The String Thread

[sliding-tom]

Hi fellow pickers - due to slow (sometimes) traffic here and out of curiosity, off course, I'd like to start a new thread and ask y'all what you are stringing up your acoustcs with: String gauge, material, brands, wound or plain G-string (talking guitar string here - hehehe:60burst ).
I for myself am using sets of 12 - 52 on my regular acoustics, currently Gibson Masterbuilt, cause I got a good deal on a carton of them. I'm thinking of trying a set of 11s on my small body Martin sometime.
16 - 56 on my National Tricone - Newtone strings.
I prefer phosphor bronze for all acoustic guitar strings.
So what about you all? :wail

[gakees]

I've used Elixir Nanoweb extra light for years, even for slide. 10 - 47. For some reason, the next time I change strings, I'm going to try the Cleartone 11 - 52. I have no idea as to what to expect from them.

[sinner]

Just put some D'Addario 12-53 Phospher Bronze on my J45 but am waiting for my order from Dean at Snake Oil Strings for a couple of his "real" vintage phospher bronze acoustic strings. He says it's the real, old-time formula no one makes anymore and offers a couple different formulas (#PB101, 102, 103) with 103 being the brightest.
http://www.sobstrings.biz/strings_af.htm

I'm excited about these Snake Oils, I really like the electric Original Nickel sets I puts on my Strats and LPs.

[Rockabilly69]

National Western D (John Pearce 13's on the high E)
Bastard Reso* (martin SP's light gauge)
Martin EC-00028 (martin eric clapton string set)
Martin 00015M* (martin SP's light gauge)
Martin SP00016TR* (martin SP's light gauge)
Gibson ES-125* (ernie ball 11's)
all other electrics (ernie ball 10's)

*these are the guitars that I bring to every professional gig.

I try to use Martin SP's on most of my acoustic guitars so I don't have to drag a bunch of different strings to my gigs. And I find them to be consistant in tone. The work good with the Fishman Rare Humbucker Earth p/u's in my guitars. I also mic my guitars on stage with a Sennheiser 421 Dynamic mic (purists do not laugh at this, but the 5 way rolloff switch works awesome in different situations). I sit down when I play so I can use the mic dynamically.

The EC martin uses a LR BAGGS M1 active which seems to like the spongier sounding EC strings. This is the fingerpicking guitar of choice.

[sliding-tom]

Hi Dan - what's the gauges of the Martin SP strings? Light means .012s, I guess?

[Rockabilly69]

yes Tom, .012's (the red pack). I went through quite a few brands of strings, but these have been the most consistant. I actually by like 10 sets at a time, and I generally change my strings about every two weeks.

[Rockabilly69]

I forgot one, I have a Larivee Parlor guitar (mahogany back model), and on it, I use Elixer nanowebs 012's. For some reason that guitar like those strings. And Martin SP's sound totally dead on it. Go figure.

[hank]

For acoustic guitars I'll buy Martin SP's, light or medium, depending upon the particular guitar.

I'll also use any free strings ................... :roll

[bluespckr]

I quite like the Custom Light SP's -- 11-52 ... but I hate coated strings.

[RnB]

Strings...

I have tried lots of them Tom. I always get the Phosphor Bronze ones. I string them all w/ 12's or lights.

Martin OMC-28LJ:
GHS signature LJ's, or SP Martin Marquis.
Martin OMC-28LJM:
Madagascar model, SP Martin's
Martin J-65M:
Either Gryphons PB's or D'Addario EJ-16's. Same string, just packaged under Gryphon's name.
Martin SPOM-16:
Ernie Ball Acoustic Slinky's
Collings OM-3C
Ernie Ball Acoustic Slinky's w/ a .56 low E

Electrics:
Ernie Ball Slinky's always...

I like the Slinky's, but they don't last quite as long as the others. The GHS LJ's seem to last the longest. D'Addario is close behind.

Rich

[Plankspanker]

I've tried a number of different strings for my acoustics, for awhile I was looking for a set that would work on both an acoustic archtop and a regular Martin acoustic.
I've found the GHS Custom Shop has a rollerwoiund set that I like for the archtops; prior to this set I was using Thomastiks,
I've switched back to Martin SP4100 .12/.54 for the Martins, this set seems to shine on the 12 fret 00040S MK. I tried the 80/20 mix on the same guitar and it was like losing 20% of the overtone and the fundamental tone had a quick decay.
Now the 80/20s sound great on the 14 fret OM and 00042, as do the SP4100s. I have tried the coated strings, they seem more appropriate for strumming, and longer string life. They seem to break down quickly here in the desert.

[bluespckr]

Well, since my earlier response, a few posts above, I've made a change.

I was using Martin SP Custom Light (.011 - .052) Phosphor Bronze strings on my DC-16GTE-Premium ... until I tried recording it unplugged. The thing that struck me was the brightness -- almost brittle bright, with not a lot of warmth.

The next time I was in my local music store, I went in looking for something else to try. The guy I spoke with plays a D28 and suggested I try a set of Light (.012- .054) 80/20 bronze Martin Marquis strings (red pack), which I did. It certainly brought back some warmth to the guitar's tone, which really came through well when I tried recording the same guitar unplugged last week.

I have a good large diaphragm mic that accurately grabs whatever it is recording. If anything, I'd believe what the recorder was picking up more than my ears in this case.

So I will try these for a while and see how they hold up. The sound is more natural and warm to my ears, and that's a good thing to me.

[bluespckr]

Since the above post, I've added a D-35 Martin to my family. I initially went with light gauge (.012 - .054) on this, too, but after giving them guys a good workout Sunday (3 hours and about 50 songs, more or less) without any real hand and finger fatigue or fungertip soreness, I thought I would give a set of medium gauge Martin Acoustic SP 80/20 bronze strings (MSP3200) a shake today.

Martin prefers this gauge (.013 - .056), I believe, although its "Care and Feeding" book recommends them in phosphor bronze. I've used phosphor bronze on other guitars I've owned in the past with good results, but found them too bright to my ears on the Martins I now own (D-35 and DC-16GTE Premium).

All I can say is that the medium gaugue set of 80/20 bronze strings I put on the D-35 today really awakened a ton of tone in that sleeping guitar. I was amazed, and I now see why Martin recommends the .013 gauge. I suspect I'll have to get used to playing the heavier strings, because of what I've been used to playing until now, but it will be well worth it.

I might even give the mediums a whirl on DC-16GTE, although that one sounds pretty good with the bronze .012 set. We'll see, but I'm leaning towards going that way on it, too.

Now, excuse me while I ... :wail

[sliding-tom]

It's always great to see (well, make that hear) what a difference the type of string you use can make, be it on acoustics or electrics. Once again: Congrats on your new guitar and a wife who supports your passion!

[JrGtr42]

I personally use the Martin SPs as well, light gauge - .012 - .054.
I've tried quite a few different ones, and I like the Martins best.
D'Addarios tend to be really bright, as are Elixirs, and I don't like the coatings on Elixirs either.
Other's I've tried seem almost muffled.
As far as gauge, I can't play the 13s, just too heavy for my playing...less than 12 doesn't drive the top enough.