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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Forgive me if this has been here before. I haven't been on in awhile. I have a Collectors 2000 with D'Addario strings -- elixir. I really don't like them. I've gone through a lot of strings (Martin, Guild, Fender). Any personal recommendations on gauge and string sets? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | I use the cheapest sets available but I am in the minority. currently my supplier is selling me dean markley and vinci string cheap so those are the ones I use. I also like the string well worn in but I am in the minority there also. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | There are as many recommendations as there are strings. Do a search thru the archives. The discussions have been pretty good. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Your Honor, my preference is for D'Addarios, .010s or .011s, or for Martin SPs, same gauge. Phosphor Bronze in either. I have D'Addario .010"-.047" on both my 12-strings right now and they are great. Would like a little more bass out of my ME 12-string and have a set of Dean Markley .011"-.050" ready to try on it for the next set.
I had a very BAD experience with Elixirs myself and cannot recommend them to anyone. I may try D'Addario EXPs at some point to see if they are better. But not soon.
But there are others that like Elixirs. Like Paul M. said, there as many recommendations as there are strings. Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince....
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Celebrity CC01 Spruce Top 6-String |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | the blue D'Ad set J-16 I think they are. That's the ticket. (Or the orange J-17 medium) |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 143
Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | Up until recently, I used Elixers also. They did not seem to last as long as I thought they should. Plus, with a brand new set, I had reduced the tension on them a couple of times to adjust the neck on my new Custom Legend, and it’s “G” string popped :eek: . I’ve heard of trouble with Elixers and their “G” strings…(I’m trying hard to be serious here :D ) Not to mention I was having some difficulty deciding which weight I liked. One was too heavy for my old and wore out fingers, the other, was just too light.
Then, I discovered DR Extra life strings. They had a set that was in between the Elixers in weight, so I gave them a try… That was two months ago, and they still sound great and look a lot newer than they are.. They are a coated string also, but look and sound like a Phos-Bronze should…
You might consider a set…
Dale |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I for one, like a G string that pops off easily. Oh, we're talking guitar strings here aren't we....
Roger, what was the bad experience you had with Elixirs? |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 799
Location: Athens, GA & Gnashville | I like the Adamas 1818's because of their tension when brought up to pitch. They feel "right" to me and seem to be a high quality phos/bronze.
Most coated strings start off sounding a little dull to my ears. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Goober, I agree, those are good as well or the D'Ad J-16. I think the only difference is that the 1818 still has the equal core and wrap and the J-16 is made with traditional material demensions. I do find that the medium guage works well for Nationals and something that plays rhythm. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Paul, I tried .010" Elixir Polywebs on my CC01 in November and they just flat SUCKED. They had no brightness whatsoever and sounded like they were 2 years old when new.
I replaced them after a week(when I couldn't stand it anymore) with D'Addario .011s and have been happy ever since. Don't know if it is that Elixirs don't work with the CC01 or what, but it just did NOT work for me.
I do have a set of Nanoweb Elixir .010s that I may try at some point in the future. But no more Polywebs.....
Roger
1976 Applause AA14-4 6-String
1981 Ovation 1118-1 Glen Campbell 12-string
2001 Adamas 1598-MERB Melissa Etheridge 12-String
2003 Celebrity CC01 Spruce Top 6-String |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 76
Location: LewistownPA | I'm not a big fan of Elixirs either.Over priced,don't last as long as you would think and they just don't sound that good,IMHO. I agree with Alpep in that using cheap strings works for me and here's where I get them:www.webstrings.com
You can get 5 sets delivered to your door for the price of one set of elixirs! |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Tried the 2 sets of Elixir Nanos that I got through Nils for the CL 12's. Excellent strings. Since GC or Stringitup.com don't stock Nano, went back to Adamas 1616. Got a set of D'Addarios EXP38 that I will try on the 1658 after it is repaired. Also EXP38 on GC 12str. For the CL 6-str's, been using Adamas 1818E's. Martin SP on the Martin. Can get the Adamas at Stringitup so will probably continue. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . the blue D'Ad set J-16 I think they are. That's the ticket. (Or the orange J-17 medium) . ."
I concur with Dub'yah on this one. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Looks like I'll go with the D-Ad 16s then. Thanks guys! |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1196
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana | Elixer nano-web strings are the only strings I use. They are plenty bright, and have lasted very long on all my guitars. I can't say enough good things about these strings. When my new 30th anniversary Custom Legend arrives, the first thing I will do is put Elixer nano-web strings on it. These strings make my old model 1619 Custom Legend sing also. Great strings! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | I have Elixirs on 4 of my 5 acoustics. I like 'em. I find them very comfortable. Sorta "soft" feeling. Especially nice on a 12 string. I like the way they feel when I slide too. Smoooth, very little zzzzzzzzz. They seem to last quite a while for me too.
