What strings do you use?

Subject: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 04:21 AM

On my D-18, I've only ever used Martin Lifespan 13-56, this being what it left the factory with.
They're good strings, but what do YOU use?

And also, with the forward shifted scalloped bracing, would 12-54 be a safer choice?

Thanks guys

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 06:54 AM

D'Addario EJ16 PB 12-53 in 3 packs for decades now. Very consistent and affordable, don't think I've ever gotten a dead one. When they get a little mungy I clean them, in place with a cloth and apply a few drops of Dr. Ducks Ax Wax to them and the fingerboard, it makes the action slick and perks up the strings.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 07:14 AM

Ah, Dr Ducks Ax Wax :). I know it well, gillymor.
EJ16 were my strings of choice when i had a Hummingbird before this D-18.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 07:17 AM

A professional musician friend of mine, way back in the 70s, was on the point of selling his D41 - he couldn’t get the sound he wanted and it wouldn’t stay in tune. A young lad turned up to buy it and asked if he could try it with new strings. He came prepared with a set of new fangled (then) d’addario phosphor bronze strings which completely transformed the guitar. So much so that he paid the lad for the strings and kept it.

I’ve used d’Addario PBs since they were first produced in 1974 (have a look at this month’s Guitarist magazine) and have never been tempted to change. I’ve generally used J17s but the last time I re-strung the D18 I used J16s. On guitars which don’t get played much though, I tend to use Elixir and if US made strings get much more expensive, I might go over to Newtone. No time soon though - I’ve quite a large stock.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 07:38 AM

Yep, I've used Newtone, Ray. One set was amazing but the other set not so good but still good enough to leave on.

I'm tempted to throw on a set of EJ16 in my drawer, just to compare.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 07:56 AM

Elixir Nano PBs. Gauge is up to the individual - I used to use 13-56 but, since the arthritis in my almost-78-years-old hands took hold, I’ve dropped down a gauge to 12-53. There’s no shame in dropping down to 12-53, it’s your own ears and hands that are most important, what others use, or what they tell you you should use, are completely irrelevant.

I’ve also used D’Addario XS PBs in 12-53 and 12.5-54 (Light Plus). Good strings, pretty much on a par with Elixirs IMO.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 08:09 AM

Elixir, too, I've used and liked here's others I got on with:

DR Rare
Martin MA140
D'Addario XS
Martin Lifespan

I usually buy the Lifespan in a multi pack from Strings Direct.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 08:47 AM

For mandolin family instruments I order custom sets from emando.com. You can get sets built to your liking of varoius materials, loop or ball end, at fair prices. It's great for me as I've needed to do a lot of tweaking on my Irish zouk and octave mandolin to get the gauges right. There doesn't seem to be a lot of variety in pre-packaged sets for CBOMs.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 09:42 AM

Galli - various for different instruments, but mainly phosphor-bronze

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 10:39 AM

The issue strings have got with me is that I have the wrong chemistry. At most I'll get two weeks from a set of coated/treated.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 11:06 AM

I’m very fortunate regarding body chemistry - since I became diabetic in 2006 my hands have got progressively drier, so I don’t ‘kill’ strings chemically the way I used to in my younger days. Coated/treated strings will last me for 6 months, and uncoated I can get eight-ten weeks from. I like ‘fresh-sounding’ strings, and I hate the thunky-plunky sound of dead strings so, for me, they have to come off when metal-fatigue kicks in.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 11:23 AM

I've been plagued with the wrong chemistry from 1960 (when I started playing acoustic guitar) to present day geriatricism.
(if that's even a word!) lol

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Helen
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 12:04 PM

I love Markwood Heavenly Strings & Kits on my Celtic harps. They also use a computer string programme to design a set of strings for a harp if it is not a standard size or brand. Just send them the dimensions of the harp and the lengths of the strings. The strings have a beautiful sound, especially the wound lower strings. It's hard to describe but the strings resonate beautifully.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 22 Feb 25 - 07:37 PM

This thread is just oozing with lyrics potential, starting with "Dr. Ducks Ax Wax".

