Acoustic strings and the curse of the internet.....

mrleon83 · January 2015

So , just taken delivery of my Taylor 414Ce, the strings seem old so I thought I'd consult the internet on best ones to go for... and wish I hadn't...

Any recommendations.. I know that they ship with either 11-52 or 12-53 so will stick with the gauge, do brands really matter?

VimFuego · January 2015

I've found (and the internet generally agrees with this) that brands do make a difference. Justin Sandercoe did a back to back (erm, to back) comparison of 3 types of string. It should be on his website, was interesting.

mrleon83 · January 2015

So what brand should I go for ? :-)

VimFuego · January 2015

the most reliable I've tried are Da'addaddadadadaddddarios. I've never tried the coated ones, but listening to the test, when I run out of what I've got, I'll be going for the coated variety.

BilliBob · January 2015

Fender Duratone are awesome long lasting.
D;addarios are my goto now.
Jon Pearse sound best of all by far, they only last long enough for 1 performance though. At least for me.
Definitely try the Fender Duratone.

ICBM · January 2015

I like D'Addario EJs, and DR Rare. I can't stand any coated strings apart from DRs, and even they feel odd.

ToneControl · January 2015

I thought that Taylors were voiced to go with Elixirs?

here you go:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/blog/taylor-support/faq-string-types-and-gauges

ICBM · January 2015

ToneControl said:

I thought that Taylors were voiced to go with Elixirs?

If they are, they still sound better with anything else!

mrleon83 · January 2015

Cool I'll stick with dadario , I've never really paid too much attention but after trying so many acoustics last Monday it's made me look at acoustics in a completely different way to say electrics,

Sassafras · January 2015

Always been happy with D'Addarios.

Occasionally tried Martins but prefer the D'Addarios.

Tone71 · January 2015

I use Elixirs (11`s) on my Taylor, mainly through the lazyness of not wanting to change them every couple of weeks.

ToneControl · January 2015

ICBM said:

ToneControl said:

I thought that Taylors were voiced to go with Elixirs?

If they are, they still sound better with anything else!

I much prefer Elixirs to uncoated
they don't sound all metallic and brittle for the first few days like uncoated
they carry on sounding the same, and last for ever
Excellent when you have a (cough) few guitars
also they squeak a little less

Brad · January 2015

They're not cheap, but I'm liking the Thomastik Plectrums so far.

ICBM · January 2015

ToneControl said:
I much prefer Elixirs to uncoated
they don't sound all metallic and brittle for the first few days like uncoated
they carry on sounding the same, and last for ever

The problem is that they start off sounding tinny and thin, and feeling slippery as if they need wiping clean, they stay sounding tinny and thin and feeling slippery for a while, then the coating starts to fray at the frets and they end up sounding tinny and thin and feeling like they've got stuff caught on them, actually in a much shorter time than it takes for uncoated strings to develop indentations.

But I will give you that they stay sounding the same for quite a long time

.

hobbio · January 2015

VimFuego said:

the most reliable I've tried are Da'addaddadadadaddddarios. I've never tried the coated ones, but listening to the test, when I run out of what I've got, I'll be going for the coated variety.

I've got a set of coated D'adadadadadadadarios on my acoustic and they've rusted just as quickly as the uncoated set I had on before.

WezV · January 2015

I tried some Ernie Ball Aluminium bronze strings on my acoustic recently. This is a guitar that was already quite dark

it really brought it to life. A bit of extra zing to them, but its really quite balanced and they are more corrosion resistant (something I have issues with electric EB strings).

They won't be for everyone, but I am liking them on this guitar

Jalapeno · January 2015

Elixirs here, on Martin & Breedlove. D'Addarios if you can't get on with them.

I use D'Addario Gypsy on my maccaferri style guitar.

11s preferably 12s as an absolute minimum - anything lower will not be able to move the top enough and sound thin.

sticker · January 2015

ICBM said:

ToneControl said:
I much prefer Elixirs to uncoated
they don't sound all metallic and brittle for the first few days like uncoated
they carry on sounding the same, and last for ever

The problem is that they start off sounding tinny and thin, and feeling slippery as if they need wiping clean, they stay sounding tinny and thin and feeling slippery for a while, then the coating starts to fray at the frets and they end up sounding tinny and thin and feeling like they've got stuff caught on them, actually in a much shorter time than it takes for uncoated strings to develop indentations.

But I will give you that they stay sounding the same for quite a long time .

maybe the old Polyweb style .... but the coating on the Nanowebs is so fine I've never had any fraying or the problems you describe .

Fwiw I use Elixir Nanowebs 11's on my Taylor 414ce .

CHRISB50 · January 2015

Another Elixir user. They are what my Lowden came with, and they seem pretty good.

mrleon83 · January 2015

Well I went for a three pack of dadario 12-53, as usual. Same gauge as factory default so should be ok...

stimpsonslostson · January 2015

Yet another vote for Elixir Nanos here.

My only acoustic is a 12string… I chose based on longevity! (Thankfully I like the tone too).

english_bob · January 2015

sticker said:

maybe the old Polyweb style .... but the coating on the Nanowebs is so fine I've never had any fraying or the problems you describe .

Fwiw I use Elixir Nanowebs 11's on my Taylor 414ce .

There is a massive difference between the old Polywebs and the Nanowebs. Polywebs sound dead from the moment you put them on, Nanowebs sound much better and last just as long.

FWIW I've been using Fender Dura-Tone strings for a while- longevity is maybe not quite as good as Elixirs but the price is considerably lower.

bobblehat · January 2015

D'addarios for me , never found any coated strings last as long as they claim and to my ears they lose their tone just as quick. D'addarios a cheap enough to change them regularly. The sound of a new set of strings is one of lifes great pleasures

Sassafras · January 2015

/\ Definitely.

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Acoustic strings and the curse of the internet.....

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