Richard Hawley

Hi guys,

I've been playing guitar for almost 15 years now but I've noticed that every time I change my acoustic guitar strings they sound awful ...and stay that way. I'm aware that it takes some time for the strings to settle and lose their "clanginess" but several months later they are still the same. To kind of give you a description of the sound I get - the guitar sounds reasonable when finger-picked but god-awful when strummed.

I don't know if this is just my own personal neurosis or if the quality of strings here are just crap. I have experimented on two guitars, using a variety of gauges and brands. I would just dearly love my guitar to sound like it did when I bought it. (I asked the vendor of my last guitar which strings it came with and he said he didn't know).

What strings do you guys use, and do you have the same kind of experiences? Any recommendations?

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Hmm....

http://myspace.com/francisdonaghy

never had that experience mate i'm sure others may have though.

for my 12-string guitars i use ernie ball earthwoods, medium gauge. I used to use martin but i prefer earthwoods as they are "lighter" and easier on my hands, they settle in within hours and last very well, i change strings every month or so on my home guitar and after every gig on my live guitar.

your problem is a mystery to me though!

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http://www.myspace.com/lukemurcott

Thanks Luke. Both my guitars are 6 strings. I have tried martins, a few other brands that don't stick in my memory and even those Elixir strings - if anything they were worse than the rest.

I wonder if it could be my playing style? I have been told by other guitarists at gigs etc that I have a very "light" playing style and I don't use a plectrum at all acoustically. Maybe I'm not "breaking in" the strings?

I tend not to change my strings as often as I should because of this.

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Hmm....

http://myspace.com/francisdonaghy

Elixir all the way, they are quite pricy but well worth it. They last for ages and it takes fuck all time for them to sound bang on right once you've put them on as new, couldnt recommend them enough.



no I don't work for Elixir

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http://www.last.fm/user/strumms
I saw an elsebound train, on the overpass
In the driving rain, every ticket costs the same
For where you can't go
Mustang horses, champagne glasses
Anything frail anything wild
It's the price of living motion, what's beautiful is broken
And grace is just the measure of a fall.

yes, the playing style without a doubt has an effect on the way the strings sound, and last. my picking is quite heavy and muscular.

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http://www.myspace.com/lukemurcott

Elixer's are ace, i really like the bright sound of a new set, had a set of elixers on my j200 for about a year and they still sound ace.
i used to use a set of d'addario 12's on my acoustic, really nice strings and quite cheap too.

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we're gonna rock this town, rock it all night long!

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Thanks everyone for the recommendations so far. I have tried elixirs and wasn't a fan to be honest - but that's just my opinion based on my experience.
Based on what you were saying Luke I went and strummed the guitar heavier than I ever would naturally for a few songs (any excuse to play Bobby Fuller's version of "I Fought The Law") and I've noticed a slight improvement in the sound so far.. so it looks like we could be on to something.
I think I developed into a "light" player partly because I had a genuine phobia of breaking strings when I was starting out (it is never pleasant to have your G string snap!), and partly because growing up in a household of 5 I had to keep the noise down when I was practicing.

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Hmm....

http://myspace.com/francisdonaghy

i'm no guitar doctor or anything but it sounds like the strings aren't being bedded in or toughened up enough...so keep trying this method and see if the change becomes more noticeable after time.

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http://www.myspace.com/lukemurcott

Uh, maybe it's a chooning discrepancy

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"Don't trust the heart, it wants your blood"

sounds to me like the neck needs adjusting mate they do go out over time,the truss rod needs a tweak but i wouldn't do it yourself i've been playing all my life and i wouldn't go near it myself i would take it to a shop to get it done by a proper guitar repairer

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now,then!

Cheers Richard.

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Hmm....

http://myspace.com/francisdonaghy

heard that boiling your strings can make a difference, but don't know if this is just an old wifes tail!

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how do i know?

I like Rotosound string .11 gauge to .48/ .50. Tried these http://www.guitar-strings.co.kr/electric_4.htm 2 quid a pack I was just gonna use them on my old Ibanez which isn't my gig guitar, but these are as good as anything else out there. I use them on all my guitars and defo better than Fender Bullets.

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''Rocka-Jazza-Blues-A-Billy''
http://www.myspace.com/dcthecustomatix

I really hate Rotosound, D'addario for me.

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Mmmmm

Same here. Rotosound have no staying power, I can go through a full set in a day, whereas D'addario last for blummin' ages, keep their sound well and are a delight to play.

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Fake it 'til you make it.