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Post subject: WHAT ARE THE BEST SLINKY MED/HEAVY GAUGE ACOUSTIC STRINGS???
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:52 pm
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Okay, I need some advice on strings. I have jumbo size acoustic that puts out some deep to midrange kind of tones which I like the warmth of very much and would like to keep it that way.

When I first bought the guitar it sounded very good with the stock strings. My guess is it sounded better not because they were really good strings, but because they were at least medium gauge strings or heavier and that made them sit a bit tighter and gave them more clarity and deeper tone. But I didn't like the stiffness of the strings and I could barely bend them at all- so I stepped down to a D'Addario Light gauge which solved the problem but the tone wasn't nearly as nice.

To top that off- I'm getting older and so I've been tuning down to Eb to accommodate my lackluster voice and so I think this is contributing to even more tonal problems with strings.

Anyway, I need to find some acoustic strings that are medium to heavy gauge that also bend easy and sound good at Eb without costing more than my guitar (lol). Any suggestions???

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!


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Post subject: Re: WHAT ARE THE BEST SLINKY MED/HEAVY GAUGE ACOUSTIC STRING
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:11 pm
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SRVWANNAB wrote:
Okay, I need some advice on strings. I have jumbo size acoustic that puts out some deep to midrange kind of tones which I like the warmth of very much and would like to keep it that way.

When I first bought the guitar it sounded very good with the stock strings. My guess is it sounded better not because they were really good strings, but because they were at least medium gauge strings or heavier and that made them sit a bit tighter and gave them more clarity and deeper tone. But I didn't like the stiffness of the strings and I could barely bend them at all- so I stepped down to a D'Addario Light gauge which solved the problem but the tone wasn't nearly as nice.

To top that off- I'm getting older and so I've been tuning down to Eb to accommodate my lackluster voice and so I think this is contributing to even more tonal problems with strings.

Anyway, I need to find some acoustic strings that are medium to heavy gauge that also bend easy and sound good at Eb without costing more than my guitar (lol). Any suggestions???

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!


Sorry I can't help you bro, but my brand of acoustic strings are top secret!

Nothing personal- but you might wanna head on over to the Line 6 forums, I hear they're pretty responsive over there and you don't have to own 12 Strats and 6 DR's to get in the club.

Welp, I've gotta go polish some of my guitars- my sister's getting married and I'm gonna play my totally awesome lounge version of "Close To You" by the Carpenters and I'm not sure which one I'm gonna play on, I'm thinking maybe my Eric Johnson Strat, but my modded EC is a close contender.

:roll:


Last edited by SRVWANNAB on Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:20 pm
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I was having problems with my hands a few years ago and playing my acoustic was almost impossible. I decided to drop the action, so I went with a bone saddle, shaved some it off and ended up with action was as low as my electrics. Then I put on a set of electric flatwound 10's. Not only is the guitar playable to me but it sounds great too.

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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:05 am
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I can't drop the action any lower and I want to keep the strings all acoustic because they just sound fuller to me, but I was wondering about upgrading to a bone saddle and nut and if that might help with the tone and sustain a bit- maybe it will even allow me to use the lighter gauge strings and still sound as good as the heavy ones.

The saddle and nut on my acoustic are made from some bs space age material called "Ivorex" which is really just a synthetic hard durable plastic. I don't think it's dense enough if you ask me.

I guess my question (to you or anybody) would be- do you notice a big difference when you upgrad the saddle and nut to bone?

And thanks again.


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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:01 am
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Hi SRVWANNAB, I don't know enough about your guitar or your playing style but here's my two cents. Have you tried to tune down one whole step and put a capo on the second fret? So you have big strings, less tension and you're still in tune.
Secondly, when I bought my beginner Yamaha accoustic in 2005, I returned it a few weeks later for a routine set up and the luthier gave it a good check, changed the strings and put a bone nut on it.
As for subtle improvements, some people will hear them and some won't but I guess that bone is better than plastic.
Here's more info on strings.
http://guitar.about.com/gi/dynamic/offs ... droom.html
Good luck. 8)
Claude.


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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:14 am
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My Sonoran came strung with D'addario EXP26 Phosphor Bronze in 11 gauge. I like that combo....

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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:31 am
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I use D'Addario EJ16 phosphor bronze 12, 16, 24, 32, 42, 53. The g string is unbendable but I like the tone. After a few days of practice, I can see the shine of the new strings starting to go away. At that point I don't hear a fade in the tone but if I restring there is a clear difference even if the strings are only a few days old. I guess that strings are meant to be chanded more often than I used to think. Next time I restring, I'll try the EXP26, thanks Troublecall. 8)
Claude.


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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 1:55 pm
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Thanks everybody, I haven't tried the capo trick, but it's worth a try and thanks for the link. Maybe there's a bigger difference in $10 strings and $25 strings than I thought there was. And after hearing some of the tracks on that link I guess some strings have a bit of "acceptable" fret noise which would be even more obvious with a cheap nut and saddle.

I think I'm gonna get a precut bone nut & saddle and do it myself since I can't afford a luthier's prices- the setup is easy enough.

Thanks again- I knew you were out there!


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