Best strings for acoustics?

[CellarGhosts]

I just recently new strings, Martins, on my Taylor 110 and they're already starting to sound a little flat/dull. But maybe it's just me.

Anyway, input/thoughts on this? I've tried D'Addario strings before but it's been a while. I do remember them being good acoustic strings though.

Yeah, I feel like such a n00b asking this, haha. But I'd just like to hear some other thoughts on the matter.

[patrickhowell]

Elixir, hands down. If you want to save a few dollars, D'Addario is not too far off. I can't stand most other strings, including Martins.

[CellarGhosts]

Elixir, hands down. If you want to save a few dollars, D'Addario is not too far off. I can't stand most other strings, including Martins.
Alright, cool. thanks for the tip.

I haven't tried too many different strings as far as acoustics go, so I don't know how many different ones there are out there, but D'Addario and Martins seem to be the two most popular ones. As far as I've seen, that is.

But yeah, I'll check out Elixirs then.

What is it in particular that you don't like about Martins?

[OveriseFan]

Cleartone!

They're coated, like Elixirs, but use a thinner coating (One micron) and, in my opinion, just have a better sound. They last just as long.

They're about a dollar or two more than Elixirs though. In my opinion, it's worth it.

http://www.dijkmanmuziek.nl/catalog/images/Cleartone.jpg

[CellarGhosts]

Cleartone!

They're coated, like Elixirs, but use a thinner coating (One micron) and, in my opinion, just have a better sound. They last just as long.

They're about a dollar or two more than Elixirs though. In my opinion, it's worth it.

http://www.dijkmanmuziek.nl/catalog/images/Cleartone.jpg
I don't think I've even seen those before, ha.

But I'll probably look into them, if not Elixirs. Sounds like a good deal, judging by your description. I'm not too concerned with price, either. So I'll see if I can maybe find these at either the place in town I buy all my stuff or Guitar Center.

thanks for the tip James.

[Tristan Needler]

I've heard a lot about Elixirs, but what makes them so great? What differences are there in tone compared to regular, uncoated strings?

I also wonder why people choose different gauges? Is it more a feel thing or a tone thing?

[CellarGhosts]

I've heard a lot about Elixirs, but what makes them so great? What differences are there in tone compared to regular, uncoated strings?

I also wonder why people choose different gauges? Is it more a feel thing or a tone thing?
I think it's more of a "feel" thing than tone but I'm not sure. I think it's actually a little of both.

Also, different gauges are optimal for down-tuning, too, if I'm not mistaken. As in, the lower you tune, the thicker your strings need to be.

[bassdrummer2333]

Are D'Addario "Light Gauges" good for electrics?

[OveriseFan]

I've heard a lot about Elixirs, but what makes them so great? What differences are there in tone compared to regular, uncoated strings?

I also wonder why people choose different gauges? Is it more a feel thing or a tone thing?

The thicker the string, the more 'tone', technically.

But for the most part, it's feel. Electrics TYPICALLY use thinner strings, because people do more bending/lead work on them, and acoustics would use a bit higher gauge for more tone and just a 'bigger' sound.

Personally, I play .10's on my tele and .12/.13's on my Seagull.

[remoteCONTROL]

elixers are good if you have a bad guitar and want to make it sound not as bad. i've tried to buy them since i got my breedlove and the guys at guitar center almost refuse to sell me those strings for that guitar. but if you already have a good guitar, the best strings to use to bring out the quality of that guitar (according to the guitar tech on our album...greg altman, look him up) are martin marquis (we used the green pack). for recording, you're gonna want heavier gauges. they'll shred your fingers but are much richer.

[Siren Silently]

For strings I swear by Martin Marquis SP's and John Pearse (I use .12 on my beater guitars and .13 on my Guild).

[Tristan Needler]

The thicker the string, the more 'tone', technically.

But for the most part, it's feel. Electrics TYPICALLY use thinner strings, because people do more bending/lead work on them, and acoustics would use a bit higher gauge for more tone and just a 'bigger' sound.

Personally, I play .10's on my tele and .12/.13's on my Seagull.
By "more tone" do you mean a brighter tone or a fuller bassier tone?

I use pretty light strings because it's what I usually play, but I've been wondering if a heavier set of strings would give me a rounder sound. My guitar is pretty cheap and very bright. Brighter than I want for what I play. It sounds thin and tinny on recordings. The fact that I use an SM57 on it doesn't help either.

[Siren Silently]

By "more tone" do you mean a brighter tone or a fuller bassier tone?

I use pretty light strings because it's what I usually play, but I've been wondering if a heavier set of strings would give me a rounder sound. My guitar is pretty cheap and very bright. Brighter than I want for what I play. It sounds thin and tinny on recordings. The fact that I use an SM57 on it doesn't help either.

