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February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Please post your experiences with the "silk and steel" variety of strings. Yesterday I installed a set of Martin M130s on my book Elite and these things are wonderful. They have a similar feel and sound to classical strings but are thin like steel strings. Easier to fret than conventional acoustic strings with strong fundamentals and just the right amount of crispness without any harshness. These strings are low tension and will require a truss adjustment. They have a lot of character. I have been an Elixir user for years and so far like these better - don't know about the longevity yet. I want to try some of the other brands that have different gauges. Any users? |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | M130..Yeah ,on a Git. with Cedar-Top , WITHOUT Truss Rod , .. on a Steel meant Ovi .. ? .. No !!
Vic
.. Wanna reason fer that .. juzz holler , and I`ll answer .. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I use Adamas S&S on my 08C. Nice mellow tone. My only complaint is that the lower tension sometimes leads to me pushing one of the E strings off the fretboard by mistake. Just have to get more accurate with my fingering. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I use Adamas S&S on my 08C. Nice mellow tone. My only complaint is that the lower tension sometimes leads to me pushing one of the E strings off the fretboard by mistake. Just have to get more accurate with my fingering. |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I've used them (GHS) on both an Adamas and a 1537. I thought they sounded great. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum strings. They're about as pricey as Elixers so I don't use them often, but they're about the best strings I've ever used. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I'll let you know a little after Christmas. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I use them on my 12 and like them a lot for that application. To me they produce a fuller bass than comparible steel strings at that gauge. As a set though they have only slightly less tension than D'Addario custom lights (11-52) on a six string but they do have a substantially less amount of tension than the typical 12-53s.
There is a local guy who plays a lot of gigs with a Pacemaker. He told me he only changes every couple of months and he plays a lot (and hard on some songs). |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I've used them on a 97 Collector and thought they sounded great. |
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June 2006
Posts: 106
Location: UK | I tend to move and slide up and down the fret board a lot wearing grooves in my callouses. I find that with silk and steel there's not as much wear and not as much squeak. |
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| I've used the S&S(Martin Marquis) on my twelves before when there is a problem with the action read:(time for neck re-set), or when my fingers were just too darn tired... they definitely do fret easier.
never used them on any of the six strings before though.. I'll generally just go to lighter gauge steel... till the sound gets too thin.. then back up a gauge or two.
Glenn |
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January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | So do Silk n Steel work OK on a REAL Nylon String axe for those who want more tension and bite? |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by dobro:
So do Silk n Steel work OK on a REAL Nylon String axe for those who want more tension and bite? I`ve tried it on ONE classical git. , yes , it did sound ok with more " bite " .
Vic |
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September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | Never used them on an O, but I did use them a lot on a couple of Epiphone 12 strings i had years ago. Softer sound, but I did find I replaced them more ofter, but then again, I played 2-3 services at church every weekend, 2 practices a week and a fw open mic's a month...
Steve |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I used them on my 1719 Custom Legend (Adamas S&S)
and my 6751LX (GHS S&S)
I use Silk and Bronze on w598 |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | PEZ , What do ya think of the Result ???
Vic |
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February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | OK, so I just put Martin M130s on my '78 Legend and my oh my! Sound wonderful - play like butter - I can smell the popcorn! Even though lighter than the Elixirs they replaced - they have more bass response. I mostly finger "short nail" pick but they sound great with a pick also. These are 11.5-47. Next time I'll try a slightly heavier set. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I have set of John Pearce silks on my UTE. I had them laying around for some reason and gave them a try. Anyway, they are "not silk/steel" according to JP site. They wrap silk around a steel core and then phosper bronze. However they are made, I like them a lot. (My new favorites for the UTE) . The tension is a bit less but I had no problems tuning it down. I notice a much better sound on the E and A strings. (to my ear anyway) We'll see how long they last. |
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February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Update
Have been playing the M130s daily since 11/22/09 and they show no evidence of deadening. Actually I originally installed them in early November on my book elite then put them on the legend. They have been stretched relaxed then restretched and still sound great. They improved the sound of the book over the Elixirs it came with. NAMM is coming up and I will audition other S&S varieties and report back.
Thanks to all for your input
Hear the strings on 1617 here
Wish you were here lower right corner of page |
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November 2002
Posts: 3651
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Nice piece, Michael!
Thanks, & happy holidays.
I install S&S on my Academies, per Beal's advice, a few years ago. Who am I to second-guess?! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by 1617:
Hear the strings on 1617 here Mike, that's still a relaxing song. Terrific arrangement!
This time I listened a little closer knowing you were using the S&Ss. One thing popped into my mind; one is always one note away from greatness. Great playing!  |
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February 2009
Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Thanks guys. The further you get along the more you pay attention to the nuances - in anything.
My main gig was bass - and starting out all basses were shipped with flatwounds - thats all there was. Then Rotos came out and opened up a whole new sonic universe - can you imagine Chris Squire's sound with flats? Then a gazillion formulations of alloys and coatings and cores and so on.
After I made the switch to Elixirs years ago I thought my 1617 was the best it could ever sound. I had no idea that the S&S would take it up one more notch. Is there something else on the horizon?
Of course this doesn't mean all other formulations are defunct - I still occasionally play flats for the different flavor - and every guitar/playing style/type of music will have its "perfect" string. Its remarkable that a quick and easy course change can have such a big affect. |
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Silk and Steel Survey