Acoustic strings shootout video

[musicman1951]

Excellent job! Thanks for taking the time, and especially for including all the playing styles.

[Rockysdad]

What an endeavour, thank you for that.
Now all we need is some tests/samples of guitars of the same body size in say: Sitka/Mahogany & Sitka/Rosewood.
Then we'd have an idea if those same strings one favors on guitar *A* would also be favored on guitar *B*.
Who is up for the task?
(I would but I don't have the guitars needed)

[ctvolfan]

Originally Posted by boneuphtoner

The standouts for me were the John Pearse, GHS, Ernie ball earthwood, and the D’Addario EJs (I know you didn’t like them but just going by what I heard). Big difference in the coated strings, but I agree that the paradigm were the best

I agree with you.

[1833]

Great job . This is a perfect experiment to prove that we all are not looking for the same sound . What my ears are looking for and like another member doesn’t . My son and I do this a lot his Gibson and my Martin both have a sound of there own . I changed strings and saddle materials on my Martin and really enjoy the change he comes over and picks it up and says this sounds way different than it did , he didn’t say better just different but I could tell from his face it wasn’t a move he liked . Again great job testing the strings .

[RJVB]

Thanks! I don't use steel strings myself ATM but one day this might become a reference!

You wouldn't have planned to repeat the same endeavour with nylon strings, would you?

[Puerto Player]

So, what did you find that pleased your ears the best?

[Triumph1050]

Thanks again like everybodys said, for all that hard work. really appreciate you doing that strings review for us.
Beautiful guitar by the way...
I thought the Gibson MBs, the Earthwoods, the JPs, and the Elixirs all sounded really nice... on that guitar. I find Taylor's in general to be a bit treblely especially that wood. Tbese strings to me all tamed that a bit, but it could've just been your recording setup. Regardless, appreciated the effort and enjoyed it very much. I found some new strings I may try.

[noledog]

* First let me say thanks to you for such a comprehensive and exhaustive effort in your comparison of these strings... well played and well done!

** Consistently throughout the video my ears liked the Martin Authentic SP PB's and I'm not surprised as they are what I prefer on my guitars in Medium gauge PB... I also like John Pearse Medium PB's and thought they also sounded good on this video.

*** However, for your Koa Taylor guitar and trying to tame the shrill of Taylor's signature and the Koa wood characteristics, there were others you played that sounded remarkable in achieving a warmer rounder sound. So in addition to my #1 fav SP's, I was very impressed with the Paradigm strings, they really sounded phat, full, balanced and rounded... they came in at #2 for my ears. Rounding out the top three for your guitar it was close between the Lifespan, Marquis and Dunlop; all three of which I've played.

**** The Lifespan helped tame the highs a bit and the Marquis took out some of the tinny or thinness that some of other strings had. However, the Dunlop's really tamed this guitar the most imo, in fact too much. I tried the Dunlop PB's last year, and tho they were not a good match on my D18 and two MIJ Taks, I found them of remarkable quality and long lasting. The Dunlop ball ends as I've commented before in another string thread, are of the highest quality I've seen; and yes Dunlop makes their own strings in their own facility. BUT they just are too warm for my taste...not so much on the unwound strings, but rather on the low end of things; plenty of bass, but zero presence. That lack of presence reduces clarity and note definition; even on this lovely, sparkly, koa Taylor.

***** The Elixirs, Rotosound, Gibson and Earthwood were least preferred by my ears. The GHS were nice, the EXP and Everlast not bad either on this particular guitar... so my recommended choice for you sir would be the Paradigm and the SP second since you felt they did not last as long.

Many thanks to you again, you have a lovely instrument and best wishes!

eric

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by noledog

* First let me say thanks to you for such a comprehensive and exhaustive effort in your comparison of these strings... well played and well done!

** Consistently throughout the video my ears liked the Martin Authentic SP PB's and I'm not surprised as they are what I prefer on my guitars in Medium gauge PB... I also like John Pearse Medium PB's and thought they also sounded good on this video.

*** However, for your Koa Taylor guitar and trying to tame the shrill of Taylor's signature and the Koa wood characteristics, there were others you played that sounded remarkable in achieving a warmer rounder sound. So in addition to my #1 fav SP's, I was very impressed with the Paradigm strings, they really sounded phat, full, balanced and rounded... they came in at #2 for my ears. Rounding out the top three for your guitar it was close between the Lifespan, Marquis and Dunlop; all three of which I've played.

