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Thread: String question

  1. #1
    Registered User jimbob's Avatar
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    I have been taking lessons for about 5 months and using my Alan Bibey mando. It has a great, deep, woody tone, but I am not comfortable with the neck / string spacing. I think I can address the issue by building a new nut, but that's another topic...
    Last night, I took one my custom built mandos to my lesson. It had a wider neck and a radiused fret board and is easier for me to play. It doesn't quite have the deep , woody tone like the Gibson. It's not bad but not the same. I would describe it as brighter. It's not at all thin, but not as deep , dry and woody. My teacher suggeted that I try some steel strings. Right now I have everything strung up with J-74's. I have used J-75's, but like the way the 74's feel better. Any ideas how and why a steel string might produce a more mellowed tone ? Any suggestions on a specific string ?

  2. #2
    Registered User Jonathan Peck's Avatar
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    Try the GHS Silk & Steel.
    And now for today's weather....sunny, with a chance of legs

    "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln

  3. #3
    Registered User Frank Russell's Avatar
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    Hey Jim - I find that the Bush set of Gibson strings work well for what you are describing. They take a bit of the treble, or "zing" sound out, and seem to emphasize more of the "woof" that I like. For me, I'm not sure why, but they are also easier on my fingers than J74's. Frank
    FJ Russell


    Es mejor morir de pie que vivir de rodillas. E. Zapata

  4. #4
    Registered User Hallmark498's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (Jonathan Peck @ Feb. 06 2008, 15:10)
    Try the GHS Silk & Steel.
    I second that! #And the bronze and silk.

    I just tried a set of the Js 74. Like them also.

    I like them all! I don't know what sounds the best. I go back and forth J74s, ghs, JS74s, ghs, J75s, expJ74s. The thing is new strings our great to my ear, so I change em every 3-4weeks.




  5. #5
    Registered User jimbob's Avatar
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    The Bush strings were recommended by my teacher. I just put new J-74's on so it'll be at least 2 or 3 weeks before I change them. There's nothing really wrong with the J-74's, but I think I will definitely experiment next time. The GHS and the Bush both sound like good options.

  6. #6
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Ahem, all *8* are steel strings.
    use a steel core wire.
    the lower ones are wound with something to vibrate at lower pitch/frequency

    2nd the try of Silk and bronze, or silk and steel
    [its a silver plated copper winding ...
    same alloy is used for windings on the lower 3 strings on classical guitars, though the core on the classical guitar string is nylon]
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

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