Acoustic Strings...

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No, I won't just let it be because it is both very bad advice and also flawed.

The powder thing is obvious to even a kid in kindergarten. Tell us how powder stops your fingers sweating and makes dirt dissapear?

The tension thing was obvious to Pythagoras around 450BC. He derived (quite correctly) that frequency was directly linked to the unit mass of the string, the length of the string and the tension of the string. You change one you change the others.

Your neck relief cannot change unless the tension in the string increases. It does not unless you change either the mass per unit length of the string or the pitch. If it does your strings are either changing in mass on their own (something even quantum physicists haven't suggested is possible) or more likely you are playing out of tune or imagining it.

Here is an explanation of the fixed properties of vibrating strings. Learn it and understand it before you reply and then show me some evidence that there is a molecular change in the material properties of the string that alter their behaviour.

Simple maths and physics does not cheat on us.
The powder absorbs all the gunk and it dissapates it into thin air!
Any guitar player with some experience knows strings are more flexible and easier to play when new
I am done wasting my time with you! Have a nice day!:)VP:cool:

P.S Well I wonder why if a guitar is left unplayed for a while all the strings are sharp?
 
Yeah that one extra string on basses and guitars are real brain benders! :D
 
I'm keeping an eye open on ebay for an extra finger. Don't cross bid me for it though.;)
 
I hate them too so they must be superb.:o

:p

On one hand, muttley is basically right - any time you coat a string in something, it will at least slightly effect the way the strings vibrate. If pure tone is what you're after, then coated strings are probably not the best way to go.

On the other, I use Elixir nanowebs. I'm mostly an electric player, and rarely pick up my acoustic more than 3-4 times a month. My experience has been uncoated strings generally have a shelf life of a couple weeks at most for even light play, so for me the slight attenuation of the high end you get with the Gore-tex coating is totally worth the fact I don't have to throw a new set of strings on my acoustic every third time I play it. It's a trade-off, but one that makes sense for my specific playing situation. Your mileage of course may vary.

As far as the "hard to play" bit, acoustic strings are just traditionally heavier than electrics. An "extra light" set of acoustic strings will still be .11 or .12 gauge. The heavier strings tend to be a little more compressed and even sounding which for better or worse is part of the "sound" of an acoustic. I forget if I play 12's or 13's, but either way it's a question of just sucking it up, getting used to it, and waiting for your calluses to harden up again.

Ignore Victory Pete, btw - the advice isn't as completely crazy as his original suggestion to apply talcum powder directly to the fretboard to keep it clean, but I'd still be worried about getting powder in the pores of your fretboard.
 
Holy shit. I've never had a thread with so much response. Alot of good responses (and physics lesson.)

I talked to someone else and they also mentioned the elixers and to also to grow a set of balls and stop being such a bitch. Which i figured was going to be a common reply. HAHA.

All good.

No, i won't burn my acoustic. Im liking it. All my childhood punk rock heros are doing the acoustic country thing these days. Ness, Ragan, Barry. Even Kepi Ghoulie. Also from my home in Nova Scotia local punk rock heroes (2 Dean Malenkos and 1 Dead Red) founded turbo country act the Whiskey Kisses. check em out - http://www.reverbnation.com/thewhiskeykisses

Country is the new punk. HAHA.

Whoda thunk it?

I'm hitting the music store tonight for the elixir's and to show them the black fungus shit on the EB's. Someone mentioned it before that it was just dirt and crud. Which is what i thought too. But the said 'splotches' are clearly coating related as they literally appear as if blobs of tar have plopped on and soaked into the strings. The edges are clearly defined. I should post a pic. It truly is weird.
 
That does sound like crud just building up on your strings, but I'd be curious to see a picture.

Elixirs aren't the be-all, end-all. I like them, but I'll freely admit it's a tradeoff. I think I've had the d'addario coated acoustic strings (EXP's?) recommended to me a couple times, and I do remember rather liking them the one time I tried them ages ago when my local shop was out of Elixirs (but part of that was it was also the first time I'd used phosphor bronze strings). I want to give them another try the next time I run out of acoustic sets.

Muttley IS right, though - unwound strings are going to sound consistently better, even though you have to change them more often because they don't last as long.
 
YES! D'addario was the other brand a guy at work recommended. Totally forgot.
 
YES! D'addario was the other brand a guy at work recommended. Totally forgot.

I don't normally comment on brand or different types of strings because it really is a preference thing. That said my preference has always been for D'adarrio EJ16'S. You really do need to try out a few different sets to find what works for you and in most cases your stuck with how long they last because a great deal of that is down to your body chemistry, the way you play and the expectations you have in terms of sound.

The bit about being harder to play is also something you have to live with to a large degree. Because of the way an acoustic guitar generates sound you need a significantly heavier gauge string to provide enough energy to drive the soundbaord. On an electric the pickup detects the vibration of the string and you amplify that. On an acoustic the string actually drives the soundbaord. Lighter strings just don't cut it in that respect. You need to use as heavy as you can get on with. In most cases that compromise is around 12-53.
 
....................

Muttley IS right, though - unwound strings are going to sound consistently better, even though you have to change them more often because they don't last as long.

I assume you mean "uncoated".;)

It is just a preference mind as I've always said. To my ears coated strings sound too squeaky and bright new, settle down for a day and then sound squeaky and dull for the rest of their natural life. I also haven't noticed a significant extended life when it comes to intonation problems which is normally my trigger for replacing strings. Those are just my observations mind and everyone has their preference.
 
I have D'adarrios on my 12 string....I can manage about 5mins before I have to go for surgery ;)

seriously, great strings...my third set on this
 
:p

On one hand, muttley is basically right - any time you coat a string in something, it will at least slightly effect the way the strings vibrate. If pure tone is what you're after, then coated strings are probably not the best way to go.

On the other, I use Elixir nanowebs. I'm mostly an electric player, and rarely pick up my acoustic more than 3-4 times a month. My experience has been uncoated strings generally have a shelf life of a couple weeks at most for even light play, so for me the slight attenuation of the high end you get with the Gore-tex coating is totally worth the fact I don't have to throw a new set of strings on my acoustic every third time I play it. It's a trade-off, but one that makes sense for my specific playing situation. Your mileage of course may vary.

As far as the "hard to play" bit, acoustic strings are just traditionally heavier than electrics. An "extra light" set of acoustic strings will still be .11 or .12 gauge. The heavier strings tend to be a little more compressed and even sounding which for better or worse is part of the "sound" of an acoustic. I forget if I play 12's or 13's, but either way it's a question of just sucking it up, getting used to it, and waiting for your calluses to harden up again.

Ignore Victory Pete, btw - the advice isn't as completely crazy as his original suggestion to apply talcum powder directly to the fretboard to keep it clean, but I'd still be worried about getting powder in the pores of your fretboard.

You worry too much! Lighten up and live a llitle!:rolleyes:
P.S no pun intended
 
I assume you mean "uncoated".;)

It is just a preference mind as I've always said. To my ears coated strings sound too squeaky and bright new, settle down for a day and then sound squeaky and dull for the rest of their natural life. I also haven't noticed a significant extended life when it comes to intonation problems which is normally my trigger for replacing strings. Those are just my observations mind and everyone has their preference.

Gee, I wonder what causes those intonation problems on old strings?:rolleyes:
 
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