Acoustic Strings

[guitaraholic680]

I know that general acoustics use the 0.012 gauge strings. What are strings that you all recommend. I'm thinkin of switchen from my martins. They are expensive, and i need some good strings that aren't so much per set. What do u use?

[ModestCargo]

Martin strings sound beautiful when they're brand new, but that lasts what, a week? They have no life span at all. It's rediculous.

Try D'Addario strings, and stay with the gage you are using.

[t_shirtsnjeans]

I use GHS brite bronze xl's on all my acoustics. Since I primarily play electric and use 9's on them I find it hard to play 12's or 13's on acoustic, so I go with 11's and it works quite fine for fingerpicking and any other music I do. If I capo I usually tune again since the strings go just a little sharp. But my fingers are happier.

The GHS's seem to stay brighter longer. I've used the Elixer and just don't like the dull tones. They play nice, but I want some bite to the acoustic sounds from mine. And the GHS's run around 4-5 dollars per set.

[Jesus]

I have some Martin .011. I love them. I threw the box away so I don't know what they are called.

[Chelsthom]

check out the previous thread, like I said, cant beat Elixir's.

[SteelyDon]

I've always used D'Addario Phosphorn Bronze. I like the balance of tone, and the life of the string seems good. Sometimes I pick and bend them a great deal, and they stand up.

[SteelyDon]

I've always used D'Addario Phosphor Bronze. I like the balance of tone, and the life of the string seems good. Sometimes I pick and bend them a great deal, and they stand up.

[SteelyDon]

I don't suppose it would help to say it again.....................

[ModestCargo]

Hehe :D

[guitaraholic680]

lol. Thanks. I think i'll try to restring both my guitars. On my next run, i need to pick up strings, and a humidifier. Oy.

[sumx4182]

Elixirs, so i've heard...but never played em...my friend loves em

[82dbar]

I agree with the elixars but I don't think you will save money per set. I do think they will last longer than the Martins.

[guitardude]

Elixars are great

[sumx4182]

yea, i heard they last forever...(not literally, but a really long time)

[CaptainSG]

all D'Addario's for me.

[dmt]

I have some D'Addario coateds on one of mine that sound good and have lasted months and months. I don't play acoustic all that often, so I want strings that'll still sound good after a layoff.

[guitaraholic680]

I just got some d'addario phospher bronze lights on my two acoustics. One is being reparied, but my old laminet top sounds amazing with them. Only problem, i slide and they squeek like crazy!

[ModestCargo]

D'Addario Phosphor Bronze 13 gage here. Sqeak doesn't bother me one little bit, and I slide and do bar chords tons.

[guitaraholic680]

Same, but it bothers my mother! Oh god it does! My mom hates it. haha

[Weak as Hate]

I use GHS brite bronze xl's on all my acoustics.

Good call, I use the same but 12s. I have yet to find a string that produces a louder, more vibrant sound on acoustic. Can be tough getting used to though...

[mr mungbeen]

I use Elixr .12 and use nothing else! They are coated in something special to make em slip so you don't get that squeal when you change chords in a hurry... They are the bomb!

[gavb]

I have 10's on my dreadnaught Martin xtra lights, they only sound fresh and sparkly for a couple of days for me, I have them D'addrio coated one's on my other guitar 11's, they sound fresh for weeks Maybe 2.

[guitaraholic680]

That's waht i'm hopin for!

[dave frusciante]

omg, i cant believe noones mentioned them, ROTOSOUND. went to my mates the other day and hes got a dead old acoustic and we slapped some rotos on it and it was great. Ok not great but it was cool anyway :cool:

[guitaraholic680]

I've never heard of rotosound?

[guitarfun]

elixars last great, D'Addario are awesome too

[guitarfun]

oops, guess that's all been said before now that I read through the whole thread!
he he

[ModestCargo]

I have 10's on my dreadnaught Martin xtra lights, they only sound fresh and sparkly for a couple of days for me, I have them D'addrio coated one's on my other guitar 11's, they sound fresh for weeks Maybe 2.
10s on an acoustic guitar?? Yuck!

