Some time ago, I became part of a long thread discussing what would be the best guitar strings for my guitar. (I may, in fact, have started same thread, but memory lapses currently prevent me from finding aforementioned thread on my personal page..or indeed, anywheres). At any rate, so many people gave such useful suggestions that it encouraged me to go out and try a few brands,but nothing sounded quite right to me. But as of this date- Eureka!- I have found the strings I've been looking for. Here is how it happened.

The problem is; I play a small, but mellow, acoustic Gibson, tho I have often yearned to have it sound more like a dreadnaught Martin. The sound of the Gibson was sweet, but never really full, and had little sustain. Or bass. Or strength. (Sigh). Well, one day I was browsing around my favorite well-stocked guitar store (Mandolin Brothers), and picked up an attractive Martin to strum, which cost more than I would spend on a used car...$8,000 or thereabouts (if I must shamefacedly admit my budget). As you can imagined, it sounded terrific. Magnificent. Full but mellow, intimate yet strong, action as easy as Eli Manning, and sustain as long as the River Nile. It was a perfect guitar. (And not one I could ever afford to buy unless that lottery ticket comes thru, or I remember to bet on ol' Stewball)

Ah, I reasoned to myself, maybe it's not really the guitar. Maybe...it's..the strings. That's it, I thought, I 'll just buy whatever strings are on this guitar and my lil Gibson will sound just like this 8 cylinder Martin. So I enquired at the counter, what strings were on this high performance guitar- and they said -it's the strings that always come out of the guitars from the factory- that is:

MARTIN SP bronze wound.

Light gauge (for a little guitar, the Martin actually came with meduim gauge)

I bought them. I went home and put them on my pretty lil Gibson. And guess what? ?? My guitar sounded just as good as that juggernaut Martin (alright, alright maybe it didn't sound QUITE as good, but quite frankly, I'm no longer in the store, and I don't remember exactly how that Martin sounded, but my Gibson sounds PRETTY DARN GOOD to me- in fact, it sounds better than it's ever sounded before and that's really all that mattters..isn't it?)

How do you like that? After 40 years of playing guitar, I finally found the right strings!!!! Well, better late than never they say.

I know this is a rather longwinded story, but then ...it 's been rather a longwinded journey. Which is done. At last.

I HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE PERFECT STRINGS FOR MY GUITAR!!!!YIPPEE!!!!

Jest thought you might like to know. And thanks for the encouragement; even if I didn't read it on the thread (and quite frankly I MAY have), the enthusasastic folks at Mudcat spurred me on to find them. And saved me $8000 to boot.