What strings do you use - a poll

[musicman1951]

SUS. But I also like Martin Retro 12s.

[boneuphtoner]

I started out on Elixirs as that is what Taylor recommended, then I discovered D'Addarios uncoated strings and they seemed a touch more resonant. Then I tried GHS and John Pearce - the GHS seemed a touch bright and the Pearce were slightly warmer - but the differences between the D'Addarios seemed fairly subtle.

Since I've expanded my horizons to Martin guitars, I now prefer their Lifespan strings above all else - they are a treated string, but they seem to have the resonance of the best of the uncoated - tonally I don't hear much difference between them and most of these others, but the packaging in my view is clearly the best - I love the individual sleeves of single strings all in a nicely sealed package. I dislike how D'Addario stuffs all their strings in a single sealed pouch, and Elixir/John Pearse don't bother to seal their packages at all! GHS may have the most protective packaging with individual strings in sealed packages and the whole lot sealed also - but I thought the Martin system was simpler as you only needed to break one seal

[Peter Z]

During this year I tried many different brands and types of strings. Turned out I like coated Gibson PB and 80/20 most. I miss that brand in the poll.
Since I can live with Martin, Elixir and EB (Aluminium Bronze) too, I will vote for them.

[Wrighty]

Just to clarify, the strings I mentioned are not British made.

I use Elixir and Newtone mostly but also EB aluminium bronze when I want a change!

[Birchtop]

Here are two others (electric) I use besides the strings that I checked in the poll.

Dean Markley Blue Steal - Custom Lights

Gibson Brite Wires - Ultra Light Med Custom

[Jeremy]

Elixir PB Nanoweb: because I hate changing strings and they last forever and sound good (enough).

[Conomor]

Other - Newtone Masterclass PBs, although they seem to be in short supply these days. I also like Martin and John Pearse strings.

[penname]

I use Newtone Monel strings on the two guitars I play the most, but have Martin Retros or Lifespans on most of the others. The only exception is my Taylor GA8 that seems to prefer Elixers.

[JustMunkee]

Newtone Heritage on my Gibson

thinking of going with Newtone Masterclass on my Martin (it currently has the Martin strings that came with my Martin Owner's Club membership on it, and they're not bad).

To be fair, I'm unlikely to change from Newtone any time soon - they're made about 5 miles from my house, and the Neil (the owner) is a great guy, I can just drop in, have a natter and pick up some strings!

[M19]

Newtone Masterclass and Wyres DADGAD too.

[rokdog49]

Newtone Heritage’s on my J15
Leftover stock of Gibson Masterbuilts 80-20’s on the J45 (I’m good for a year or two)
A variety of stuff on my D18. I’ve used Martin Monels, Newtone Nickel Steels, DR Sunbeams, Mangan Monels to name a few.
I use D’Addarios on my Tele.

[121]

Other - Dogal Nightclub V25 80/20 Bronze Flatwounds

and Galli AJF1047 80/20 Bronze Flatwounds

The Dogal Nightclub V25 are preferred due to their tone, longevity and smoother flat winding surface.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by mawmow

I boosted the poll since I voted D'Addario, Martin, erne ball, John Pearse and DR.
Yeah, I may actually have too many acoustics !

Me too, I voted for D'adds which I use mostly, but I also like Jim Dunlops on my 000, Dobro and mandolin, and Martins on one of my 12s and sometimes SPs on my dreads.

This isn't "market research" its just a fun poll (and to see if I could do one!

[Silly Moustache]

so far I've seen SCGC, Galli (haven't heard of them for years), Dean Markley, SUS (??) and DOGAL (?) intersting to learn of brands unknown to me.

Gibson? I thought they'd stopped marketing branded strings years ago I used to buy their L5 strings until they discontinued them.

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Further to a thread by Wrighty about a new British (made?) string brand.

I thought it might be fun to see what BRANDS we prefer. I looked at the UK's online string dealer with the widest range which are STRINGS DIRECT.
These were the brands that I found and I'm frustrated that I omitted Newtone, and probably other brands, so let us know if you use something not in the list (limited to 14).

For the sake of focus - I limited the strings to Phosphor Bronze, and to light gauge (12-53/54) but you may also vote for a BRAND if you prefer other alloys or gauges. TELL US IN YOUR COMMENTS about other (brand) preferences!

ALSO - I've allowed multiple choices (why not?)

Have fun, and tell me what I've done wrong! (if I have).

Andy, isn't it? If not, sorry.

I answered Elixirs.

Almost all polls fall into a trap of limiting the results by the questions asked. Because of the limiting .012 - .053/.054, I can only qualify my answer to this because I have one six string guitar on which I use this gauge. That is my Alvarez AJ60S. My Taylor Walnut Jumbo wears Mediums, and all the other six strings sport HD gauge .013 - .053. All of them currently wear Elixirs, including my 12 stringers, of which I have two. (two 12's sound familiar?) I've been playing for over 50 years and have used strings by a lot of different manufacturers in a lot of different gauges, and I have settled into PB Elixirs in my septuagenarian years.

I fingerpick all my instruments using my nails as picks. And I use the HD Lights on my largest and smallest six stringers, including my Grand Orchestra, 2 x-200 Jumboes, and their smaller brethren, the 2 Grand Concerts. HDs add a lot to a fingerpicked well-balanced sound, which is why I use them.

So the majority of my guitars do not actually qualify because of a difference of .001 mm on the treble E-string, so there's the loophole in this poll. Or maybe they do because they are inside the overall parameters, but in that case the specific mention of .053 in the gauge range is superfluous because it's within the largest parameter.

I have heard that consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, whatever that really means. Seems double-edged to me.



Don
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