I can believe they sound a little subdued to people that can hear high frequency normally though. It seems reasonable to assume the coating would absorb some of the vibrations.
They sound fine to me, but I'm pretty deaf from 35 years in a body shop. I can't hear hi frequency at all, the tinitus blanks it out I guess.
For example- I can't hear most cell phones ring. When I got one people kept having to tell me my phone was ringing. I'd be wandering around in the hardware store or sitting in some restaurant alone ringing up a storm & I'd notice people were lookin' at me, then somebody would tell me I was ringing.
So...
I got me one of those vibrating battery jobs. Well we live in rattlesnake country here in the high desert & as luck would have it I can't hear them either, (unless I hear the brush rustling), so every time that little SOB went off in my pocket it scared the hell out of me.
Turns out suddenly screaming in terror in nearly silent public places is looked upon entirely differently than merely ringing.
Completely different reaction from folks .....
Now it's off unless I'm calling somebody.
Where was I?
Oh yeah, I use D'Addarios electric lights (.010-.046) on my 335 style Epiphone. They're nice & stretchy & they seem to hold up pretty well, even with a whammy bar. A professional blues player buddy of mine turned me on to them. Cheap too. The last ones I got in a 3 set box for under $10.
I'm looking forward to the next zoomy strings that come out. Who knows, maybe someday we'll have guitar strings made of nano tubes.
/\/\/ |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 420
Location: On the beach in Southwest Florida | Am tryin out some Martin lights but am not convinced they are the best for my Elite T. They sound great on my HD28 knockoff. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Hizzonner Sir,
I agree with play4fun.... I buy my Phosphor/Bronze Meds from www.webstrings.com good, bright strings and cheap enough to change as often as you want! And Overnight delivery... I usually buy 6-sets at a time.... change them every two-weeks... a luxury I was never able to afford until now!
I tried Elixers.... too slippery for my beatenup fingers (kept slipping off the strings!)... phosphor/bronze have that friction I need.
tim |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 420
Location: On the beach in Southwest Florida | Tim...thaks for the link...will defiantely try them out. |
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Joined:
April 2002
Posts: 196
Location: Shelton, Washington, USA | played with adamas 1818's for years, recently switched to the d'ad lights. (d'ad bought the adamas string machines when O got out of the string business, if memory serves... bill?)
i still like a med guage for rhythm work... but most of what i do is fingerstyle, hence lights. and my O's seem to like the lights, too. |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 153
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | Trying out some new strings (for me) and so far I like them. Martin Bluegrass Medium/light. Plenty of bass and still have the bright highs. As I recall, the box is red, white and blue.
I've had problems with the Martin SP's. High E can disengage from spool. Made in Mexico.
I like Martin Marquis lights also but they don't last long. Guild and Gibson strings are pretty good also, but I've had good and not so good sets. Nothing worse than opening a set to find the wound strings tarnished.
Adamas strings are okay also. They tarnish quick but still sound bright. D'Addario EXP coated strings are okay also but don't last as long as you would think a coated string should.
For the full sound with booming bass and bright mids and highs, try the Martin Bluegrass M/L's. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Put a set of D'Addario J-16s on my Collectors 2000 last night. FIrst time I;ve used them! WHat a GREAT set of strings! They sound so bright! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Yep!!! . . . . d'ems my strings! |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Craig, I had Martin Phosphor Bronze Lights on my Legend when we were in CT. Of course one string I bummed from Cliff as I broke one and didn't bring extras in my luggage.....
I just got two sets of D'Addario Phosphor Bronze to try out. I'll post my opinion.
I've been buying from here String This, they are based out of Dallas. They come in bulk, I bought the tube to keep them in, pretty good deal. I change my strings every two weeks or so, so buying them here is very economical.
Just have to make sure I stay ahead of busted strings!! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I apologise to anyone whose guitar I played during the hotel jam on Thursday, especially if you'd put on new strings. Ol' "acid hands" strikes again.
Paul, I think it was me who first mentioned "String This" here a couple of years ago. I used them for quite some time until I eventually found a bulk wholesale source in Europe, which works out at a better deal because I don't have to pay import duty. The strings aren't as good but I can rot any string in 20 minutes flat, so brand names become academic. |
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String Choices
