Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
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?
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
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 ..
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
quote:
ORIGINAL: britguy
What methods do you guys use when you experiment with strings?
As long as the strings are smooth and in tune and evenly stretched then each and every time if I don't like the sound I blame my technique.
If my nails have notches less than 2mm deep I blame my technique.
If one string sounds odd in comparison to the others I blame my technique.
I experiment then with changing my technique. But not really in a big way just in a paying more attention to how it sounds and letting the technique change itself subtly till I like the sound better.
This is how everyone I know who plays well does it.
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
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.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
britguy--good question. my criteria would be: 1. does the string sound good on the guitar in question. some strings for whatever reason sound better on a specific guitar but not so good on another guitar. 2. does the tension work for me. if the tension does not work i would try and find a similar sounding string with a tension that works for me. a second level of criteria would be: 1. does stringsbymail sell that set with basses and finally, and maybe the most important, how expensive are the strings. sbm has a set of strings, dr. junger, that are listing for $70+. these strings may be the greatest thing since sliced bread but at that price....
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
quote:
I've always had problems with choosing the 'ideal' string for a particular guitar.
Yes – it is a difficult problem – too many variables - time delay between re-stringing and the guitar settling down - no objective measures. You state your problem clearly enough for me to believe that you are not hopeful of getting an answer. But there seem to be lots of guitarists who hope that one day they will find the perfect string to transform their guitars.
You have to decide whether you are evaluating how the guitar feels or how the guitar sounds. I would give 'feel' priority every time because this is the property that supports you in improving your technique - I let the sound take care of itself. I always think that the feel and sound of the guitar is 99% guitar and 1% strings – I might be giving too much to the strings here.
So the good news –when you can’t tell the difference between different brands of string it really doesn’t matter what you choose.
And the bad news –when you can’t find any strings you like, stop wasting time and money on strings and get a decent guitar. The best guitars I have had were fabulous with any brand and also with old strings.
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to RobJe)
quote:
And the bad news –when you can’t find any strings you like, stop wasting time and money on strings and get a decent guitar. The best guitars I have had were fabulous with any brand
Actually Rob, I like most of the strings I have tried.
And I'm lucky enough to own several 'decent' high-quality, custom-built guitars. All of which sound and feel great with just about any string I have tried.
And maybe thats the root of my problem in choosing strings; because with one exception (LaBella Flamenco) they all seem to sound pretty good to me. . .
I was just wondering how other players go about making a choice of which strings they prefer. . .
RE: How do you evaluate strings??? (in reply to britguy)
I want bass strings that are resonate in the upper register and trebles that give a "thick" sound rather than thin. Of course this assumes the guitar is up to it. The least attractive sound from a guitar is its first string and getting a "fat" sound is the goal. John Williams said he has D'Addario make him up thicker 1st strings. Well if you have recorded over a hundred albums you can do that.
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread