Who Really Makes The Best Strings?

[jaymarsch]

No absolute best as far as I am concerned but after much experimentation with many brands, I find that the best strings for my ears, hands and guitars are:

John Pearse
GHS
Newtones
Martin
D'Addario

Note: I do not use coated strings very often so no strong opinion on those.

Best,
Jayne

[DesertTwang]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

There is no "best strings". All have their virtues and it depends on your guitar and your preference.

All you are going to get is a dozen different answers on what each user's preference is, but it will have no relations to what you might prefer.

The only way to find your best, is to just keep trying different ones.

^^^ THIS ^^^^

Also, might I add, questions like this one, which are both subjective and sweepingly broad in scope, have been asked gazillions of times on this forum before. This thread is highly unlikely to produce any novel information that has not been produced on previous occasions. It's good etiquette to use the search function in these cases.

[merlin666]

My preferred strings are d'Addario mainly the PBs (EXP) though I have really come to like the NBs as they last such a long time and sound even a bit better. I also tried the John Pearse PBs and was impressed, though I didn't think they last as long as the d'Addarios, also I wonder who actually manufactures them. I have bought enough d'Addario strings in various gauges to last me a a long time, so am not in a position to try anything different for now, but I am relly curious about the new release of Adamas strings:

http://www.ovationtribute.com/Catalo...h_Booklet.html

Has anyone had a chance to try and compare them to the more mainstream brands?

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by BongoSTL

I've put John pearse pb on all my guitars for 15 years.

I just tried out Martin retros for the first time, and think I might be a convert...

Similarly, I've used D'Addario EXPs on all guitars for at least a decade, but I recently tried Martin retros for the first time on my 000-15m, and I'm loving them. I'm almost a convert, but I've only had the strings on for about 10 days, so I want to see how they hold up before I change religions entirely.

[muscmp]

everyone! it all boils down to what you have tried, and, what you like. i am not brand loyal so i have a wide variety on my guitars.

play music!

[Steadfastly]

My favourites strings are the ones the guys at the music store recommend for my guitar(s).

[bobster7]

To me Thomastik plectrum and spectrum strings are the best on all of my guitars after many years of string experimentation/obsession. I rarely use anything else unless there is a supply issue.

Other brands I can tolerate are:

GHS - vintage - good on most of my guitars.
Santa Cruz- great quality need to try them again.
DR - sunbeams - good on the Gibson and L-00
John pearse - various - well made strings, sound good on most of my guitars.
Newtone - double wound, nice on the Collings and H&D
Gibson j-200 strings only on my Gibson and L-00

I

[Sonics]

[The Kid!]

There is no best.

I prefer John Pearse Phos Bronze.
I just got some Newtone Phos Bronze that I'll try next string change.

[Rhythmdoctor]

Originally Posted by BongoSTL

I've put John pearse pb on all my guitars for 15 years.

I just tried out Martin retros for the first time, and think I might be a convert...

That is very surprising to me. I’m also a John Pearse PB guy for my Advanced Jumbo. I’ve tried every string mentioned in this thread and none sound as good. The Retro in particular are the worst strings I’ve tried. I’m shocked at how many like them. It must be the playability?? Because the tone is just terrible imo. I buy strings for tone alone and John Pearse PBs win easily for me.

[ahorsewithnonam]

See signature line.

Next question please.....

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Rhythmdoctor

That is very surprising to me. I’m also a John Pearse PB guy for my Advanced Jumbo. I’ve tried every string mentioned in this thread and none sound as good. The Retro in particular are the worst strings I’ve tried. I’m shocked at how many like them. It must be the playability?? Because the tone is just terrible imo. I buy strings for tone alone and John Pearse PBs win easily for me.

Not surprising at all. As some of us have already said, personal preference and type of guitar can produce differing opinions.

[SuperB23]

I too like a lot of different sets and I find that the New Medium or True Medium sets work great on my fingerstyle guitars and good old fashion Mediums work best on my dreadnoughts. If I want the strings to last months and I know multiple friends are going to play the instrument I put Elixirs on. If its for me in the studio, I prefer, GHS, Martin, and John Pearse. I also like D'Addarios. The New Martin Authentic SP strings are quite good. They are super quiet for recording and sound great on my Dreadnoughts.

I completely agree with what Tommy E says in that video that your guitar gets used to a certain set and type of string and it sounds its best when you stick with that. I think some how the woods get used to a certain Tension from the brand, metallurgy and gauge used.

Often times whatever the manufacturer designed the guitar to have is best to stick with that gauge wise but its not always true depending on how you play.

I will say that no one should use anything lighter than lights (12-53) on any acoustic guitar period ever. All the extra light sets must be for beginners and electric guitar players.

[hairpuller]

Originally Posted by DesertTwang

^^^ THIS ^^^^

Also, might I add, questions like this one, which are both subjective and sweepingly broad in scope, have been asked gazillions of times on this forum before. This thread is highly unlikely to produce any novel information that has not been produced on previous occasions. It's good etiquette to use the search function in these cases.

Wrong! There are lots of new folks on here, so it's nice for them to chime in with their opinions, too. If everyone simply looked up a past threads there wouldn't be much of anything discussed around here.

You always have the option of not clicking on the thread.
Best, scott

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by hairpuller

Wrong! There are lots of new folks on here, so it's nice for them to chime in with their opinions, too. If everyone simply looked up a past threads there wouldn't be much of anything discussed around here.

You always have the option of not clicking on the thread.
Best, scott

It's a free country but DesertTwang is correct in that it won't provide any useful information. I don't think we are any closer to knowing what the best strings are. If more people searched we would have a better steamlined forum IMHO.