Guitar Strings

[cs]

What say you? I may get some in my stocking, but I need to tell the wife what I want. Starting to finger pick but still want to flat pick.

Dean Markley Acoustic guitar Phosporours Bronze (med)

http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/juststrings_1877_38349895

Martin Acoustic Guitar SP Marquis Bronze(med)

http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/juststrings_1874_110365

Martin Finger Style SP Bronze (med)

http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/juststrings_1874_1207671

Chad

[Mrleft8]

I've always liked D'addadario Round wounds. But I'm a bass player..... So what do I know?

[Gary E]

Good question....glad someone brought this up...

I have a Gurian and use...
Martin M120 Silverplated Plain end
High Tension
.028 - .043

Question..
I dont play much and pushing on the strings does put groves in the fingers, dont say doit more till ya get calasus, cuz it's not gona happen.

So, how far above the 12th fret should the strings be?

[capt jake]

I always used the Markley's. Mediums. smile.gif I tried many other brands, but found the Markleys to be just the sound I was after and the price was better than most.

I used to buy them by the case! You get a much better price that way. smile.gif Of course when you replace a set a week, yoiu need a good supply. ;)

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

I use Martin lights... you have to change them more often, but they sound beautiful.

[Mrleft8]

Originally posted by Gary E:
Good question....glad someone brought this up...

I have a Gurian and use...
Martin M120 Silverplated Plain end
High Tension
.028 - .043

Question..
I dont play much and pushing on the strings does put groves in the fingers, dont say doit more till ya get calasus, cuz it's not gona happen.

So, how far above the 12th fret should the strings be?You have a Michael Gurian guitar?! :cool: I heard he's still making one or two a year...

[Gary E]

I have one made in 1980... bought it new.

Am I using the right strings?

[Mrleft8]

Got me.... You bought it new from Gurian at his "new" shop in Keene? I bought a pile of lumber from him in 79 or '80.... Right after the fire.

[Bruce Taylor]

So, how far above the 12th fret should the strings be?In 64ths of an inch, from bass to treble (measured to the underside of the string):

8, 8.5, 9, 9, 10, 10.5

But really, it depends on things like neck relief, crown of the bridge saddle, playing style, etc.

If your fingers hurt, switch to lighter tension strings. It'll be easier on the top of your Gurian, too.

[capt jake]

Question..
I dont play much and pushing on the strings does put groves in the fingers, dont say doit more till ya get calasus, cuz it's not gona happen.

So, how far above the 12th fret should the strings be?Calluses do come, but they can take a very long time soaking in salt water may help. Tapping your fingers in a small bowl of sand will also. If you ever need to get finger printed, the officials will love ya. ;) LOL

Distance above the 12th fret? This is all dependant upon the set-up of that particular guitar. There are a lot of variables, height of the bridge, placement of the neck, proper set in the neck, nut, etc. find a 'good' tech to properly set up the guitar.

I have been using the same guy here locally for almost 25 years (though I hardly ever play anymore). When I would pick up a new guitar, I would always send it out to him prior to accepting delivery. They always knew to include the custom set-up in the price. Proper set up can make a huge differnce in how an instrument plays and feels.

[ 12-17-2005, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: capt jake ]

[Gary E]

Originally posted by Mrleft8:
Got me.... You bought it new from Gurian at his "new" shop in Keene? I bought a pile of lumber from him in 79 or '80.... Right after the fire.I bought this bran spankin new from a store in 1980 in Pennsylvania. When I bought it I had NO idea what it was, or who made it.

Ya see my hands are big enuf to pick up a basketball and wave it around like you would a grapefruit. This neck fit my hands better than any other, so I took it home. It is still in like new condition.

[Memphis Mike]

The 13's are a bit heavy Chad if you intend on doing any note bending.

I play with 12's on my electric guitars and 11's on the acoustics.

[Noah]

Hey Lefty, I also have a Gurian, which I got a Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro. For a while they usually had one or two in stock. They keep going up in price though...which is good for me.

[Mrleft8]

Maple leaf (When it was on Elliot st.) was a great store!

[Garrett Lowell]

I like the cryogenically treated strings, medium. They tend to last alot longer.

[Memphis Mike]

If you're talkin about Elixers, they're good but they're 18 dollars a package around here.

We were talkin about strings yesterday and I mentioned the Martin's and a friend of mine said they just don't last very long.

As far as brand names, I like DR for an acoustic string and Earnie Balls for electric.

[carlg]

Don't play much, but Augustine Blues here (classical).

[Stiletto]

What does one look for in electric guitar strings?
I was thinking of buying my 17 year old some for his Fender as part of his Christmas package.

[Stiletto]

DDouble post removed

[ 12-18-2005, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: Stiletto ]

[Memphis Mike]

Originally posted by Stiletto:
What does one look for in electric guitar strings?
I was thinking of buying my 17 year old some for his Fender as part of his Christmas package.I would ask him what kind and what guage he plays with.

Like I said, Ernie Balls are good electric strings and not too expensive.

[Peter Kalshoven]

For a beginning player on an electric guitar, you just can't beat Ernie Ball Slinkys (10's). They play great, sound great, last pretty well, are reasonably priced, and most importantly, SOUND GREAT. If he practices a lot, make sure he wipes down the strings after every use, and change the strings on a regular basis. It makes a difference.

On my tele, I use Ernie Ball Skinny Tops, Heavy Bottoms, which gives me high notes like the Slinkys, but makes the bass notes sound like a bass is playing. They work for me.

For acoustics, I use Elxir Medium Lights on my Tacoma. (Nanoweb) Yes, they are more expensive. But they sound great, and they LAST. I hardly ever have to change them.