Anyone else not like the sound of completely new strings?

  • Thread starter Thread starter antispatula
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I'm with you - don't like the sound of new strings on acoustic. I don't mind new strings on an electric, but I still prefer the sound after about an hour.
 
I don't care for the sound of brand new strings actually, and I find I like them the best after 2 or 3 days, they sound the best for my taste and they stay in tune ....... then I'm good for a couple of weeks. That's based on playing about 4 to 8 hours a day.
 
I don't care for the sound of brand new strings actually, and I find I like them the best after 2 or 3 days, they sound the best for my taste and they stay in tune ....... then I'm good for a couple of weeks. That's based on playing about 4 to 8 hours a day.
When I was playing 3 - 4 hours a night, nightly, I would find myself changing them out every three days max to keep the tone fresh. :D Also to minimize the chance of breakage.
 
When I was playing 3 - 4 hours a night, nightly, I would find myself changing them out every three days max to keep the tone fresh. :D Also to minimize the chance of breakage.
Different taste is what makes the world go 'round.
As I mentioned, I specifically don't like that 'fresh' sound. But I have plenty of friends who absolutely love it and prefer it. Just a matter of taste.

And I never break strings ...... and I bend the bejeesus out of them too but I just never break 'em. I think breaking strings might be similar to breaking drumsticks. some do and some don't ....... probably related to picking technique in some way.
 
way back, (like 17 years ago) when i had an ibanez electric, i couldn't stand the sound of new strings. they sounded metallic and hollow until they were broken in. but with my goddess they sound just fine. i wonder if it's a difference in string quality, guitar quality, player quality, or what. ??
 
Different taste is what makes the world go 'round.
As I mentioned, I specifically don't like that 'fresh' sound. But I have plenty of friends who absolutely love it and prefer it. Just a matter of taste.
Agreed!

And I never break strings ...... and I bend the bejeesus out of them too but I just never break 'em. I think breaking strings might be similar to breaking drumsticks. some do and some don't ....... probably related to picking technique in some way.
I use a lot of pick attack, and am kind of hard on strings. I can't trust the unwound strings after, say, 10 sets, so I changed them just avoid the hassle.

I also go through a shitload of picks.
 
I love the brightness and freshness that comes with a new set of strings on any of my guitars, whether it be the bass, electrics or acoustics. Especially my Fender acoustic with a new set of Dean Markley Bronze.
 
way back, (like 17 years ago) when i had an ibanez electric, i couldn't stand the sound of new strings. they sounded metallic and hollow until they were broken in. but with my goddess they sound just fine. i wonder if it's a difference in string quality, guitar quality, player quality, or what. ??

i'd say it's the naturally fat sound of your LP. most of the ibanez guitars iv'e play sound a little on the bright side.
 
No tuning problems at all with new strings. I play electric clean' as much or more than dirty', so the same goes for acoustic and electric.
It's when they won't tune up proper is when I know they got to go no mater how lazy I might get about it. :p
 
I find strings, when first played, straight out of the box, sound kind of thin and tinny. I find that once I "break them in" so they are now "broken in," yet still new strings, they sound the best.

Does anyone else share my feelings? I know that lots of people like the fresh brightness of completely new strings.....

Russell

I'd have to agree with you.
 
new strings.....they will fade....and im not going to bother to replace...so i am more into the dead string thing.....you adapt.
 
I like the sound of new strings, but I hate how they go out of tune so fast. I like the sound of old strings as well, but they definitely lose their luster after awhile.

I hated restringing my classical guitar.
 
WTF? Doesn't anyone stretch their strings anymore? :confused:


New strings that are stretched properly don't go out of tune any quicker than strings that are older.
 
i love the sound of new strings on acoustics. i used to not, but now i do.

how do others stretch the strings?? i usually wind one up to close to in tune, then just pull on it alot. then i move on to the next string. after they are all done, i go back and tune with a tuner, play for a while, tune once more and its usually good to go form their.

i also think the sound of new strings has to do a lot with how you get used to how your guitar sounds. i change mine about once every 3-4 weeks, so its always a noticiable difference. but if i sit and play for like an hour with the new strings, then come back the next day and play, im used to it already.

i must admit, i would change my strings more often than i do, but sometimes im too lazy and just want to play. i change my strings when im bored and feel like doinf something productive, or if i know im going to record in the next day or two.
 
I stretch my strings in 2 ways. Once I get it tuned to pitch, I bend the string up 1 or 1.5 steps a few times at the frets with dots on them. Tune it back to pitch, then grab the string between my picking hand's index finger and thumb and stretch it more (only over the body of the guitar, its easy to kink the string over the fretboard doing this). I do this to each string as I put it on the guitar, and then 2 or 3 more times after they're all on.
 
Sometimes they just sound to chimey/tinny...at first. It takes a little bit of getting worn into for it to sound justt right.
 
I stretch my strings in 2 ways. Once I get it tuned to pitch, I bend the string up 1 or 1.5 steps a few times at the frets with dots on them. Tune it back to pitch, then grab the string between my picking hand's index finger and thumb and stretch it more (only over the body of the guitar, its easy to kink the string over the fretboard doing this). I do this to each string as I put it on the guitar, and then 2 or 3 more times after they're all on.

Right. And they stay in tune after that, AND sound good. Right?
 
I definitely hate the sound of new strings on any of my guitars. The least bad sounding is a clean electric, but with an acoustic or a distorted electric, I think it sounds tiny and feeble. A few hours of breaking them in makes them sound much better, I think.
 
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