Live Steel Strings brings Cryo Strings to Market!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 8 Jan 2013 12:31 pm

Live Steel Strings is happy to announce that we have struck a deal to produce the first Cryogenically Tempered strings for the Steel Guitar!

In order to keep cost down and to test the waters as to how the steel guitar community will receive the new Cryo strings we have decided to limit the availability of gauges.

We will be offering the Cryo Strings as follows:

E9 Standard Nickel 12-15-11-14-18-22-26-30-34-38
E9 Nashville Set (Nickel) 13-15-11-14-17-20-26-30-34-36

Keep in mind that all strings that are currently available will remain available. We are not discontinuing anything.

Frozen Strings have become one of the hottest things in guitar and bass string design. It’s no pun! We are talking about cryogenically tempered strings. Some of the first sets of cryogenically tempered strings hit the market about two decades ago.

But they really did not get into the mainstream of visibility until about a decade ago. Since that time, many players have found the merits of using these uniquely made strings. At the same time, many players are still unfamiliar with cryogenically tempered strings.

So what are cryogenically tempered strings (also called cryogenic or cryo 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
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.

I am really excited about this new product for Steel Guitar and sincerely believe that Cryogenically tempered strings for the Steel Guitar will be a vast improvement over anything we have all experienced in the past.

There are many other things to explore in the future such as a Cryogenically Tempered string in addition to a Polymer coating to seal them from humidity but; we can think about that sometime down the road.

Thanks for all your support,
http://livesteelstrings.com/

Sid Hudson

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 8 Jan 2013 4:49 pm

Very cool !

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 9 Jan 2013 10:29 am

Cryogenically produced tubes (or valves as we call them in the UK) are very sought after for their performance. However, the process does bump up the cost quite significantly. Hopefully Sid will be able to maintain the retail price of these strings at an affordable level.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 9 Jan 2013 11:48 am

Actually, Hook, they're very cold!

Chuck Blake · Post by **Chuck Blake** » 9 Jan 2013 1:17 pm

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I indicated in my PM to Sid, I have used cryo banjo strings for some time now. THEY ARE GREAT!

Excuse the shouting. The advantages I found using them on my banjo:
1. Remained very crisp and bright
2. Time between string changes greatly increased (I changed strings when I got bored)
3. Little or no breakage
4. Stayed in tune and was not weather dependent

Now having mentioned a few positives, these were on a Stelling Banjo played hours upon hours. A very positive experience.

I hope I get the frist order

And I hope they are Steel Guitar friendly.

Chuck

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 10 Jan 2013 4:51 pm

It's odd you mention the banjo Chuck.

One thing that started making me think of Cryo strings for steel guitar is all the Bluegrass musicians raving about how long their guitar and banjo strings last as they retain that "fresh out of the pack" sound for an extended time.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 11 Jan 2013 4:51 am

Darrell Birtcher · Post by **Darrell Birtcher** » 13 Jan 2013 1:11 pm

This is interesting Sid. Looking forward to trying them.

I know when I first heard about cryo treating strings, I thought it was a bunch of snake oil from the marketing folks. Later in life I began studying the heat treatment of metals and discovered how strongly metals are affected by both extreme heat and extreme cold. It's truly amazing how much the properties of a metal can be altered by temperature, and they've got it down to a science. Cryo treating is very common in aerospace and other industries to obtain the desired properties in various metals. It is very process dependent and it sounds like your strings are receiving the correct process. Your dedication is to be applauded.

Ray Thomas · Post by **Ray Thomas** » 15 Jan 2013 6:44 am

Thanks Sid, looking fwd to getting a set on my guitar.

Richard Lester · Post by **Richard Lester** » 15 Jan 2013 2:25 pm

Sounds like I'm sure gonna try em, it's the cool thing to do

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 17 Jan 2013 10:26 am

Sid's strings are fantastic; trust me.

Daniel Haymore · Post by **Daniel Haymore** » 17 Jan 2013 2:01 pm

I have used cryo strings on my banjo for a couple of years now, and they are great.

I look forward to trying some on my steel.

Chuck Blake · Post by **Chuck Blake** » 18 Jan 2013 7:41 am

Yes Sid the company selling them for the banjo community is "The American Made Banjo Company".

They truly added extended life to a string change on my banjo. They we're just a tad brighter but the good news is they stay that way.

