Do you use the same strings on all of your guitars?

[TBman]

My use of strings have been hit or miss over the years. I will buy random strings and try them on random guitars. I've kept a spreadsheet of the strings and which guitar they were on and the dates of installation and sometimes I make notes.

Pointless. It's too haphazard.

In March and April I finally got a little organized and tried Curt Mangan roundcore fusion light on the Avalon and Furch and later in May I tried them on the Pellerin. I still have them on the Furch, they sound decent, but I didn't care for them on the Pellerin. They were good on the Avalon.

Now I have D'Addario Nickel Bronce balanced lights on the Pellerin, Cleartone EQ on the Avalon (sound good) and the CM strings on the Furch.

I'm asking myself now, what the heck am I doing? I should just get 4 packs of the D'Addario NB and when the McIlroy shows up, change the strings on it and the Avalon and Furch too and keep one set as a spare. Then when it's time for a string change, just buy 4 sets of something, maybe the NB again and change all 4 at once or with a couple of days of each other.

I could always take notes and say this string sounded better on that guitar, etc, etc, but I think that might represent the RH level in the house more than the guitar and strings.

[jricc]

Hi Barry, yes I do use the same Martin Retros/monels strings on my Rainsong CH-OM, Gibson G-00 and Martin 000-1.

I really do like the way the sound and feel.

I did try and like the Daddario Nickel Bronze too, but like the Retros a bit more.

[Brucebubs]

You never know what's out there until you try them Barry.

I absolutely hated 80/20 strings on everything I owned ... until I got my SJ-200. Something not quite right with PB's on this guitar.

Memory bank kicked in, 'Why not try those 80/20's again?'

So glad I did ... those D'Addario NB's work well on this guitar too and for a real interesting change, Curt Mangan round-core 80/20's have a different but pleasant balance.

[L20A]

I have 5 guitars and they all use a different type and gauge of string.

I have never found a set that is a universal fit for all of my guitars.

With that said, If I had to choose just one brand and gauge, I would go with Martin Lifespan but one guitar would need light gauge and the others would get either Bluegrass gauge or medium gauge.

[desert2000]

"Do you use the same strings on all of your guitars?"

No, each guitar has its own set.

[Rev Roy]

Nope. Every guitar is different. So most of the time so are the strings.

[Zissou Intern]

My Guild and Martin are both strung with Martin Monel Retros right now. I use D'Addario J17s and J19s occasionally, and want to try some GHS Vintage Bronze on the Guild.

[rllink]

Yep, same strings on both. I'm just not a string analyzer. It's not in me.

[s2y]

Elixirs as much as possible. Some of my guitars are built for 12s and some for 13s.

[jpd]

Originally Posted by desert2000

"Do you use the same strings on all of your guitars?"

No, each guitar has its own set.

[martingitdave]

I do now. After a few years of trying different options I settled on Martin Lifespan 2.0 mediums PB for the 6 strings and 10-47 for the 12 string. They all sound excellent with these strings and the feel is the same across guitars. They don’t sound too zingy when new and last a long time for me.

[Wade Hampton]

I use John Pearse strings on all of my instruments. Which string alloy and gauge depends on the instrument.

As it happens, I’m a John Pearse artist endorser, but I was stringing my instruments exclusively with Pearse strings long before John decided to give me artist endorser status.


Wade Hampton Miller

[gmel555]

Barry you raise a good point/question IMO. Like you I went the spreadsheet route and recorded my thoughts over time. It was just as important for noting strings I didn't like as those I did. I have specific preferences for each guitar, but also found strings that give me a little different -but still pleasing- tone on a given guitar now & then. To ur point I narrowed my "bullpen" down to a manageable number (for me): SCGC Parabolic Mids (substitute Straight Up sometimes), D'Addario Nickel Bronze (non-balanced), Curt Mangan Rd. Core Monels, and J Pearse Phos Bron.

[colins]

I play fingerstyle at home so my situation may be different to others. I used to be a 100% Martin SP guy, but when I started experimenting with different strings I was amazed at what an improvement I could get by matching the strings to the guitars. I now use PB, 80/20 and normal & low tension strings by Newtone, GHS and Ernie Ball. It is easy to make a up a mixed order with suppliers like Newtone or Strings and Beyond and I can’t see myself ever going back to all one brand/style/gauge.

I never got to the spreadsheet stage, and for reference I just write the date of the string change on the string packet then store the packet in the guitar case.

[PineMarten]

I have three quite disparate guitars, and I like them to each do something distinct from the others. So currently it's Medium gauge monel on the archtop, Light phosphor bronze on the dread and a light Silk & Steel set on the parlour.