[guitaraholic680]

haha, guitarfun, nice avatar. ;-)

[Acoustic Belle]

Hi everyone nice to be here.
I cant believe nobodys mentioned ernie balls, I just started using the slinky acoustic strings, they used to be called studio something and they sound great. I play everyday and they havent lost their tone or quality yet.
Although I use lights which are 10's I play barrs and slide around quite a bit and they sound wonderful wether on my eko or my folksize.
sorry that my first post seems like an add for ernies strings, but I really like them.
Before I wouldnt use anything other than diaddio phosphore bronze and I loved those, but not the extended play ones thought they were yuk..

anyway to each their own . use what you think sounds best.

But just to keep you smiling, I pay over 14/15 dollars for a packet of strings so all you in the us be happy.

Belle

[guitaraholic680]

Hi everyone nice to be here.
I cant believe nobodys mentioned ernie balls, I just started using the slinky acoustic strings, they used to be called studio something and they sound great. I play everyday and they havent lost their tone or quality yet.
Although I use lights which are 10's I play barrs and slide around quite a bit and they sound wonderful wether on my eko or my folksize.
sorry that my first post seems like an add for ernies strings, but I really like them.
Before I wouldnt use anything other than diaddio phosphore bronze and I loved those, but not the extended play ones thought they were yuk..

anyway to each their own . use what you think sounds best.

But just to keep you smiling, I pay over 14/15 dollars for a packet of strings so all you in the us be happy.

Belle


hehehe 14/15 bucks for a pack. Is that just one set, or 3. I can get 3 sets for that price.

[Acoustic Belle]

thats for one packet, its two dollars to the pound or 18 something and they are just under eight pounds.
strings and guitars are expensive over here.
arnt you guys lucky.
the cheapest strings over here are about 4 pounds and they are rubbish.

[guitaraholic680]

u should buy them in the US and then ship them to u!!!!

[FadedCayenne]

I use GHS brite bronze xl's on all my acoustics.

same here for my accoustic. i tend to use 11's or 12's on my accoustic, ernie ball hybrid's (9,11,16,26,36,46) on my gibson, and bullet 9's on my fender.

[omniverity]

i bought two sets for $12, is that too expensive?
it's D'Addario. and i must say I'm less than satisfied. the string broke while i was restringing it....am I doing something wrong or is it the quality of the string?

[Jake]

I use light Blue Steel something or others(I'm too lazy to go upstairs and get the pack), make my cheap piece of china-made crap sound great.

[mishmannah]

Elixirs, Elixirs, Elixirs! Get the Nanoweb coated ones, and you will be guaranteed long string life and the sound value of your guitar will go up considerably.. The strings do not have much friction to them too, so slides and bends are so much more responsive...I am a huge fan....

I have a £99 guitar that sounds like a £300 because of Elixirs.....I have a £300 guitar that sounds like a £700!

If you get the polywebs, they are easier on the fingers. In my opinion, they do not last as long as the Nanos....

I am in favour of Nanoweb Elixirs, because they look very much like traditional strings and almost have the same feel too, for when I used Nanos, I felt like I was cheating and not buildin up me calluses enough!

The sustain is great too, so if you do not like sustain, I do not recommend these!

[guitaraholic680]

But they are SOO expensive! ^^^

[tinsmith]

Don't like Elixers. I had problems with breakage with them. I hope I'm not repeating a reply but D'Addario EXP's are better for me and last so longer. I hate to throw them out. I kinda like to wait until I break one but these don't break for me, Elixers do.

[Yamahauler]

Personally, I use Elixer Polyweb light guage. Plastic coating resists corosion, means they last about 5 times longer. Buy'em at www.stringthis.com cause I'm cheap. Long lasting strings, and buy'em cheap. If you're famous, buy the strings that last a couple days and have the roadie put them on for ya.

tinsmith, you must jam pretty hard to break'em. I haven't tried your brand, but might on your suggestion, just for grins. You say they last longer than Elixers. Do they have a coating also?

mishmannah, I've tried the Nano, but personally, I like the Polywebs, due to the less bright sound they make. Having a Taylor 810, I like the deep sound I get with the Poly's

guitaraholic680, Get the Elixers at stringthis, and I pay about $10 for a set for them. A lot cheaper than the brick and mortar stores sell'em for.

