The Steel Guitar Forum

May I have some opinions on strings? Which ones are better than others? I am a new player and new to SGF. I tried to locate some forum topics on strings and did not really have much luck. Thanks in advance.

Shawn, you will get many opinions about strings, here on the forum.

I would hate to say one brand is better than the other,,its a matter of what pleases you the most,
in tone, durability Etc.

Jagwire strings ,seem to be the hot item right now. In my case, Live Steel, strings, are my strings of choice.

George Ls makes a fine set of strings too.

So I would say ,try a few different brands & the ones that please you,,are the ones

Shawn, b0b who runs this Forum sells GHS "Boomers". Buy them from b0b and you will like them I'm sure and you will help support the Forum. GHS is a good brand string. I sell my personalized strings but I don't advertize here to compete with the Forum out of respect.
Jerry

when one breaks in the middle of a gig any string will do then lol like the first person said try many out, just remember as a new player after playing a while and you find yourself having to tune at the nylon tuners, thats a big ole red flag
time to change the string"

Thanks Gentlemen. I have been playing acoustic 6-string for 20 years so I kind of knew that. I just wanted to start off closer to the top with someone's recommendation. Thanks again.

Jagwire, Herby Wallace Stainless looks like a good place to start.

Shawn, that's as good a place to start as any, and better than most. My Opinion Only.

No matter which strings you select. Buy at least 2 sets at once. Every once in a while a string will break for no reason. I would suggest that you buy about 4 individual singles for the 3rd and 5th string. Same gauge and maker as the sets. They can break sometimes in the tuning up for the first time. Just to be safe. Good Luck and welcome to the world of Steel Guitar.

I would suggest you do some research in the archives here on the various selections, availability and delivery times, etc.

In the 35 or so years I've been playing pedal steel, I haven't found much difference among the major brands packaged for pedal steel...until recently. Up to that point, I used SIT's, George L.'s, and GHS with pretty good results as well.

Currently though, I find Sid Hudson's Live Steel Strings definitely first rate quality and IMO, a cut above. Great customer service and super fast delivery.

I also echo Bobby's advice. Good Luck.

to start with, i always try to buy my strings from the Forum - Doin' my bit...
i used Jagwires until they were not available
the Russ Hicks on E9 w: 011.5 on 3 & 038 on 10
John Hughey on C6
i substituted for SITs & then went on to Cobra Coils ( which imo are very good strings)
Cobras are available from Steel Guitar Nashville

New strings are a lot better than old ones. The secret is out!

CrowBear Schmitt wrote:to start with, i always try to buy my strings from the Forum - Doin' my bit...
i used Jagwires until they were not available
the Russ Hicks on E9 w: 011.5 on 3 & 038 on 10
John Hughey on C6
i substituted for SITs & then went on to Cobra Coils ( which imo are very good strings)
Cobras are available from Steel Guitar Nashville

I'm with you on that one CB - Cobras are excellent for tone and longevity.

My vote goes to Live Steel strings. I found Jagwire to be better than any other brand I'd tried up until Live Steel strings became available. Both are excellent but the Live Steels really do set a new benchmark as far as I'm concerned.

Cobra Coils are not made by a mass producer.

I just use Ernie Ball strings. I buy them in individual gauges.

I think many so called manufacturers use Ernie Ball strings, and just re-package them with their own brand name.

Since I have 2 identical guitars, with the same pickup, I'm in an ideal position to try different brands and see if any of them actually sound different or better.

Some day.......

Gary Preston wrote:Ken Cobra Coils are G.H.S. Thats a fact .

I may be wrong, but the above statement contradicts what Bobbe told me about how he got into the manufacturing of his strings. GHS were not mentioned at any stage as the materials concerned are far removed from standard string construction.

GHS strings are great on a 6 stringer. Never tried them on a steel. I too purchase single strings and they are always colored ball ends. That leads me to believe that they are D'addario? However you spell that.

So, how many actual manufacturers are there?

The only distinction I make is stainless or nickel wound.
Nickel is permeable, Stainless is not. I think nickel sounds better as it works with a magnetic pickup better. I used to run stainless because they held up longer - don't oxidize as easily, but I've switched back to nickel for tone reasons.