Strings for Fingerstyle Guitar - Balancing Warmth and Definition

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by knollhavenguita

Cheers. I like DR Rare 12-54 Phosphor Bronze a lot. They have a great slinky feel, but don't sacrifice crispness in tone ...

I just put these on my Taylor 614ce yesterday. So far I like them a lot. We'll see in a week or two.

The DR Rare's are kind of a "conundrum" string. Warm and bright at the same time. Bass has good definition and clarity without being boomy. The highs are bright without being strident and there is an overall warmth about the sound.

I've recently gone (permanently, I think) to DR Sunbeams on my Martin D35. These are awesome on this guitar, but didn't do anything for my Taylor. They both have similar feel, but very different sounds.

OTOH, you shouldn't write off Elixirs without trying them first. You might like them. Like most strings Elixirs have a quick honeymoon period, but I think their claim to fame is that once the strings break in and find that broken in sound, it doesn't change much for a long time. Perhaps that's why Elixirs never worked for me. I tended to like them fresh, but not broken in.

That's my .02 worth.

[segovia123]

Originally Posted by [J.K.]

Hey all, I've been romancing my Martin 000-15M again, and I'm looking for some string recommendations.

Personally, I've always been fond of... well, old strings, to be quite honest. Unfortunately, the rigors of recording make it difficult to balance my ideal, broken-in tone with that of new strings after a change. I've never experimented much beyond D'Addy Light Phosphors (always been nervous about going heavier with alternate tunings).

Are there any better options for a full, deep bottom but with more softness in the upper-register right out of the package? I was debating Silk & whatever strings. My friend swears by Elixr's, but every time I played his, they always felt weird and flaky under my fingers, and I worry that they'd take a little of the dynamics out of the wound strings, which may not be ideal for a mahogany guitar.

Thoughts? Am I wrong to write off the Elixr strings, or would the silk ones be too loose?

Cheers.

I am a big fan of Newtone Low Tension and as a backup I have custom D'Addario 53,42,23,32,15,13 PB Roundwound

I have just ordered some D'Addario Flatwound as on some tunes I can hear my nails scraping across the ridges on the strings.