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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Guitars and accessories → strings
i played a guitar with elixir strings and found it much easier to learn with b/c it was easier to hold down the strings. when i looked them up they had nanoweb and polyweb and light and medium. can someone suggest which type of elixir's to get? thank you
Brittany,
Here are the differences:
Elixir® Strings with ultra thin NANOWEB™ coating…
* Have the bright tone and punch of non-coated strings
* Feel like traditional strings
Elixir® Strings with original POLYWEB® coating…
* Have a balanced tone and smooth response
* Feel comfortably smooth and reduce finger squeak
How often to replace strings? Do the good ones (expenseive) last longer than cheaper ones? I've had mine on for a year now. I guess I like to wait til the winter; sit in front of a fire and change strings.
Depending on how often you play, your style of playing and in which sitituation you play will determine when to change your strings. Do you play once in a while, do you practice every day and for how long, or are you a gigging musician? Typically better quaility strings (expensive strings) are designed to hold their tone longer. This is once again going to be determined by your playing style & time you play.
like bootlaggger says, depends on how often you play, and how hard you play, strumming hard or plucking.
But I would reckon after a year whether it got played or not is long enough for any guitar to have the same strings on.
I play daily, even if for one song or 5 minutes, but usually at least 3 songs a day up to 60 ( depending if i have company in and how much whisky i have drank <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing"> )
I change my strings about once every 2 or 3 months, which means I need to change mine again, thnk it has been 4 months.
Also, if you snap a string, you are better replacing the 6 of them rather than just one.
Ken
Also, if you have wee sweaty fingers like me then you are more likely to break strings more often. Best to change all strings but let's face it; hardly anyone ever hears me playing so I tend not to bother and just change the broken one.
Yeah, I'm lazy.
Thanks all for your replies....useful. I play almost every day as well, sometimes as much as three hours a day. I suspected I was getting toward the end of the line with these strings cause they don't stay in tune as long as before. But that could also be cause the weather has changed and the room is colder at night and probably a bit dryer (we burn wood alot). Is strings.com still around? I used them a year ago. Good place if they are. Anyone have any other on line outlets? On a related subject; someone mentioned to me that if a 70mm pick will not stay put when put under the strings of the first fret, then probably the action is too high. Any comments? I play a pretty cheap Epiphone that hasn't been altered in any way (except strings). I wonder if lowering the action would help with barre chords.
For Hopeful.
See kahuna's posting explaining the nano web and poly web elixers. You can also go tho their web site at www.elixer.com.
Baba30,
If your playing 3 hrs. a day you may think about changing strings at least once a month. once again depending on your playing style (rock, metal or just strumming). You will notice in the tone of your guitar when your strings are going or gone. When there new the tone is bright and with usage the tone becomes dull or flat. By your statement that you burn wood to keep warm I take it that you live in the woods? I suguest that you buy a sound hole humidifier planet waves makes one for under $ 20.00. The dry air will suck the moisture from your guitar causing the wood to become brittle and dry causing it to crack. As far as the action on your guitar a good guitar tech that deals with acoustic repairs can set up your guitar. They will set the action with the gauge strings you like to play, file down the nut, (and saddle if needed). They will also set the relief on your neck and oil your finger board. I had my Guild done here in California about two years ago for $45.00. hope this helps.
Good point about the sweat! My suggestion is to keep a microfiber cloth handy and wipe down your strings after each session. This will help reduce the amount of salt and moisture on your strings. Thus, make them last a bit longer.
Also, it's a good idead to polish the wooden areas between frets with a guitar wood conditioner. Do this between the strings change.
Kahuna
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Also, if you have wee sweaty fingers like me then you are more likely to break strings more often. Best to change all strings but let's face it; hardly anyone ever hears me playing so I tend not to bother and just change the broken one.
Yeah, I'm lazy.
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hehehe!! I thought that I was one of the only people that had the problem with sweaty fingers!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_redface.gif" border=0 alt="Embarassed"> I find that the strings change colour really fast on the frets that I play most ... and of course I'm guilty of not wiping them down after having played! YUK!!
I put D'Addario strings on my accoustic electric. I see all the different guages they come in.what is the difference?
how do u manage it?????
I put D'Addario strings on my accoustic electric. I see all the different guages they come in.what is the difference?
The thinner (xl lite's) the easier on the fingers also a tinnier sound (more on the treble side). The heavier the gauge the fuller the sound (more mid's and bass) also harder on the fingers. What also determines the gauge is what the certain manufacture (ie: Fender, Taylor, you get the picture) use at the original set up of your guitar. You can always try out all the gauges and settle on which you like and sounds best on your guitar. If you like a certain set you can take your guitar in and get it set up to play only that string gauge you picked. Your action will accept other gauges but after the set up it will play best with that gauge you set it up for.
Bootlegger.
Strings have become available in lighter guages over the years. In the 50's a "LIGHT" set might have been .012-.050 or thereabouts. Guitar necks were manufactured accordingly. Most guitars made today could not handel a set of "HEAVY" strings from years past. I find that the ultra Light string sets with .008/.009 High E Strings really don't sound that good. With amplification and effects such as distortion they may give you a usable sound, but a High E of .010 Diameter will certainly give you better tone and volume, and will stay in tune better. Personally I use ,010 -.046 on all of my electrics and .011-.048 on my acoustics. I would use heavier strings on the acoustics for a better sound, but I don't like to over stress the necks.
As far as Brands go I sometimes wonder. A person that was in the industry once told me that most strings were made by only 4 manufacturers, and that was 10 years ago. I wonder how many different manufacturers there are today. In Electrics I Use Blue Steel Cyrogenic and D'aderio if I can't get the former. On the Acoustics I Use Martin Bronze because of the sound and lasting quality, but I have used others.
I set my guitars up to use the strings that I just mentioned. Your Guitar should be set up for optium playability with the strings that you use. Once you finf the string that you like stay with it.
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