Same Strings on Many Guitars?

[sportycliff]

Elixer's on all of my acoustics. (Pink Slinky's on the elecs since the early 80's)

I took a break from '01 - '16, and during that time I kept one acoustic guitar on a stand in my LR.
I didn't play at all, but that guitar sat there for 15 years with the same strings.

When I finally decided to start playing again, I picked up that guitar, tuned it, played it and it sounded as good (as best I could remember after 15 yrs.) as ever.

Now I stay with Elixer's because I'm a gear junky, and I rotate guitars a lot. I'm also a little lazy, and rather than change strings when I rotate through guitars, well you get the idea, Elixer's have definitely enabled my lazyness.

While tone is certainly important, I tend to prioritize my time .vs my music room tone towards more playing, less changing. If I was gigging regularly I might think differently. (Nah, 99% of the audience wouldn't have a clue.)

My .02

[B. Adams]

I have 5 acoustics, those all get Elixir PB HD lights. All these guitars sound good with these strings, so I only keep that kind around. I chose the "All the same" option, since these are the guitars I play the most.

I also have a GC Mini in Nashville tuning, with D'Addario EJ38H (the only commercially available set I've found). If Elixir made strings sets this size I'd probably use them. This guitar doesn't come out much, it's kind of a specialty instrument, but it's fun to play.

My Tele has D'Addario 10's on it. I never play this guitar, and I'd gladly sell it if anyone offered me a decent price.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by B. Adams

I also have a GC Mini in Nashville tuning, with D'Addario EJ38H (the only commercially available set I've found).

Martin and GHS also make 'Nashville Tuning' string sets - GHS are my favorites. (a little over $4.00 a set - Strings & Beyond)

[Wade Hampton]

I use John Pearse strings on the vast majority of my instruments; mandolins, mountain dulcimers and banjos as well as my guitars. It's true that I'm an artist endorser for the brand, but I was given endorser status because I'm genuinely enthusiastic about those strings, and was using them exclusively for years before John decided to make me an endorser.

So John Pearse strings are my strong personal preference.

That said, I do have either Cleartone or Elixir coated strings on two or three instruments that rarely get played. I'm not fond of the sound of coated strings, but with instruments that don't get taken out of their cases very often, using coated strings is the most practical approach.

Any instrument that ever gets gigged with, though, has John Pearse strings on it.

What alloy is on each instrument depends entirely on how that individual instrument sounds the best. Some guitars, mandolins and all mountain dulcimers get strung with 80/20 bronze, some guitars and mandolins get strung with phosphor bronze, and there are three guitars that seem to sound their best with nickel.

All my banjos get strung with nickel strings, with the sometimes exception of my Deering B6 guitar-banjo, which gets strung with whatever light gauge set I happen to grab first. The choice of alloy doesn't seem to make any difference in the sound on that instrument.

Anyway, all of those instruments get strung with John Pearse strings of one alloy or another.


Wade Hampton Miller

[B. Adams]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Martin and GHS also make 'Nashville Tuning' string sets - GHS are my favorites. (a little over $4.00 a set - Strings & Beyond)

Thanks, I had no idea! I'll give them a shot next time I need to buy strings.

[RRuskin]

Same brand - same gauge.

[Jaden]

I’ll be trying the Martin Authentic 80/20 lights and custom lights next, but right now each guitar has a different set on, either D’Addario Nickel Bronze lights, Martin Retro custom lights, or D’Addario 80/20 uncoated lights (EJ11).
The Retros are on the Yamaha, EJ11s on the OM, and NB on the 000-15m.

[mawmow]

Well, here and then make sound tries, so my guitar/strings matches are evolving. My first choice is currently D'Addario EJ but I am currently getting Elixir off my Taylors replacing them with John Pearse, while I keep D'Addario EJ-16 on my Gibsons but have Martin MSP4100 on my Martin OOO-18. I have ernie ball on my Guild in CGDGAD/CGDGBE.

[Shades of Blue]

I used to use John Pearse Strings, but they only lasted me 2 weeks. I may try another set, but I’ve been using Santa Cruz Mid Tensions for a while now on all of my acoustics. They are fantastic on everything!

[BluesKing777]

Elixir PB 12s or 13s!
On everything - I know where I am then!


BluesKing777.

[Kh1967]

I use Pearse strings and Santa Cuz strings on all guitars. Yet, I think I may have hit a snag with Pearse as of late...strings either DOA, or dead after a couple of hours.

When I am busy and don’t have as much time, Elixirs will go on, as they last and to me, don’t compromise tone all that much.

[Wild Bill Jones]

Hhmmmm...let’s see. Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze on one. LaBella PB mediums on two. LaBella 80/20 on the D 35 and JP medium phosphors on another. I have some Martin SP’s, DR Rares, Octogons and GHS strings in the pits ready to try sometime soon.

[Lillis]

Martin retros on Tanglewood OM,EJ11’s on Ibanez parlor and currently have GHS silk and bronze on the Breedlove but will be going back to Sunbeams on that. 12-x on all.

[51 Relic]

Martin 12-54 Authentic on my Martin OODB and GSMini e
Fender 80-20s 12-52 on all my others
J45
LLTA
SLG200s

[C-ville Brent]

Martin Phospher Bronze Custom Light (11-52) on all my acoustics. I like the sound and feel. I live in the country so usually buy multiple sets at once to keep on hand. It makes life easier to not have to keep a variety of brands and types when wanting or needing to change strings.

I'm going to get some extra light sets (10-47) on guitars students will be using this fall. I'm hoping this will make it easier for them to learn to play with less finger pain.