newb here with an experienced, but weak ear:
I too am experimenting with strings.
To @sequences comment, I think the guitar makes a strong difference the two string types their sporting: an old arch top and a new dreadnaught, both acoustic
I’m presently playing with two variables on string choice
String weight (I/my fingers prefer playing light)
round/flat/polished wrap (3X more expensive)
The arch top is currently sporting polished strings (put on by a luthier who set it up --only three strings are wrapped). totally different sound, way reduced finger noise, mellower sound. I cannot see any difference after four months of usage.
My 80/20 D’Addario bronze strings begin to look used within a couple of weeks. I change out about every three months (playing every day), and the new strings sound decidedly brighter than the ones I removed. Perhaps I should change out more frequently, but I play for an audience of one, and he is more bothered by unnecessary expenditures than by less bright sound.
In the past I never really paid attention to my strings. I used whatever the guitar tech installed.
For the past year or so, I’ve been trying Stringjoy strings (made in Nashville, TN, fwiw) on both my acoustics and my electric. I’ve been pretty happy with them so have no reason to change right now except to try something else, I suppose.
Interesting this came up because I noticed recently my strings sounding dull on my acoustic. I’m going to change them today so I have freshies on for open mic on Thursday.
Funniest post I’ve ever seen on Justin forums. We have a feral cat problem in Australia, seriously. Gonna switch to feral catgut strings. Hear them yowl!
I use Elixir strings on my Taylor GS mini, since that is what is recommended by Taylor
I use Martin Lifespan 2.0 treated phosphor bronze on my Martin 000-MMV. I had a Tech put Ernie Balls on the Martin, but I never liked the tone. It may be because the
Martin was setup with custom intonation with filed bone bridge for Martin Strings. I use D’Addario’s on my electrics and my classical (nylon) guitar.I couldn’t have answered this before I started seriously following Justin and making the commitment to change my own strings
I didn’t vote on this one.
I don’t feel like I’m a string connoisseur.
I do use D’Addario, but I’ve no idea if they are my favorite brand as I’ve just not experimented with different kinds of strings. Perhaps there’s something better that I’m not aware of.
I use D’Addario on both my electrics (10/46) and my acoustics (.011-.052).
They seem fine to me. They last too long. I don’t think I’ve changed them in perhaps a year now. They still sound fine to me. Though I will say when I do put new ones on, the new ones do sound better. But since they grow dull over time, I don’t notice till I put new ones on.
fwiw, I do wipe my strings down after each play time. And I also wash my hands prior to playing. Every time.
If they wouldn’t last so long I’d change them more often. My motivator to R&R them is when one of the strings breaks. Then I replace all of them.
I suppose one of these days, I’ll perhaps have to change them just on general principle if one of them don’t break soon…
As for why D’Addario.
They seem popular and are easy to find at the store. Which is good as the music store I go to has two full racks that are head high full of strings. Must be hundreds of varieties. So I just keep it simple. Find my D’Addario’s that are the gauge I want and go buy them. I’m not much of a shopper.
Since I like what I use, I keep my last empty pack and take it to the store with me so I get the same thing I’m using. This just keeps things constant for me.
I can hear a lot of difference in Acoustic strings. Not a fan of any of the listed brands. They tend to be too bright for my guitar, which needs darker or mellower (but not dull) strings to balance it out.
I like lower tension balanced strings as well, more for comfort. I currently like Curt Mangan round core Monels, but lots of Monel strings are warmer and could do fine. Curt Mangan is local to me on Colorado, so that is cool. Straight up Strings are great as well, Newtone Heritage and if I didn’t mind the cost, Thomastik Infield.
A fast response of,
“Oh I wonder if that large Harris hawk I saw flying around here the other morning got that kitty?”, will do wonders to quell their suspicions.
Just blame the natural raptors, hawks, owls and other common local birds of prey.
My wife has unusually sensitive high-frequency hearing and is greatly bothered by string squeak, so my choice are D’Addario Flat Tops, which are quieter than round-wound strings.
useless and off-topic information.