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G string sounds odd?   You are logged in as Guest
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wiking

 

Posts: 63
Joined: Apr. 11 2014
 

G string sounds odd? 
More questions from the newbie:

I have my Navarro and I love it, sounds unreal, plays like a dream. However, I find that the g string is very peculiar, and behaves totally unlike the others. When I dig in and play quick picado or thumb it firmly, it's almost as if the harmonic comes through just as loud or even louder than the natural played note? It's as if the harder I play it, the more the harmonic overtone dominates the natural note. The other strings are all fine. Is this due to tension? They're normal tension D'addario Pro Arte strings I think, it's what it was strung with out of the box. I have some Conde medium and normals to try out but I figured I'd ask in case this is a common thing.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 17:45:12
 
Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Thats what all the crap guitars usually do, especially around the note to which the box is tuned to.

With those guitars the problem is greatly reduced when you use a dryer sounding G with less diameter. Try using black trebles or the coffee colored D'Addario.


Btw, Iam not saying your guitar is crap.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 17:51:39
 
Aretium

Posts: 277
Joined: Oct. 23 2012
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
I think each guitar has its set up so get a few trebles try them out in different set ups, my guitar's g was always dull until I found some black trebles which really brightened it up.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 18:08:55
 
JuanDaBomb

Posts: 189
Joined: May 18 2011
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Is this not a characteristic of what people might call a "looser" or "softer" sounding guitar? aka. pulsacion?

I don't think it's a matter of crap or not crap guitars. It depends on a player's personal preference.

String choice wouldn't really change this then.

If I'm wrong about this I'd like to know
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 18:17:30
 
wiking

 

Posts: 63
Joined: Apr. 11 2014
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to JuanDaBomb) 
So what may be happening is that this particular guitar has a gentler pulsacion, so if I'm playing it too hard I'm "overdriving" it and the quality of sound begins to break up and suffer? Cool, it's just a matter of getting to know the guitar and what sort of strings she likes best then. :D
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 18:20:48
 
guitarbuddha

 

Posts: 2970
Joined: Jan. 4 2007
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Hi Wiking. Just thought I'd throw another idea into the mix.

I pretty much always blame myself for the odd sound that come out of a guitar. The classic is the high E string sounding too thin and poppy. So I like to imagine that the guitar I am playing is the best and only guitar in the world (and for me it often has been) so I try and fix the problem with technique.

So for me, and also I think most guitarists, you have to learn to play each guitar by being aware that each string responds differently. So in slow practice you should try and seek to change your attack and touch to ensure the integrity of a line regardless of the differences in response of each individual string. And this is more of a listening/responding problem than simply a technical one.

So in short accept the instrument but be critical of yourself...... and enjoy the struggle !

D
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 18:47:49
 
Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Suggestion.
Sound the strings the way you know overtones will dominate. Then put the tip of your finger or thumb on the soundboard. Feel it everywhere to see where exactly the dominance will be reduced most efficiently from the slight pressure of your finger tip. ( I think G will be relatively close to the bridge, but better try out the whole plantilla.)

Once you found out where damping will cover the offending frequency take a small piece of plasticine and position it at the determined exact spot. Keep varying its mass and size until you get the optimal result / equivalent to the force / inertia you emitted with your finger / thumb.
Once made out how the dampening piece of plasticine should be like put it in at same spot from under the top.

Let us know how it works out.

Ruphus
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 19:03:29
 
Erik van Goch

 

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
I cant give you a solid answer but grasp the opportunity to share the fact classical guitar players tend to treat/play the g string differently as the other treble strings because it's bigger mass makes it react/sound differently when the same technique is applied. So to level the sound they treat that string slightly different when they plug it.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 19:10:29
 
el carbonero

 

Posts: 295
Joined: Jun. 23 2007
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
a good guitar have good sound with any strings,it's the case of my conde...

Try G oasis carbon,G savarez alliance,G d'addario T2.

If the problem persist ,change your guitar.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 2 2014 19:46:31
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to Sr. Martins) 
quote:

With those guitars the problem is greatly reduced when you use a dryer sounding G with less diameter. Try using black trebles or the coffee colored D'Addario.


I agree. And its not nice when a guitar has to much overtones. Also try the black Labella trebles. They are very dry sounding and work very well with guitars that has to much "ring" in the trebles. Just as they can sound very dead on very dry sounding guitars.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 3 2014 8:25:08
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to el carbonero) 
quote:

a good guitar have good sound with any strings


Yes, I agree. But it is also a matter of taste. I´m sure that you you have strings that you prefer over others. Some like nylon trebles and some like carbon or composite....
If you have a guitar which is pretty string neutral, you are lucky because then you can stop thinking about how it sounds and concentrate on finding strings where you like the feel of them, and then we are getting closer to what its all about.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 3 2014 8:26:52
 
Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Oh look, someone posted a hint on how to possibly tune the problem away.
> yawn, ... scratch groin, picking nose ...<

Let me complete the suggestion in Japanese:
The TO´s problem could have to do with either cancelling or build up of FQ.
Most typically with a cancelling coming from lower FQ ( being overly responsive there) that would annul the fundamental of G, thus leaving the impression of overtones drowning out.
Lesser likely being that the guitar was overly respoinve in the overtones range.

