Your favorite Guitar Strings.

[Skyman911]

You’ll probably get many different answers for this question. My only advice is to experiment. Thicker strings can add more tension, making some chords/notes harder to play. I personally use Martin Lifespan 2.0 treated PB. 12 – 54 on my martin short scale guitars. I’ve tried D’Addario’s and didn’t like them on my Martins.

[jorgemac]

Hey Skyman,

Thanks for the knowledge. Every time, over the years as I have gone up in string gauge I have lowered the string tension by tuning down a whole note – D,G,C,F,A,D for a week or two of practice as my fingers need to toughen up to the thicker gauge. after a few days of the whole note drop I will take the strings down only a half note – D#,G#,C#,F#, A# and D#. After a few days of this I can then adjust back to regular tuning. That helps my fingers while they adjust to the different string tension. I’l just capo up if I’m playing with someone else until i return to regular tuning.

[Bill1am]

Still experimenting with strings! My favorites so far:

1) the Martin monel retro strings, sound amazing. I put a set on one normal, regular scale acoustic and I did have an A string just “pop” before it was even at tension, which was disappointing, but I’m not sure was martins fault. I replaced it with an extra Ernie ball earthwound I had in my string box, which is how I know knits how different they sound. Something full and ancient sounding about them.

2) the Ernie ball “bell-bronze” strings endorsed by john Mayer, just hit shelves a couple months back, these also sound full and rich, I went with 10s (maybe 10.5??) in these for fingerstyle stuff, I prefer 12s in most cases, but they are beautiful for single notes and still sound great strummed. The real magic happens when you “pinch” a base not with a higher note, it’s almost like you are using a slight reverb effect, they sing together for just an I stand longer into the next 16th note!

3) Santa Cruz parabolic low tension, 11s. These don’t sound special or magical, but they sound good and balanced, they hold tune well, and they have lasted as long as elixirs do and feel better to boot.

Full disclosure, I’m a bit neurotic about string changes, I keep a spreadsheet of what was changed when and probably change more that I really need to.

[jorgemac]

I’m the same and change strings as soon as I detect any change in tone. Can’t help myself or stop from changing them out.

[jorgemac]

Bill, I’ll order the Ernie Ball Bell Bronze set today and give them a try.

[Loraine]

I have an entire shelf in a large wardrobe with a variety of strings. Each guitar has a different personality and voice when it comes to strings. I switch them out with different ones, and it is so much fun to find THE one that wakes up my guitar. I am in love with Santa Cruz mids & Ernie Ball Earthwoods, because they’re are more tonal and just feel and sound awesome. I like D’Addarios, and I use them on most guitars, because they’re not too expensive.. Taylor are brighter, and Martin has a completely different sound than any. Sounds like a different guitar. Took me a bit to get used to them. I like the Martin Retro, and the Taylor Acoustics. I’ve recently been experimenting with different gauges Make sure to try different picks too. Just have some fun with it.

[jorgemac]

Thanks for your thoughts, I’m waiting on the Ernie Ball strings . Think I’ll try them on the Martin 000-15 and see how they sound. I have an Alvarez Yiari Parlor PYM66HD that needs something to wake it up. I love playing it but want to wake up the tone a little. Any suggestions for a small bodied guitar like that. I had to give a big Yawn to the Santa Cruz Strings. They didn’t do anything special to My Larrivee C-03 Tony Emanual 12 fret model that screams with the D’arr’s XT’s on it. You are right about each instrument having it’s own personality. It’s up to us to discover that personality.

[petelanger]

@jorgemac , @Loraine

So thankful for this community for good advice like this. I just restrung my favorite guitar with some D’Addarios, not even a top of the line but just the EJ11s and wow! It’s like a completely different instrument. The strings feel just wonderful and the chords sound so much better. I think I’m going to switch to these now, I’ve got several sets of Ernie Balls that I might just give away if the same thing happens when I restring my old Takamine. I’m so happy right now, it feels like a NGD!

[Loraine]

Hey, keep me in mind if you give away your Ernie Balls. I use them on several guitars.

