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garth04
New member
Which brand do you go with for Acoustic Guitar?
c7sus
Disenfranchised Member
I ued Martins through the 80's until I started getting numerous dud low-E strings.
Then I switched to Guild phospher/bronze 80/20's until they moved production to Mexico.
Then I tried the Polyweb Elixers and liked them. A LOT.
And then they did even better with the Nanoweb, IMHO.
No duds yet, they get into tune and stay there faster than other brands I've used, and seem to last longer too.
Then I switched to Guild phospher/bronze 80/20's until they moved production to Mexico.
Then I tried the Polyweb Elixers and liked them. A LOT.
And then they did even better with the Nanoweb, IMHO.
No duds yet, they get into tune and stay there faster than other brands I've used, and seem to last longer too.
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
Used to use Nashville straights until they stopped making them, them Martin Marquis/SP, Dean Markley Cold Steel, now Elixir Nanowebs.-Richie
Light
New member
I personally use D'Addarios, as do all of the people in our shop. This is as much a price and environmental issue as anything, as we sell so many of them that we get a really great price break on them, so they are (for us) the cheapest. We also use D'Addario as original equipment on all our new guitars.
However, I would not say that they are the best strings made. Most of the strings out there are good. We carry John Pearse, D'Addario, GHS, Martin, Darco, and SIT strings, and they are all good strings. I would never say that any of them are any better than any other.
What we recommend is that you try a different set of strings (both brand and gauge) every time you change strings. Keep the string packages so you remember what you have used in the past. When you find the strings that you like, keep using them.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
However, I would not say that they are the best strings made. Most of the strings out there are good. We carry John Pearse, D'Addario, GHS, Martin, Darco, and SIT strings, and they are all good strings. I would never say that any of them are any better than any other.
What we recommend is that you try a different set of strings (both brand and gauge) every time you change strings. Keep the string packages so you remember what you have used in the past. When you find the strings that you like, keep using them.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Light
New member
One other thing. I dispise Elixers. They stay the same for a long time, sure, but they NEVER sound good to my ears.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Toonsmith
New member
I agree with your assessment of the Elixers. To me they sound dull when you first put them on. I like D'addarrio's mediums to minimize the high tones of the Taylor guitars.
Hey Light, what do you think about the DR's Rare strings. Over at the Acoustic Guitar forumn they say they're pretty good. Something about the strings giving a woody sound to the guitar. Whatever that means.
Hey Light, what do you think about the DR's Rare strings. Over at the Acoustic Guitar forumn they say they're pretty good. Something about the strings giving a woody sound to the guitar. Whatever that means.
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garth04
New member
I tried normal DR's and had problems I didn't have with Martin's, namely buzzing.
I have never tried rare's, I must try them.
I have never tried rare's, I must try them.
Light
New member
Toonsmith said:
I haven't tried them.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
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pennylink
New member
I've used D'Addario in the past, but bought a Larrivée that came with Elixirs, and I like them a lot.
I guess it depends how much or how often you play, but any non-coated strings only keep their "fresh" sound for a relatively short period of time, there where as the Elixirs keep sounding consistent for what feels like forever.
I guess it depends how much or how often you play, but any non-coated strings only keep their "fresh" sound for a relatively short period of time, there where as the Elixirs keep sounding consistent for what feels like forever.
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spankenstein
New member
I haven't tried the Elixers but my other guitarist swears by them. I like the Martin SPs. My strings don't seem to go dead that quickly. There is like a day or two of really bright but then they seem to stay consistent for a long time.
I'm sure that depends a lot on a persons chemistry, I've got a friend who 10 seconds after he gets new strings they sound dead (that's exaggerating). He also ends up with lots of fretboard funk where as I rarely have any kind of buildup.
I'm sure that depends a lot on a persons chemistry, I've got a friend who 10 seconds after he gets new strings they sound dead (that's exaggerating). He also ends up with lots of fretboard funk where as I rarely have any kind of buildup.
c7sus
Disenfranchised Member
I like the slightly-muted tone (to my ears anyway) of the Nanowebs on my Martins. They seem to maintain that tone longer than traditional Phosher/bronze strings I have used over the years, and stay in tune better too.