It won't make it sound 'darker' per say, but it sound richer, more complex and it brings more bass.

[Tristan Needler]

Yeah, I wasn't necessarily looking for less bright, I know that's kind of difficult, but I was looking for a rounder fuller tone.

[Siren Silently]

Yeah, I wasn't necessarily looking for less bright, I know that's kind of difficult, but I was looking for a rounder fuller tone.

It definitely brings a "fuller" tone with more volume and bass, I don't string my good guitar with anything but mediums (.13). It's just hard to play barre chords when your cold sometimes.

[SLoT]

I think it kinda depends on what you're playing. I use Earthwoods, but that's because it fits with what I'm doing. D'Addario are usually what I throw on there when my dad's borrowing it though.

[CellarGhosts]

Hmm, I don't think I've ever even heard of Earthwoods.

[OveriseFan]

Hmm, I don't think I've ever even heard of Earthwoods.

They're an Ernie Ball brand acoustic string.

I've heard awful things about them though... never tried them myself.

[CellarGhosts]

They're an Ernie Ball brand acoustic string.

I've heard awful things about them though... never tried them myself.
Ah.

I've always used Ernie Ball's for my electric and they're great. But if you've heard awful things, then I dunno...I might just steer clear of 'em.

[fullofdust]

Cleartone!

They're coated, like Elixirs, but use a thinner coating (One micron) and, in my opinion, just have a better sound. They last just as long.

They're about a dollar or two more than Elixirs though. In my opinion, it's worth it.

http://www.dijkmanmuziek.nl/catalog/images/Cleartone.jpg

Gotta co-sign the Cleartone's. Waaay better sounding than Elixers. To me, Elixers sound coated while Cleartone doesn't.

But my favorite Acoustic strings are D'Addario Phos Bronze 12's:

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/EJ16.gif

[OveriseFan]

Gotta co-sign the Cleartone's. Waaay better sounding than Elixers. To me, Elixers sound coated while Cleartone doesn't.

But my favorite Acoustic strings are D'Addario Phos Bronze 12's:

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/EJ16.gif

Yep, exactly!

I can't remember if I tried those D'Addario's ever... I know I tried one kind (EXP? Maybe...), that I didn't like all that much. I might give those a shot sometime though. How long do those last you?

[Tristan Needler]

Gotta co-sign the Cleartone's. Waaay better sounding than Elixers. To me, Elixers sound coated while Cleartone doesn't.

But my favorite Acoustic strings are D'Addario Phos Bronze 12's:

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDAD/Images/Products/EJ16.gif
Those are the D'Addarios I've been using. They're great, it's just that my guitar is very bright. I'll try a heavier gauge next time.


Does the coating on Elixers and the like affect the tone at all?

[Siren Silently]

Those are the D'Addarios I've been using. They're great, it's just that my guitar is very bright. I'll try a heavier gauge next time.


Does the coating on Elixers and the like affect the tone at all?

They sound like coated strings, dull and lifeless; although they do wonders for that squeaking noise.

[fullofdust]

I can't remember if I tried those D'Addario's ever... I know I tried one kind (EXP? Maybe...), that I didn't like all that much. I might give those a shot sometime though. How long do those last you?

EXP are D'Addario's coated string, so it doesn't surprise me that you didn't like them much. The one's I posted are just standard Phosphor Bronze Acoustic strings. I just happen to like they way they sound on my guitars. They're a little too bright for my taste at first, but after a few days they mellow out real nice. I tend to change my strings a lot, so I don't really know how long they last, but I'd guess a couple weeks of typical playing or a couple shows?

Those are the D'Addarios I've been using. They're great, it's just that my guitar is very bright. I'll try a heavier gauge next time.


Does the coating on Elixers and the like affect the tone at all?

I think there's a huge difference in tone. Basically what this guy said:

They sound like coated strings, dull and lifeless; although they do wonders for that squeaking noise.

[OveriseFan]

They sound like coated strings, dull and lifeless; although they do wonders for that squeaking noise.

I wouldn't say "dull and lifeless", but yes, there is a fairly big difference in tone.

[johnh5304]

I use Elixers on both my Taylor (.10) and Tele (.11). I'll always use Elixers on my Taylor but I'm open to trying new strings on the Tele, I just haven't found anything that made me want to change.

[OveriseFan]

I use Elixers on both my Taylor (.10) and Tele (.11). I'll always use Elixers on my Taylor but I'm open to trying new strings on the Tele, I just haven't found anything that made me want to change.

I've never tried Elixir's (or Cleartone's) electric guitar strings...

Maybe I'll look into that.

Edit: You use a higher gauge on your electric guitar, and such a thin gauge on your acoustic? Care to explain?

