As usual, a terrific job, Chris. My string of choice is Elixer. All of my guitars are strung with light nanos. Yes, they last 5 times longer under my hands but the other reason is that they reduce string squeak. That squeak is a pet peeve of mine. Fresh unwound strings just make so much noise it’s distracting.
"What do I know? I'm just a TH-cam presenter." I was like man, If there's someone who knows anything it's you! Appreciate the content and effort. Definitely useful!
This guy is so-oo articulate and so-oo informative. Nobody analyzes the issues deeper or better. I watch pretty much all of the various guitar subject presenters on TH-cam and this guy, Chris McKee, IMHO, is the absolute, outright, undisputed KING of them all! Long may he reign supreme!
You should check out Rick Beato channel he has a lot of info on guitars too and brings others in. I am a beginner also and have learned a lot from that channel. They also did a video on strings for acoustic and electric.
Fantastic Sir !!! Thank you for taking the time to do this for all of us : my ranking: 1-Monel 2-Flat top 3-Phosphor Bronze 4-80/20 I was surprised on the 13s the 10s sounded decent in comparison and i would guess way easier on the fingers - cheers!
"What do I know? I'm just a TH-cam presenter." Love it! You present a theory, but you let it be known that it is just your theory and should not be taken as authoritative. I appreciate the honesty.
@@AlamoMusic Hi, as a beginner I have changed strings a lot of time but still I feel bit hard to press the strings 😀, which one is friendly for the fingers . Thank You 🙏
I have compared strings similar to these, and I have to say that the differences are far more pronounced and obvious when you're actually playing (as opposed to listening to a recording on youtube). The long introduction is fascinating. If you skipped it, go back and listen, there's important information there.
Yeah, I heard clear differences when he switched bettween gauges, but no so much with the matirials, perhaps the slightly brighter tone of nickel but I might has been biased by the information given in the intro. To me, .13 had more volume, specially on the bass, it also sounded punchier and fuller/rounder. But I kinda prefered the warmth of the 12s on this (lesser tension sometimes provides warmer tone, I guess it depends on the guitar). The 10s sounded "thiner". Also, I don't like how 10s feel on the fingers, 11s feel good on full lenght guitars, but 10s feel weird to me for acoustics.
Best side by side string comparison I've ever found! The wonderfully straightforward technical advice is so essential. Thanks for all your informative video's Chris!!!!
Thanks for doing this comparison! I like the crispy tones of Phospher Bronze (Daddario) Extra light. This video helped me a lot to decide my new strings and actually differentiate the strings in the market.
My first guitar was a dreadnought that came with 13’s. My poor fingers were sore just after 30 minutes of playing! Even after 8 months! When it came time to get new strings I put 11’s on and I will never go back. I can play for hours now without finger fatigue and I love the tonal quality! Best blend for strumming and fingerpicking!
You should consider buying Thomastik strings. They are lower tension strings, feels more like a classic guitar strings. It lets you band the strings better and you can put 0.12 strings and play without getting tired fast. It's around 25 bucks but its another league of playability and sound quality.
What effort it took changing all these strings! Thanks Chris. After playing multiple times and contrasting the strings I found it difficult to distinguish one set from another; nevertheless the Elixr was true to the Taylor tone that one expects whereas the Martin’s seem less bright (and more to my taste) but the differences were subtle. Now presuming Chris’ playing and string pressure was consistent throughout, I decided to hear whether the squeak factor varied. The flattops had noticeable less squeaking and they did seem slightly more mellow. Will definitely give them a try. Thanks much for the interesting video.
The Martin retro set sounded amazing to my ears. I was curious about light strings cause considerred changing for more comfort but they sounded weak compared to the others. Thank you for the video,real helpfull.
Just wanted to say I appreciate the time and effort that you and Alamo make to present these kinds of videos. I watch a lot of them (a how-to-record your acoustic last night for instance). Looking forward to doing business with you sometime soon. Thank you.
Chris, great video. My 71-year-old ears could tell the difference between some sets of strings, but not others. The first set of Elixirs immediately sounded like you playing a Taylor guitar, as in so many videos that I have watched.I think I would know that (beautiful) sound blindfolded. I enjoyed hearing your opinion, but being “open“ to what may work for others and on different guitars/tone woods. Thanks!
Nice job, Chris. Very helpful. Recently became a fan of the Monel Retro Extra Lights on my Yamaha FGX3. Your observation about mahogany and the Retros is appreciated. I agree and think I’ve found “my strings.” Better sound and resonance on the low and high ends vs the silk and steels I’ve experimented with. The silks sound muddy on the low end and oddly twangy on the other, especially when fingerpicking. The monels give a more balanced response, and although I like the extra lights generally, I can still feel the Monels on my finger tips, which helps me fret the strings. They work well for me, whether I’m strumming, flatpicking or fingerpicking. Versatile strings, for me, across all styles. And it sort of does add a bit of that 1940s sound that you hear on old recordings of the blues greats. At $8.99 per set, good value too
I love love this so much. The explanation was so precise and not opinion based. I DO wish there were some strumming examples for those who play mainly rhythm that wanted to compare rhythm tones.
OHHHH! FINALLY A STRING VID! I love Elixir Phosphor Bronze 12-56 on(light-medium) on my Parlor Larrivee p-09 12 fret and now I need to get strings for my Taylor 322ce 12 freter. Perfect Timing
I've been using Elixers for over 20 yrs and wont use any other string ever! I have an old Yairi brazilian rosewood dreadnaught and its the best sounding guitar I've ever played.