My experience has also been that when they "fail" in tone they go fast after that point. They're usually pretty shredded by then as well.
I dug those Guild 80/20 P/H's. I used to buy them by the case right up to when they moved production to Mexico. I tried a few strings before trying the Elixers and have stuck with them since.
My experience has also been that when they "fail" in tone they go fast after that point. They're usually pretty shredded by then as well.
I dug those Guild 80/20 P/H's. I used to buy them by the case right up to when they moved production to Mexico. I tried a few strings before trying the Elixers and have stuck with them since.
cobradenim
New member
I prefer the D'Addario 12-56 guage. I've always had good luck and tone with them.
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tdukex
Man of the Muse
Each guitar requires something different. I used to have a Larrivee dread that really came alive when strung with John Pearse phospher bronze. I tried them on my Webber OM and they were WAY too bright. The Elixer nanowebs tame the Webber's natural brightness and are very responsive to a lighter touch--which is what I like.
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notCardio
I walk the line
depends on the objective
I love the way the Elixers feel, and they way they last and last. I absolutley HATE stringing a guitar. I've got a friend who loves to string, wants to do it all damn day. I can't stand it. It's right up there with soldering, ironing, and doing the dishes. BUT, I think Elixers stay too bright for my taste, so if I really want to record something, and not just hacking around, I like to put D'Addarios or even GHS on and let them age for a few days, playing enough to kind of dirty 'em up. I prefer a mellower sound. But then, so far, it's been pretty much just acoustic, so I don't need to 'cut through' a mix.
Everybody's different. That's why there are so many choices, and, as Martha used to say, that's a good thing.
I was referring to my Epiphone Texan (dreadnought) BTW. Anybody here got a Taylor Big Baby, and what do you use on it? I've been afraid to put anything but Elixers on it, I keep feeling like anything else is gonna pull the neck too much.
I love the way the Elixers feel, and they way they last and last. I absolutley HATE stringing a guitar. I've got a friend who loves to string, wants to do it all damn day. I can't stand it. It's right up there with soldering, ironing, and doing the dishes. BUT, I think Elixers stay too bright for my taste, so if I really want to record something, and not just hacking around, I like to put D'Addarios or even GHS on and let them age for a few days, playing enough to kind of dirty 'em up. I prefer a mellower sound. But then, so far, it's been pretty much just acoustic, so I don't need to 'cut through' a mix.
Everybody's different. That's why there are so many choices, and, as Martha used to say, that's a good thing.
I was referring to my Epiphone Texan (dreadnought) BTW. Anybody here got a Taylor Big Baby, and what do you use on it? I've been afraid to put anything but Elixers on it, I keep feeling like anything else is gonna pull the neck too much.
Light
New member
Re: depends on the objective
Elixars have the same tension as any other string of the same guage. This is NOT an issue.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Cardioidpotent said:
Elixars have the same tension as any other string of the same guage. This is NOT an issue.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
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notCardio
I walk the line
Thanks. That's good to know. I knew it was an irrational fear, but the Big Baby just FEELS so fragile, whereas my Epiphone feels like you could beat someone with it, and it would be fine.
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faderbug
.
i kinda like the feel and sound of old worn strings.
Moonrider
New member
I didn't vote
You didn't have a selection for "all of the above".
I've found it depends on the guitar. Different guitars like different strings, and you'll need to try a whole lot of brands before you find one that makes your guitar come alive.
Different brands of strings are made with different alloys and slightly different string diameters on the wound strings. Once you hit the right combo for that guitar, you'll know it.
You didn't have a selection for "all of the above".
I've found it depends on the guitar. Different guitars like different strings, and you'll need to try a whole lot of brands before you find one that makes your guitar come alive.
Different brands of strings are made with different alloys and slightly different string diameters on the wound strings. Once you hit the right combo for that guitar, you'll know it.
S
stratfanjosh
New member
Tried many of them, but always end up going back to elixirs. I just like the way they sound and play.
apl
Stand Up Comity
I use Elixirs. Maybe they don't sound as great as brand new set of D'Addarios, but they're 90% anyway. And they stay 90% for a lot longer than it takes the others to go to 10%.