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After the grandiose success of the "how often do change strings" topic, I decided to make another poll, this time about which type of strings you prefer. Sadly I discovered that I can only put 10 options in a poll, but we can do it the old-fashioned way.
I mainly use d'addario EJ45, because I like that normal tension the best on my guitar. Though I would like to try a black nylon set sometimes. Just to see if it makes a difference and hopefully make my guitar sound more 'gypsy'
I like loud basses and super clear, vibrant trebles...as bright as can be. With that said, I like hard tension D'Addario EJ45 composite Bass strings and medium tension Galli Titanio strings with my cheap student model guitar.
However, I am currently in a testing phase with the new Flamenco D'Addario strings. I'm using them for about a week or two now (?)...and I'm very happy with how it sounds like so far......so it might be my new favorite... ...
I have been testing for about 6 months now as I purchased a new guitar (cedar top. cypress back and sides). I used to use La Bella 820s with red trebles exclusively, but they sounded and felt wrong on this guitar. I have tested out all of the major brands, (Hannabach, Savarez, Luthier, La Bella, Aranjuez, Conde Hermanos, and more) and Luthier Popular Supreme seemed the best all around string for this guitar. I am about to try a mix of d'addario composite basses and d'addario t2 trebles and following that a set of EJ45s, and then Daniel Mari. At that point I will make a decision. I am not a fan of black or carbon trebles. One doesn't sound musical enough to me, and the other feels terrible for tremolo.
You're gonna have to do exactly the same as Harry. In all the string threads you read the same issue keeps coming up. Different strings suit different guitars.
And then when you've found your perfect set or mix of sets you can be sure they won't sound as good on a different guitar so then you'll have to start again.
i usually use la bella basses, the pure silver ones, but if im not doing any proper formal gigs i use the basses from a $2.74 set from webstrings.com, otherwise it just gets too expensive for me
RE: Which strings do you use? (in reply to sean65)
quote:
ORIGINAL: sean65
Yohan,
You're gonna have to do exactly the same as Harry. In all the string threads you read the same issue keeps coming up. Different strings suit different guitars.
And then when you've found your perfect set or mix of sets you can be sure they won't sound as good on a different guitar so then you'll have to start again.
yes I know, I'm trying a lot of different brands of strings on my guitar lately. but I was just curious to see what strings are popular under flamenco players.
I really recommend that you limit your choices. The reason is that I have been buying strings like a madman and I think I should have just stuck to the major brands as you say. For the record, I think you absolutely must try:
La Bella 820s D'addario Ej45 or 46, and also composites Savarez Corum Alliance Luthier 20 or higher tension Hannabach but these are $$$
To me these are the top brands and most of the people here swear by these. Brands like Conde Hermanos, Daniel Mari, and Aranjuez among others are good, but they are either harder to find or else pricier so you can try them later on.
SOMETIMES WE COMBO THE ABOVE LU BASSES AND THE DM TREBLES. THE DM TREBLES CLOSE IN FILL TO LA BELLA 820 BUT THE SOUND IS BRIGHT FROM DAY 1 . THE GHITARS CONDE HERMANOS NEGRA 660MM SCALE, BOTH ME AND MY SON USE THIS ON BOTH OUR CONDE'S. WORK GREAT ON THIS SCALE,AFTER MANY MANY TRIALS WE CHOOS THOSE FOR SOUND AND COMF' TENSION.
ALSO OUR MAESTRO USE THE LU #20 FOR HIS CONDE BLANCA SAME SCALE.
For me I have settled with the D'Addario EJ43 (light) This is mainly because of the longevity of the strings, D'Addario in general seem to last me much longer than any other . I also am quite happy with D'Addario EJ45 (medium) but I swapped down from them partly cos I was told I hit the strings too hard, and this may be true, and because I thought I may get a bit more of a flamenco type dry, rattle sound, which I like, difficult to explain sound in terms of words !!! this is on my main guitar ,
On a secondary guitar I tried Galli GR40 Titanio Hard/ or medium, in an attempt to gain some treble that I thoiught it lacked, and a bit of volume as well, and was well impressed with the big difference it made to the sound so I left them on that one, dont know if anyone else uses Galli strings ?, long lasting as well
I'm also in process of trying to test different brands, (Savarez; Hannabach; D;Addario, etc.) but I have no definitive means of evaluating each one. All of them seem to sound good when they're new, especially the basses. But I have a lot of trouble evaluating the trebles for sound, sustain, brightness, etc.
And also, how to determine what tension is best; HT, LT or what? Is there any real definitive way to evaluate one against another and keep notes? Do you record your tests?
What methods do you use to evaluate your string tests, for a specific instrument?
RE: Which strings do you use? (in reply to El Kiko)
quote:
On a secondary guitar I tried Galli GR40 Titanio Hard/ or medium, in an attempt to gain some treble that I thoiught it lacked, and a bit of volume as well, and was well impressed with the big difference it made to the sound so I left them on that one, dont know if anyone else uses Galli strings ?, long lasting as well
Those are my favorite strings and they work on both of my guitars but they are a bit expensive, so I am slowly trying different ones, ruled out some but still haven't decided. I find the Gali have a good life too, if it wasn't for the price I would use them all the time.
for me, it's d'Addario medium tension on my Bellido (my favourite of my guitars).
I use Luthier Flamencos on the Ramirez and just about anything that I can get my hands on for the el-cheapo Alhambra factory-made thing. (okay.. slight exaggeration.. it's actually quite a fairly nice guitar even though it's factory made, and not really "cheap")
I did go through a phase of using high tension strings, but I found them to be too "bleedy" in sound/attack for my own personal taste, especially for rasgueados. I like the rapid-fire ra-ta-ta-ta-ta with a very sharp attack, and when using even a more "stacatto" strikes on the high tensions they were more like "rrrrrarrrarra" because of what sounds like a slower attack and longer decay.
I guess in the end it boils down to personal preference -- but also the guitar itself has a lot to do with it :)
I wouldn't trade my Bellido for anything else, at any rate.
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). 
- it's given me the most flamenco bite for my otherwise romantic guitar!
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