Very useful and educational. Frankly I am surprised at how little difference the string changes made, even though I could hear the differences. I think we are fortunate these days to have so many options in high-quality strings. That was a lot of work changing out all those string sets, so thanks for doing the experiment most of us will never do! Even if you did, you could not hold the tonal envelope of the old set in your memory long enough to compare it to the new set, which is what makes this video so valuable - now it is possible to browse through the various string sets and make direct A to B to C comparisons. Congratulations from a neuroscientist who is a fan of your channel!
The good news is every sample sounded good and none ruined the sound of the guitar. Use whatever you like that sounds good to your ears and feels good on your fingers.
Hey Chris, thank you. I was hoping you would cover this as String variety has saved me when falling out of love or just bored with my J200. Martin Marquis 80/20 11 are perfect for me this month. Have loved EJ16, and Martin Tommy Emmanuel 12s. on it to. You are spot on different strings change our whole relationship with the instrument. And Chris know this, you’ve rapidly become my favourite youtube reviwer. It’s your personal opinion and I respect that. Great to hear someone express one and not just someone noodling for 10 minutes. No B.S. and straight up. it’s just like having a buddy over to share his experience. Perfect. Thank you again I’m sure it took hous of work to make this episode. Have a great weekend.
Thanks! I enjoyed your video I was looking for the best strings to put on my Gibson j 45 standard I just got its the first high end guitar iv ever had in 35 years i think im going with Daddario lights sx first maybe extra light ,anyway that was a great video and you’re playing was amazing thanks.
As a technical point, 80/20 strings are brass, even though they are sometimes labeled “80/20 bronze.” They are made from an alloy that is 80% copper and 20% zinc, which makes them brass and accounts for their bright tone and their tendecy to corrode rather quickly if uncoated. Phosphor bronze strings are true bronze, and are made from an alloy that is about 92% copper and 8% tin with a trace amount of phosporous, which helps fight corrosion. I like them both and sometimes go back and forth between them on the same guitar, just for a change. I have to say though that phosphor bronze are the ones I tend to use the most because of their warmth. But I should also say that 80/20s on a smaller maple body guitar, is one of my favorites combinations. Its like playing a bell. Strings that use nickel, either as a coating (D’Addario) or in an alloy (Martin), are somehow more neutral to my ear so that you seem to hear more of the wood and less of the strings, if that makes any sense. They are not to my taste, but maybe that’s because 50 years of playing phosphor bronze or 80/20s has made everything else sound not quite right to me. I understand that some people (oh, you know, like Tony Rice) love them, so you should at least try them. Flat wound strings sound super warm to me, but I have only used them on my electrics to mellow them out. Never tried them on an acoustic. Never knew anyone who did . Might have to give ‘em a shot!
Wow, what a great analysis. Thank you. What do you think of the Martin custom MA130 silk and steel 11.5-47’s? Can you please tell me how they compare to these other ones if you are familiar with them? I just put them on a Washburn acoustic yesterday. Thank you!
@@Doowopsid Silk and steel will produce a very warm and layed back tone that will lack the punch of strings that are all metal (for better or worse). It's a sound better suited to thoughtful fingerpicking than full tilt bluegrass flat picking. They will also play a bit softer to the touch, so they are great if you have sore fingers or are trying to master bar chords. My concern is that silk and steel strings in 11.5-47 may not put enough energy into the top of your guitar, particularly if it’s a large body guitar, to make it sound its best. I once put steel 12-53s on my Martin D-28, and I thought it sounded dead. The strings you have are lighter than that, plus they are slilk and steel, which futher diminishes their ability to get the top moving. But again, this is purely a matter of personal preference and there is no right or wrong. What sounds thin to me may sound delicate and perfect to you. My advice would be to buy several packages of strings in different types and guages (get uncoated strings for this test-- they are cheaper than coated strings) and see what you like. Once you figure that out you can decide on things like which brand to buy and whether you prefer coated or uncoated strings.
@@SamC_ With a guitar like that, I would probably start with 12-53s. The GS Mini has a short scale (the distance from the bridge to the nut), which means that the strings will have less tension than they would have on a standard scale guitar. I have played guitar for 54 years and have petty good calluses so sore fingers are not an issue for me, and I don’t care for strings that feel floppy. I might even like 13s on that guitar. Phosphor bronze is normally my preference, and my go to brand is Elixir Nanoweb, mostly because I have a lot of guitars and don’t want to spend my life changing strings. I find that uncoated strings only last a few weeks before they start to go dead, but I can get three months or more out of a set of coated strings. Uncoated strings sound a bit better, but the difference is not all that great, and I’m lazy. In any case, this is entirely a matter of personal preference, so experiment and see what you like.
Great Information! No one ever gets to hear all those types of strings, new, on the same guitar, and playing the same music. Was eye opening! Think I'll try a set of D'Addario Nickel Bronze lights. Thanks again!
That was amazing! Thank you for putting that together. I now have no doubt that I am using the right strings. I have a Taylor 814CE and a Taylor K26 KOA CE. I really like the Elixir Nanoweb Phosper-Bronze 12-53's.
I’m saving up to order a new acoustic guitar, I’m trying to learn as much as I can before I get it. Thanks for the video this was actually really helpful
I had a Rouge acoustic guitar not sure of model. It wasn't the most pleasant sounding guitar untill I switched strings. Thanks to buddy that introduce me to D'ADDARIO EJ11 80/20 ,wow what a transformation in sound. I've never looked back. Same as my Esteban and Fender. Total sound tran formation though I'd share my experience in changing string brand.
