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Post subject: Replacing strings
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:20 am
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I bought my first acoustic a couple months ago, it came with a set of Fender® Dura-Tone® Coated 80/20 Bronze (.012-.052 Gauge) strings. The sound was absolutely beautiful and then the first string broke. I went to where I bought the guitar and they sold me another set of strings that supposedly are the most popular ones (D'Addario EJ16-light .012-.053). I installed them but the sound is not what it was before entirely. It is now "sharper" more metallic; it sounds nice but I miss the rich/smooth sound it had before. Should I get the original ones? Any other suggestions?
Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Replacing strings
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:16 pm
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The factory strings you mention are coated, the coating is designed to make the strings last longer, the coating keeps dirt and the oils and acids in your sweat from accumulating on the strings. The tradeoff is that the coating can make them sound a little less bright than uncoated strings.

Here's the tricky part, your strings may not have been the factory strings, the store may have changed them. I'm pretty certain that the Fender acoustic that I bought in May didn't have coated strings on it. The store might change the factory strings for a number of reasons: a string may have broken or they may have changed them simply because to many players coated strings don't sound as good and feel funny to play which could make the difference when a customer is considering buying a guitar. If that is the case then the strings you had likely sounded sounded different because they were older, new strings always sound brighter than ones that have been played a bit.

Play your new strings for a while and see how they sound in a week or so. Next time you change strings try a coated set, be warned they will probably be more expensive than uncoated strings.

Also, rest assured that D'Addario is a very popular brand. If you decide you like them you can get the same strings in Godin packaging for about a dollar less a pack. Godin is a Canadian company that manufactures Seagull and Simon and Patrick acoustics among others, D'Addario just makes their strings for them.

Cheers and have fun with your new acoustic,

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Zach

What I play:
Larrivee OM-03MH
2011 Fender CD-220SCE
1979 or '80 Fender F-35 (date has been hard to pin down)
Samick Greg Bennett D-2


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Post subject: Re: Replacing strings
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:42 pm
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Thanks!
I'll play those strings for a while to see if the sounds changes
My guitar it's a DG8S NAT model. I'm pretty sure the strings were the original ones, the guitar came in a package that looked unopened. I can buy the original strings for even less $ than the D'Addarios


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Post subject: Re: Replacing strings
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 1:00 pm
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That's the great thing about strings, they're a cheap way to alter the tone of your guitar. One word of advice: I'd stick with similar gauges to the factory strings for now. Most acoustic light sets are 0.12 to 0.53 or 0.54 so if you akd for light you should be okay. Switching to a heavier or lighter gauge will throw off your intonation and affect the playability. It can be done but you may want to have a guitar tech make that kind of switch for you.

Cool that the original strings are cheaper than D'Addarios.

I've never played a DG8S but from what I hear they offer some serious bang (solid top in a value pack!) for little bucks.

Have fun!

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Zach

What I play:
Larrivee OM-03MH
2011 Fender CD-220SCE
1979 or '80 Fender F-35 (date has been hard to pin down)
Samick Greg Bennett D-2


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Post subject: Re: Replacing strings
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:55 pm
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I've heard that you can get any "kind" of string you'd like as long as you keep the gauge the same.

As for coated strings, I'm not sure if they're the same but I really like the Elixirs that I use on my acoustic, Fender Montara that is! I've found that they have a nice warm tone and last a long time, which is good because I HATE new strings.


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