How much difference do strings make to your sound?

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by guitar george

At what point are strings considered "dead"? I sometimes like to strum soft mellow love songs. Older strings sound better for those IMHO. New strings sound quite twangy when strummed.

Once new strings are played in - for me 24-48 hours - they should give you the tone to expect until they need replacing. Dead, for me, is when the strings no longer give me the characteristics that I put them on for. Generally for me it's 3-6 months depending on the strings and playing conditions. As soon as I notice them looking, feeling or sounding - corroded, dull or stiff, they get replaced. That tolerance will vary with every, player, guitar and string. How long it takes to get to "dead" is different on every guitar and string type that I have. It is when I notice it not being "right".

[L20A]

Brands don't make as much difference to me as materials do.
Silk and Steel sound very different from Nickel.
80/20 Brass definitely sounds different from Phosphor Bronze.

My preference is usually Phosphor Bronze.

[tippy5]

If you are recording, or playing in a band, lighter strings are clearer.

If you are playing for yourself or solo you will need all 3.5 octaves.
Then you will have to try a bunch of strings to find the ones that work.
Sometimes a single string replacement, a custom gauge, is beneficial.

[Nama Ensou]

Everyone has their preferences, with some being fairly open to any string and others being less so. The only strings I play any more are the Elixir phosphor bronze Nanowebs. They do what I want, all the way from the first day and until I change them again.

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by Lakewood_Lad

I'm increasingly of the opinion that different strings really don't make much difference to the sound at all. They might look different or come in different coloured packaging but to me they all sound pretty much alike.

I believe this is true, but you forgot to type the "for my ear" somewhere in there.

For my ear they sound different.

For me some strings sound so different, so far from the tone I'm seeking, that I leave them on for a very short time.

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Lakewood_Lad

I'm increasingly of the opinion that different strings really don't make much difference to the sound at all. They might look different or come in different coloured packaging but to me they all sound pretty much alike.

Compare any set of phosphor bronze strings to non-phosphor bronze strings and you'll immediately change your mind. Same goes for Elixirs, which despite being unliked by many, are also the only string of choice for others of us.

Completely worlds apart and quickly verifiable.

[Lakewood_Lad]

Originally Posted by Nama Ensou

Compare any set of phosphor bronze strings to non-phosphor bronze strings and you'll immediately change your mind.

Completely worlds apart and quickly verifiable.

This video would seem to disagree.

[Pillendreher]

To me, strings do matter. Even though I have trouble really discerning between good sounding strings, I have little trouble filtering out those I don't like. E.g. I had DR Sunbeams on my Eastman recently and they just sounded completely dull and flat after a couple of days. Now I know that they don't work well with said guitar and I won't spend my money on them anymore.

[cdkrugjr]

Your picks and your strings are your physical connection to the instrument, for this reason they affect the sound to a much greater degree than pure physics suggests.

Luckily, strings and picks are pretty cheap, so I can do LOTS of experimentation until I find whatever combination is “right.”

I can say I keep coming back to Brand D PB Lights, but I haven’t tried Elixers or anything more exotic than that yet . . .

I Haven’t tried anything different on my classical yet . . .that’s a WHOLE other bunny trail with half sets and split sets and exotic unicorn gut . . . .

[Scotso]

When I put new strings on they all seem diff than the ones I took off. After a couple of days, they all sorta sound the same to me and no different than the ones I had removed....ymmv

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by Lakewood_Lad

This video would seem to disagree.

Rather appeal to authority, try them yourself. Most satisfactory results in life will come through verification done by oneself.

[Lakewood_Lad]

Originally Posted by Nama Ensou

Rather appeal to authority, try them yourself. Most satisfactory results in life will come through verification done by oneself.

Yeah. I've done that.

[charles Tauber]

I find my guitars really don’t sound very good without strings. The strings really do make a big difference.

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

I find my guitars really don’t sound very good without strings. The strings really do make a big difference.

Hey, somebody else said that so it must be true. The same post said bass strings wouldn't sound good on an acoustic. Can you confirm that?

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

Hey, somebody else said that so it must be true. The same post said bass strings wouldn't sound good on an acoustic. Can you confirm that?

It really depends on the player. Occasionally they are an improvement.