This is a great video. The timestamps in the description allows me to quickly switch for one string demo to another. Very cool. I also learned that putting too much tension (heavier strings) might cause issues with body and/or neck. I've used Elixir 13/56 on my Taylor but I'm considering going to 12/53 after watching this video. Thanks
Really wonderful string comparison and an explanation of your understanding of the factors at play! This is very helpful to folks that need a bit of a preview of the different sounds and feels of the materials before dumping some cash into the experiment. To be honest, this video convinced me to buy a set of flat tops - I'd been thinking about wanting to just see how they sound for awhile, but without any easy side-by-side comparison I just hadn't been willing to risk it if I could put those same dollars to either another set of the same old strings or a "safer" experiment. I've been playing around with different materials and, more by accident, gauge lately to find what pairs best with my red cedar topped concert body Breedlove. By accident found out how much gauge mattered when I bought a set of medium gauge strings. They were excellent strings but I was definitely hearing more of the strings than the guitar in many cases or the tones muddied out a bit because of it. The body size and manufacturer's intent was definitely for regular light, 12-53, strings. After that adventure it has been the fun of working through some sets of phosphor bronze and aluminum bronze strings. My ear says that the phosphor bronze is pairing best with the cedar top for what I want to hear from my playing, it's warm, round, but maintains enough clarity to hear each string clearly. The aluminum bronze are just a tiny bit too bright for my taste, they're still clear articulate strings that I love and have on my guitar right at this moment, they just miss what I want to hear. But those are the two materials I've covered between a couple different companies. Really looking forward to continuing to broadly try different styles and manufacturers of strings as my current backlog wears out.
I tend to use Elixir 11s. I tend to use phosphor bronze. It I have used 80/20. I seldom use a pick so I like the finger style playing. The sound is a little deeper , not as bright as a pick.. I have also used D’addrios, but I think Elixir more often. Great video.. thanks.
Thanks for this one Chris, as a long time electric player but new acoustic player these videos with your knowledge and experience are answering every question that I have. Great move using the same guitar too.
wow! you perform a relly instructive job chris! changing all those strings,take off the others,the pins,than rewrap,retune,wait for them to settle,replay,retune...oh my god,for every single set! you must have spent the entire morning or afternoon doing this! people don' t bother...i' m a kind of luthier myself and i try and experiment things,you know...break strings,try different pins or nut or saddles and this set ,and that one...jesus...i get the work you do,and thath' s really useful because i used to record different gauges,it tkes forever and the more you listen,the less you ear...but you put all this in a simple video,easy to get.exellent help! i didn t realize how thin 0.10 are untill i heard it next to the others...when you play it' s different...you feel the difference but you get used at the same time,so you never reaally know unless you own 2 identical guitars with different gauges and you swich. 0.10 sucks! but i have played them for 20 years...oh my god...i gotta get used to 0.12. you can' t judge a guitars with 0.10! and i sold many guitars just because they sounded thin! with 0.10! ah ah ha.ok i apologize for the letter,it had to be a short message,but....ok ciao from italy
Listening to this video made me fall in love with the D'addarios; that tone makes my ears and brain so happy! I'd be curious to hear how the tone changes, with these string types, on a solid wood/layered back and sides guitar.
Another very useful segment, Chris. Much food for thought. I recently experimented with a 1960 Martin 00-18 that I've owned since new. This old girl has had a neck re-set back in the early 90s, and the neck has remained reasonably stable ever since (there's no adjustable truss rod). As a precaution, and to improve playability with my aging fingers, I've always used light or very light strings. Recently, I've turned to Martin Silk and Steel, which offer the lowest tension in Martin's entire string line. And I've changed out the high E and B strings to .09 and .11 respectively to further reduce neck tension and increase bending comfort... I play a lot of blues. The Silk and Steel have a very unique, tactile feel, and sound amazingly warm. I like them so much that I've also put them on my Martin HD-28 and HD 12-28, although on the HD-28 I left the E and B strings at 11.5 and .14. I'd recommend that anyone looking for a "softer" feel and reduced tension, and a warm tone, consider Silk and Steel as an option. The only downside is that the volume is marginally reduced -- although the HD-28 is a volume monster, even with these strings! -- and they're not quite as long lasting as uncoated bronze or nickel.
Great video, motivated me to change the strings on my Taylor myself back to what Taylor recommends for the BBT, the Elixir Nanoweb 12/53. Now that beautiful bright sound is back. Thanks Alamo!
I’ve used elixir phosphor bronze 12-53 since inception and love them but after watching this I’m going to trial the flat tops, that sound blew my mind.
Alamo Music Center ok gave it a try, double the price of Elixir and to be honest not worth the extra coin. Sure less noisy shifting chords/sliding but only beneficial if recording. Personally I like the odd squeaky noise shifting, sounds human.
Thanks for such a great video. Hearing all the diffwithent kinds of strings was very interesting. I’m totally blind and I only use medium 13 56 gage strings. The only way I play my guitars is with my fingers and no picks. The piece used to demo the strings was very good. I have never liked the sound of lighter gage strings. The strings always had tinny sound that I have never cared for. The intro at the beginning of the video was very informative as well.
Good one to watch while changing strings. Mine looked good still, but the guitar had begun to sound 'blah', and I was favoring my other one. Much better now.
I watched this video in order to open my knowledge , Yes it did. The thing is I love D'addario strings I love 11-12 string those are the strings I use on all my guitars, sometimes I try alice strings and Fender strings but nothing beats the D'addario in my opinion thank you for the video I loved it
Thank you for taking the time to change the strings so many times to do this comparison. I wished you had of played a few different styles on each set, especially just strumming as that what most beginner/intermediate guitarists do. Each set sounded different at the start compared to the set before but then after a little while, I forgot about the previous set and the current set still sounded good.
Strings are on of those things that are very influenced by personal preference. Especially the gauge. After I started using 14s I never wanted to go back to lighter strings. I have strong hands, and in my opinion 14s are very versatile: if I want to pick lightly, I have that option. If want to strum heavily, I have that option. Took me 2 years to figure out the perfect strings for my tastes.
