Strings? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Strings?
Flamenco strings
  62% (10)
Classical strings
  37% (6)


Total Votes : 16
(last vote on : Feb. 8 2013 12:17:28) 


Message

Skai -> Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 3:58:50)

Hey everyone,

How many of you actually put 'flamenco strings' on your guitar? Or do you just put normal classical nylons on it? I'd just like to find out because I see no reason why my flamenco guitar should lack 'flamenco' without flamenco strings. Sure, it sounds better with a capo and flamenco strings but I believe that a good flamenco guitar should sound 'flamenco' enough even with classical strings.

The reason I'd like to know is because all flamenco guitars sold locally have normal nylons on them so I've no way to judge how they sound with flamenco strings.

Thanks,
Skai [8D]



Ron.M -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 8:21:08)

Skai,
A Flamenco guitar generally has a brighter sound with shorter sustain than a Classical guitar. Higher tension strings also tend to be slightly louder and brighter.
Apart from that, it's the *way* the guitar is played that makes it sound Flamenco IMO.
Much heavier thumb, lots of rest strokes and damping the strings to get that shorter sustain "brittle" sound.
I wouldn't worry too much about guitar/strings at this stage if I were you.
My view is that if you have a guitar with a reasonably low action and string-to-top distance, then this should be perfectly adequate for learning with any type of nylon strings available in your locality.
I like Savarez High Tension (Red Card) myself, but if I can't get them I just use anything they have.

cheers

Ron



Skai -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 8:54:33)

Would the high tension put the guitar at risk? Maybe cause more bellying of the tops.

Skai [8D]



Ron.M -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 10:30:55)

Skai,
I doubt if the manufactures would make them if they did.
Years ago Paco Peña told me practically all the professionals in Spain used Savarez Red Card strings.
Anyway, they are only marginally higher tension than normal.
Personally I reckon storing a guitar in poor conditions (extremes of heat/cold/humidity) would have a more significant effect on warping/bellying.
However I'nm no expert.
One of the Luthiers would be able to answer that question better.

cheers

Ron



Escribano -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 10:36:08)

quote:

Would the high tension put the guitar at risk?


Stephen Hill, an English luthier, strongly advices against extra high tension strings as they can belly the soundboard by pulling on the bridge.

Nevertheless, I have used them on my Bernal with no problems. I personally favour the Dadarrio E45 normal tension - they last forever and sound pretty good without losing tone and volume. I use Savarez Corum high tension for that special sound when I need it, great projection but they only last 3-4 weeks before a bass string or the brightness goes.

Also, wipe down your strings after use as sweat will corrode the bass windings. I never remember[;)]



Jon Boyes -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 12:49:49)

D'Addarios here too, hard tension composites on my Sanchis.

Hardly anyone seems to use 'flamenco strings'. I can't say I've tried loads but I really can't be bothered. Its too easy to waste time trying out millions of brands looking for that perfect sound when you could be practicing. One of the classical forums is like this, all they ever talk about is strings, strings, strings.

Madness!

Actually I can't reisist a bit of controversy here.. How's this:

A good flamenco tone is down to:

80% - the guitarist
15% - the guitar
5% - strings

Jon



Ron.M -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 13:20:22)

quote:

A good flamenco tone is down to:

80% - the guitarist
15% - the guitar
5% - strings

Jon


Seems a pretty good estimate to me.

Anyway, back in the 50's and 60's there was hardly any choice of nylon string, yet Sabicas, Escudero, Paco de Lucia etc managed to get a fairly good Flamenco tone. [:D]


Ron



duende -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 14:04:13)

I use D´darrios composite (medium) I don´t use that werid G string that comes with it.
I also use Red Savarez. I like them both. My problem is my bass strings die after only 3 days. And that´s not a joke. It really pisses me off!!![:@] Either it´s my guitar or it´s the flamenco style of playing. grrrr!! But they realy die very quick.

Henrik



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 15:35:59)

Funny, I was told that a lot of people in Espana use the black LaBella...but who knows. I use D'Addarios, but good ol' "you-know-who" is talkinga bout these Savarez Cristals. Says they're really good, so I'll have to give them a try. Everyone I know uses the Daddario hard tension because they're cheap, seem to last long, sound fine.

By the way, I heard that many good classical players use normal tension. I found this interesting because I always thought that good players used high tension. Supposedly the guitar "sings" more with normal tension. but we don't want that do we?

I think that extra high tension makes for a dull sound.



Ron.M -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 16:17:09)

When I had a cheap (not Flamenco) guitar I found that by tuning up between a semitone and a tone higher than normal (A=440Hz) the guitar sounded más Flamenco and I played better.
I've no idea why this was so. [:-]

Wouldn't try this on a good guitar though!

