The Steel Guitar Forum

Larry Allen wrote:Butch....I received your Sets of the SS strings. I had just put new Cobra Coils on last week so I replaced every other string to hear the difference. The plain top end is quite brighter and the harmonics are great. The bottom wound strings sound good but I had to crank up the bass controls on the amp to get my bottom end back. (Ext. E9). I've used the Cobras for 12 years and like the balance but I'm going to try these for the next season's gigs.. Thanks, Larry

BUTCH????? What the hell, are you changing your name "Sid" since you've been coming to Saluda, S.C.?? That ain't no name for a Yankee! That's a Southern boys name!

Around these parts, he's known as "Bubba". Now I'm really confused...

"Bubba"? No Bubba brings the shine to drink out back in Saluda from North GA.!

Damn smooth stuff!

"BUTCH"? Isn't that a haircut for women? Just saying!

Kenny Martin wrote:

Larry Allen wrote:Butch....I received your Sets of the SS strings. I had just put new Cobra Coils on last week so I replaced every other string to hear the difference. The plain top end is quite brighter and the harmonics are great. The bottom wound strings sound good but I had to crank up the bass controls on the amp to get my bottom end back. (Ext. E9). I've used the Cobras for 12 years and like the balance but I'm going to try these for the next season's gigs.. Thanks, Larry

BUTCH????? What the hell, are you changing your name "Sid" since you've been coming to Saluda, S.C.?? That ain't no name for a Yankee! That's a Southern boys name!

That guy was referring to Butch Gardner at BJS Bars who is a Dealer.

Kenny, your doctor said you have to take that medicine.

Everyday!

Fhew!!!! Scared me for a minute there!

Have you learned to play that Tele fast yet???
Not sure i can slowed down enough for you to play along but i've been practicing a 25 BPS on "Hwy 40" so you can!

Love ya brother!!!

Jim Cohen wrote:Around these parts, he's known as "Bubba". Now I'm really confused...

I do kinda like the name Bubba though.

It kinda goes well with "Hudson" doncha think? "Bubba Hudson, Bubba Hudson..." I like it!

Jeez guys, I don't know the chain of command yet for the Live Steel Strings!? Too far out of the loop here in Kauai Larry

Hey Larry, You got it right.... Glad to hear you like the strings. Sid is the owner, BJS Bars is a dealer. Don't worry too much about the chain of command unless you happen to have a wife. Sid and I are on the same team and we are glad you like em.

Hey Sid... Did anyone ever call you Butch before? My mother started calling me Butch at birth, she never said why. Real name is John David. Now my sister has a dog named Butch. Maybe there's something they're not telling me. Hmmmm?

John David has a nice ring to it!

I noticed that the sound of the Live strings sound better than the Cobra Coils do on my MSA Legend. They have a bit more brightness to them and seem like they are more "fresh" out of the pack. I still have a pack of Jagwires that I have not tried because I am holding on to them until I can order at least 2 more packs.

Rick,

There are no fresher strings available for this reason:

Because they are not stock shelf electric guitar stings they have to make them when we place an order.
They can’t be pulled off a factory shelf like stock strings.

When we get them they are about 7 day’s old. We place multiple small orders often so they are not lying on our shelf.

Result? Our customers get the freshest possible strings that can be found.

I´ve had my Live Steel Strings for over a week now and I am impressed. They really are different from what I´ve tried earlier.
I experience a better sustain, a warmer sound and that´s what I aim for, I even think they´ve got a better/higher lustre. One more advantage is that I can configure or customize my set of strings the way I want.
For the time beeing, I think I´m through testing strings and I´m lucky I bought a couple of sets.
//Kjell

As the originator of this thread, I will give you a report on Live Steel Strings. I received the strings in April and put them on my Zum D10. Today I replaced the E9th set using stainless. I could not tell of any degrading of sound. I just decided to change them. I had only one broken string, the fourth E, which was a month ago. I have gotten many favorable comments on my tone in the intervening past. I have been playing at least twice monthly since April so I feel I have given them a good work out. Sid, you are marketing an excellent product. Call be a cheapskate but I saw no reason to change til now.

I am a full line authorized dealer for Livesteel Strings, any business you send my way much appreciated. I put them on my guitar's as soon as Sid made available, they are the best, you wont be sorry. I can be reached at rthomas17@nc.rr.com the paypal address is the same.

Sid,

I put a set of stainless U-12 strings on my guitar last week...WOW! You were certainly right when you said I might like them. Each note has serious definition and stays clean with other notes, I swear I'm playing with more "emotion" if that's what you call adding more subtle timbres and voice.

Clear, bright and articulate.

I doubt I'll ever use any other string on this guitar.

Thank you!!

I am thrilled that your happy with the strings Rick.

We are now in the process of experimenting with "Cryogenically Tempered Strings".

Like most over the years, I have been under the impression that cryogenically tempered strings was marketing hype to sell more strings.

I am assured by many of the "Metallurgy Geeks" that this is not hype. They tell me that a the best brands of razors are Cryogenically Tempered.

With the help from the best Steel Players in the world and myself I am going to study this process and find out.

So what are cryogenically tempered strings (also called cryogenic strings)? They are strings that have been taken from room temperature, to extremely cold temperatures (about -320 degrees Fahrenheit) for about fifteen hours.

Once the strings have fully temperature soaked, they are slowly brought back to room temperature over a period of fifteen hours. The whole thermal cycle process takes about thirty seven hours to complete.

The cryogenic process addresses five things from a metallurgical perspective:

1. It closes and refines grain structures within the alloy.

2. There is a reduction in retained stresses, wear and surface roughness.

3. It reduces retained austenite in the metal.
4. Increases dimensional stability

5. Increases overall durability

In theory, this means the string will achieve a greater stability in tuning as it is brought to full tension.

In addition, the tone will not decay as quickly as the strings begin to age.

When we get the results (after the first of the year) I'll let everyone know what we think.

It would be exciting to bring something to the Steel Guitar Community it has not seen before. Again.

Sid, I can't wait to try a set of the cryogenic strings. Do you have an 8 string custom package?

Adrian, I'm working on it bro!

Here is where I'm at.

My spools of wire have to be sent to a cryogenics lab for treating. Then the wire has to come back to the factory and the wound strings have to be wound.

I have got several seasoned pro’s that are going to test the strings for me when I get them made.

At that point I will have to assess the added cost in making these strings. It will be significant I am sure.

I do have some reservations on how much the Steel Guitar Community is willing to pay for great String.

I should ad one thing.

To all of our customers in Canada, Al Briscoe "Steel Guitars of Canada" is a dealer for Live Steel Strings and is selling tons of strings.

Al is also selling single strings and assembling custom sets for his customers.

If you live in Canada you will save money by purchasing from Al. (not to mention he is a great person)

Here is the website for Live Steels of Canada.

http://www.steelguitarcanada.com/

I put Live Steel strings on my guitar this past weekend. Wow, what a difference. Live is definitely the proper name for this strings. Sid knocked it out of the park on these strings.

Thanks Big John!

I hope to see you in Dallas this coming March.

So, have we come to any consensus regarding 3rd string longevity? Reports so far seem conflicting.

Jay, here’s the deal. Some guys are always going to break strings and some players will never break a string. If that third string is a deal breaker for you I’ll throw in an extra.

Sid...last set of your strings I put on, I broke the third string installing it, so I had to re install the old one and it is still just fine the second time around and has not broke yet...so...