I have 5 Acoustic Guitars and They All have the same D'addario extra lite 10 Gauge strings And i am more than happy with the sound from them, However your quite right when you say to experiment as different guitars and how their made will sound Very different, At the end of the day the best strings are the ones your happy with and work well on the guitar you own.
Yes I've heard Tommy E say that he switches string brands at times. But he also plays all over & that may have something to do with it as well as "tone wood memory ". This is a very good comparison. Never thought about tone woods and stings sounding different, but makes sense. Thanks Chris.
@@AlamoMusicgreat job and a lot of work. That finger picking its hard to tell a lot of difference in some other then a few have more string noise sliding. I would like to heard those strings played more in a flat picking and strumming style.
I use earthwood ernie ball extra light phospher bronze alloy i noticed I don't get as much fret wear with lighter strings on my Taylor and my electrics. I haven't had to fret dress my guitars since the chage to lighter strings and I still love the sound I get.
Hands down my favorite on this vid are the D'addario 80/20 bronze Light 12-53. Not too mellow like the elixir before yet not too bright either. Wish I had watched this vid before replacing my guitar strings.
Really good video, thanks for going to the effort to put this out. I use Elixir 23/53 Nanoweb on most of my guitars for most of the reasons you mention, but use 11/52 on a couple and I've got 10/47 on my main guitar as it allows older fingers to bend easier. There is a massive difference in volume but plugged in they stand up well. An excellent point re using the strings that was on the guitar when you bought it as thats the sound you fell in love with. Thanks again for the effort.
This was probably the best string breakdown I have found. Outstanding idea and job! Thanks for doing it! Those Martin Monels sound amazing on my DSS-17.
Great vid Chris & team! Can tell it was a lot of work - have watched several "strings videos" but this one is now bookmarked for reference... Thanks for enriching the San Antonio music community; always enjoy visiting your stores!
No dislikes! STILL!! (I mean who would?) Kudos for taking the time to do this. Though there is no way to accurately display how strings age, this might be the most useful comparison I've seen. I use different strings on different guitars of course, because each guitar has a different treble, midrange and bass response. I have switched to D'addario Nickel Bronze on my OM guitar--this confirms my choice much better than my memory. You can hear the increased bottom and clarity from the phosphor bronze, which IMO works better on a dreadnought. I think it's a taste issue, but if someone is looking to nail a particular tone for a recording for example, this is the go to video.
@@AlamoMusic So be sure to extend our appreciation to the crew as well! They are the unsung heroes of all of your great videos. As a musician this reminds me of how the band are the unsung heroes who make the singer sound good! LOL!! Now let's see how much flak this comment gets! 😂
Thank you Chris for going to such lengths to give us the comparisons, very much appreciated. One factor you didn't mention is the 'squeak factor' which can become overpowering for the listener, spoiling the listening experience, and some uncoated strings can sound great but 'squeak noisy' at the same time, even with excellent player skills.For this reason I ended up using coated strings tho' I must try the D'Addario Flat Tops Phosphor Bronze at some time. But what counts most in the end is the player, and I really enjoyed your playing as I listened over to compare the different strings...👍
Brother, you are a blessing. Thanks so much for the information. I bought a Taylor 214 plus a year ago and your channel has been a great help.You are great at what you do! 👍
I fell in love with and bought a Martin custom dread with addi top, tiger wood back and sides. The top is a darker blond and the Martin lifespan it was fitted with have a bronze color on the B and E. They sound superb and enhance the appearance of that yellow wood. I’m happy you did finger style during the demo. Picks (thickness, shape, material) as you know, can make a surprising difference in tone. Another factor is the room you’re in. We’ve all fallen in love with a separate room, usually locked so you need a special invitation to enter, filled with the best and most expensive options. When you play anything in that room, the sound will move into, around in, and back out to your ears from the other instruments in the room. You should ask to play in a room by yourself to hear what any guitar will really sound like.
@@krisverding3908 finding “favorite” strings is an inexact science in my world. I’m using D’Addario XT phosphor bronze medium. I’m not only a weirdo for caring that b and e are gold color but I very rarely play in front of others who would see them. Every time i change strings I think I’ve found the best because new strings always sound and feel wonderful. Some pros change strings daily. Yeah. Pros. Those on tour with technicians to keep everything optimal.
I really liked the first set for that particular instrument although the D'addario lights sounded nice as well. I use Coated Martin's on my acoustics. Also, I use D'addario 9.5's on my electrics. I find no problems with intonation or the need for truss adjustments. On bass, I love the GHS pressure wounds on my Mustang. They don't chew a six string player's fingers up but can still get nice and growly when pushed through a good analog preamp followed by a killer compressor.
great TH-cam post. You answered all my questions about strings and their sizes and makeup. i have experience that buzz from light strings All so true. GREAT job and Thank You so much.
So much great info packed into this video. i’m just taking up acoustic guitar again after many years away from it and your info has been very helpful in helping me to make some informed choices on strings to try. I live in SA, so I may come down for a visit! Thanks so much!
Great video a lot work to do this for us, Thanks you. I hve to admit one of my absolute favorites is Ernie Ball Aluminum/ Bronze so clear and so much depth nothing can really stack up in my opinion.. Thanks
I think lighter strings (11-52s mostly) really ring and bring out the guitar‘a natural woody voice. I especially love monel strings. The ones Curt Mangan makes with a round core are superb. At least for my D18 Golden Era and J-55
i love the retro strings and i was surprised by the deeper sound of the 13s! i play a smaller parlor size guitar so i'm afraid 13s would be too much for it. i just put some Martin Marquis silked phospher bronze 11s it on and they sound really warm and mellow. cool comparison.
