What string brand do you use and why

Ray Thomas · Post by **Ray Thomas** » 12 Feb 2015 7:11 pm

Live Steel

DALE WHITENER · Post by **DALE WHITENER** » 13 Feb 2015 4:21 am

I've always used GHS Boomers nickle until I tried a set of Sid's Live Steel strings now I'm hooked.

Dale

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 13 Feb 2015 4:53 am

Cobra Coil here. I like the longevity, tension and the twang. Good vfm.

Ken Campbell · Post by **Ken Campbell** » 13 Feb 2015 6:01 am

Live steel nickel.

Billy McCombs · Post by **Billy McCombs** » 13 Feb 2015 6:57 am

DAddario, Makes my Emmons PP sound good.

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 13 Feb 2015 8:34 am

Am I the only guy besides Robert Randolph using Dean Markley? I've been using their Blue Steel bass strings for many years, and now their steel guitar strings, too.

chuck lemasters · Post by **chuck lemasters** » 13 Feb 2015 9:02 am

Live Steel. Nobody has mentioned John Pearse. I've bought a few sets from b0b, like them as well.

Larry Waisner · Post by **Larry Waisner** » 14 Feb 2015 2:45 am

SIT's on all my steels.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Feb 2015 7:35 am

I figure that my technique (how well I play) is far more limiting than my strings, so I'll use whatever brand I can get!

Kenny Davis · Post by **Kenny Davis** » 14 Feb 2015 10:50 pm

I've always had good luck with these -

Charley Hill · Post by **Charley Hill** » 14 Feb 2015 11:47 pm

Live Steel Strings. You place an order and they arrive shortly thereafter. Can't be the delivery response.

And, they sound good on any guitar that I have played.

James Jacoby · Post by **James Jacoby** » 15 Feb 2015 3:43 am

SITs-- Been using them a long time. The factory is close to where I live, and you can custom order strings in any sizes you want. I rarely break a string. -Jake-

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 15 Feb 2015 5:38 am

I have used the bulk strings (SS wound) from juststrings dot com for many years. They sound just as good and last as long as all of the others I have tried.

Robert

Stephen Kuester · Post by **Stephen Kuester** » 15 Feb 2015 6:56 am

6 packs of SIT strings at Juststrings.com for around $50, shipped.

Great selection and prices. Check em out.

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 17 Feb 2015 12:46 pm

I use D'Addario Premium Nickel Wound Strings that are available in "Build Your Own Bulk Sets". I purchase these from Gary at:
www.rittenberrysteelguitars.com

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 17 Feb 2015 5:32 pm

I can't say for certain about the present, but there was a time when the Mapes Piano String Company was just about the sole manufacturer of instrument strings in the US, and they were simply marketed under various different brand names. I think they still are to a large extent. Here, for example, is a page from their website, which directs to several different popular brands. I doubt they are directing buyers to their competition. http://www.mapeswire.com/specialtywire.html

At one time, you could buy Mapes brand guitar strings and they were about half the price of Black Diamond, Martin or Gibson strings, which were probably all made by Mapes anyway.

I used George L's stainless for many years and, more recently, I'm using Curt Mangan Jerry Roller nickelwound, which I like a lot. Jerry tells me that, unlike many brands, Mangan actually makes his own strings.

Fred Thompson · Post by **Fred Thompson** » 17 Feb 2015 6:44 pm

Live Steel Nickel for me. Great service, zero breakage, and they make my Zum Hum!

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 18 Feb 2015 10:13 am

DALE WHITENER wrote:I've always used GHS Boomers nickle until I tried a set of Sid's Live Steel strings now I'm hooked.
Dale

I like the GHS Pure Nickel Rollerwounds, too, though its been a while since I used them. A fellow forum member sent me a pack of Live Steel and Cobra Coils to try out, and I really liked them both. Between the two, I didn't buy any strings for many months and mostly just changed them out from curiosity. Mostly, I think its the change of sound I like when changing strings.

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 18 Feb 2015 10:45 am

I've been using Live Steel for a while, but lately I've been breaking a lot of .012 3rd strings while stringing up. Once they are on there, no problem. I have broken one or two each time I restring... ball end mostly. On Sho~Bud, Emmons PP, and Williams guitars. Any one else have that happen?

I like Jagwires. I understand that there have been supply issues, but I just got a couple of sets from Danny the other day.

Putting on a set of Curt Mangan strings later today... will report.

