String Types

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kingofpain678
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Kingofpain678

Kingofpain678

Returned from the dead
Well I did a search on strings to see if the answer to my question had already been answered but I didn't find anything... Although I did find a thread on string brands and a thread making fun of good ol' VP...

Ok so instead of going out and buying a bunch of different strings and testing each set out I thought it would be easier to just ask about the different string types. The reason I bring this up is I bought a guitar the other day and it sounded great... It had a tone that had a great high end... Not twangy, not harsh... It was just smooth and "subdued" for lack of a better word. I went out and bought some fender strings (just cause they were the cheapest set) and now the guitar sounds fucking terrible. So now I'm on a mission to find a favorite set of strings.

From what I understand, there are stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, or pure nickel strings... and round cores and hex cores and coatings and all kinds of different shit. SO what I want to know is.... what are the tonal traits of each type of string?
 
Yeah, go ahead- OPEN THAT CAN OF WORMS.

I've been sitting here, for about five minutes, trying to think of what to post, here. It's not that I have nothing to say- quite the contrary, I could say LOTS about strings- what I use; how a recent comparo of a MIA Strat and a Squire Strat, both with Texas Special Pickups, sounded just slightly different- then I realized I had 9's on one and 10's on the other; why I like Dean Markely strings, and Blue Steels in particular (because I called the company and asked if they had Blue Steels for a 12-string, and the guy I talked to said they didn't, but he MADE UP TWO SETS JUST FOR ME AND SENT THEM TO ME, FOR FREE; etc, etc. etc.

But really, there are sooooo many variables as to make it almost impossible to really be sure you have the "best" string for you. Best thing to do is, once you hit on something that works for you, STOP. Buy that string for the rest of your life, and free yourself from further worry about strings.
 
I used those blue steel strings for a looonnnggg time but not because I thought they sounded great, just because they were strings. This was long before I ever even had the slightest care for recording or tone...

I think I'm gonna go with 13 gauge chrome flatwounds which should hopefully give me a smooth, dark and even tone...

I guess I'm gonna end up on a long road of trying out different strings no matter what, eh?
 
If you are looking for flat wounds I can recommend you (or at least you can give them a try) Thomastic Infelds, I have been using the "swing series" (I have used 0.11, 0.12, 0.13) for 9 years...
 
yag said:
If you are looking for flat wounds I can recommend you (or at least you can give them a try) Thomastic Infelds, I have been using the "swing series" (I have used 0.11, 0.12, 0.13) for 9 years...
Click to expand...

What kinda music do you play?
Can you try to explain to me what kind of tone you get out of them? Maybe a clip of the tone?
 
I play mainly jazz, blues and fusion, and sometimes some classical (piazzolla, albeniz) guitar stuff also.

Here is a noisy song (webcam mic) where the I ran my guitar (a yamaha pacifica (strat clone) with guitar fetish pickups) through different modes of (I had mainly used Jazz King setting) Fender vibro champ xd..

the strings were thomastic infeld swing series 0.12...

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8137123


ps.. this really looked like an ad, but I wanted to clarify the things that I have used...

But personally I love flat wounds as they are smooth and mellow, and do not create too much finger slide sound/noise..
 
DR Strings are, in my opinion, the best strings on the market for both acousitc and electric. They are more durable than most other strings, have better tone, and I get more use out of each set than any other brand I've ever tried. This is just me though... strings are going differ from person to person depending on style of music, the individual guitar and how the person plays.
 
this is a question that is similar to asking what kind of toothpaste you should use.

sadly your going to have to trial and error. what may work for me might noght work for you.

Basically i got it down to these for my set up:

ERN2223.jpg

dmnickelsteelelectric.png


they work for me. Im happy. for now.

I'll probably start playing around with other strings later on. Good luck dude.
 
i really like Elixir Strings. You'll pay more for them than most string brands, but i think that they are worth it. They last pretty well and sound really good. I don't necessarily know that I could characterize their tone or say its exactly what you are looking for, but they are good strings.
 
Kingofpain678 said:
I used those blue steel strings for a looonnnggg time but not because I thought they sounded great, just because they were strings. This was long before I ever even had the slightest care for recording or tone...
Click to expand...

(Sigh.) There always seems to be someone who just can't resist getting a little dig in, even when it is not wholly germane to the discussion. Really, KOP, I usually like and agree with your post, or find some nugget of value therein, but didja have to go there? You will notice, I didn't say the Blue Steels had great tone- I didn't say anything about their tone, only that I appreciated the kindness of someone at Dean Markley, who went a bit out of his way to help me evaluate Blue Steels for myself. There are soooo many variables one can consider when selecting strings- that was what I was alluding to.

I think you deserve one of these, KOP: :spank: , administered with the greatest of love and respect, of course.
 
stevieb said:
(Sigh.) There always seems to be someone who just can't resist getting a little dig in, even when it is not wholly germane to the discussion. Really, KOP, I usually like and agree with your post, or find some nugget of value therein, but didja have to go there? You will notice, I didn't say the Blue Steels had great tone- I didn't say anything about their tone, only that I appreciated the kindness of someone at Dean Markley, who went a bit out of his way to help me evaluate Blue Steels for myself. There are soooo many variables one can consider when selecting strings- that was what I was alluding to.

I think you deserve one of these, KOP: :spank: , administered with the greatest of love and respect, of course.
Click to expand...

All I said was that I used to use them but I never payed attention to what they sounded like because it was unimportant to me at the time. That's what I said in a nutshell.

... Are you sure you read that right?
 
DeAdarios (SP?) are the stings that I've used sense the early 80s.



:cool:
 
I've 100% switched to Tampon strings. They're organic and give me that "Curse of the Vampire" tone I so yearn for.
 
Well they aren't number one but they are right up there.



:cool:
 
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