Do You Have a Clear Preference of String For Your Guilds?

[Muckman]

I used the Dragon Skins on my '67 D40 (only because a shop sent them to me for free when they were out of Hi Beams I ordered)- I thought they were a bit too dull sounding personally. I've read they are actually coated Rares, but not sure if that's true.

So far the Paradigms still sound good/fresh after a week or so. They definitely hold up better than others. I posted this in my other thread, but I recorded this yesterday- strings are about a week old (and my fingers tend to kill strings fast) ... just a basic iPhone video, but the guitar sounds pretty close to how it sounded in the room:



I'm gonna try Hi-Beams one more time after this set of Ernie Ball starts getting dull, since I've changed my pick and my "brain" a little bit since I used the Hi-Beams last. Then make my final decision on Paradigm or Hi-Beam.

Nice pipes man! That D40 sounds great, too!

It makes sense that the Dragon Skins would be a coated Rare. I’m also a big fan of the Hi-Beams, especially on my mahogany and rosewood dreads…..my G37 seems to like PBs better, in general. I’m going to try the Paradigms on her, I’ve heard nothing but good things

 

[donnylang]

Nice pipes man! That D40 sounds great, too!

It makes sense that the Dragon Skins would be a coated Rare. I’m also a big fan of the Hi-Beams, especially on my mahogany and rosewood dreads…..my G37 seems to like PBs better, in general. I’m going to try the Paradigms on her, I’ve heard nothing but good things

Thanks!

It’s so guitar-dependent … and not even by model. The ‘68 D40 sounded best to me with the EXP 80/20 coated D’Addario, oddly. They are too dull on this ‘67 D40. The Ernie Balls didn’t sound particular good on the ‘68 D40.

I’ve had the most consistent success with DR Hi-Beams to the point that they are now my “reference” or go-to string. I find them to be the most “musical” string, if not always the most ideally balanced or whatever.

 

[Muckman]

Thanks!

It’s so guitar-dependent … and not even by model. The ‘68 D40 sounded best to me with the EXP 80/20 coated D’Addario, oddly. They are too dull on this ‘67 D40. The Ernie Balls didn’t sound particular good on the ‘68 D40.

I’ve had the most consistent success with DR Hi-Beams to the point that they are now my “reference” or go-to string. I find them to be the most “musical” string, if not always the most ideally balanced or whatever.

The two d40s being that different is interesting, not at all what I would expect. You mentioned cleated cracks, would that have any effect I wonder.

I’m finding you are right, every guitar “likes” different strings. I’ve only recently played often enough and rotated enough acoustics to realize……finding a string that sounds great on one guitar doesn’t mean you’re going to love it on others

 

[donnylang]

The two d40s being that different is interesting, not at all what I would expect. You mentioned cleated cracks, would that have any effect I wonder.

I’m finding you are right, every guitar “likes” different strings. I’ve only recently played often enough and rotated enough acoustics to realize……finding a string that sounds great on one guitar doesn’t mean you’re going to love it on others

Yeh I don’t know. The cracks are all on the back, so I can’t imagine it doing too much but who knows.

 

[Wellington]

I have found DR Hi-Beams to be my favorite overall … but I’ve recently discovered a lot of it has to do with the guitar-

I’ve tried out several different sets of strings (La Bella 80/20 Golden Alloy, D’addario 80/20s, DR Hi-beams, DR Sunbeams, DR Dragon Skins) on this ‘67 D40, and so far these are the winner:

I usually use Paradigm PB on my LL16 Rosewood dread. I'm a fan of those strings, also the plain old Earnie Ball Earthwood are some of my favourite strings.

 

[Butch]

I use Elixir lights, exclusively. It takes a few days for them to settle down, but then they sound great.They last far longer than any other string that I have ever used.

 

[Muckman]

I have found DR Hi-Beams to be my favorite overall … but I’ve recently discovered a lot of it has to do with the guitar-

I’ve tried out several different sets of strings (La Bella 80/20 Golden Alloy, D’addario 80/20s, DR Hi-beams, DR Sunbeams, DR Dragon Skins) on this ‘67 D40, and so far these are the winner:

I put some 80/20 Paradigm 13s on my '80 D40 last night, so far I'm very happy....hopefully the liveliness sticks around longer than the usual 80/20. I had DR Rare 12s on this D40, they just didn't work on this guitar......surprised me just how bad they sounded. Muted and woofy at the same time, like the top was being pushed too hard, but also not hard enough in the right spectrum. I figured I should go 80/20 for the more fundamental tone, remembered your post on these when I saw them at Sam Ash, Donny. Anyway, plays and sounds great now.....reminds me why this D40 inspired my Guild buying spree last year LOL

 

[lonesome picker]

Elixer Nanowebs. Thin coating makes 'em sound new for months. With moderate playing, I can get six months out of a set