This vid is so timely ... Thank you for all the time you invested in it. I have a Taylor 224e deluxe and loved the strings it came with. But no one could tell me what strings were on it so I tried the medium gauge elixr nanoweb. Nope, not happy with them and seemed to deaden quite quickly. I heard Madison Cunningham say she liked d'addario flat tops so I am trying them next. They sounded great here on your vid. I was surprised at the XL gauge - I liked them as well.
I bought a Taylor 214ce from Zzsounds two months ago. Definitely came with either Elixer or DiAddario version of coated strings. It maybe that the strings were good and worn in when you got it. When you put new strings on the sound hasn't "mellowed" yet. Or I could be completely wrong. Just a thought
I bought a Epiphone J200 ec about a month ago , I loved the sound , I changed the strings recently to 11/52 D'addario PB 80/20 , that I use on all of my acoustics , and lost the sound I loved . I ordered , the same strings in 12/53 which is the gauge it came with . I hope the sound comes back . Or maybe Just got a bad set of the 11's , they were the last set in a 4 pack . I don't know what brand it came with .
I completely agree with you about the interaction between string selection and tonewood. I have recently purchased two different mahogany top guitars. I know you said that you like the Retro strings, but I would be interested in hearing comparisons of strings on tonewoods other than spruce.
The trade off is always between tone and how long they last. I have always loved Martin medium gauge bronze and long life’s...but they don’t last very long. Elixirs last longer but do not have the same tone. Great discussion!
Elixirs not only last longer but hold a consistent tone much longer also. New Martins are very bright and sound great but the tone changes and goes downhill pretty quickly. I have four acoustics and years ago I switched from Martin to Elixir Nanoweb for the consistency of tone and to cut down on the number of string changes. They do cost more but the longer life evens the cost out in the long run.
I'm a little late to the party but here's my two cents, every guitar is different. You have to try every different combination and then you will know which brand or style sounds best on your particular guitar. Taylor's come with the Elixir strings but I just don't like coated strings because they always felt oily to me. But that's just me. So I tried a dozen different sets and ended up loving the strings I thought I would hate. Martin Retro strings didn't sound shiny or slick and I could hear more of the guitar than the strings if that makes any sense. So try everything you can find even if you don't like the packaging or the style. Because everyone can tell you what they think is best but that's for their guitar and yours might sound better than anything with something else.
I totally agree with the assessment here at the end. The Martin strings are nice but they deaden a rosewood back/sided guitar's harmonics (not the played harmonics, but the tonal harmonics). That Taylor sounds super sweet with the D'Addario Nickel Bronze but kinda dead and muted with the Martin Retro Nickel. I use Ernie Ball pure nickels on my 335 style Yamaha SA-1100 and that's after trying every other option out there with it, it's just WHAT WORKS on that guitar whether or not I have any preference about it, it's THAT cut and dry / obvious. That discovery led me to nickels for acoustics (after having played phosphor bronze Martins on acoustics like a robot for, uhhh, 30+ years). I'm kind of a fanboy for La Bella strings for many reasons, about to try our their 80/20 golden brass alloys for acoustic. But, those D'Addario Nickel Bronze have me thinking maybe not lol. You might have just won me over with those. I like the poppiness on-demand that those appear to offer. Dark enough to be subtle when necessary but not without a middle ground, volume-wise, when revving up. The other offerings that come close to those I've noticed are one or the other, I like that lingering quality of a softly plucked string that's then followed by a bright but resonant note that doesn't just pierce your ear like a phosphor bronze will if you aren't super careful. Guess I'm getting old and now want the string to do at least a LITTLE of the work for me. Pitch in, help me out, meet me close to half way, it doesn't have to pay rent or mow grass, just not cut heads off when I space out for 1 millisecond or the arthritis flares up.
I watch your videos all the time! If i'm ever in the San Antonio area i will definitely look to come by the shop. But this videos playing was amazing, so melodic, Great Work!
I was so happy to find this only to get to the demo and hear only finger picking! But very well done, since I pick 95% of the time I wish I could have heard some strumming.
I just ❤❤❤ this channel , and the info that Chris provides... Above all however, is his ability to play these various acoustics... Well done Chris... Well Done 🤠🤘
I'm using the wrong hands
As usual, a terrific job, Chris. My string of choice is Elixer. All of my guitars are strung with light nanos. Yes, they last 5 times longer under my hands but the other reason is that they reduce string squeak. That squeak is a pet peeve of mine. Fresh unwound strings just make so much noise it’s distracting.
Keep practicing you're doing great. The more you practice the more that opens up. Record copy everyday too.
Experiment, change them😅😅
Wanna trade?
I felt the same way when I first started but believe me it gets easier.
"What do I know? I'm just a TH-cam presenter."
I was like man, If there's someone who knows anything it's you!
Appreciate the content and effort. Definitely useful!
Happy to help!
Truly a fantastic gift to us all. So smart and experienced. And a great teacher. Thank you! 🤘🎸
*Nice video! Really useful..*
10:47 - Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze, Light .12-.53
11:37 - D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze, Light .12-.53
12:27 - D'Addario Nickel Bronze, Light .12-.53
13:16 - D'Addario Flat Tops Phosphor Bronze, Light .12.-53
14:05 - Martin Retro Acoustic Monel Nickel, Light .12-.54
14:55 - Martin Authentic Acoustic Phosphor Bronze, Medium .13-.56
15:45 - D'Addario Phosphor Bronze, Extra Light .10-.47
This guy is so-oo articulate and so-oo informative. Nobody analyzes the issues deeper or better. I watch pretty much all of the various guitar subject presenters on TH-cam and this guy, Chris McKee, IMHO, is the absolute, outright, undisputed KING of them all! Long may he reign supreme!
