Plus** it makes it easier to slide on the strings and it cuts down on the squeaking. Price..... 18-20 bucks

[grzegorz_panek]

Any Bronze strings, especially phosphor bronze. Any major producer makes them, I like Dean Markley Phos Bronze and D'Addario Phosphor Bronze.


And I don't like Elixirs. They'e only good if you want to leave the guitar unplayed for some time. Other than that, to high, metalic.

[okiejohn]

I agree grzegorz...I heard they were wonderful, so I bought me a set. I was NOT impressed at all, the coating was peeling off in a matter of days. They didn't sound a bit better than other strings I'd tried, they didn't last much longer than uncoated strings.

I'll never buy another set of Elixers.

[evileye]

I agree grzegorz...I heard they were wonderful, so I bought me a set. I was NOT impressed at all, the coating was peeling off in a matter of days. They didn't sound a bit better than other strings I'd tried, they didn't last much longer than uncoated strings.

I'll never buy another set of Elixers.

That's strange, i've had mine on two months and i've been using my guitar an hour allmost every day. They still dont need replacing.

[panndder]

John Pearse by far are the best I've used.

Martins aren't great...



Really, if you haven't, try the John Pearse Phospher Bronze strings.

[okiejohn]

[quote=evileye,Apr 23 2004, 11:32 PM]
I'll never buy another set of Elixers. [/QUOTE]
That's strange, i've had mine on two months and i've been using my guitar an hour allmost every day. They still dont need replacing. [/quote]
It's been a few months and a couple of sets of Earnie Ball's since my Elixer experience. I was probably playing more than an hour a day, not that it's any big deal.

I was surprised when the coating started to peel off a set of strings that had just cost me close to $20 in just a few days. I figured they must be a bad set, so I contacted the Elixer folks and they said it was no big deal because the coating was still covering most of the string.

Like I said I wasn't impressed, and for the money I guess I was expecting more.

[annoying_2001]

D'Addario mediums, 17's i think. not too sure, but they're a bit heavier than normal. i gotta find a good fingerpicking set of strings.