What strings should I use.

Ole broke picker

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I play rhythm and sing. I know this is subjective but it took forever to find a preferred string for my electrics. Rock,blues,outlaw country, are what we most play. I play some lead but they usually make me stop. Lol
 

dreadnut

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You might want to try D'Addario Phosphor Bronze EJ-19's - it's a hybrid set, medium on the wound strings, lighter on the top 2 strings.
 

HeyMikey

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If this is for your new F30 and you tune to standard E then phosphor bronze lights. If you tune down to D or use a lower open tuning then try mediums. Those hybrid light/medium sets work well also.

Here is a sales going on now for certain D’Addario EXP coated sets.

 

Guildedagain

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Try some Martin Monel lights, 11-52, they're interesting, and silver as opposed to brass/bronze, different. Not expensive.

Also used recently John Pearse Slightly Light Phosphor Bronze 11-50 and John Pearse Slik & Bronze, both great.

Otherwise I'm using GHS boomers on electrics, instead of Ernie Balls and liking it.

Also GHS Phosphor Bronze, great strings.
 

marius

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Talk about Pandora’s box...
I really liked the Martin Retro Lights that came with my D Jr-10 and have stuck with them.
For my F30 I’ve been really happy with Mediums from Straight Up Strings
 

davismanLV

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Some people here just boycott "what strings should I use" which I totally understand. Sometimes floundering in ignorance is a really good thing because honestly you can find your own way. If you like a brighter sound, then go for 80/20 bronze over phosphor bronze. I like a bright sound. Yet some of my guitars like the PB's better. So do your thing. For a cheap non-coated good quality string, I like GHS Bright Bronze!! They're good strings!! But my string drawer looks like this:
String Drawer.jpg


So look and see and try and tell US what strings are good, okay?? LOL!!
 

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West R Lee

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I'm still a John Pearse guy. I like silk and steel and 80/20s, but like Dread, for strumming, I might go with PBs.

West
 

ezstrummer

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I actually use D'Adderio 11's on all my acoustics. I find that that last longer then any other string I've tried.
 

Tom O

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I used D'Angelico for years but they are no longer available for acoustics. Last back was made by GHS (same address on pack).
Now use GHS Phosphor Bronze, John Pearse , and DR. May try Santa Cruz strings next. Each guitar is different. Some like a change in type every now and then, like your wife likes a new dress.
 
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Finally it's going to be up to your ears and fingers, and the only way to find out what they like is to try a bunch of different formulas and gauges. I'm not even sure that my preferences (formed over 60 years of playing and 53 of playing the same D-40) would fit anybody else. (FWIW, I don't like bright, jangly strings and usually use phosphor bronze lights of just about any major brand--though right now the D-40 is wearing a new GHS Silk & Bronze 11-49 set, and it sounds fine. Solid-core PB lights wear longer before the wound strings lose their high frequencies, though.)
 

Br1ck

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I find that if I decide to try three different sets of strings, I can't remember the first when I finally get to the third. If truth be told, I tend to like any new string vs any dead old string. I can't bear to put fresh strings on when the old set still has life left in them. I do try to have a 12 pack of D'Addario PB in a drawer, but I've liked Martin Lifespans a bunch lately. Certainly coated strings for the slot heads.
 

Ole broke picker

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Thank y'all for the responses. I kinda felt silly posting this, I knew I'd have to find my preference through playing. I guess that part of the fun of getting back into acoustics. The information was helpful though.
 

Br1ck

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Not silly at all. I'd venture, with all the string types and materials, a vast majority use phosphor bronze. The only string material I've ever disliked was stainless steel. Pretty much everything else lasted the life of the strings. I used D'Addario phosphor bronze exclusively for decades, because they always sound good. since the advent of coated strings I've been trying those more and more, but nothing has beat me over the head as dramatically better. I've got a pack of D'Addarios in every guitar case as a backup.

Now with my foray into the mandolin world, the instrument seems to be sensitive to every aspect of playing, be it strings, setup, or technique. You have no room for error if you want good tone. I have a bright mandolin that loves monels.
 

Brucebubs

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I'm a strummer and I've never heard a string change a guitar for the better as much as round-core DR Sunbeams do on my Epiphone EJ-200.
I try other brands and types in between string changes but nothing comes close.

tYQJiKpl.jpg
 

Ole broke picker

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I'm a strummer and I've never heard a string change a guitar for the better as much as round-core DR Sunbeams do on my Epiphone EJ-200.
I try other brands and types in between string changes but nothing comes close.

tYQJiKpl.jpg
I use DR pure blues on my electrics. Looks like a good place to start my search. Thanks.
 

Brucebubs

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I use DR pure blues on my electrics. Looks like a good place to start my search. Thanks.

Just be aware that round-core strings take a little extra care when installing - basically don't go pre-cutting them, instal them long and cut off the excess when they have tension on them.

I hope they work for you ... but guitars can be fickle!
 

mavuser

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try the John Pearse SL-550 (11's) for sure if u are playing an F-30. or else the 12's which is probably SL-600. i really like the 11's.
 

West R Lee

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Here's what I've learned about strings, aside than your choice being completely subjective. Some guitars (woods) sound fabulous with one string, but those same strings may not sound so good on a different wood. I love John Pearse 80/20's and "Silk and Steel" on my rosewood guitars, but don't care for them at all on my maple guitars. While experimenting with various strings, and at the time, being willing to pay a fortune for strings, I bought a few sets of Thomastick Plectrums (about $30/set). I stuck a set on my favorite rosewood guitar, and didn't like them at all. Since my D30 was one of my "lesser guitars", and I knew I didn't like them on rosewood, I put a set on my maple D30.....and WOW.....sounded like a different guitar. I think certain woods like particular strings, and even some guitars of the same woods have different temperment. I'd like to buy a 12 string set for my maple JF30 12, but I'd hate to price them. If you've got a maple guitar, but a set of the Plectrums, and just try them.


By the way, I continue to experiment with strings, and just bought a couple of sets of Martin 80/20 strings on my Collings guitars, and I don't think they hold a candle to JP's. I've also tried D'Addario EJ40's on both Collings guitars.....they sound and play incredible, but are dead as a door nail in about 2 weeks.

I've never played a "coated" string I cared for either.....so that rules out Elixer. I think I've tried just about all of them, but I keep coming back to John Pearse strings.......they're cheap, and to me, they sound fabilous.

West
 
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