The Steel Guitar Forum

I hope you guys can help...which strings are the best? which give the best tone, stay in tune longer, and go between breaks longer?

Paul Bigsby steel guitar strings.... I still have a full set on my 1956 Quad. Sound great.

The Jagwires are very highly regarded.

Cobra Coils from Steel Guitar Nashville.

Jagwire.


Regards, Patrick

Silent Series from Frenchy's. Jody.

GeorgeL's are hard to beat.

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GFI S-12 extended E9

I've had great luck with GHS.

Steve,

We always ask what is best. Often it just comes down to what you like. I have tried GHS Boomers, Cobra Coils, Jagwire, Ernie Ball, etc.... I have a preference for Jagwire. If you change strings a regular basic it would be rare to break one except for the 3rd (.011)

Stainless Steel S.I.T.'s have been my choice for many years . I have always had great service and sound out of each and every one of them .

John

SIT strings have given me great service.

GHS Super Steels for me for sure. Get lot's of mileage and keep good tune and tone.

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Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

GHS semi-flats

excellent service from Cobra Coils from Steel Guitar Nashville.
tp

I hear that Franklin strings last for a LONG
time! Great tone too! -Derek

Thanks guys. Sounds like there are as many preferences as there are players. Does that third string break on everyone else too or is it just from playing (trying to) every day. Maybe I'm trying too hard.

I have used only John Pearse strings exclusively for several years. I order individually, enough for 10 sets for each neck on each order plus extra E9 3s,5s,and an occaional 10th. Big John

I have had great success with Cobra Coils from www.steelguitar.net

Steve, you’re not alone on string 3 going ‘pop’. Get a whole pack of them so you have them on hand.

Sam

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www.samminnitti.com

I've been cleaning my strings for years, it works great and brings back the "twang", it removes the oil and stuff from the windings which mutes the string robbing tone and sustain, the method I use is this, lay about 6 pages thick of newspaper under the strings completely covering the fretboard and pickup, get a can of electrical or brake drum cleaner and spray this on a clean small rag and really wipe the strings down over and over, the wound strings need the most attention, they will start squeaking, (means they are clean), this takes 2 minutes and the tone is restored to about 80% or more of the tone of a new string, this chemical is strong and can leave a permanent blemish on finished wood or paint so be careful, I've never had a problem as long as you use 6 or more pages of paper, I keep strings on for up to 2 years

Wow! All that mess for 80%? Change them strings!

Steve,

I have changed to an .0115 (or 11 1/2 as we call it) and that reduces some of the string breakage. I also like the feel of it better.

In addition, since I play out every weekend, I change my third string every week. I'd rather spend the $40-50 per year than have the string break during a solo, and the inconvenience of changing on stage. (Not to mention that it used to scare the cr-- out of me) Since I've been doing this (about a year) I haven't broke a third string.

Best Wishes
Tony

Steel Rockin' in Indiana<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Orth on 16 August 2002 at 01:38 PM.]</p></FONT>

OK, I have mentioned this on about 3 different threads, and I have yet to get an adequate response from someone in the know.

My understanding, is that there are very few string manufacturers in the whole world, and they simply licence their strings to different wholesalers. So in essence, Jagwire, SST, and GeorgeL, might all be identical strings manufactured by Martin(I know Martin just bought a string mfging facility in the past few years). Can anyone coroborate this, or am I way off base?

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Close Matt, but Jagwire and Geo.L. are not related by a common manufacturer. I know which manufacturers build which strings and for whom they build them. It would be totally unethical to say on this forum or any other as the "string distrubuters" don't want these things known and it would serve no perpose to do so. I have seen many folks put down one string and brag about another brand that is actually the identical product with only a different color envelope. So I watch this type of thread with a lot of humor. There are three brands that are paying the price to obtain the finest wire.
I think most of you know what one of them must be.( no commercial here).

Thanks Bobbe! Can you give me a ballpark on how many actual manufacturers there are in the whole world? All of the musicians that I know are very brand loyal when it comes to strings, but just like you said, I think it is hilareous when people agrue vehemently that "super duper strings" are far superior to "duper super strings" when in actuality they are identical. Thanks again Bobbe!

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Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

You have to determine if you like Stainless Steel or Nickle for the wound strings.

There's a big difference, and no one answer.
It depends on what you like to hear and your style of playing. Try each and decide over time.

My preference is George L Stainless.