Yet another string thread...

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Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

Yet another string thread...

I've actually compiled a list of strings and combinations that people have said they like, here and at F-T.com, so fear not, I'm not goign to be asking about that.

I've always used d'Addario strings, and the other day I just restrung with my first set of non-d'addarios.

The trebles I'm using are Labella 820b. I'm not sure if I like them.

First, they were a pain to string. They're much stretchier (estrechy, je), than I'm used to, and they were harder to make as neat I like.
They also need more time to stretch out, they detune real fast.

While taught and in tune, they don't feel too bad, but the d'addario's have a harder (resiny?) feel. These feel more like... plastic.

They sound fine, and I love the idea of cool colours, but can anyone explain to me about what trebles are made of and what not?

Next time I get strings, I may want to get something that feels closer to what the d'addarios felt like (BTW, they were ej45s or ej46s...).

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 17:33:44

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao) 1 votes

Ever tried fishing line? There's a few threads over on Delcamp that goes into detail about various types used. I've bounced around with the idea of trying that. Anyways I don't know what type of nylon LaBella uses for their 820s, but the harder plasticky feel of other strings is exactly what I don't like.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 20:50:03

andresito

Posts: 377
Joined: Feb. 20 2007
From: New Holland

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao) 1 votes

quote:

ORIGINAL: Exitao
I've actually compiled a list of strings and combinations that people have said they like, here and at F-T.com, so fear not, I'm not goign to be asking about that.

Well since you asked

I like these, but no-one ever mentions them
http://www.ostriesculpture.com/danielmaristrings.htm

thanks to whoever gave me my very first score!

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¡este arbol tiene duende, cabron!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 21:15:46

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to kovachian)

quote:

Delcamp

quote:

ORIGINAL: kovachian

Ever tried fishing line? There's a few threads over on Delcamp that goes into detail about various types used. I've bounced around with the idea of trying that. Anyways I don't know what type of nylon LaBella uses for their 820s, but the harder plasticky feel of other strings is exactly what I don't like.

delcamp.net? I'll poke around.

The Labella 820s are rectified nylon.

Aside from being more of a pain to be anal about when winding around the peg, they're not all that bad. It's just I'm used to what I'm used to. I'm considering the d'addario titaniums just for fun.

andresito:

Never heard of the string brand before. Interesting site, though, I might check them out and maybe something from the accessories. Nice that they take paypal.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2009 23:51:57

Ailsa

Posts: 2277
Joined: Apr. 17 2007
From: South East England

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to andresito)

Hi andresito, I've never heard of them before either. Even with international shipping the price would be reasonable to try some. How long have you been using them?

I've been experimenting with strings recently on my Bernal. Interesting that strings recommended by other players just don't work for me. Guess it's a combination of guitar and hands!

Used to use just D'addarios which were good, but thought I should try some others. Savaraz Alliance worked well on my guitar and lasted for ages, but they are really expensive. Atm I have some Luthiers on which just don't do it for me at all, though one of my teachers uses them all the time. They've gotta go soon - plastic sound, trebles go out of tune. Just waiting for some new strings to arrive.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 0:32:51

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to kovachian)

quote:

Ever tried fishing line?

I remember ages ago someone (I think it was Pat Harris) saw strings for sale on the Internet on 50 metre rolls or something and advertised as a great way to save money.
It made sense, so he bought some rolls.
Apparently they were totally rubbish and Pat offered them for free to anybody who wanted them or he was just going to use them for fishing line.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 1:03:39

andresito

Posts: 377
Joined: Feb. 20 2007
From: New Holland

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Ailsa)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ailsa
Hi andresito, I've never heard of them before either. Even with international shipping the price would be reasonable to try some. How long have you been using them?

Hi Ailsa, I've been using them for a year or so, they seem to stay in tune and wear OK and they make my the cheaper one of my guitars sound a lot better. I've only used the normal tension set but in user reviews I've read people have raved about them. The price was very reasonable too, as you noted, so they might be worth a try even just out of interest

They've got a pretty low level of brand recognition, but Daniel Mari worked for LaBella (which was founded by his father) until he set out on his own.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 3:00:02

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

I remember ages ago someone (I think it was Pat Harris) saw strings for sale on the Internet on 50 metre rolls or something and advertised as a great way to save money. It made sense, so he bought some rolls. Apparently they were totally rubbish and Pat offered them for free to anybody who wanted them or he was just going to use them for fishing line.

