Can someone recommend guitar strings

I have a washburn acoustic electric but haven't changed my strings in years. Can someone link me to good priced, great sounding strings?

I'd like steel strings medium strength.

Thanks,
Chony

Oh no...

I feel another p*ssing contest coming on!

Nothing gets us more worked up than arguing phosphor bronze vs. nickel

Hi,

If you use any type of effects processor like a Zoom, go for flat wound only!

I have an Ovation acoustic guitar and recently fitted it with nylon strings - yes, nylon strings! I forgot the name, but it was very expensive for nylon strings. Boy, am I happy with those. I will never go for anything else again.

But, these suite my style of playing which does not include a lot of strumming.

Regards,
Henni

Chony,
In my store I sell every make of strings and hands down the most popular string manufacturer is Elixer. They make a set of bronze wound strings that have a coating of polymer on the wound strings which keep dirt from getting into the strings. These strings will last at least 5 times longer than anything else and they sound bright a new for months and months. The fact that you don't change strings very often, these would be a great choice. They sell for about twice the price of others, but they are worth every penny.


------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Hey Chony,

There is only 1 kind of guitar sting !!

Elixir

They are the best value. ( period !! )

Here is a link to the best place to buy , I have used this place for years , great customer service and price !!
http://www.juststrings.com/acousticguitar.html

Take care,

Gary 

Elixir's are great! The guage would depend on how hard you play. Bigger guage strings last longer and stay in tune better, but are stiffer and not ideal for lots of fast melody work.
your style of playing will be the deciding factor.

R.

I'd go with the Elixirs (frankly, I don't know a damn thing about guitar strings but everyone else seems to like them (the Elixirs). Besides, they're a good value, depending on where you purchase them from - and on that issue, I'd definitely recommend uh, uh, ...what he said.) Hope this helps.

chas

Same at our store. Elixer 10-1 followed by D'Addario EXP. But I live on the beach and uncoated strings don't do well for long.
Taylor uses them, Even Samick uses EXPs on their guitars,But Samick also uses Grover tuners on their $150 guitars, They build a great guitar for the money. In the $300 price range they are tough to beat all around.

To the guy who put Nylon Strings on the Ovation Acoustic. Hows the neck. Seems to me all that lack of tension would cause the neck to bow back.



[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 12-02-2008).]

As stated the Elixer strings are quite nice. Feel good, sound great, and as George stated the coating increases the life of the set..., but they are about twice what the average set of strings will run you.

I would also take into consideration how much playing you're doing with your guitar. Is it just for home play, playing out, recording, ect.

I can't even begin to count the number of strings I've changed over the years, but I will say this though..., one VERY popular brand is the GHS Boomers. They're decent, and pretty darn cheap... Even going into stores today looking at guitars I hear countless people coming in asking for Boomers.

The other brand such as Elixer are also big sellers, but those Boomers fly off the shelves pretty quick too.

Thank you everyone. To be perfectly clear, I don't know anything about strings, so I need someone to link me DIRECTLY to a webpage that sells them.

I use my guitar very periodically - like every few months, and when I do, I generally use it for chords and backup - not for lead. I would describe my guitar playing abilities as intermediate.

I would like to get the Elixir strings based on the advice posted here, but there are so many different kinds. (PolyWeb, NanoWeb / Bronze, Nickel / and different strengths).

What would you recommend?

Thanks, Chony

[This message has been edited by chony (edited 12-02-2008).]

I second (or sixth!) the Elixers. My guitarist uses them, we play beach-front (high corrosion) a lot during the season, and they are the only things that last more than a few days.

If you are going to wait another few years to change them again these will last the longest...

"To the guy who put Nylon Strings on the Ovation Acoustic. Hows the neck. Seems to me all that lack of tension would cause the neck to bow back."

I installed D'Addario nylon strings on mine. Most probably because I normally use only extreme light gauge strings and my neck has been adjusted to have the strings as close as possible to the frets, I had no problem whatsoever. I like to play with the lightest touch possible and this mod worked very well for me.

I must just again empasize using flat wound strings only with the Zoom or similar. With anything else, the slide noises are greatly emhasized by any effects processor and this can cause quite some anoyance.

Henni

Tried Finger Ease?

Absolutely no idea what this is?

Henni

"Finger Ease" is a guitar string lubricant available in a spray can applicator.

It allows for much smoother guitar playing, letting your fingers glide without friction along the strings. Cuts down on cuts, scrapes and sore fingertips...its safe for your strings and fingerboard.

Ian

Most here say that Elixirs are twice the price of others...

I cliked on one link to find out the price and saw many models between $12-$15.

I understand the significance of cost, and expecially when something costs DOUBLE the price of something comparable...but for Christ sake $15???????

I thought you were talking about tens of dollars in difference

Products like Finger Ease can be great.., one benefit not mentioned yet is that it can also extend the life of your strings since it also cleans them..., and helps prevent more dirt build up. If you didn't want to spend a lot of money on one set of strings you can buy a half decent set and still extend the life of them with the product. Don't use too much of the stuff though.

Cutting down on sore fingertips isn't what I would call a benefit from this product. If you're cutting your fingers.., getting scrapes ect from your strings.. You don't need Finger Ease.., you need a new set of strings.

The product is not going to prevent sore fingertips. When playing guitar you have to build up the padding on your fingertips. Routine playing will do this.., but if your guitar playing isn't routine.., your pads may not be as strong and you'll notice some pain. The pain often isn't from sliding from chord to chord, rather the constant pressure of the strings pressed against your fingertips.

** Also I see you said you use your guitar every few months. If you do find you're having pain from extended playing (due to time between each use).., I would suggest having the "saddle" either sanded or replaced with one that has less height to it. This would drop the action slightly making it easier on your fingers. Washburns don't typically have a high action, but something to consider.

If you're playing it every few months I would strongly suggest slightly "detuning" your guitar between playing. This will extend the life of your guitar neck.., and help prevent warping. Nothing more annoying than a warped neck that results in fret buzzing.



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 12-03-2008).]

I have...it works fine for those of us who don't play every day, or even every week...I don't keep my strings on for as long as chony, and even though I change them regularly, I still use the product.


Keeps my fingers from getting sore...heck, even my guitar thanks me.

Works real well on my bass guitar and mandolin, too....not so well on drums.

Ian


PS....It also takes the squeaky scratchy sound away that you get when you slide your fingers up and down the neck while switching from chord to chord....cool!


[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 12-03-2008).]

Hi Chony,

I use Elixir "Nano-Web" there coating is just as durable , but not as thick as the Poly-Web.

Here is the direct link you requested:
http://www.juststrings.com/elx-11027.html

Take care

Gary 

If you are only going to change strings once a year or less, why worry about a set that only costs what the Elixers do?

What do you want? Cheap string that dull quickly, or more expensive ones that sound great for MUCH longer...?

There's a REASON people pay that price. They might be double the price, but they last three times as long!

Sounds like a deal to me...