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 18 Feb 2015 11:06 am

Drew Pierce wrote:I can't say for certain about the present, but there was a time when the Mapes Piano String Company was just about the sole manufacturer of instrument strings in the US, and they were simply marketed under various different brand names. I think they still are to a large extent. Here, for example, is a page from their website, which directs to several different popular brands. I doubt they are directing buyers to their competition. http://www.mapeswire.com/specialtywire.html

At one time, you could buy Mapes brand guitar strings and they were about half the price of Black Diamond, Martin or Gibson strings, which were probably all made by Mapes anyway.

I used George L's stainless for many years and, more recently, I'm using Curt Mangan Jerry Roller nickelwound, which I like a lot. Jerry tells me that, unlike many brands, Mangan actually makes his own strings.

GHS, D'Addario, and Curt Mangan are ones I know make their own strings. I know also the first 2 make strings for other brands on contract. According to the GHS guy at least they're all spec made. No one is reselling exact GHS strings.

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 18 Feb 2015 1:45 pm

mike nolan wrote:I've been using Live Steel for a while, but lately I've been breaking a lot of .012 3rd strings while stringing up. Once they are on there, no problem. I have broken one or two each time I restring... ball end mostly. On Sho~Bud, Emmons PP, and Williams guitars. Any one else have that happen?

I like Jagwires. I understand that there have been supply issues, but I just got a couple of sets from Danny the other day.

Putting on a set of Curt Mangan strings later today... will report.

Allow me to address the subject of breaking a 12 gauge string.

For 40 years Buddy Emmons got that beautiful tone we all remember and he did it with a 10 gauge string.

Then somewhere along the line people started experimenting with an 11 gauge string and it became industry standard so to speak.

Now people are starting to experiment with a twelve gauge string for the G# (third string).

Should we bypass the 12 gauge and just move on to the 13 gauge?

Certainly not.

Whyâ€¦ you wouldnâ€™t get it to an F note before it would break. If it did break it might cut you finger off just above the knuckle.

A 12 gauge string for the (third string) is right on the line of being too big. (Too much tensile strength)

Can you get one on the guitar? Sure!
You might get it on the 1st try or the 6th try. The moral of the story is be prepared to break some strings unless of course you are a pro player.

Itâ€™s just a simple fact, for an array of different reasons some players regularly break strings and most do not.

This is my opinion.

Different strokes for different folks. I personally do not like the 12 gauge for a 3rd string. Why?

A good player frequently uses the third string in combination with other strings. Just to name 3:
3 and 2
3 and 5
3,4 and 5

The tensile strength of a 12 gauge string (used for a 3rd string) is so taught that it feels out of balance when used in combination with other strings.

Ex: When using the 3rd string in combination with the 4th string, it makes the 4th string feel flappy. There is such a dramatic difference in tensile strength, it feels strange to me.

I believe that tensile strength should feel as even as possible when playing across the strings.

Having a string as rigid as a 12 gauge string that pulls to an A note surrounded by strings of significant less tensile strength is not of my taste.

But does it sound better?

My ear tells me that the 11 gauge 3rd string is louder than the 12 gauge 3rd string.

Soooooâ€¦ The 12 gauge 3rd string is not only very rigid to the touch, the small amount of volume loss irritates me.

To each there own but please donâ€™t blame the string manufacturer when it is you that canâ€™t get a string on a guitar.

Sid Hudson

Ray Mangrum · Post by **Ray Mangrum** » 18 Feb 2015 1:59 pm

Live Steel Strings

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 18 Feb 2015 2:24 pm

Sid,

I've been using .012 strings on all of my guitars for years of professional playing. Itâ€™s worth noting that many famous players like Paul Franklin and Russ Hicks gravitate toward heavier strings.

I almost never break strings. I really like the Live Steel strings, but I have been having problems getting them up to tension. Once they are there, they are fine. I'm not trying to provoke an argument here, but, that has been my experience. I don't have that issue with other brands. The Live Steels are obviously different somehow, as I had to make adjustments on all of the guitars that I put them on. With that different nature, it is possible that I might have better luck with a .011, both in stringing up, and in feel, with the Live Steels, so I'll give it a try.

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 18 Feb 2015 2:38 pm

Russ Hicks uses an 11.

I know. There Live steel strings

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 18 Feb 2015 4:11 pm

Thanks,

Got the info on Russ from here on the forum.... he must have changed. At any rate if you look through a number of "Artist" sets from different companies, you will see that a lot of folks do use .012s. So it isn't all that unusual. Not that it matters all that much in the larger scheme of things.