RECOMMENDED STRINGS

Mellish · July 2022

@Cryptid and @Tannin ; Strings Direct has recommended three types of strings for my Dove.

They may interest you both - Cryptid cos of the maple and Tannin cos you have mentioned an interest in nickel.

I'll update here. Delivery expected tomorrow

bertie · July 2022

WTF are "STROMGS ??? "

Mellish · July 2022

Typo. Apologies, was in a rush to go collect Mrs M

Mellish · July 2022

So, the strings they've recommended are:
D'Addario XS (coated)
D'Addario Nickel Bronze
Stringjoy Foxwoods'(coated)

(PB apart from the nickel set of course)

I'll let you know my thoughts as I try each set

Tannin · July 2022

Looking forward to it.

Mellish · July 2022

OK, I started with the **Stringjoy Foxwoood**.
These are 12-53, phosphor bronze and coated.
Felt rougher to the touch than I'd have expected from coated strings.
Tone was poor,wouldn't buy again.

Next up **D'Addario XS**.
I liked these. Tone was good, so was tuning stability. Gauge 12-53 PB.
There's a bold claim on the box "Never Fade Away". Really?

**John Pearse**
Too mellow for me. I like Strings to ring.

My favourites are still EJ16

EDIT: had to be a quick review as a death in the family means I'm taking a break from the forum.

Tannin · August 2022

^ Interesting.

I have a set of Stringjoy Naturals on my cedar-top dreadnought at the moment - presumably more-or-less the same strings minus coasting. Initially, I liked the tone (which I mostly don't with brand new strings) but now that they are played in, find them a little lacking in bite. My guess is that they might make a better match for something with more natural attack - say the Sitka and rosewood Maton or even the Red Spruce and mahogany Guild. I like the feel and the tension, they are classy strings. But given the very high price of them, I probably won't re-order. I have a set of Foxwoods here too, haven't tried them yet.

Can you expand on "poor tone" for the Foxwoods on your Dove?

EDIT: sad to hear that my friend.

earwighoney · August 2022

Mellish said:

OK, I started with the **Stringjoy Foxwoood**.
These are 12-53, phosphor bronze and coated.
Felt rougher to the touch than I'd have expected from coated strings.
Tone was poor,wouldn't buy again.

Next up **D'Addario XS**.
I liked these. Tone was good, so was tuning stability. Gauge 12-53 PB.
There's a bold claim on the box "Never Fade Away". Really?

**John Pearse**
Too mellow for me. I like Strings to ring.

My favourites are still EJ16

EDIT: had to be a quick review as a death in the family means I'm taking a break from the forum.

Sorry for your loss, wish you and your family well.

Mellish · August 2022

@tannin and @earwighoney ;-thanks guys.

My dear old mum. 98 she was and still sharp.

Back to strings, and the D'Addario Nickel Bronze. I never thought I'd like 'em but I slung them on the Dove and I immediately did.

They have enough ring and, being Nickel, I'm expecting them to last well.

Plenty of volume, too. Happily recommend these

earwighoney · August 2022

Sorry for your loss. 98 is an excellent run.

I have a few sets of D'Addario Nickel Bronze. I should put them on a guitar at sometime.

Mellish · August 2022

@earwighoney ; - thank you mate.

On my Dove the D'Addario Nickel Bronze sound great.

YMMV, as you know. Different player, different guitar and it could make a big difference.

Hopefully it won't and you'll like them

Mellish · August 2022

Broke the e at a gig last night, luckily during the last number.

So, D'Addario NB off and Newtone Masterclass on.

Tbh, I've criticised Newtone strings before but these are very good, plenty of ring (which I always look for).

I didn't have to stretch them much to get them to hold pitch and first impressions compared to the NB's? Sorry, D'Addario NB, you lose

Tannin · August 2022

Ahh .. I was thinking to myself, after your earlier remarks, that you like very bright, toppy strings, and from that I reasoned (and was actually going to suggest) that Newtones might be your go. But you have beaten me to the punch. I dislike the Newtone tone (way too toppy for me) but they are great strings in every other respect - feel, construction quality, low-squeal, decent price. If you like the way they sound, why buy anything else?