Thank you so much!
Yea the guys a legend 🇮🇪🇮🇪cheers from Ireland
He's the brain surgeon of guitardom.
I totally agree. This guy is an amazing presenter and awesome guitar player.
Agreed 👍
This man really took the time to change out each strong type to show us the difference 🏆
Each strong type. Do you know king is kong in Danish?
10:47 Nanoweb Phospher Bronze (Elixr)
11:38 Polyweb 80/20 (Daddario)
12:27 Nickel Bronze (Daddario)
13:17 Flatops (Daddario)
14:05 Martin Retro
14:55 Martin Authentic
15:45 Phospher Bronze (Daddario) EXTL
Your welcome have a blessed 4th 😊🎇🎆🎆
Appreciated!
@@AlamoMusic of course Keep up the great vidz 👍
All we need is ...
Thank you!
Martin retros, thank you!!!
Being a beginner & knowing nothing about guitars. I learned so much from ur videos. U r not just a man of knowledge u r also a teacher
So nice of you
You should check out Rick Beato channel he has a lot of info on guitars too and brings others in. I am a beginner also and have learned a lot from that channel. They also did a video on strings for acoustic and electric.
What strings did you end up going with ?
Fantastic Sir !!! Thank you for taking the time to do this for all of us :
my ranking:
1-Monel
2-Flat top
3-Phosphor Bronze
4-80/20
I was surprised on the 13s
the 10s sounded decent in comparison and i would guess way easier on the fingers -
cheers!
"What do I know? I'm just a TH-cam presenter."
Love it! You present a theory, but you let it be known that it is just your theory and should not be taken as authoritative. I appreciate the honesty.
Thanks!
@@AlamoMusic Hi, as a beginner I have changed strings a lot of time but still I feel bit hard to press the strings 😀, which one is friendly for the fingers . Thank You 🙏
I have compared strings similar to these, and I have to say that the differences are far more pronounced and obvious when you're actually playing (as opposed to listening to a recording on youtube). The long introduction is fascinating. If you skipped it, go back and listen, there's important information there.
Yeah, I heard clear differences when he switched bettween gauges, but no so much with the matirials, perhaps the slightly brighter tone of nickel but I might has been biased by the information given in the intro.
To me, .13 had more volume, specially on the bass, it also sounded punchier and fuller/rounder. But I kinda prefered the warmth of the 12s on this (lesser tension sometimes provides warmer tone, I guess it depends on the guitar). The 10s sounded "thiner". Also, I don't like how 10s feel on the fingers, 11s feel good on full lenght guitars, but 10s feel weird to me for acoustics.
Best side by side string comparison I've ever found! The wonderfully straightforward technical advice is so essential. Thanks for all your informative video's Chris!!!!
Thanks for doing this comparison! I like the crispy tones of Phospher Bronze (Daddario) Extra light. This video helped me a lot to decide my new strings and actually differentiate the strings in the market.
My first guitar was a dreadnought that came with 13’s. My poor fingers were sore just after 30 minutes of playing! Even after 8 months! When it came time to get new strings I put 11’s on and I will never go back. I can play for hours now without finger fatigue and I love the tonal quality! Best blend for strumming and fingerpicking!
You should consider buying Thomastik strings. They are lower tension strings, feels more like a classic guitar strings. It lets you band the strings better and you can put 0.12 strings and play without getting tired fast. It's around 25 bucks but its another league of playability and sound quality.
What effort it took changing all these strings! Thanks Chris. After playing multiple times and contrasting the strings I found it difficult to distinguish one set from another; nevertheless the Elixr was true to the Taylor tone that one expects whereas the Martin’s seem less bright (and more to my taste) but the differences were subtle. Now presuming Chris’ playing and string pressure was consistent throughout, I decided to hear whether the squeak factor varied. The flattops had noticeable less squeaking and they did seem slightly more mellow. Will definitely give them a try. Thanks much for the interesting video.
The Martin retro set sounded amazing to my ears. I was curious about light strings cause considerred changing for more comfort but they sounded weak compared to the others. Thank you for the video,real helpfull.
Just put a set of these, custom light .11, on my Taylor. Loving the sound so far.
Just wanted to say I appreciate the time and effort that you and Alamo make to present these kinds of videos. I watch a lot of them (a how-to-record your acoustic last night for instance). Looking forward to doing business with you sometime soon. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
Chris I gotta say ur playing/rec/technique has improved soooo much since ur early vids. I appreciate these.
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Chris, great video. My 71-year-old ears could tell the difference between some sets of strings, but not others. The first set of Elixirs immediately sounded like you playing a Taylor guitar, as in so many videos that I have watched.I think I would know that (beautiful) sound blindfolded. I enjoyed hearing your opinion, but being “open“ to what may work for others and on different guitars/tone woods. Thanks!
Your comments are always appreciated Barry!
Nice job, Chris. Very helpful. Recently became a fan of the Monel Retro Extra Lights on my Yamaha FGX3. Your observation about mahogany and the Retros is appreciated. I agree and think I’ve found “my strings.” Better sound and resonance on the low and high ends vs the silk and steels I’ve experimented with. The silks sound muddy on the low end and oddly twangy on the other, especially when fingerpicking. The monels give a more balanced response, and although I like the extra lights generally, I can still feel the Monels on my finger tips, which helps me fret the strings. They work well for me, whether I’m strumming, flatpicking or fingerpicking. Versatile strings, for me, across all styles. And it sort of does add a bit of that 1940s sound that you hear on old recordings of the blues greats. At $8.99 per set, good value too
I love love this so much. The explanation was so precise and not opinion based. I DO wish there were some strumming examples for those who play mainly rhythm that wanted to compare rhythm tones.