**** The Lifespan helped tame the highs a bit and the Marquis took out some of the tinny or thinness that some of other strings had. However, the Dunlop's really tamed this guitar the most imo, in fact too much. I tried the Dunlop PB's last year, and tho they were not a good match on my D18 and two MIJ Taks, I found them of remarkable quality and long lasting. The Dunlop ball ends as I've commented before in another string thread, are of the highest quality I've seen; and yes Dunlop makes their own strings in their own facility. BUT they just are too warm for my taste...not so much on the unwound strings, but rather on the low end of things; plenty of bass, but zero presence. That lack of presence reduces clarity and note definition; even on this lovely, sparkly, koa Taylor.

***** The Elixirs, Rotosound, Gibson and Earthwood were least preferred by my ears. The GHS were nice, the EXP and Everlast not bad either on this particular guitar... so my recommended choice for you sir would be the Paradigm and the SP second since you felt they did not last as long.

Many thanks to you again, you have a lovely instrument and best wishes!

eric

Eric, You are such a class act, my friend! I am very much in agreement with your findings. Although I have not tried a lot of the strings in this exhaustive shootout.

Your point about which strings enhance and compliment the instrument are wel taken. With that in mind, I think its important to note that what sounds best on this Koa Taylor may not be the best sounding string set on another guitar.

That said, I have found string brands and voicing to be very consistent. Martin Lifespan 2.0 Authentics are my current string of choice on my Martin dreads. (Med Gauge) I really like JP's and D'addario PB's too. But the Martin's last a little longer. (for my preferences)

[iSoft]

Originally Posted by noledog

* First let me say thanks to you for such a comprehensive and exhaustive effort in your comparison of these strings... well played and well done!

** Consistently throughout the video my ears liked the Martin Authentic SP PB's and I'm not surprised as they are what I prefer on my guitars in Medium gauge PB... I also like John Pearse Medium PB's and thought they also sounded good on this video.

*** However, for your Koa Taylor guitar and trying to tame the shrill of Taylor's signature and the Koa wood characteristics, there were others you played that sounded remarkable in achieving a warmer rounder sound. So in addition to my #1 fav SP's, I was very impressed with the Paradigm strings, they really sounded phat, full, balanced and rounded... they came in at #2 for my ears. Rounding out the top three for your guitar it was close between the Lifespan, Marquis and Dunlop; all three of which I've played.

**** The Lifespan helped tame the highs a bit and the Marquis took out some of the tinny or thinness that some of other strings had. However, the Dunlop's really tamed this guitar the most imo, in fact too much. I tried the Dunlop PB's last year, and tho they were not a good match on my D18 and two MIJ Taks, I found them of remarkable quality and long lasting. The Dunlop ball ends as I've commented before in another string thread, are of the highest quality I've seen; and yes Dunlop makes their own strings in their own facility. BUT they just are too warm for my taste...not so much on the unwound strings, but rather on the low end of things; plenty of bass, but zero presence. That lack of presence reduces clarity and note definition; even on this lovely, sparkly, koa Taylor.

***** The Elixirs, Rotosound, Gibson and Earthwood were least preferred by my ears. The GHS were nice, the EXP and Everlast not bad either on this particular guitar... so my recommended choice for you sir would be the Paradigm and the SP second since you felt they did not last as long.

Many thanks to you again, you have a lovely instrument and best wishes!

eric

Thanks to everyone for your feedbacks, really glad you liked the video
I'll probably do an 80/20 shootout with a Dreadnought guitar (sitka/rosewood) more common guitars and better match with the 80/20.

Thank you for this detailed feedback, i actually loved most the resonance of Martin SP and Paradigm (SP's being first) but that's something hardly explainable without playing them in real on my guitar
Can't capture those vibrations and back of the guitar resonance on a video but glad it still was helpful to watch

[RJVB]

Did you do all recording on a single day as the video suggests, without giving each set the time it needs to get played in and sound its best?

There were tests in there where I couldn't hear a difference at all, and those where I really wouldn't know to say which sound I preferred. As to the treble strings (B&E) they all sound the same to me if I account for set-specific resonance that must come from the other strings. I presume we are in fact dealing with basically identical wires across the pack for those 2?
Overall I lean towards the Rotosounds and Dunlops, so I guess that sets me a bit apart

Knowing myself I'd have to edit such recordings to get a single "track" per set and then play them for a while as background music. I find that's the best way for me to detect things that irritate me but I can somehow filter out when listening actively (and subconsciously trying to appreciate the sound).