Unless your Taylor isn't acoustic, and it's one of their new solid bodies, but I doubt that. (Because of your comment about always using Elixirs on it.)

[whiteboypain]

yeah, elixer are my #1 choice, but they're too expensive

[johnh5304]

Well when I got my Taylor 714ce, it came with extra light Elixers. I put mediums on after the tone died and thought I'd like the heavier gauge more. After playing with those a while, I realized I liked the feel and tone of the lighter gauge because I'm more of a finger picker. Eb is the lowest I tune down to anyway.

[OveriseFan]

Well when I got my Taylor 714ce, it came with extra light Elixers. I put mediums on after the tone died and thought I'd like the heavier gauge more. After playing with those a while, I realized I liked the feel and tone of the lighter gauge because I'm more of a finger picker. Eb is the lowest I tune down to anyway.

Hm...

I haven't thought about its advantages in finger-picking. I should definitely try that...

[patrickhowell]

Does the coating on Elixers and the like affect the tone at all?

Yes, the coating detract from the brightness, and add a little bit of bass emphasis, especially the PolyWeb coating. NanoWeb is a little more subtle, and feels more like uncoated strings. If you don't play your acoustic every day, or can't afford / don't want to replace your strings every couple weeks, then coated strings are the way to go. Uncoated strings are more brilliants sounding, but don't last anywhere near the life of coated strings. For me, the advantages of coated strings outweighs those of uncoated.

[Tristan Needler]

Hmm. You've sold me. Now I just need to decide if I should try the nano or poly.

Anyone know if the Elixir bass strings are any decent? Or should I just stick with my Slinkies?

[johnh5304]

I say stick with the Slinkies on bass since you rarely change strings and the coating does nothing but drain the tone. The advantages of the coating on guitar are much better than that on bass in my opinion.

[carsancalor1es]

martins are awful, imo

[leezer]

I found that D'addario sounded better for longer than martins. Depends what your playing though. I've gibson strings on my acoustic now and I found them more useful than the martins but not as good as D'Addario which surprised me

[patrickhowell]

I found that D'addario sounded better for longer than martins. Depends what your playing though. I've gibson strings on my acoustic now and I found them more useful than the martins but not as good as D'Addario which surprised me

Are these the EXP D'Addario? That would make sense, since those are coated strings, similar to Elixirs.

[leezer]

Are these the EXP D'Addario? That would make sense, since those are coated strings, similar to Elixirs.

I dont know man to be honest, they cost about £6. I should really pay more attention to my acoustic strings but I just end up getting martin or D'addario cus its handier.

[remoteCONTROL]

martins are awful, imo

pretty sure you're the only one...

[Siren Silently]

pretty sure you're the only one...

I must admit regular Martin's aren't so great, but I don't see how anyone can hate on SP's for anything except longevity haha.

[eraserhead]

I like Elixirs and D'Addarios, I have some cheap Martins that I got for free on my acoustic right now and they wore out really fast.

i've never heard of this cleartone brand, i might have to try some out...do they sell them at Guitar Center?

[Tristan Needler]

Yes, the coating detract from the brightness, and add a little bit of bass emphasis, especially the PolyWeb coating. NanoWeb is a little more subtle, and feels more like uncoated strings. If you don't play your acoustic every day, or can't afford / don't want to replace your strings every couple weeks, then coated strings are the way to go. Uncoated strings are more brilliants sounding, but don't last anywhere near the life of coated strings. For me, the advantages of coated strings outweighs those of uncoated.
Do you have a recommendation for nano or poly? It sounds like poly is the way to go tone-wise from how you described them, but do you sacrifice how long they last?

[patrickhowell]

Do you have a recommendation for nano or poly? It sounds like poly is the way to go tone-wise from how you described them, but do you sacrifice how long they last?

I've actually never tried the Nano. I'm planning on trying them next time I restring my guitar, but I only do that once or twice a year... The polyweb are the original Elixirs, and they last for months with the same sound and feel. The nano is supposed to last just as long, but I can't tell you from experience.

[OveriseFan]

I like Elixirs and D'Addarios, I have some cheap Martins that I got for free on my acoustic right now and they wore out really fast.

i've never heard of this cleartone brand, i might have to try some out...do they sell them at Guitar Center?

They do! Enjoy them, they're fantastic strings.

[Tristan Needler]

I'm interested in these Cleartone strings as well, but I don't think anyone back home sells them.

[CellarGhosts]

Same here, I don't think the local place I support has them. There's another guitat store in town but they suck and overcharge you for fucking everything. Plus I try and support the other place, because it's just one guy's family business (and by family business i mean he runs it all by himself.) and he's not too well off either. I suppose he could order some Cleartones for me though.

[Just Decent]

Try D'Addario or Elixer for max performance.