Strings and Things

Subject: BS: Strings and Things
From: GUEST,Spot the Dog
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:30 AM

Anyone know of a reliable supplier for strings who ship to the UK. I have used FQMS in the past and have no problem using them again but it's nice to keep an eye on the market.

Also , what is the basic difference between Rosewood and Mahogany guitars. e.g. D28 and D35.

Thanks

Spot the Dog

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:41 AM

yep, try "strings direct" 01702 290001. I have used them for years.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: GUEST,Spot
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:43 AM

Thanks Ted....More please.....!

Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:46 AM

The D28 and D35 are both rosewood back and sides instruments by Martin. The primary difference is that the D28 is a 2-pc back and the D35 is a 3-pc back with some more ornamentation.

Both models originally used Brazilian rosewood, but I believe as that material became harder to come by in the early 1970s time frame, Indian rosewood was used in regular production.

The only guitar in the Martin Standard Series of dreadnoughts made with a mahogony back and sides is the D18.

I feel that the mahogany instruments tend to be somewhat brighter and crisper in the high and mid range while not quite as full in the bass response.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:48 AM

This thread is a good candidate for north of the line.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: GUEST,Spot the Dog
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:52 AM

Martin G thanks for the correction I was under the misapprehension that the D28 was Mahogany. So it's the D18. Thats what I meant anyway.....(and I have just returned from a lunchtime in Sound Control playing a D35 and a D28 and trying to check the differences shame on me for not looking).

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: mooman
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 10:55 AM

Dear Spot,

Why not try Malcolm Newton in Heanor, Derbyshire who makes very good, long-lasting strings by hand. I've tried practically every make but now use his strings on all my instruments and am very satisfied with them.

Here's his website which gives contact details.

Your other question deserves a thread on its own as it's a complex question. There have, however, been several threads on this in the past like this one and this one too.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Fishpicker
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:08 AM

Spot, you have the best strings made IMO right there in the UK. *Newtone* strings are great sounding and last longer than most other brands I have tried over the years. I have gotten hooked on that round core feel as well(softer feeling than most phosphor bronze strings). Give them a try, I'll bet you stay with them.

                           FP

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:12 AM

Spot - Sound Control in Brum? If so there is a local strings'n'things supplier (sutton Coldfield):

www.cheapstrings.co.uk And they mean cheap!

Pete

PS. I've played the Martins in Sound Control and wouldn't pay more than a fiver for any one of 'em!

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:16 AM

Would some of you name your favorite places in the U.S. for ordering strings?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:21 AM

Thanks Fishpicker....are Newtone strings available from ordinary music shops or are they from the maker only?

Thanks too to Moohman. I wanted a really brief summary like harder , softer , loud , quiet , bright , boomy...that kind of thing. You see I have only ever owned rosewood and never had the opportunity to play a mahogany for a period of time. Next year I am in the market for another guitar if I can find one suitably different from my other two and thought as Mudcat is probably the richest source of unbiased information on this subject I would glean what I could before ckecking out the market.

Furthermore , perhaps it is my abilty but I find it difficult to really hear what differences exist between guitars while playing them apart from the feel.

Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: GUEST,Spot
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:27 AM

Pete, No sound Control in Manchester. they have a very large collection of Martin , Taylor and Avalon in at the moment.

Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:30 AM

Aha, well hopefully their Martins are better than the ones in Brum (and I'm a Martin man).

Website should be okay, though, it's all amil order.

Pete

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Fishpicker
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:38 AM

I get mine from www.12fret.com in Toronto, they are easy to deal with and have reasonable prices and shipping. One of the few places that doesn't try to shaft me on shipping because I live in Alaska.

                                 FP

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:41 AM

Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Mi.

Great catalog and they have a web-site.

Huge selection of brands at good prices with excellent service.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 11:53 AM

Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: mooman
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:06 PM

Dear Spot,

As a gross generalisation, mahogany will give a slightly sweeter, softer sound very suitable for chord work and strumming whereas rosewood, being a much harder wood, tends to give better separation between strings and a strong bass, very good for fingerpicking. This is not to say that there aren't guitars around where it works well the other way round as you also have to factor in the tonewood. Sitka, European, Englemann and Adirondack spruce all have different tonal qualities and are different in sound from cedar and from Swiss pine. The design and overall build quality also need to be taken into account.

Hope this helps.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: mooman
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:09 PM

P.S. Other woods, such as maple, bubinga (ovankol) and others also have their own distinct flavours and afficionados. My main flattop is ovankol with a Sitka top and is quite different sounding to most other guitars.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:20 PM

Just remember, save a nato tree.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:48 PM

Newtones are the best. Widely available through music shops, but also direct from Malcolm Newton.

Spot, assuming your in the UK, why give your business to someone in the States and wait a week for your order to arrive? Try Highly Strung in the UK (just do a search on Highly Strung). Good prices and fast service (although he doesn't have Newtones)

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:54 PM

And there I was going to recomend Highly Strung when Johnny beat me to it !! There ARE cheaper suppliers but they dont do the return of post service ! I have been a Highly Strung customer for more than thirty years ! -And You Overseas Catters might do worth than look him up too !!

