Need to change string brand

[Daniel Morris]

I've been using Frenchy's Steel Mill strings for many years, and have had the best of luck with them.
Sadly, Frenchy has now retired (congratulations to him), so I need to find something as good as his strings.
I'm familiar with S.I.T., Curt Mangan, GHS, Living Strings, and generally have had some good results.
It's just that I never broke even one Steel Mill string, while I can't say the same for other brands I've tried.
I know it's a tired question, but I'd like to hear some comments. (I play only U12 steels; I was using .0115 for my 3d string.)

[Ken Metcalf]

I use SIT strings.

[Bill Ferguson]

If I have all your gauges for the U12, I would like for you to try George L's Stainless.

Drop me an email with your gauges, as I custom make sets, and let's see if you like them. If you do, you can pay me, if not, then they are free (excluding shipping).

Sadly, the minimum First Class Shipping now is about $5.

Regards,
Bill

[Daniel Morris]

Very kind of you to offer, Bill. I don't believe I've tried George L strings yet.
While I change strings regularly and don't wait until one breaks, I simply don't recall one Steel Mill string snapping. I was also able to get .0115 gauge strings from Frenchy swapped into U12 sets.

Still open to other solid recommendations.

[Bobby Burns]

Why don’t you ask Frenchy who he gets his strings from? I’m sure he doesn’t make them in house. Since he’s going out of business, he should have no problem letting you know exactly what they are.

[Daniel Morris]

I've tried to contact him, Bobby, but so far no success.

[Ken Metcalf]

Very kind of you to offer, Bill. I don't believe I've tried George L strings yet.
While I change strings regularly and don't wait until one breaks, I simply don't recall one Steel Mill string snapping. I was also able to get .0115 gauge strings from Frenchy swapped into U12 sets.

Still open to other solid recommendations.

I buy my 3rd strings in bulk and they are about $3 per dozen. I use .011.
Here are .0115s.
https://www.juststrings.com/jsb-0115p.html

[Jack Stoner]

I used George L's (Nashville Gauges) for 38 years and only broke a string one time and that was because of a burr on the changer finger.
I've moved on to SIT nickel strings but only because I like the tone better with the GFI III pickup and Quilter Travis Toy 12 amp combo than the George L's.
Ironically the GFI pickups are custom made by George L's.

[Bill C. Buntin]

Daniel

I have been using George L stainless almost exclusively now for over 20 years.

Before that I was using D'addario strings.

George L's and I imagine Bill Ferguson either one will provide you with a custom set for the same price as a standard set. I have traded with Bill a few times as well. Good guy, great products.

For example, I use a .012p instead of .011p,.018p instead of .017p then a .022p in place of a .020p, and a .038w instead of .036w.

I switched to Geo L because of convenience and they were really great at selling me multiple sets for both E9 and C6 at what I thought was more than fair price. And they were very consistent and shipped the orders very quickly.

In those days, working full time, I was changing strings roughly every 3 weeks or so.

Nowadays I probably don't change but 3 times a year.

But I'm still partial to Geo L stainless.

Just my opinion fwiw.

Bill

[Pat Moore]

Live Steel Strings are the ones!!! Never broke one, best tone & last longer!

https://www.lsstrings.com/

[Marco Schouten]

Frenchy's strings were made by SIT.

You may try Jagwire strings, they are great.

[John Larson]

I'll second Jagwire. I've never broken one. No idea if that's credit to the strings or my changer. I like to bend string 1 behind the bar quite a bit as well.

[b0b]

Frenchy's strings were made by SIT.

You may try Jagwire strings, they are great.

We carry S.I.T. strings in the Steel Guitar Forum Store:

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com/brands/S.I.T..html?limit=20

[Daniel Morris]

Thanks, gents.
I did not know Frenchy's strings were made by S.I.T.
I'm glad to see S.I.T. has .0115 strings available.
I'm certainly concerned with having a tone I like; I just always hated when a string would break
I may simply need to try different sets, but I appreciate all the replies.

[Barry Yasika]

I use to break a lot of strings. I was talking to Hebie Wallace about that and he suggested Jagwire Strings. I tried them and it's rare to break a string. Years go by and that doesn't happen. Priced a bit higher but last a long time.

[David Zornes]

SIT’s has worked well for me. I’m changing strings now and took a little break.

[Christopher Woitach]

I love the D’Addario NYXL strings - last forever and settle in quickly