Ron



Jim Opfer -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 16:22:55)

quote:

I've no idea why this was so.


Probably because the nut was closer to the bridge! [sm=Smiley Guitar.gif]



Jim Opfer -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 16:26:46)

quote:

I have used them on my Bernal


Simon, is your Bernal the 'Prodigio' model with cedar top?



Escribano -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 16:31:51)

quote:

Simon, is your Bernal the 'Prodigio' model with cedar top?


No, it's the La Serrania, cheap and made under licence but I love it.



Patrick -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 16:45:39)

quote:

80% - the guitarist
15% - the guitar
5% - strings


Jon,

Just when I was starting to really respect you, you go and say something like this! Everybody knows it's:

79.6% guitarist
15.3% the guitar
5.1% strings

I'll let you off this time, but only once! LOL



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 17:16:18)

It's a recurring pattern with Jon... a long period of good behavior and then BLAM! he drops a zinger like that. 5%! Who is he trying to fool?



Patrick -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 18:00:44)

I am personally in the camp that “strings are strings”, although I wasn’t at one time. I’ve tried most of them. But here’s a story that made me think.

I just received my new Aaron Green blanca last Friday. Aaron uses LaBella strings exclusively. Aaron had medium 2001’s on it. When I first played it, the trebles were very loud and clear with very short sustain. The low E was a bit flat to me, which I knew I could cure. On Sunday I put on Corrum basses and Cristal trebles. This guitar is responding completely different. As expected, the Corrum’s did the trick on the basses, but what’s really interesting, is the incredible sustain it now has.

It’s absolutely like night and day. It isn’t that it made the guitar any better, just “different”. My guess is, this is such a responsive instrument, that it tends to take on the character of the strings more so then a lesser guitar would. So, at least for this guitar, I have to say that strings are 6.34% of the equation!

Pat



Jamey -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 19:40:01)

I use the La Bella 2001 high tensions with the black trebles. This took some getting used to because the trebles feel thinner than the Augustines I swore by previously (Aaron told me La Bella makes many of the strings for Augustine - ?). Anyway, they sound great on my Sigurdson blanca so I just stick with them. I find that D dies quicker than the rest but I don't know if that's just due to me playing the same thing too many times without realizing it or what [&:]

I started with low tension Augustines a long time ago, then went to normal tension, then switched to high about a year or so ago. I wanted higher tension so that the strings would "snap back" into position faster, not because of the tone. These La Bella high tensions are very bright while the medium tension Augustines had a fuller, bigger tone to them. I don't think I'm good enough to really get any appreciable difference out of the strings, I just prefer the way the higher tensions feel. Go with what feels right for you, but try them out first to make up your mind.



Patrick -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 17 2004 22:04:21)

quote:

I find that D dies quicker than the rest but I don't know if that's just due to me playing the same thing too many times without realizing it or what


Jamey,

It happens to all of us. I'm lucky if I get a week or two out of a Corrum "D" before the windings start to break. The 5th and 6th last at least two to three times as long. I just buy a bunch of extra D's from Stringsbymail and replace them until I do the whole set of basses. I change trebles after two or three months, they last forever. Just buy bass sets a bunch of D's and a couple of full sets. It's economical and you don't have to dink around changing strings all the time.



musicalgrant -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 18 2004 1:06:07)

Strings, when I played classical guitar I was forever trying differnet strings and tensions, and then when I brought my hand made left handed flamenco guitar I found La Bella Professional 2001 flamenco black trebles were the ones that worked best for me, they had a powerful bass and treble was very sharp. (I used meduim tension, because my hands would pack up with hard tension). This is due to my spondylosis.

Jaun Martin used other strings, and didn't like La Bella

but I found that on my guitar La bella professional flamenco strings really gave it that flamenco sound. But that is me and my guitar. Each guitar is different as is each player.

Cheers



Skai -> RE: Strings? (Nov. 18 2004 7:41:42)

I fully agree that it's the techniques that make it 'flamenco' so I do practise quite alot on my classical guitar with more sustain and bassyness(if there's even such a word).

But I'm sure you all agree it just feels and sounds so nice when the guitar is good and the strings make it even better. Makes up for the lack of my ability in the meantime.. [:D] It just feels good with better instruments and strings even though I can get quite a satisfactory 'flamenco' tone from my classical.

I'm not going to be bothered about what brands, just interested to know about flamenco and classical. I've only used Daddario classicals and LaBella Flamencos(only 1 available) in my whole life. Maybe Augustine once because I didn't know what to buy. Savarez strings are probably the most expensive ones available here. I personally stick to one brand but I actually feel and hear the difference between flamenco and classical strings. Thus, my curiosity..

Skai [8D]



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