Guitar string buying advice? (acoustic)

[iamme]

first time buying them. anything i should look for?

also, they are steel strings.

 

[SWScorch]

I just buy whatever's cheap, but then again I have a cheap guitar and I suck muchly.

 

[themightyplatypus]

I like Elixir Lights.

http://www.guitarvision.com/mf/mf_frameset.htm

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: SWScorch
I just buy whatever's cheap, but then again I have a cheap guitar and I suck muchly.

Yeah. I got some cheap brass strings. They work fine.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: themightyplatypus
I like Elixir Lights.

http://www.guitarvision.com/mf/mf_frameset.htm

I second the Elixir. Everyone I know who has tried them has never gone back to normal steels again. They're coated and give off a slightly different sound. (Slides are a lot easier, there is less squeaking) They're about $12-13 a set but they're worth it. I don't know what kind of an acoustic you have but I find it funny that people skimp on the strings on a $300+ guitar.

 

[MichaelD]

Is this for an acoustic or an electric?

Do you play often? Are your fingers calloused? Is the action on the guitar high or low?

On my electric, I like 8's, b/c the action is low; higher-gauge strings would buzz.

On my acoustic, I like 10's; the action is medium-high and I prefer a big acoustic sound.

 

[aplefka]

Check out somewhere like musiciansfriend.com and look at their reviews of various strings. I personally like the different sounds all different kinds of strings can make, and if I could, I'd buy 3 or 4 of the same acoustic just to be able to put steel, nylon, coated steel, etc. on each one. You've gotta go with what kinda sound you want out of it.

 

[Farbio]

i have yet to warm up to the sound of the elixir's - i've had them and a few others, and i think they make the sound a lil too harsh. i did like the feel of them, pretty nice to play and they slide nicely, but i didn't like the trade off in the sound

 

[bockchow]

go with the Elixers, i know dozens of guys who play for hours a day and they all use Elixers.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Is this for an acoustic or an electric?

Do you play often? Are your fingers calloused? Is the action on the guitar high or low?

On my electric, I like 8's, b/c the action is low; higher-gauge strings would buzz.

On my acoustic, I like 10's; the action is medium-high and I prefer a big acoustic sound.

acoustic, like i mentioned in my title.

i'm learning right now....haven't had too much time lately, so i just dabble a couple times a week.

Fingers are sort of calloused.

not sure about the "action".

btw, what's the difference between Light, Medium, Heavy?

 

[aircooled]

Dean Markley makes great acoustic strings.

 

[bcterps]

I tried a pair of Elixirs recently, not that impressed, they are supposed to last longer than normal strings, but the coating is already starting to peel off after only a few months. I normally change my strings every 3-4 months anyways, I expected these to last a bit longer.

If you want cheap solid strings, you can go with Webstrings.com, I've bought from them before and they are a great value. I normally use D'Addario acoustic strings, they've served me well.

 

[TechBoyJK]

i second elixirs too, very nice to play and sound very bright and crisp. I'd change them every two months only because I play alot and like new strings.

action is how low your strings are to the neck.

 

[Platypus]

Elixirs

 

[KingNothing]

As I see it, you have two options. If you want cheap strings, go to www.webstrings.com and buy whatever suits your fancy. Heavier strings will produce a bigger, fuller sound, but will also be harder on your fingers.

Elixirs really are the best though. They cost 5-6 times what a set of strings from webstrings will cost you, but they feel and sound much better.

 

[dfi]

Drink your Elixir.

dfi

 

[Fritzo]

I've been using Ernie Ball 9 gauge for years, but recently discovered Martin Phosphor Bronze Lights. Ooooo...sooo warm and pretty sounding

 

[eflat]

I put a set of Martin strings on my guitar and they sound much better than the strings that it came with (it's a $400 Fender guitar).

They were only $7 at guitar center.

 

[iotone]

i'm a big d'addario fan myself... i use the phosphor bronze light gauge ones, not big on the elixers cuz it feels like i lose some tone as compared to non-coated...

altho', d'addario now has some elixer-type strings called EXP (i think?)... haven't tried those yet, but i imagine they might be pretty similar in sound to elixers due to their coating...

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: iotone
i'm a big d'addario fan myself... i use the phosphor bronze light gauge ones, not big on the elixers cuz it feels like i lose some tone as compared to non-coated...

altho', d'addario now has some elixer-type strings called EXP (i think?)... haven't tried those yet, but i imagine they might be pretty similar in sound to elixers due to their coating...

I had those on the guitar I just bought 2 months ago, they had a lot of feedback on them though. They felt a lot like normal steels.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: iotone
i'm a big d'addario fan myself... i use the phosphor bronze light gauge ones, not big on the elixers cuz it feels like i lose some tone as compared to non-coated...

altho', d'addario now has some elixer-type strings called EXP (i think?)... haven't tried those yet, but i imagine they might be pretty similar in sound to elixers due to their coating...

I had those on the guitar I just bought 2 months ago, they had a lot of feedback on them though. They felt a lot like normal steels.

Feedback?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: iotone
i'm a big d'addario fan myself... i use the phosphor bronze light gauge ones, not big on the elixers cuz it feels like i lose some tone as compared to non-coated...

altho', d'addario now has some elixer-type strings called EXP (i think?)... haven't tried those yet, but i imagine they might be pretty similar in sound to elixers due to their coating...

I had those on the guitar I just bought 2 months ago, they had a lot of feedback on them though. They felt a lot like normal steels.

Feedback?

oops, feedback is the wrong word kinda. When you move your hands over the strings

 

[Siva]

I tried elixers a little while ago and wasn't very impressed either. I like the sound of slightly worn strings and I thought elixers sounded slightly muted, they lacked punch. Plus the coating didn't make them last any longer than any other pair of strings I normally use. I have to second the d'addario recommendation, I've been an adament fan of their acoustic strings for a while. I like .12s, just so bending hurts enough to make it fun.

 

[thomsbrain]

i use d'addarios and ernie balls.

elixirs are for beginners. i don't know of any big-time pro guitarists who use them. why? probably because they sound lame. if you're having trouble with finger noise, it's because you have poor technique. if you're having trouble with pain, it's because you haven't developed proper calluses yet. learn to play and neither will be an issue. but i recommend against using strings like this even if you are a beginner because it's just going to allow you to develop poor playing habits that will come back to bite you when it's time to take your playing to the next level.

go to elixir's artist page. now go to the ernie ball artist page. 'nuff said.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: iotone
i'm a big d'addario fan myself... i use the phosphor bronze light gauge ones, not big on the elixers cuz it feels like i lose some tone as compared to non-coated...

altho', d'addario now has some elixer-type strings called EXP (i think?)... haven't tried those yet, but i imagine they might be pretty similar in sound to elixers due to their coating...

I had those on the guitar I just bought 2 months ago, they had a lot of feedback on them though. They felt a lot like normal steels.

Feedback?

oops, feedback is the wrong word kinda. When you move your hands over the strings

Are you talking about that "screech" sound? Not sure there's a term for that If you're getting that, try lighter gauge strings.