Flamenco guitar strings

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comus

Posts: 23
Joined: Oct. 2 2006

Flamenco guitar strings

Hi could anyone please reccomend a good quality flamenco guitar string, I dont mind paying a bit more for a high quality string.

should i be looking for high or low tension strings, also do solo flamenco players tend to use a thin Bottom E sring like 10 or a heavier string 12 or above.

also is a fingernail hardening paint a neccessity and if so can any one head me in the right direction product wise, and whilst im at it is there a reccomended nail lengh, and should the ends of the nails be squared of.

I ask these questions because i am new to learning Flamenco guitar, i have played other styles for many years.

thanks for your help in advance

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 14 2006 19:47:40

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to comus)

There is no 'set' string type for playing solo and nylon strings are sold by tension, not gauge like in other guitar styles. Just buy any decent set of normal tension strings that are easy to come by wherever you are (eg D'Addario, Savarez) and don't worry about string brands for a while - far more important things to think about!

Different players like different tensions (and anyway one make's normal tension might feel tighter than another make's high tension - there is no standard).

Don't worry about nail stuff either unless you are finding your nails breaking all the time. If that is the case, there are lots of products to try eg. nail varnish (clear, not coloured

, nail hardner products like Sally Hansen or even glue.
Some players go for false nails, but again this is not really something to worry about at your stage.

There is no recommended nail length, but I suggest you start with the nails just peeping over the tips of your fingers as you hold your hand in front of your face, filed the same shape/profile as the finger tip. More experienced players may like to tweak nail shape and go for ramps etc but again I think this is a distraction at the beginning. You won't have sufficient control to notice any difference.

Assuming you don't have teacher, buy yourself one of the method books like Juan martin or Graf Martinez. It will help start you off and answer a lot of the basic questions.

_____________________________

Spanish Guitarist in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 16 2006 9:04:23

comus

Posts: 23
Joined: Oct. 2 2006

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to Jon Boyes)

Hi Jon
thanks for the advice, especially about the fingernails, Im not a begginer on the guitar by anymeans i have been playing for 15 years, I always try to get quality strings, for my guitars, as i think it makes a diffrence]

but i take your point, about string sizes, of course now you come to mension it, i was thinking about my steel strung acoustic, regards the string sizes.

i have the Graf Martinez DVD on order now and i am attempting to work though the Paco Pena "Torque Flamenco" student workbook, now that is really streching my guitar skills,

regards the Nail varnish ill make sure not to wear coloured nail varnish, cant have anyone thinking im a "Laydee"

Cheers
Stu

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 17 2006 22:46:40

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to comus)

Savarez Alliance/Corum

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2006 19:12:16

comus

Posts: 23
Joined: Oct. 2 2006

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to Jim Opfer)

quote:

Savarez Alliance/Corum

thanks for the suggestion Jim, i was seriously considering them anyway, along with Hannabach, condo Hermanos, or La bella(i found a bewildering choice of high quality strings) i eventually settled on Daniel Mari flamenco strings aparently Sabicus used them, so im hoping some of his magic will rub off on me

Well i can live in hope

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2006 22:41:16

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to comus)

First, I dont believe in something like "flamenco" strings. What is important is that the strings suit your guitar and even more your playing style.

You can basically break strings down to 2 major groups: 1) nylon trebles and 2) composite trebles.

Some people like the singy sound of composite trebles, some dont, some people actually hate the feeling of composite trebles, which are thinner and harder.
Good composite trebles are Savarez Alianza, Hannabach goldin and Knobloch.

I your quest for a good string brand and tension I will recommend you to stick with a reference set, and from that, try other sets.

As a builder, I use Daddario J45. I need to use the same set of strings on all guitars in order to control how the guitars sound, and Daddario are kind of "middle of the road" They are very consistent a lot of people use them or know them and they are relatively cheap.

When I choose strings for my self, I ALWAYS go for what suits my playing style before sound. I dont like the feel of composites on 1st and 2nd string but I always play composite on 3rd string. Right now I use Luthier 30 as 1st and 2nd and Savarez Alianza as 3rd.
I prefer OLD trebles and often I use a set of trebles for up to a 6 sets of basses!!!!

Bass strings: New ones are good ones. I like most. Some are rounder and some more metallic. I like to change, but mostly I use Luthier 30, Daddario or Savarez Corum.

Before I used mostly normal tension, But I use high tension at the moment.

It´s very personal..

Remember, that because a string was used by some crack 30 years ago, doesnt mean it´s a good string. A lot of things have happened on the string side. Before Savarez carte rouge was considered a good string. VERY few people like it now.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2006 8:07:16

comus

Posts: 23
Joined: Oct. 2 2006

RE: Flamenco guitar strings (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Hi anders
I read with much intrest, the comments you made about, the way you use string combinations, the reason i mentioned, "sabicus used them" was because, i have a DVD of 1960's solo flamenco performances by Paco di lucia and sabicus amongs others, "old school sound " as some refer to it, and i love the crispness of the sound of both their guitars, plus most of my music of Paco Pena from the 60's and early 70's has the same crisp sound.
now i know its, (in my estimation) about 80% guitarist, 13%guitar and about 7% strings plus of course you have to consider the action of the guitar also.

for me as a relatively new flamenco guitarist if i can get my flamenco guitar to sound anything like my hero's, then i will be a happy man, then i just have to build up my skill level to really bring out the best in my guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2006 15:56:36