Gonna buy a few sets for my GFI and compare them to the original LSS by Sid. Looking to comapare two areas 1: String Life
2: Breakage (worried about lever/pedal effects)

Bring Em' on Sid

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 26 Jan 2013 7:16 pm

Since I have building strings I have experimented with many ways of building a better string. Some things worked great and some things were a total flop. (Which were never brought to market of course)

Nearly all music wire (core wire and plain strings) has a very very thin coating of tin on the outer surface.
Every major brand I am aware of does this.

The tin coating was originally tried many decades ago with the intention of protecting the High Carbon Steel music wire from humidity therefore preventing microscopic corrosion.

Microscopic corrosion has a severe negative effect on the uniform vibration of a string resulting in a fast decay of sustain.

Thinking that the tin coating may very well be detrimental to tonal qualities, I built some strings that had no tin coating on core wire of the wound strings and no tin coating on any plain strings.

Result: The strings sounded like total Junk! I threw them all away.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Ok here's the deal on the Cryo Strings.

We got some packaged up Friday and I talked the wife out of a set.

Put them on Friday afternoon played them a couple of hours.

Played them about 6 hours on Saturday and I will say with enthusiasm “I am beside myself".
Ultimately the customers will make the decision for themselves but this is my assessment of the New Cryo Strings:

After only 8 hours of playing time, my findings are:

1. The increased sustain is shocking. Reminds me of the first time I sat down to Tom Brumley’s ZB guitar.

Had a steel buddy over the house today and demonstrated the increased sustain by playing a couple of very slow ballads without my foot on the volume pedal. We both laughed out loud.

2. The tone of the plain strings is wonderful. I believe there is a noticeable tone improvement with the Cryo plain stings.

3. Our original strings stay in tune great so I see no noticeable improvement in this area.

4. Longevity----have not had them on the guitar long enough to judge.

As for me I would never want to use anything else but, you be the judge.
Sid Hudson

Joshua Gibson · Post by **Joshua Gibson** » 28 Jan 2013 1:43 pm

Do You have any figure on the prices for these "cryo" strings yet Sid? I haven't been able to bring Myself to use another brand since I grabbed a couple of sets of live's for My new PP at the Saint Louis convention last Year:-) , You've definitely got a return customer here!.

Josh Gibson,
PS: Will Y'all be at the Dallas show?

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 28 Jan 2013 2:03 pm

Josh, the cost of the E9 Cryo strings is going to be $16.50

These strings just might be the answer to the guy that hates to change strings.

At this point in time no single string purchases will be available due to limited supply.

Yes we will be at the Dallas show.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 28 Jan 2013 2:07 pm

Sid
Do you have a price on the C6 strings too?

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 28 Jan 2013 2:37 pm

We will be offering the Cryo Strings as follows:

E9 Standard Nickel 12-15-11-14-18-22-26-30-34-38
E9 Nashville Set (Nickel) 13-15-11-14-17-20-26-30-34-36

No C6 at this time.

Depending on the popularity of the strings I will eventually do all the gauges.

Joshua Gibson · Post by **Joshua Gibson** » 28 Jan 2013 5:14 pm

thanks Sid

, Looking Forward to seeing(and hopefully hearing?) Y'all in Dallas.

Sid Hudson · Post by **Sid Hudson** » 30 Jan 2013 10:03 am

Ok, they are available!!!!
http://livesteelstrings.com/cart/index. ... c=specials

Teddy Lloyd · Post by **Teddy Lloyd** » 1 Feb 2013 11:08 am

Igot my Cryo strings today and cant belive how good they are The sustain is unreal.They are well worth the price and then some

Gil Gregory · Post by **Gil Gregory** » 1 Feb 2013 2:34 pm

Sid, the cryo strings are even better that the regular lss. they have sustain out of this world and i beleive the tone is also better.thank you.
gil

Chuck Blake · Post by **Chuck Blake** » 2 Feb 2013 5:50 am

Order mine yesterday

. A couple of sets for my GFI guitars.

Even ordered a couple of microfiber cleaning towels.

Gary Hamblin · Post by **Gary Hamblin** » 3 Feb 2013 2:25 pm

I have heard nothing but good things from my friend Teddy Lloyd about the cryo strings.I will be ordering some this week.

Gary Carter · Post by **Gary Carter** » 5 Feb 2013 5:40 pm

I put a set of cryogenically tempered strings on my guitar last friday and I have about 15 hours playing time on this set. The strings still sound like new.
I also noticed a bump in the mid range on the wound strings. This really adds a little more warmth to my guitar. I'm looking too see how the tuning is going to be after about 30 hours of playing time.