Favorite Strings on Emerald Guitars

[Kindness]

Hi Everyone,

I am not getting a lot of clear answers on what strings Emerald ships on their guitars. It's not listed on their website which is surprising.

Kramster and I are trying to purchase some strings, but I need some input as to what has worked well on the following models:

1. X7
2. X20
3. X10
4. X30

This would be really helpful. Then we can order the same brand for all of these guitars, change all of the strings, let them settle, and then do some recording.

Thanks so much everyone for your help!

Happy Playing!

[jdinco]

Never easy to say what's best for everyone's taste. But I think the Elixir Nano PB strings would be a pretty good universal recommendation for all the Emeralds. I've found on my X7 (previous version) and my X20 that I haven't found any strings that sounded really bad. Of course my selection has been limited. As far as my favorites, the TI Plectrums are my favorites with the Santa Cruz low tension a very close 2nd. I know that Emerald likes the D'Addario strings, I find them hard on my dainty fingers but they sound excellent. LOL Good Luck with this big and very interesting project !

[David Eastwood]

I mentioned elsewhere that Emerald told me that the X20 ships with D'Addario EXP 12-53, but they didn't say whether they were 80/20 or Phosphor Bronze.

I've never been a big fan of EXPs - they feel rough under my fingers - so I'll probably be trying others as time goes by. First choice will be Elixir Nanoweb PB, as that's mostly what I use on my other acoustics. D'Addario Nickel Bronze is another candidate - I have a Washburn jumbo that just lights up with these, and I have a suspicion that the X20 might rather like them too.

I have a set of each, sitting here ready to go Patience, David, patience...

[raysachs]

Originally Posted by eatswodo

I mentioned elsewhere that Emerald told me that the X20 ships with D'Addario EXP 12-53, but they didn't say whether they were 80/20 or Phosphor Bronze.

My X20 definitely had 80/20s on it. I played it for a few hours but quickly switched to Nanoweb PB which I like a lot better.

Edit: found the hang-tag. They were EXP 80/20s. Didn't mention a gauge but I'd bet a good sum they were 12-53.

[Barb1]

Hi Lisa,
I like Elixir 80/20 Mediums on the X7, previous generation, and Optima #6 24 Carat Gold on the X7 Nylon, also previous generation.
Barb

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by Kindness

Hi Everyone,

I am not getting a lot of clear answers on what strings Emerald ships on their guitars. It's not listed on their website which is surprising.

Happy Playing!

It's not that surprising, given that they are a small manufacturer and thus do most likely do not have an OEM agreement with one of the large string manufacturers. Availability plays a factor.

Big manufacturers don't buy strings in sets, they purchase in bulk and the guy who strings up the guitars pulls one string from each bin. Larrivee for example has large bins of strings and use a set that is equivalent to EXP-17s, but D'Addario never packaged them in sets of 6.

Last time I asked, I was told by Emerald that they ship with EJ-16s. Other folks have been told EXP-16s, or just D'Addario Phosphor Bronze.

[Captain Jim]

The D'Addarios that came on my X7 and X20 sound great, but were hard on the fingers. I have tried other brands, but I always seem to come back to the Elixir PB Nanos. To my ear, I like that sound best, and they are comfortable to play and less squeeky.

[Methos1979]

Both my new Emeralds shipped with D'Addario EXP 16's which is a string that I really like but on the Emeralds I found the slightly increased grabbiness made for some bizarre phantom tones when amplified. Right now I'm rocking John Pearse #710NM's which are PB new mediums. I do find I miss the coated strings for longevity though and I recently purchased a couple new types of coated strings but I have not as yet tried them out.

[Kindness]

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

The D'Addarios that came on my X7 and X20 sound great, but were hard on the fingers. I have tried other brands, but I always seem to come back to the Elixir PB Nanos. To my ear, I like that sound best, and they are comfortable to play and less squeeky.

The Elixir PB Nanos are my favorite and this is what we are going to try on all of the Emerald Guitars.

We will get the strings changed, play the guitars, let them settle in, and then do some recording. I see fun coming our way!

[121]

On November 24, 2016 I ask Sean at Emerald guitar what strings the X7 and X20 were shipped with and he said :
"The gauges we put on the X7 are .012, .016, .026, .036, .046, .056
The strings on the X20 used are D'Addario EXP 11."

Strings I've tried on my Emerald 2016 X7:
Elixir Nanowed 80/20 Bronze Custom Light .011-.052
D'Addario Flat Tops Phosphor Bronze Extra Light EFT15 (.010-.047)
GHS Brite Flats Medium Set 720 (.011-.050)
Newtone Master Class Double Wound Light (.011-.050)
D'Addarrio Chrome ECG 23 Extra Light (.010-.048)
D'Addarrio Chrome ECG 24 Jazz Light (.011-.050)
Galli Bronze 80/20 Flat Wound Light AJF1047 (.010-.047)
Galli Bronze 80/20 Flat Wound Light AJF1150 (.011-.050)

Strings I've tried on my Emerald 2017 X20:
Elixir Nanowed 80/20 Bronze Extra Light (.010-.047)
D'Addarrio Chrome ECG 23 Extra Light (.010-.048)
Galli Bronze 80/20 Flat Wound Light AJF1047 (.010-.047)

At the present time my favorite strings are the Galli 80/20 Bronze Flat wound, followed by D'Addario Chrome.
All the others strings I tried were either Round wound, Ground Round or coated, and they have too much string squeak for me.

The least string squeak/noise are with the D'Addarrio Chrome Flat Wound,
they are Stainless Steel and are considered electric guitar strings. I used them on my X7 & X20 until I found the Galli strings.

The Galli can sometimes (occasionally the G string) have slight string squeak/noise. These Galli's
are 80/20 Bronze Flat Wound Acoustic guitar strings and are bright and well balanced.
At the present time they are the best strings for me and my 2016 X7 and 2017 X20.

[kramster]

Where do you get the Galli strings?

[jwellsy]

The tag in my X30 case just says EXP DAddario coated 80/20 bronze, no gauges shown. If I can find my digital calipers I'll check them.

I usually go with Elixer Nano's.

[121]

I get my Galli from Strings and Beyond
I like the AJF1047 better than the AJF1150 and AJF1252

The G string (.024) in the AJF1150 and AJF1252 sets has a rougher surface than the rest of the flat wound stings in those sets.
I reported this G string issue to Galli (in Italy) and Strings and Beyond about a year ago, so maybe the issues been resolved.

[zeeway]

My X20 came with D'Addario strings, 12-53, as I recall. Switched to Elixir Nanoweb 80-20, 12-53....then recently tried the D'Addarios again...naw, sounded too dead to me. Elixers are it for me.

[Kindness]

Originally Posted by zeeway

My X20 came with D'Addario strings, 12-53, as I recall. Switched to Elixir Nanoweb 80-20, 12-53....then recently tried the D'Addarios again...naw, sounded too dead to me. Elixers are it for me.

The Elixirs are a fantastic string. They sound great, are comfortable to play and last long.