Which strings.....

[Thermionik]

Which strings do you prefer:

Gibson

Martin

Fender

D'Addario

D'Aquisto

Peavey

DR

SIT

Ernie Ball

Dean Markley

Vinci

RotoSound

GHS

Black Diamond

 

or possibly

Mapes - who have been making musical instrument strings for four generations and supplying wire to all the above, out of Elizabethton, Tennessee - the site of the first independent American settlement west of both the Eastern Continental Divide and the original thirteen British colonies in America.

 

My thanks to Wiki and also Frankie Sixgun for pointing it out.

[ballcorner]

John Pearse

[magnucifer]

D'addario EJ17

 

-Magnus

[Modac]

John Pearse...nickel wounds, now.

[guitarstrummer]

Gibson Masterbuilt mediums, Gibson J200's or D'Addario EJ17s.

[Space Pup]

D'Addario EJ16's but I also like the Clapton's Choice (MEC12) by Martin but they tarnish and discolor very quickly.

[magnucifer]

Modac,

could you tell us some more about those John Pearse Nickel Wounds?

What made you choose them? How do they sound?

Can't buy them in any store here in Sweden, so before I go and shop online I would really appreciate some of your thoughts...

 

Thanks

-Magnus

[Modac]

Magnus, Just Strings carries them. They are wonderful. They really give you a clear, dry, unadulterated, woody, fundamental tone. I began by using them on my J-185, because I wanted to amplify (not electrically) it's "archtop" tendencies. Now it sounds like an old L-5 on steroids---nothing but clear, hollow, dry, woody tone----no metallic string hum at all, after only a few hours of playing. That's one of the great things about Nickel wounds-----they sound dry, like 80/20s when they're at their absolute best, very shortly after you play them in a bit.....and they last for a long time. I seem to feel in my hands, that the tension is slightly less than PB or 80/20s, as well-----but I don't know that to truly be the case. At any rate, I'm using mediums on the J-185, and it sounds amazing. You'd think it was from the 1930s if you could hear how old timey it sounds now.

 

I'm also using them (lights with a substitute 13 and 17 unwound) on my Northwood (maple/cedar) 00-12fret, which loves them, and my Martin 00-18v, which has been completely transformed by them...they make sitka sound like its old Adirondack.

 

I should mention, that I am a barefingered picker, with a heavy thumb, and real strong nails, and I don't play too much "modern" music...that would be anything after WW2.....;o))

[diogo]

Magnus' date=' Just Strings carries them. They are wonderful. They really give you a clear, dry, unadulterated, woody, fundamental tone. I began by using them on my J-185, because I wanted to amplify (not electrically) it's "archtop" tendencies. Now it sounds like an old L-5 on steroids---nothing but clear, hollow, dry, woody tone----no metallic string hum at all, after only a few hours of playing. That's one of the great things about Nickel wounds-----they sound dry, like 80/20s when they're at their absolute best, very shortly after you play them in a bit.....and they last for a long time. I seem to feel in my hands, that the tension is slightly less than PB or 80/20s, as well-----but I don't know that to truly be the case. At any rate, I'm using mediums on the J-185, and it sounds amazing. You'd think it was from the 1930s if you could hear how old timey it sounds now.

 

I'm also using them (lights with a substitute 13 and 17 unwound) on my Northwood (maple/cedar) 00-12fret, which loves them, and my Martin 00-18v, which has been completely transformed by them...they make sitka sound like its old Adirondack.

 

I should mention, that I am a barefingered picker, with a heavy thumb, and real strong nails, and I don't play too much "modern" music...that would be anything after WW2.....;o))[/quote']

 

Modac, you got me interested in these...have you ever tried their 12s? i assume that by mediums, you mean 13s minimum...

[Taylor Player]

Didn't see the choice up there, but I prefer Elixir 80/20 Nano's on my Gibson and Elixir Phospher Bronze Nano's on my Taylor and Legato Dread. They last forever and I am not a G string breaker for some reason so I stick with them.

[Modac]

Diogo....I use a set of light gauge on the little Northwood and the Martin 00-18v---the light gauge set comes with a 12 and a 16 unwound-----but I substitute a 13 and a 17 for them, because my nails are just too strong for 12s and 16s.

 

Try a set if you're looking for more of that old timey, dry, vintage Gibson tone.....they might surprise you.

[diogo]

Diogo....I use a set of light gauge on the little Northwood and the Martin 00-18v---the light gauge set comes with a 12 and a 16 unwound-----but I substitute a 13 and a 17 for them' date=' because my nails are just too strong for 12s and 16s.

 

Try a set if you're looking form more of that old timey, dry, vintage Gibson tone.....they might surprise you.

 

[/quote']

 

would you please you point them out on this list Modac? ill try them for sure. i just hope i can find them over here.