Excellent, thank you. My favorite sound and tone was the Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze, Light .12-.53, will try that in my Martin guitar tonight!
OHHHH! FINALLY A STRING VID! I love Elixir Phosphor Bronze 12-56 on(light-medium) on my Parlor Larrivee p-09 12 fret and now I need to get strings for my Taylor 322ce 12 freter. Perfect Timing
Thanks for watching!!!
Elixir FTW. Absolutely perfect. Elixirs on Martins and Taylors = perfection.
I've been using Elixers for over 20 yrs and wont use any other string ever! I have an old Yairi brazilian rosewood dreadnaught and its the best sounding guitar I've ever played.
Very useful and educational. Frankly I am surprised at how little difference the string changes made, even though I could hear the differences. I think we are fortunate these days to have so many options in high-quality strings.
That was a lot of work changing out all those string sets, so thanks for doing the experiment most of us will never do! Even if you did, you could not hold the tonal envelope of the old set in your memory long enough to compare it to the new set, which is what makes this video so valuable - now it is possible to browse through the various string sets and make direct A to B to C comparisons. Congratulations from a neuroscientist who is a fan of your channel!
The good news is every sample sounded good and none ruined the sound of the guitar. Use whatever you like that sounds good to your ears and feels good on your fingers.
Hey Chris, thank you. I was hoping you would cover this as String variety has saved me when falling out of love or just bored with my J200. Martin Marquis 80/20 11 are perfect for me this month. Have loved EJ16, and Martin Tommy Emmanuel 12s. on it to. You are spot on different strings change our whole relationship with the instrument.
And Chris know this, you’ve rapidly become my favourite youtube reviwer. It’s your personal opinion and I respect that. Great to hear someone express one and not just someone noodling for 10 minutes. No B.S. and straight up. it’s just like having a buddy over to share his experience. Perfect. Thank you again I’m sure it took hous of work to make this episode. Have a great weekend.
Thank you! We really appreciate it when people can see the work we put into a video!
Thanks! I enjoyed your video I was looking for the best strings to put on my Gibson j 45 standard I just got its the first high end guitar iv ever had in 35 years i think im going with Daddario lights sx first maybe extra light ,anyway that was a great video and you’re playing was amazing thanks.
Thank you thank you! I can't image the pain of changing all those strings, you took one for the team
Thank you so much for doing this. I’m sure it was a hassle to shoot, but it was incredibly helpful especially for beginners like me. You’re awesome!
You are very welcome!
As a technical point, 80/20 strings are brass, even though they are sometimes labeled “80/20 bronze.” They are made from an alloy that is 80% copper and 20% zinc, which makes them brass and accounts for their bright tone and their tendecy to corrode rather quickly if uncoated. Phosphor bronze strings are true bronze, and are made from an alloy that is about 92% copper and 8% tin with a trace amount of phosporous, which helps fight corrosion. I like them both and sometimes go back and forth between them on the same guitar, just for a change. I have to say though that phosphor bronze are the ones I tend to use the most because of their warmth. But I should also say that 80/20s on a smaller maple body guitar, is one of my favorites combinations. Its like playing a bell. Strings that use nickel, either as a coating (D’Addario) or in an alloy (Martin), are somehow more neutral to my ear so that you seem to hear more of the wood and less of the strings, if that makes any sense. They are not to my taste, but maybe that’s because 50 years of playing phosphor bronze or 80/20s has made everything else sound not quite right to me. I understand that some people (oh, you know, like Tony Rice) love them, so you should at least try them. Flat wound strings sound super warm to me, but I have only used them on my electrics to mellow them out. Never tried them on an acoustic. Never knew anyone who did . Might have to give ‘em a shot!
very helpful comment.
Wow, what a great analysis. Thank you. What do you think of the Martin custom MA130 silk and steel 11.5-47’s? Can you please tell me how they compare to these other ones if you are familiar with them? I just put them on a Washburn acoustic yesterday. Thank you!
@@Doowopsid Silk and steel will produce a very warm and layed back tone that will lack the punch of strings that are all metal (for better or worse). It's a sound better suited to thoughtful fingerpicking than full tilt bluegrass flat picking. They will also play a bit softer to the touch, so they are great if you have sore fingers or are trying to master bar chords. My concern is that silk and steel strings in 11.5-47 may not put enough energy into the top of your guitar, particularly if it’s a large body guitar, to make it sound its best. I once put steel 12-53s on my Martin D-28, and I thought it sounded dead. The strings you have are lighter than that, plus they are slilk and steel, which futher diminishes their ability to get the top moving. But again, this is purely a matter of personal preference and there is no right or wrong. What sounds thin to me may sound delicate and perfect to you. My advice would be to buy several packages of strings in different types and guages (get uncoated strings for this test-- they are cheaper than coated strings) and see what you like. Once you figure that out you can decide on things like which brand to buy and whether you prefer coated or uncoated strings.
Hey! Awesome info. I was just wondering what would you put in a smaller body mahogany guitar(size of a GS mini)?
@@SamC_ With a guitar like that, I would probably start with 12-53s. The GS Mini has a short scale (the distance from the bridge to the nut), which means that the strings will have less tension than they would have on a standard scale guitar. I have played guitar for 54 years and have petty good calluses so sore fingers are not an issue for me, and I don’t care for strings that feel floppy. I might even like 13s on that guitar. Phosphor bronze is normally my preference, and my go to brand is Elixir Nanoweb, mostly because I have a lot of guitars and don’t want to spend my life changing strings. I find that uncoated strings only last a few weeks before they start to go dead, but I can get three months or more out of a set of coated strings. Uncoated strings sound a bit better, but the difference is not all that great, and I’m lazy. In any case, this is entirely a matter of personal preference, so experiment and see what you like.