Mellish · August 2022

^

yes. A lot of this depends on what you hear (we're all differrnt), your guitar (and they're all different), but I. Know these work on this Dove: D'Addario EJ16, EJ11, XT, XS, and now (hopefully) NB and Newtone Masterclass

EDIT: PM sent @Tannin

Mellish · August 2022

**DR Rare** no sir, not on this Dove absolutely hates 'em - far too mellow.
**Thomastik Spectrum Infeld** nice strings, not bright but enough ring to keep anyone looking for that satisfied. £23 a pop, though (Strings Direct), so not cheap. But good bass and highs, even though they're not the loudest out there.

Still prefer EJ16.

DonnyMac · August 2022

I've just ordered a set of D'Addario XS 80/20s - supposedly a bit brighter than the PBs, I wonder how you'd might like those?

Mellish · August 2022

@DonnyMac ; yes mate, 80/20s tend to be brighter than PBs, though there are exceptions.

I like XS on this Dove, XT not so much but still better than some. Most hated to date: John Pearse 600L and DR Rare

Winny_Pooh · August 2022

I use newtone masterclass on a rosewood OM and advanced jumbo. Fab strings

Mellish · August 2022

Newtone Masterclass are good on maple b/s too, Winny.

Thomastik Spectrum Infeld are mellower. I thought at first I didn't like 'em but somehow I did. Have to be careful when stretching them, though. I messed up the 6th string doing that, despite it being locked off on the post.

Tannin · August 2022

Since I've taken to using so many round core strings, I have learned that it's best to go belt and braces.

I have never cut my strings before tuning up, not in 50 years of playing, and have never had an issue with strings going dead - until recently when I've had so many round core sets and despite doing everything right simply from habit, lost strings here and there.

So with round cores now, I fit and tune up as usual, then use a pair of needle-nose pliers to put a 90 degree bend in the string, and a pair of short-nose pliers to crimp it (taking care to crush the windings into the core so as to lock them up). Only then do I cut.

That seems to work every time. (But early days yet, I've only been doing it for a few months.)

Mellish · August 2022

^ I tuned theThomastik strings to pitch (after locking off on the posts) before clipping.

While stretching the 6th, I felt something give. After that the 6th string was dead.

Sometimes I thimk this Dove is trying to tell me to stick with D'Addario

Soupman · August 2022

@Tannin good tip about crimping, I'll remember that one

Mellish · August 2022

Sunday morning light bulb moment.

EJ16s sound so good on this Gibson Dove Original that I don't believe I'll ever find better.

Will order a 10 pack and call it finished

Just to add the other strings I found good and would recommemd:
D'ADDARIO
EJ11
Nickel Bronze
XT
XS
NEWTONE
Masterclass
THOMASTIK
Spectrum Infeld

(Don't let my comments above about Spectrum Infeld put you off. They *are*" good strings).

Mellish · September 2022

Just ordered a 10-pack of D'Addario EJ16 from Strings Direct.

With these strings I get the best from this Dove, although *any*D'Addario seem to suit nearly as well.

I change strings pretty often (2 weeks on average) and it doesn't seem to matter if they're coated. For that reason, I mostly stick with uncoated - cheaper and last just as long (for me)

guitarjack66 · September 2022

I've restrung both my folk sized Harley Benton and my Squier Jumbo with Martins recently and they are incredibly 'zingy' and bright. Not my personal preference to be honest and if they dont diminish a little soon I will revert to my old Dean Markley Blackhawk strings,which I realise I do really like.

Mellish · September 2022

@guitarjack66 ;

The recommendations are for those wanting to try something different. They're not happy and looking to change.
If you've already found strings you like, I'd say stick with those

EDIT: I should have added which guitar the strings were tried on. Some were Martin HD-28 and some were Gibson Dove Original. The Martins were used on the HD-28.

guitarjack66 · September 2022

Mellish said:

@guitarjack66 ;

The recommendations are for those wanting to try something different. They're not happy and looking to change.
If you've already found strings you like, I'd say stick with those

Sometimes you dont realise you like them until you try something else.

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RECOMMENDED STRINGS

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