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

mrleon83

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

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

So what brand should I go for ? :-)

VimFuego

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

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

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

ToneControl

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

ToneControl said:

I thought that Taylors were voiced to go with Elixirs?

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

mrleon83

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

Always been happy with D'Addarios.

Occasionally tried Martins but prefer the D'Addarios.

Tone71

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

ToneControl

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

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

ICBM

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

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

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

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

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

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

mrleon83

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

stimpsonslostson

Yet another vote for Elixir Nanos here. 

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