Guitar Strings 101

[Inspector #20]

Yeah, but I’d still like to have frets and strings on the guitar when I got it back!

The Jescar Gold Evo Fretwire is absolutely bombproof. I need to have that put on all my guitars.

Same strings - same 6 months of playing





Seriously!!!!! The Jescar's look brand new!!!!

 

[67plexi]

As far as frets go stainless steel are the winner EVO gold are second best as far as hardness then nickle silver in that order.

I have 3 guitars with SS frets they don't eat strings.

 

[Inspector #20]

As far as frets go stainless steel are the winner EVO gold are second best as far as hardness then nickle silver in that order.

I have 3 guitars with SS frets they don't eat strings.

I intentionally avoided stainless because of how long it takes to work them. The Evo's are totally bombproof. No additional hardness is needed.

 

[smitty_p]

I intentionally avoided stainless because of how long it takes to work them. The Evo's are totally bombproof. No additional hardness is needed.

Not sure I follow your meaning when you say EVO is “bombproof”, yet additional hardness is not necessary.

Jescar EVO is harder than traditional nickel silver, though not as hard as stainless.

Jescar even highlights the greater hardness of their fret wire on their website.

Am I missing something? Or are you just suggesting that you don’t think the extra hardness of stainless is necessary?

 

[Inspector #20]

Not sure I follow your meaning when you say EVO is “bombproof”, yet additional hardness is not necessary.

Jescar EVO is harder than traditional nickel silver, though not as hard as stainless.

Jescar even highlights the greater hardness of their fret wire on their website.

Am I missing something? Or are you just suggesting that you don’t think the extra hardness of stainless is necessary?

Right,

After 6 months of use, my Jescar Gold Evo Fretwire have no scratches or flat spots of any kind. These frets are impervious to string wear.

(See the images above in post #41)

I'm getting less than 5 months between leveling and crowning on my nickel silver frets. Needless to say, I'm running out of fret wire to crown.

IMHO, any additional hardness is unnecessary.

I personally like the look of the Gold Evo Fretwire more than I do stainless and i can work the fret ends easily.

 

[SG John]

I like Pyramid strings on my electrics. I’ve been very happy with them since I started using them. On my Dobro, I use Elixr Nano-Web electric strings with an .011” high E string. They sound really good on a metal body Dobro. I haven’t found anything I like for the Martin yet. I just know that I really can not stand the SIT set I was talked into trying. They forgot the H in the brand name. I’ll have to go string shopping this weekend.

 

[smitty_p]

I like Pyramid strings on my electrics. I’ve been very happy with them since I started using them. On my Dobro…

Whoah…stop the presses right there!

You have a Dobro?

Dude, you get ten extra “cool points,” just for that!

We need pics, right now, or you only get half credit.

 

[SG John]

Whoah…stop the presses right there!

You have a Dobro?

Dude, you get ten extra “cool points,” just for that!

We need pics, right now, or you only get half credit.

I've owned it since the late eighties. It's a '70. Complete with palm trees.

 

[smitty_p]

I've owned it since the late eighties. It's a '70. Complete with palm trees.


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You know, John, you have some classy gear.

I almost feel like using too many superlatives misses the point. It’s just very classy.

Very nice.

 

[SG John]

You know, John, you have some classy gear.

I almost feel like using too many superlatives misses the point. It’s just very classy.

Very nice.

Thanks Smitty! I've always tried to get the "best" stuff I could afford at the time. May not be the best, ultimate, vintage, exclusive stuff around. But I think I grabbed some pretty cool stuff to fit the job at the time. The Dobro was one of those. I need to play it more often. As I do with all of them.

 

[aon]

The Stringjoy youtube channel is pretty good when it comes to string information:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRoigxoCNBOkx_j9ZEs0EA

I've also been using their tension calculator as the D'Addario one stopped working, although they do provide charts. Of course, especially for the wound strings they won't be spot on for other brands as the wrap to core ratio differs...

I'm currently using La Bella .011 - .052 on the Les Paul and Fender .012 - .052 on the Strat. Have enough of both to last me for a while... I would like to eventually have the same manufacturer's strings on both, and that will probably be La Bella, as they seem to have a decent price to annoyance of packaging ratio.