 

http://www.jpstrings.com/brstring.htm#acoustic

[Modac]

Diogo...they are the ones coded "960L" (lights) and 980M (mediums)....your KG14 ought to love them...;o))

[diogo]

Diogo...they are the ones coded "960L" (lights) and 980M (mediums)

 

thank you very much Modac. i really hope this is what i'm looking for...been trying to get what you just described out of a multitude of strings for ages..let's see if this is it.

 

thanks!

[diogo]

your KG14 ought to love them...;o))

 

i wish i had a KG-14! my KG-11 is lonely without it, but i'm working on it.

[Modac]

Diogo, I hope they work out for you. Maybe Hoss will see this thread and chime in..I think he's pretty impressed with Nickel Wounds, too. Let us know how you like them.

[diogo]

Diogo' date=' I hope they work out for you. Maybe Hoss will see this thread and chime in..I think he's pretty impressed with Nickel Wounds, too. Let us know how you like them.[/quote']

 

will do, thanks again!

[jefleppard]

ej17s

[Hoyt]

Good topic.

 

I've been trying a bunch of different string sets on my L-00 Blues King I got in January. Most sound very good, but some sound and/or play very different.

 

I've not tried the John Pearse Nickel Wounds, but I have tried just standard Nickel wounds like one would use on an electric guitar based upon some reviews I read. Sounded pretty good ("dry" like some posters have stated), much better than the D'Aquisto nickel wounds I tried once.

 

Right now I have some Newtone Double Wound (or something like that). They really have a unique sound and feel, especially when they've been played in for awhile. I like them and would probably stick to them if they were readily available locally. While I will buy another set of Newtones when I want a change of pace, I think good ole standard D'Addairo EJ16s (12s) sound great. I always have several sets of those around. I also like D'Addario's "Bluegrass" EJ19s that are like 56 - 12 when I want some serious, really deep, bass thump.

 

I'll use the Elixir Nanos when concerned about string noise. Other than that, I only use them on instruments I don't play a lot and want the strings to last a long time between changes. I can see why some people use them all the time.

 

Another set to try is the Rotosound "Country Golds". On the wound strings, the winding stops just before the bridge. The inner wire sits on the bridge. That "lowers" the action a bit. They sound really good too, especially if you like bright strings when new. In fact, I think that is what I will put on next -- it's been awhile.

 

DR makes some good strings too. Maybe someday I'll stick to one brand.

[GottaBeGibson]

I began by using them on my J-185' date=' because I wanted to amplify (not electrically) it's "archtop" tendencies. Now it sounds like an old L-5 on steroids---nothing but clear, hollow, dry, woody tone----no metallic string hum at all, after only a few hours of playing. That's one of the great things about Nickel wounds-----they sound dry, like 80/20s when they're at their absolute best, very shortly after you play them in a bit.....and they last for a long time. I seem to feel in my hands, that the tension is slightly less than PB or 80/20s, as well-----but I don't know that to truly be the case. At any rate, I'm using mediums on the J-185, and it sounds amazing. You'd think it was from the 1930s if you could hear how old timey it sounds now.[/quote']

 

Cool to see this. I actually bought a set of Gibson's L-5 pure nickel roundwound strings (12-56) to put on my J-185. I have been using D'Addario EXP16's, which after a few weeks get mellow and stay that way for a while. Haven't actually put the L-5's on, but I'm hoping I'll get similar results to yours with the Pearse.

[ajsc]

Elixir 80/20 Nano's. Went to get a set the other day GC. The offered me a set of Cleartones for the same price. I bought a set but have not tried them yet.

Anyone else use these? How do you like them?

[Jerry K]

I have been using John Pearse 80/20 New Mediums on my Blues King and John Pearse 80/20 Mediums on my Nick Lucas. I am tending to move towards Mediums generally. I still have the standard Masterbuilt lights on my new cj165, will probably go to John Pearse new medium or medium. Same for my J-50. Elixir nanos are good on a guitar played infrequently or a travel guitar - they don't sound quite as good but they last a while.

[hoverp]

Martin Marquise lights 80/20. the silk wraped ends have a great transfer and they sound great.tried many brands, daddario e16/17, John Pearse, and Elixer nanos but always came back to Martin Marquise lights!

[magnucifer]

Just wanted to thank Modac for the great answers to my questions. I will try out those Nickel Wounds for sure now...

 

-Magnus

[ksdaddy]

I bought some cheap CHEAP ebay strings made in China. The brand is Alice I think (yes, Alice!). Cheap with a capital C. I only bought them because I occasionally buy trash guitars at yard sales for $10 and peddle them on ebay for $20 or $30. If I have a new set of strings on hand with a buck and a half (or less) invested, then at least I can say it is strung. They sound okay and feel okay, but they are a "one use" string. In other words, tune it once and don't ever EVER touch the pegs again because ka-POW every time. And there you are replacing at least one, possibly four.

 

Junk trash scumville Chinese crap. I learned a lesson.