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Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 12
| It's been a few years since I've had a 12-string. Just recently got my new one through Ovation. The best guitar strings that I can remember playing was a Kaman phosphorus bronze strings. The strings that came with my new 12-string were D'addario, with color markings. Anyone have any opinions on some awesome sounding strings?
Thanks
Randy |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Personally, I like the D'addario EXP coated strings for my 12 string. The sound is good and the strings last a long time. I don't know about you, but as far as I'm concerned, the less 12 string changes I need to do, the better. |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | You will find many different opinions on strings here, including some of us who do like D'Addario. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The Adamas 1616 set or the D'Ad set equlivent. EXPs might also be good on a 12, they are a little less bright I think but on a 12 you probably won't notice that, maybe even be good to get a little more punch. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | This may sound strange, but I have heavy gauge Nanoweb Elixirs on my 1755 Balladeer(.13-.56) and I tune the guitar down 2 1/2 steps to (low to high) B E A D F# B. You end up transposing and using a capo a lot but the sound is very full with lots of bass, loud and with amazing sustain. The different tuning alters the chord inversions so that songs take on a new edge. The guitar sounds especially good when playing with another guitar in standard tuning. I've had the strings on for a few months now with no deterioration in the sound, so I think they will last a long time. The strings are $20 a set and you have to either special order them or get them from mail order but IMHO it's a great way to tune a 12 string. Also, even though the stings are heavy, I the actual string tension is lower than using regular X-lite strings and standard tuning. Thus easier on the fingers and guitar. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | If I had a 12-string I know I would think different. But I don't see the "pay twice as much...last twice as long" thing. I'd rather just change them more often.
Reminds me of funiture shopping. Sales guy says that "This couch is so good it's the last one you will have to buy!". Gawd I hope not! I'd get tired of it before that. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | i buy my strings in bulk from stringthis.com or juststrings.com. i like them because they come straight, and i keep them in pvc pipe with caps and a little wd40 for good measure. i go through lots of .009, .010, .011, .012 .013, .014 and dont have to change the whole set every gig or two. the unwound strings are interchangable between electric and acoustic guitars. another good thing is that you can customize the gauges for any particular guitar to suit its characteristics. i have about 40 different tubes of different guages in nickel wound and phosphor bronze, 80/20 brass, as well as plain steel. most of my musician friends tap my plain steel stash, particularly .009 .010 and.013.
there was a titanium string out there a while back but i never tried them. lower tension at pitch and supposedly really long lasting. expensive and corrosion proof. it sounded like a good idea for acoustic/piezo guitars. you know how it is bending at pitch .012's so the low tension was appealing titanium is non magnetic, so not for magnetic pu's. they had ti wrapped steel too if my memory serves me right. has anyone here tried them? |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | Just bought a 3-pk. of D'Addario EXP16's on E-Bay for $26.99. I think they are the recommended string for most "O's". .012 through .052. |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I use Elixer Polywebs on my CL12. Less string noise and fingers slide more easily. Last a long time, too. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| hey russ, i tried the titanium strings a while back; they were plenty bright and lasted just as long; they are call Rohrbacher strings...but they only sell by mail (rohrtech.com)
steve |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by Steve:
hey russ, i tried the titanium strings a while back; they were plenty bright and lasted just as long; they are call Rohrbacher strings...but they only sell by mail (rohrtech.com)
steve
steve,
how was the comparitive tension in relation to blues bends? if i could get another half step out of a bend and they also held up better in a coastal climate i would like to check them out. i went to their site earlier and they had 3 types that i would chose from. do you remember which you used. they also mention a "break in period" which makes me think they might be kinda stretchy when new. wacha think? |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| hi russ, sorry for the delay...it seems like i tried some of the low tension bronze; with a locking nut you could bend 'em plenty; as far as the break-in time, they responded similiar to most others, which to me is about a day after you string 'em they get bright; i remember they stayed bright for quite a while but that all depends on the picker...
steve |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | My friend plays 2 different Takamine 12 strings. I just put some D'Addario EXP's on my Ovation and I like the feel..sound I don't know about.
So he put the EXP's on his 12 string. He loves the tone of them, he says they are the best sounding strings he has ever put on them. I said yeah but what about the feel? He said he didn't notice. Those slick EXP's feel great though. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Intersting; I have always liked the Adamas stings but this post gets me a-thinkin!
"This may sound strange, but I have heavy gauge Nanoweb Elixirs on my 1755 Balladeer(.13-.56) and I tune the guitar down 2 1/2 steps to (low to high) B E A D F# B."
I like this! I will have to try it perhaps not the elixirs but with a heavy gauge 12 string set and see what sounds I get? I love the bass rumble, and rich sound, you can get only with the heavier strings but would never have thought of using them because of the tension problems on a 12 stringer. I love 56-13's on my 6 string.
Duaaaah I never thought of detuning it and using a capo? I don't play that high on the neck with my 12 anyway for the most part.
Thanks Nice thread
Randy |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Tried the heavy set on my Pacemaker once. I loved it! Only went down 2 steps though.
Look over the threads on the Adamas 12 string Baritone as well.
I have my Custom Balladeer strung with .074"-.013". It is a poor man's baritone.
There is more than standard tuning to life! |
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Which guitar strings to use?