[firewalk13]

I put ernie ball skinny top heavy bottom electric strings on my accoustic to make bends easy and they sound good with funk. Because they're electric stings they sound bright for a long time. Definitely not for everyone, and not for every accoustic guitar, i.e. mine was cheap.

[MetalWerk]

Elixirs at $10 a set only if you buy 36 sets plus postage. You MUST be famous.

[PerianArdocyl]

Tom Petty recommends Everly strings. :D

[martinedwards]

I like Martin Mediums (12s) I change em every 6 months and cant wait for the zingy scrapyness to go away!!!!!

[mishmannah]

I like Martin Mediums (12s) I change em every 6 months and cant wait for the zingy scrapyness to go away!!!!!

Sorry to hijack this post...I had to post this here, I did not want to PM ya...

I have just listened to your sounclick site properly....all I can say is....wow....

I love the phase effect in "coming to your presence"...

It is not often when a musician finds the right type of music to suit their voice..I don't mean in the sense of key, but more the feel, and the sound the guitar produces. There needs to be a compatibility, and you have got it right, there.

I have to say it again....Martyn Joseph....

Music cringe factor? minus one million.

What is it about these Irish and Welsh musicians? What have they got that us English peeps don't have? Have we been eating too many pork pies or someting?

Get it on CD and distribute!

BTW, you needed vocal backing on "Beautiful".

[martinedwards]

Sorry to hijack this post...I had to post this here, I did not want to PM ya...

I have just listened to your sounclick site properly....all I can say is....wow....

I love the phase effect in "coming to your presence"...

Squier strat & Zoom 505 di'ed to pc

It is not often when a musician finds the right type of music to suit their voice..I don't mean in the sense of key, but more the feel, and the sound the guitar produces. There needs to be a compatibility, and you have got it right, there.

Shucks!!

I have to say it again....Martyn Joseph....

you need your ears syringed!!


What is it about these Irish and Welsh musicians? What have they got that us English peeps don't have? Have we been eating too many pork pies or someting?

No soul my dear, and possibly none of the hardship of being ruled by a foreign power (!!!) as all TRUE Welsh, Scots & Irish will agree!!!!!

Get it on CD and distribute!

Possibly something in the (very long & slow) pipeline with some other songwriters in Northern Ireland.....

BTW, you needed vocal backing on "Beautiful"


You offering?

I deliberately keep those tracks as simple as poss as they are the lyric & melody. I heard a CD once of demos of songs and while the band did a great job, some of the tracks were hard to follow which was the melody and which was the harmony.

Thanks for the nice comments.........

AGAIN!!!

Sorry the rest of you, Hijack over!!!!

[mishmannah]

"No soul my dear, and possibly none of the hardship of being ruled by a foreign power (!!!) as all TRUE Welsh, Scots & Irish will agree!!!!!"

SO does that mean I have 1/4 of a soul, having a dad who is half welsh?

"You offering?"
Hahh hahah haahaha ahhaa haaaa! You have not heard me howl!

[Dude Absher]

I use Ernie Ball Earthwood Rock and Blues 80/20 Bronze Alloy strings.

For the price they are very good strings.

I also use them on my Gibson L.P.s

Dude

[fretboard92]

Martins usually...sometimes ernie balls but they cost too much.

[Florentin]

I have always used D'addario mediums, and I recently started using the lights. Now I can't stand the mediums...

I like D'addario

I also just ordered five sets of Elixir lights. we'll see. they cost me ten bucks a set, 'cause I know this guy at a store

[mishmannah]

I have always used D'addario mediums, and I recently started using the lights. Now I can't stand the mediums...

I like D'addario

I also just ordered five sets of Elixir lights. we'll see. they cost me ten bucks a set, 'cause I know this guy at a store


Elixirs are lovely.

[guitaraholic680]

wow... i haven't visited this lil post in a while. Nice long thread!

[phingerboard]

Anybody got any experience with half-round strings? I'm looking to reduce squeak but a bit apprehensive about whether these may be much less responsive due to being ground down.

[guitaraholic680]

I'll i've heard is that they reduce squeek because they aren't completely wound. That's what you already know. Sorry, can't help.

[crimso54]

Elixirs because they have nylon on them and they last a LONG time. Nice tone too.