[jorgemac]

It is Special when you find a string that works on your guitar. Just like you said it gives that instrument a new lease on life. I tried some of the martin strings and the ernie balls and changed them both out after a couple of weeks. For whatever reason every instrument seems to be temperamental regarding what you string them up with. It does lift you up when you find that perfect match. Keep on chugglin everyone.

[jorgemac]

Pete next time you change them out think about the tone benefits of a thicker gage string. I’ve gone from 10’s to 11’s to11.5’s to 12 and once in awhile 12.5’s. For me the tone benefits of a heavier gage just sounds fuller to me. As I said earlier I start the heavier gage string down a full tone to D,G,C,F,A, D and increase it up a half tone every week or so when I walk up to thicker strings. The finger tips seem to be able to put up with the change that way. You can always capo up 2 frets when playing with other pickers.

[Guitlesson]

I’m the last guy in the picture. I just learned how to change strings last week. The guitar sure sounds better. I put on Ernie Ball Earthwood Lights.

[BarbaraM]

I don’t know anything about string gauges. The guitar shop put bronze
Martin Lights (12-54) on my Baby Taylor last October. I play it very
little, so it doesn’t necessarily need changing now, but it doesn’t
sound all that good and I cannot do a hammer on with any sound to save
my life. Plus there is what feels like roughness on the high e. Should I
change the strings and with what? My Zager Parlor has Zager E-Z Play
Pillow Touch Light Gauge and it plays well. I don’t see any numbers on
the package. I have extra Zager strings that came with my Parlor so I
will probably use them on the Baby.

What do the numbers refer to, what is coated vs uncoated, and what does the metal (bronze or other) do, good or bad?

[jorgemac]

The number refers to the String thickness or string gauge. The higher the numbers the heaver gauge the strings are. Since you usually play with smaller bodied guitars you might think of using a lighter gauge. 11/53 or even 10/48. I usually play with 12/53 or 12.5/53 and change my strings probably once a month. That gauge is still considered light gauge by some guitar string manufacturer’s . The lighter gauge strings, 10/48 or 11/53 Don’t have as strong of a tone as the 12/53’s and do sound OK on the smaller bodied guitars.

The smaller gauge string can be easier on fingering positions for people with hand issues. If you have a guitar tuner you might just take the strings down a note to Treble to Bass string tuning position D, A, F, C, G, D tuning . The strings will not have as much string tension so this will be easier to finger. See if it helps you be more comfortable when practicing using your 12/53 strings. As you basically play guitar for and by yourself you can use the same chord fingers you always use but will not have as much tension on the chord fingering positions.

The coated strings last longer and do not lose tone as fast as regular strings, but do cost more. I have one parlor and also a mini Taylor that I play quite often but I do have them strung up to 12/53. I just like the tone better with the heavier gauge and don’t have arthritis or any other hand issues. As I have said on other threads I do exercise regularly with the therapeutic squeeze ball and the Chinese steel balls that Loraine suggested to me. She says they have helped here with co-ordination and strength. It was a struggle to get used to the Steel ball exercises but I do use them regularly.

[martyepp]

I’m new to TAC. I purchased a used Yamaha FG800 a while back. I’m not sure how old the strings are, but I’m thinking I’d like to start off fresh with new strings. I’m looking for recommendations for strings that will enhance my learning experience.

[jorgemac]

Hey Marty,

welcome and hope you learn to enjoy this site as much as so of us O.G.’s do. If you are new to guitar you will want to start out with a set of strings that you can learn to hold down next to the frets that don’t discourage you to think this is too hard and you stop practicing. Start out with a fairly light gauge string. 10’s or 11’s. You are going to get blisters, just a rite of passage, and start to form calluses. At the early learning stages the brand isn’t real important until you start to form an “ear” for guitar tone.

The Yamaha FS or FG 800 is a good 1st guitar. If you can afford to have a set up done by a local guitar tech. It will help you progress faster. as you will not be fighting the guitar, but learning to play the guitar. Make sure he shows you how to string up your own guitar so you don’t have to pay extra every time you change strings.

It is like a zen thing to me and I change strings at least once a month, but I’m weird. Most people go a lot longer that that between string changes.

Do some google research on guitar strings. Every guitar picker will swear to you that there brand is the best string to buy. I string all of my steel string guitar with D’addario XT strings and they are the best . Just saying. Good luck