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 04:01 AM

Newtones

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 04:42 AM

Gillymor, regarding custom string sets, we have the same offers in the UK. Strings Direct for guitar, they'll do sets to your specification
And also, for other stringed instruments, Eagle Music in Huddersfield..


D'Addario and Newtone are getting mentions, although Elixir are good for players whose hands 'kill' strings, like mine. And what about Martin Retro? They seem to last añd last.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 05:01 AM

I gave up experimenting with guitar strings long ago but those Retro strings sound interesting and not too pricey by today's standards. Thanks for the heads up, Fred.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 05:15 AM

Gillymor, you're welcome mate. I tried them and didn't like them, but others I've met think they're great.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 06:50 AM

Monels aren’t for me - dead as doornails right out of the packet, tried them several times, killed my guitars stone dead. I brought them back to life with PBs.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 08:09 AM

Well that was my experience too, Backwoodsman. As I said, tried 'em and didn't like 'em.

This D-18, though, is still new to me, so I'm not sure which strings suit it best - yet.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 08:18 AM

I've only just remembered another brand I DID like, back when I had a Hummingbird. La Bella. On that guitar nothing beat them.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 08:26 AM

Years ago I swore by La Bella Silk & Steel for my old Epiphone Serenader, then they seemed to disappear. I tried Elixir and hated them, found them too "slippy" used D'Addario for awhile before I found Newtones which I use on both my 6 and 12 string guitars. I find they last really well, and are a joy to play when new.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 23 Feb 25 - 12:23 PM

What I did notice when using D'Addario strings in the past (it deserves credit here) is that the company will replace any set that you're unhappy with. Just thought that needed to be said - and applauded.


Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 06:52 AM

That's good to know, Fred but like I said I don't think I ever got a bad string from them. I used to use John Pearse and Martin Marquis PBs, good strings but every now and then I'd pull a dead wound string out of the pack. It dawned on me that D'Addarios came in sealed packaging and that that may have had something to do with their consistency.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 08:02 AM

When I first used to play guitar, back in the late 60s, I used to buy Cathedral strings if I could afford them or Red Dragon if I couldn't! Are they still going?

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 08:06 AM

Haven’t seen them for many, many years Dave. Thank goodness! ;-)

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 08:35 AM

I've not seen them either Dave. I can't recall what strings I used in the 60s. It's a long time ago and I have trouble remembering last night!

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 09:47 AM

Found an old, empty Black Diamond packet in a sock drawer, written on it "06 September 1962", that being when I put the strings on.

So that's one brand I used back then.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 10:31 AM

Ah DtG did you also boil strings to "restore" them when you couldn't afford a new set? The muck that came out of them was amazing!

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 10:54 AM

I used to boil acoustic strings with a spoonful of baking soda back in the days when I was living on packets of Ramen noodles. It did a bit of good.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 24 Feb 25 - 11:30 AM

I've never boiled strings. In my student days, way back when, I tried mellow yellow but that's nothing to do with strings and needs its own thread :)

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 25 Feb 25 - 04:04 AM

I've also heard good things about Pyramid strings. Charlie Chandler of Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience (CCGX) swears by them.

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 25 - 11:17 AM

No matter how long I boiled them, they were still too chewy...

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: gillymor
Date: 25 Feb 25 - 04:27 PM

Al dente is the way to go.

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 25 Feb 25 - 05:13 PM

With the cost of living today, it would probably cost you more to boil the water than it would to buy a new set of strings :)

Fred

Subject: RE: What strings do you use?
From: Fred
Date: 27 Feb 25 - 10:48 AM

Thinking of trying a set of D'Addario EJ17.

Does anyone know how they compare tension-wise to Martin Lifespan 13-56?

Cheers

Fred