In any case dampening at corresponding spots could help.

If a version in Balinese language is needed please refer to my international office, thank you. |OP

Ruphus San
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 3 2014 10:36:30
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
G...one of my favorite strings. learn to love her.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 4 2014 14:15:11
 
Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to Ricardo) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

G...one of my favorite strings.


Dito!
Love how it "knocks" ( with guitars that cover the midrange well).

Ruphus
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 4 2014 14:33:08
 
El Burro Flamencuro

 

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to el carbonero) 
quote:

Try G oasis carbon,G savarez alliance,G d'addario T2.


I have a salvador castillo, oasis carbons are great strings but take a little getting used to, they are really physically thin strings, some people like those better because they feel like they can play faster with them. My personal experience with these on my Castillo is that they do have a pretty nice tone but that they can be quite snappy and i think i actually prefer a thicker string, i feel that i can play just as fast on a thicker string(and it gives me more room for error) but i also think that practicing on a guitar with thin trebles will make you more accurate/precise when you switch back to thicker trebles.

I tried Savarez Corum high tension basses on my castillo and thought that they died way too fast...maybe 2-3 weeks, and that they are super super high tension, it felt like my strings were piano wire or something. Which made it a lot harder to play. So again, i think this is a good thing on a practice guitar because the higher tension will make your hands stronger(at least it feels like it) but i wouldn't want to actually perform with a string tension that high.

I just put on a set of Luthier "set-50" High tension basses and these strings feel more like what i am used to. They're not ridiculously high tension but they're just right, a balance between projection and playability. So far i like them a lot, i just put them on today so we'll see if i still like them in a few weeks.

Anyways maybe some of that will be useful to you. Btw i have tried DDario pro arte and i liked the tone of the base strings(Nice and crispy but not mettalic like the savarez's) but they were too low tension, and didn't project enough for me. I didn't like the trebles at all. I have also tried the Ddario composite...the one with the brown G string, i believe the basses are the same as in the pro arte set...i think so at least. I didn't like the composite string at all, to me it sounded way out of place. But i do know a lot of people on the forum have mentioned that string before...idk i think some people like it.

P.S. I like high tension strings for the extra projection, but too high and i can't play as well, too low tension and it just doesn't feel right in my hands and the guitar won't be nearly as loud.

p.s. i could be talking out of my ass right now, but from what i have experienced...i believe these things to be true
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 8 2014 4:32:48
 
wiking

 

Posts: 63
Joined: Apr. 11 2014
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
Just FYI, I put some Conde medium tensions on and the G sounds a LOT better. And I see what you mean by the "knock", it's really a unique string. Sounds super flamenco.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 8 2014 17:07:34
 
beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
El burro!

I also have a Castillo. For the trebles try LaBella 900 golden, Savarez 500PR rectified, and Royal classic fl60. Those are all different, but very good IMO.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 8 2014 20:20:21
 
estebanana

Posts: 9353
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
I love the funkyness of the G string- rather than try to make it blend in I prefer to use the sound to make falsetas 'oudie' sounding.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 9 2014 10:21:09
 
beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
To be honest, I've never experienced the same....I usually hear people compalining about the G string behaving totally different from the other strings, and never ever really understood what this is all about...
Yes it's different, as it's to produce a different note, so it is different in diameter, and feel...so what? I rarely run into some set that has a G that's really out of the game, but I just simply consider that set to be crap.
Or am I really lucky with all my previous guitars?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 9 2014 10:48:53
 
rojarosguitar

Posts: 243
Joined: Dec. 8 2010
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to beno) 
There are so many options for G string according to different tastes:

- tubby sounding nylon (like d'Addario)
- clearer nylon sound like La Bella nylon
- Aquila nylgut (a lot of midrange)
- Dogal nylon-fluorocarbon hybrid - clearer than nylon but warmer and bigger diameter t han fluorocarbon.
- Savarez fluorocarbon (brilliant)
- Savarez nylon wound
- many brands of copper wound silver plated g strings
- Dr. Thomastik flat wound
- Hannabach aluminium flat wound
- Seeguar Premier fluorocarbon fishing line (0.91 for higher tension) - the best fluorocarbon g-string ever, if you like higher tension...

I think in face of all these options you should be able to finde a g strig that is exactly matching your sound ideas...

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 9 2014 23:23:44
 
El Burro Flamencuro

 

Posts: 118
Joined: Nov. 28 2012
 

RE: G string sounds odd? (in reply to wiking) 
quote:

El burro!

I also have a Castillo. For the trebles try LaBella 900 golden, Savarez 500PR rectified, and Royal classic fl60. Those are all different, but very good IMO.


Thanks beno, I'll definitely be trying those out! :)
I got this Castillo at the begining of the year 2014, it's still very new haha. I love it's sound, it's maybe not as loud as i would like...but it is a 650 and not 660. i mean, when i really dig in, then it is loud but it's hard to play like that all the time. part of it could be that i'm not used to the lower action yet or maybe the high tension strings along with a lower action is just to much tension for my hands to handle...i don't have the strength to dig in as much as i'd like.

I'm curious about the La bella 820 B's as well. Someone on the foro had mentioned that sabicas used la bella golden trebles, maybe the 900's, they didn't specify.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date May 20 2014 23:02:36
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