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 02:49 PM

Thanks Guys. Appreciated.

Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 06:16 PM

There are really two discussions here. I'm more interested in the mahogany/rosewood part (especially in regard to Martin dreads), and have a couple of questions to throw out:

1) Since the D-18 is plainer (less ornamentation) and cheaper than the 28 & 35, is/was mahogany considered inferior to rosewood, or perhaps just less expensive than rosewood? The comments above seem to describe the two alternatives as simply different, not so much one better than the other.

2) After the switch from increasingly rare and expensive Brazilian to Indian rosewood, is there more or less difference between the mahogany 18s and the rosewood 28/35s?

I won't even start asking questions about the various spruce-top alternatives, and the many combinations/permutations of tops with back-and-sides... Well, maybe later.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: mooman
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:04 AM

Dear PoppaGator,

Mahogany is less expensive than rosewood which is why it tends to be on the "lower" models of most manufacturers. That is not to say at all that it is inferior. The sound is generally a bit different to a similar guitar utilizing rosewood but, for some people or styles of playing, it might actually be considered preferable. This is one reason I would never buy an instrument "unseen". I chose the ovankol and Sitka guitar mentioned above exactly because of its sound and by virtue of its custom wide neck.

Brazilian rosewood (now protected) is marginally harder than Indian rosewood but the latter is still somewhat denser and harder than mahogany. Even with "mahogany" there are many different species available under that general name. See my post on the subject of "mahoganies" from several years ago.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Davetnova
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:02 AM

Maybe Martin's Felix the Cat special would suit Spot the Dog:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:00 AM

Thanks for the wealth of info, mooman. I just read quickly through that earlier thread -- it deserves closer study, but that'll have to be postponed 'til later.

I have occasionally heard/read comments to the effect that the (mahogany) D-18 is preferrable for blues playing to the more expensive rosewood Martin dreads, but always took it with a grain of salt. I figured part of that argument was disdain for the extra ornamentation, which may be symbolically "anti-blues." I know that players like Brownie McGee and the young Elvis played 18's, but relative affordability may well have been the deciding factor for them (just as it was for me). I simply went for the best instrument I could afford, and I was fortunate not to have the slightest interest in mother-of-pearl.

Subject: RE: BS: Strings and Things
From: Once Famous
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 11:25 AM

P-gator

The D-18 is a very well-respected instrument.

I wouldn't trade my '71 model for anything.
It is a world class guitar.

Subject: RE: Strings and Things
From: breezy
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:12 PM

Have never regarded mahogany as a good choice of wood for a quality sounding guitar.

It has lowered the Martin make IMHO

Any wood but mahogany.

You have to compare them all before making an informed opinion.

I like to think that I have done that.

I have compared also Larivees and Lowdens, Takemine and Taylors.

I am hard to please - as the actress said - and am becoming more discerning as the years go by.

Subject: RE: Strings and Things
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:31 PM

My Martin's a J40 - Rosewood & Sitka. Sounds excellent.
My Lowden's an O25 - Rosewood & Cedar. Sounds excellent (but different to the Martin). My previous Lowden was an O10 - Mahogany & Cedar.
Got to be Rosewood every time for me - rounder, warmer than mahogany.

Subject: RE: Strings and Things
From: The Barden of England
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 06:22 PM

I buy 12-53 Phosphor Bronze strings from http://www.webstrings.com/. At the Dollar/Pound exchange rate buying 12 sets comes to about 20 quid including postage. They work well on my Fylde Oberon, which by the way is Engleman Spruce/East Indian Rosewood, and sounds sweet.

Subject: RE: Strings and Things
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 04:21 PM

Okay the best I know of is Bob Passante. Bob is a gentleman, works out of New Jersey. And he is obliging. Strings , capos, ....he's your man.

The very cheapest strings are Stringthis out of Dallas, but they haven't got the range that Bob has.

Both cheaper and more obliging than anyone en Angleterre sadly.

Subject: RE: Strings and Things
From: Grab
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 08:18 AM

StringsDirect are very good on guitar strings. Short on strings for other instruments, but good for guitar strings, and also for anything else guitar-based you want to order (except the guitars and amps themselves). StringsDirect website.

You can actually go to Google and go a search for "guitar strings uk". As well as the hits in the search, you'll get ads down the right-hand side.

I also use Newtones on my guitars, and you can get them from StringsDirect too. They've got a lovely rich sound to them which is just great. 12s seem to me to be about the best, unless you've got a heavily-built guitar that needs more of a kick to get it moving. I've currently got a set on my mando as well, but I don't really like them on that - mandolins inherently have a complex sound, so the mandolin and strings seem to fight each other and the sound suffers. D'Addarios seem to be better for that.

I'll second (third? fourth?) the opinions about mahogany - I found it didn't have the same depth of sound that rosewood does. But more significant than the wood is the way the maker puts them together - internal bracing and all that. Guitars by the same maker will generally sound similar regardless of wood, much more so than guitars made of the same wood by different makers. And of course the body shape (dread vs. narrow-waisted) has the biggest difference.

Graham.