Good god man...you don't forget anything! That must have been at least five years ago.

At the time I think I titled the thread "How to turn a DeVoe into a Yamaha" or something like that. They were absolutely the worst strings in the world by far, but the concept of selling strings by the roll was somewhat sound.

When you think of it, a lot of it is marketing. Why can't the big string manufactures sell strings by the roll? I don't need someone to cut them into nice neat lengths. Now you could make an argument for the basses going bad if exposed to the elements, but I don’t know how valid that is. I would bet the hard cost in a set of strings is no more than a buck or so, the balance being packaging and profit at a two or three levels.

Here is what builder Robert Ruck and I did with them!

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 9:22:06

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

Well since you asked I like these, but no-one ever mentions them
http://www.ostriesculpture.com/danielmaristrings.htm

They are worth trying, but in my opinion are no better than good old 45 or 46's for less dough.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 9:39:28

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao) 1 votes

here are the links to the delcamp threads:

http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?t=27823

http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=35326&p=371700#p371498

note that he was looking for an alternative to carbon strings, not just nylon. i think carbon strings might be too bright for flamenco. does anybody here use them?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 10:10:59

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

here are the links to the delcamp threads:

http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?t=27823

http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=35326&p=371700#p371498

note that he was looking for an alternative to carbon strings, not just nylon. i think carbon strings might be too bright for flamenco. does anybody here use them?

Interesting. He was looking at carbon stings as well as investigating the use of flourocarbon fishing line as a bulk alternative. They review GPX, Oasis, and Galli strings in particular.

I would have thought the opposite on the issue of 'brightness'. The body of a Flamenco guitar is shallower (which, IRC, causes for less sustain overall) and intended to provide a sharper (tone, not pitch) sound to project over the cante and palmas/baile. A lot of people describe it as 'brittle' so wouldn't carbon be ideal? It might even make a hybrid sound more flamenco...

Or am I understanding things wrong?

If you come across stuff about other types of materials, please post links to them too.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 11:07:25

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

I would have thought the opposite on the issue of 'brightness'.

well my thought is that flamencos already have the brightness built into them. so using strings that are supposed to be even brighter than nylon might be overkill and might sound too thin on a flamenco.

but, on a classical, it would brighten up an otherwise warm sounding guitar.

but who really knows. i guess you just got to try it to know for sure.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 11:23:39

DavidT

Posts: 181
Joined: Mar. 17 2005
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Patrick)

Pat,

Is it you or Robert in the picture [with fishes]?

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Dave

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 11:32:12

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

quote:

Pat,

Is it you or Robert in the picture [with fishes]?

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Dave

It is Mr Ruck himself on a fishing trip I took him on a couple of years ago. Great guy. We said we weren’t going to talk guitars, but that's about all we talked about.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 11:57:25

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Patrick)

quote:

Good god man...you don't forget anything! That must have been at least five years ago.

I don't forget great stories Pat..

That's what keeps ya going!

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 12:11:19

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao) 1 votes

This has to be the best value in strings in the world. I've used them and they are very good.

http://webstrings.com/classical_guitar_strings.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 12:44:31

Francisco

Posts: 879
Joined: Jun. 13 2005
From: SW USA

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

Wow, that is cheap.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 13:48:59

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

Still, I'd like to know more about the differences between nylon, rectified nylon, carbon &c...

If anyone can enlighten me.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 14:47:41

Güiro

Posts: 158
Joined: Aug. 22 2008
From: Colorado

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

Anybody know what strings the pros are using? I have heard that Paco and Tomatito use Luthier strings.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 16:25:17

andresito

Posts: 377
Joined: Feb. 20 2007
From: New Holland

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Güiro)

Yep, Tomatito shows up on the back of Luthier string packs

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 17:12:26

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to Exitao)

Rectified nylon is extruded and then ground down to the desired gauge, that's why they have the slightly grippy/rough texture to them.It's also why I love rectified nylon so much. Regular clear nylon is just extruded.

Don't know much about carbon or other materials used.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 17:52:30

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Yet another string thread... (in reply to kovachian)

Extrusion is the process of pushing nylon through a die, to make it come out like a string of a specific diameter.

Those old Playdough Fun Factories, extrude playdough into those tubes and spaghetti like things.

OK... that makes more sense now.

I found a link that may answer many of my questions, I'll share it here:
Guitar String Terms

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2009 18:59:29