Tempted to try either Dunlop Super Bright Stainless or D'Addario ProSteels on the bass...

 

[Dave Sloven]

I only break strings when I get a bit too enthusiastic trying to stretch them in. I haven't broken a string playing for many years

I use the regular D'Addarios. EXL125 (9-46) for standard tuning on Gibsons and Eb on Eb Floyd Rose 25.5" scale superstrats, EXL117 (11-56) for C standard Floyd Rose or dedicated lead guitar fixed-bridge guitars (25.5"), EXL148 (12-60) on C standard fixed-bridge 25.5" rhythm guitar stuff or 24.75" guitars in C standard. With the EXL148 set I replace the 20P for a 22W.

 

[iblive]

I only break strings when I get a bit to enthusiastic trying to stretch them in. I haven't broken a string playing for many years

Same here. Don’t remember ever breaking a string while playing. Have only broken a few while stringing up. Weirdest string break happened on my 12 string. Several years ago while sitting playing my acoustic….. heard a “twang.” Opened the 12 string case and found a broken string.

 

[Beagle]

Don't really sweat either (hard to get hot in Yorkshire!).

It happens once every twenty years or so. But only on days when Yorkshire and England aren't playing cricket...

And I'm still using D'Addario or Pyramid 8-36 sets on all my guitars.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

My acoustic gets Elixers. Won’t experiment there. My electrics….. I’m not as tough on strings as some of you guys, so I haven’t been fussy. I don’t break strings playing. I’ve tried a few different brands and haven’t really noticed much difference. They all sound and feel great when new and crappy when they get old and greasy.

Just curious IB, no experimenting, But in the past, did you ever try Martin acoustic strings, a friend recommended them to me.

 

[iblive]

Just curious IB, no experimenting, But in the past, did you ever try Martin acoustic strings, a friend recommended them to me.

I used Martin’s on the Ovation almost from day one. (1974). Then my youngest borrowed the guitar while he was in college….. early 2000s. When he restrung it he used Elixers. When I got the guitar back, I tried a set of Martin’s. One time. Elixers tone was better and lasted a lot longer before losing that tone. And that’s what I’ve used since.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

That's probably a good rule!@@@@!

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Robert's Mom's Brother is Pete Townshend. Robert got his rough on hands, picks, strings etc ramifications from Pete's guitar smashing DNA.
Robert can't help DNA. He was born into Rock N Roll destruction and decimation.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

I used Martin’s on the Ovation almost from day one. (1974). Then my youngest borrowed the guitar while he was in college….. early 2000s. When he restrung it he used Elixers. When I got the guitar back, I tried a set of Martin’s. One time. Elixers tone was better and lasted a lot longer before losing that tone. And that’s what I’ve used since.

Thank you IB. I have 2 Acoustics. One is an Ovation the other a Fender. I wanted to try these 2 with the Martins I picked up. I am sure they will do me fine with what little acoustic playing I do. But I will try the Elixirs next go round

 

[iblive]

Thank you IB. I have 2 Acoustics. One is an Ovation the other a Fender. I wanted to try these 2 with the Martins I picked up. I am sure they will do me fine with what little acoustic playing I do. But I will try the Elixirs next go round

What I found. Like pretty much any brand string you buy, they sound awesome when new. Reason I repossessed my guitar from my kid was, I’d joined the worship team at my church. I restrung it with the Martin’s I’d always used. I killed them in a month or so. Tried the Elixers…. Six months later they were just starting to lose tone. That’d be why I won’t experiment on the acoustic.

 

[smitty_p]

I used Martin’s on the Ovation almost from day one. (1974). Then my youngest borrowed the guitar while he was in college….. early 2000s. When he restrung it he used Elixers. When I got the guitar back, I tried a set of Martin’s. One time. Elixers tone was better and lasted a lot longer before losing that tone. And that’s what I’ve used since.

I only use Elixers on my Taylor acoustic. I tried regular phosphor-bronze strings once. I tried them out for fifteen minutes then I went back and got a pack of Elixers.

Much better.

It’s only been Elixers on the Taylor ever since.