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How do you evaluate strings???
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britguy
Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada
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How do you evaluate strings???
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I've always had problems with choosing the 'ideal' string for a particular guitar. When I first started playing (50 + years ago) there were very few brands/types available (in the U.K. mostly Savarez and Augustine). Now there are dozens/ scores/hundreds of them out there. And its very tempting to want to try them all, in the faint hope that somehow you'll find the 'perfect' string. I've tried using several different brands, tensions, types, etc. But no matter what strings I put on, within a day or so they all seem to sound pretty good, and my fingers seem to accommodate to the differences in feel, etc. So I can never seem to determine exactly which set was preferable. Or maybe I'm such a poor player I probably wouldn't notice the differences anyway? Are there any specific measurable criteria that others may use for determining which is the 'best' string(s) for a particular instrument, and a particular player? Or is it just a case of: 'if you like it - stay with it' etc. ? What methods do you guys use when you experiment with strings?
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Date Nov. 13 2013 20:59:51
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El Kiko
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
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RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
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In a way your right ...if you like it ,stay with it ..is an approach that you cant really argue against ... I would say that first , you have a sound in your head that you want to hear ... a kind of sound that you will be comparing things to ...A sound is difficult to describe .. some like a 'dry raspy sound' some a more 'round sound' some more percussive , etc etc ,, and hence so many guitars and makers .. have a sound that you like and try to see how the strings compare to it ... the trebles , are they loud enough ?, , bright enough ? strong .. do they ring on a bit ? basses ,,similar questions ,, too loud for the trebles ... etc ... many times i hear , people say ... ''I like the sound of that guitar''... why?? i ask them .....its not to catch them out , or say they're right or wrong ...its just to know what is the sound in there head that this particular guitar has matched ... in words as it were .. its a tricky thing and personal .... heres one I did earlier with some strings that D'Addario sent me .....is it right ...maybe .. http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=221320&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=titanium%2Cstrings&tmode=&smode=&s=#221320
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Date Nov. 13 2013 22:39:11
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mark indigo
Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
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RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
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quote:
no matter what strings I put on, within a day or so they all seem to sound pretty good, and my fingers seem to accommodate to the differences in feel, etc. So I can never seem to determine exactly which set was preferable. if they all sound and feel the same go with what Shaun said and buy the cheapest. But if money is no problem, or you want another criteria you could go for the ones that last the longest. maybe you want to work out some kind of equation combining price and longevity to evaluate which are the best value! for what it's worth this is my completely subjective experience of various string brands on four different flamenco guitars: I used to use Savarez, but now usually use D'Addario. The Savarez are more expensive, take longer to stretch in, sound brilliant for a few days and then go stiff and break within a few weeks. By comparison the D'Addario are cheaper, settle in much quicker, sound nearly but not quite as good for weeks on end (I get about 4-6 weeks out of them but turn the basses round the after 3-4 weeks), and eventually go stiff but never break. I try Luthier from time to time but they sound like D'Addario and don't last as long. Hannabach sound and feel dull and heavy. La Bella I have had tuning issues with but am gonna give the replacements they are sending my a try when they arrive.
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Date Nov. 14 2013 16:50:29
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