Strings

[mesa]

What do you folks recommend for Classical strings? I'm sold on D'Addario's for steel string. My guitar came with Oasis GPX Normal Tension on it. Do you switch tension's much?

Thanks
curt

[aragorn]

I've taken to using Corum Savarez basses and D'Addario T2 Titanium trebles on my main guitar.

Both of these string types are unusually flexible, which seems to do nice things for my guitar.

As to tension, I stick to normal tension on my main guitar (650 mm scale) and hard tension on the Senorita (635 mm scale).

-brian

[WaddyT]

I'm partial to Savarez Corum Basses and Oasis Carbon Trebles, both in medium tension.

[Dogsnax]

I think it really depends on the guitar and playing style. For me, I prefer good ol' D'Addario Pro Arte J45 with a Savarez KF Alliance third string.

[Dru Edwards]

^ +1. I also use D'addario Pro Arte.

[stratokatsu]

I am very partial to the GSP Ultra Nylons, (high tension), the Marco Pereira model. They can be ordered over the web at www.gspguitar.com. Besides the tone, I also like the fact they seem to stretch out and stabilize sooner than other nylons I've tried. Then they last a loooooooooooong time.

One thing not to try... Martin classical ball end strings. Terrible stuff. I think all the price went into the ball on the end and nothing into the quality of the strings. I gave them 3 days and they were gone.

[Wolf]

Hannabach high tension is my first choise.

[Hack Amatuer]

What I like may not match what you're looking for . . . On my Takamine TS135SC I use D'Adarrio Pro-Arte medium tension. To me they seem to get to hold tune faster and longer than the other brands I've tried, and I like the tone they have. But again, it's almost like asking what's the best color to paint my house? Some are gonna pick pink n purple, and get PO'd at anybody who doesn't agree.

[Sordello]

It's Hannabach for both my Laskin and DeJonge. Top quality strings IMO.

[franchelB]

I'm using Hannabach mediums at the moment...

[Stoogey]

On my Takamine i went from using D'addario Pro Arte Normals for ages to Ernie Ball Black & Silvers recently (cause i love the black treble look), the Pro Arte's we're still alot better than the Ernie Balls so i went back to them.

The Ernie Balls dont come in different tensions, only medium. They took a while to settle in and they seemed to go dull fairly quickly, compared to the Pro Artes.

On my Taylor NS am using the Pro Arte Extra Hard Tensions that were installed from factory and am loving it, suits the guitar nicely.

Am now on the hunt for black trebles in an extra hard tension.

[dekutree64]

+1 to Savarez Corum. Especially 520 F, which has a wound G string. More consistent sound across all strings, although the wound G may break more often. I've only tried one set so far, and the G snapped in the case after a couple weeks.

I'll second the vote against Martin. Mine weren't ball end, so I guess they just don't make good classical strings period.

[dreamincolor]

I think it really depends on the guitar and playing style.

Absolutely!

I have been using GHS La Classique on my Takamine TH5C after using Oasis GPX for some time.

On my Tsiorba (much more traditional guitar), I favor Pro Arte regular tension for the bass strings and Hannabach regular tension for the trebles.

[scooter jenkins]

i use la bella with the ball ends. seems like i get more volume from them than anything ive tried.

[guto]

My cedar double top goes well with Augustine Imperials Blue and Hannabach 815.
My traditional spruce topped goes nice with Savarez Corum New Cristal, Hannabach Super Carbon (trebles), Galli titanium or Augustine Regals Blue.
I like the D'addário basses (pro arté or composites), but not the trebles.

I like to use diferent strings in each guitar from time to time.

Just try a bunch, it's the only way to know what sounds good in your case.