Great Information! No one ever gets to hear all those types of strings, new, on the same guitar, and playing the same music. Was eye opening! Think I'll try a set of D'Addario Nickel Bronze lights. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful!
That was amazing! Thank you for putting that together. I now have no doubt that I am using the right strings. I have a Taylor 814CE and a Taylor K26 KOA CE. I really like the Elixir Nanoweb Phosper-Bronze 12-53's.
Glad it was helpful!
I’m saving up to order a new acoustic guitar, I’m trying to learn as much as I can before I get it. Thanks for the video this was actually really helpful
I had a Rouge acoustic guitar not sure of model. It wasn't the most pleasant sounding guitar untill I switched strings. Thanks to buddy that introduce me to D'ADDARIO EJ11 80/20 ,wow what a transformation in sound.
I've never looked back.
Same as my Esteban and Fender. Total sound tran formation though I'd share my experience in changing string brand.
This is a great video. The timestamps in the description allows me to quickly switch for one string demo to another. Very cool.
I also learned that putting too much tension (heavier strings) might cause issues with body and/or neck. I've used Elixir 13/56 on my Taylor but I'm considering going to 12/53 after watching this video.
Thanks
Really wonderful string comparison and an explanation of your understanding of the factors at play!
This is very helpful to folks that need a bit of a preview of the different sounds and feels of the materials before dumping some cash into the experiment. To be honest, this video convinced me to buy a set of flat tops - I'd been thinking about wanting to just see how they sound for awhile, but without any easy side-by-side comparison I just hadn't been willing to risk it if I could put those same dollars to either another set of the same old strings or a "safer" experiment.
I've been playing around with different materials and, more by accident, gauge lately to find what pairs best with my red cedar topped concert body Breedlove. By accident found out how much gauge mattered when I bought a set of medium gauge strings. They were excellent strings but I was definitely hearing more of the strings than the guitar in many cases or the tones muddied out a bit because of it. The body size and manufacturer's intent was definitely for regular light, 12-53, strings.
After that adventure it has been the fun of working through some sets of phosphor bronze and aluminum bronze strings. My ear says that the phosphor bronze is pairing best with the cedar top for what I want to hear from my playing, it's warm, round, but maintains enough clarity to hear each string clearly. The aluminum bronze are just a tiny bit too bright for my taste, they're still clear articulate strings that I love and have on my guitar right at this moment, they just miss what I want to hear. But those are the two materials I've covered between a couple different companies.
Really looking forward to continuing to broadly try different styles and manufacturers of strings as my current backlog wears out.
Thanks for commenting!
I've always preferred Martin strings on my acoustics but those Elixir's sound pretty awesome! Might have to try a set.
I agree Alex . Those are my favourite strings too
To my ear, I liked the D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze, Light .12-.53 the best. Thanks for the demo!
Our pleasure!
I tend to use Elixir 11s. I tend to use phosphor bronze. It I have used 80/20. I seldom use a pick so I like the finger style playing. The sound is a little deeper , not as bright as a pick..
I have also used D’addrios, but I think Elixir more often.
Great video.. thanks.
Thanks for this one Chris, as a long time electric player but new acoustic player these videos with your knowledge and experience are answering every question that I have. Great move using the same guitar too.
Glad to help!
wow! you perform a relly instructive job chris! changing all those strings,take off the others,the pins,than rewrap,retune,wait for them to settle,replay,retune...oh my god,for every single set! you must have spent the entire morning or afternoon doing this! people don' t bother...i' m a kind of luthier myself and i try and experiment things,you know...break strings,try different pins or nut or saddles and this set ,and that one...jesus...i get the work you do,and thath' s really useful because i used to record different gauges,it tkes forever and the more you listen,the less you ear...but you put all this in a simple video,easy to get.exellent help! i didn t realize how thin 0.10 are untill i heard it next to the others...when you play it' s different...you feel the difference but you get used at the same time,so you never reaally know unless you own 2 identical guitars with different gauges and you swich. 0.10 sucks! but i have played them for 20 years...oh my god...i gotta get used to 0.12. you can' t judge a guitars with 0.10! and i sold many guitars just because they sounded thin! with 0.10! ah ah ha.ok i apologize for the letter,it had to be a short message,but....ok ciao from italy
Buying my own strings for the first time without anyone else's help after 7/8 years playing and this was so helpful!!
Listening to this video made me fall in love with the D'addarios; that tone makes my ears and brain so happy! I'd be curious to hear how the tone changes, with these string types, on a solid wood/layered back and sides guitar.
Another very useful segment, Chris. Much food for thought. I recently experimented with a 1960 Martin 00-18 that I've owned since new. This old girl has had a neck re-set back in the early 90s, and the neck has remained reasonably stable ever since (there's no adjustable truss rod). As a precaution, and to improve playability with my aging fingers, I've always used light or very light strings. Recently, I've turned to Martin Silk and Steel, which offer the lowest tension in Martin's entire string line. And I've changed out the high E and B strings to .09 and .11 respectively to further reduce neck tension and increase bending comfort... I play a lot of blues. The Silk and Steel have a very unique, tactile feel, and sound amazingly warm. I like them so much that I've also put them on my Martin HD-28 and HD 12-28, although on the HD-28 I left the E and B strings at 11.5 and .14. I'd recommend that anyone looking for a "softer" feel and reduced tension, and a warm tone, consider Silk and Steel as an option. The only downside is that the volume is marginally reduced -- although the HD-28 is a volume monster, even with these strings! -- and they're not quite as long lasting as uncoated bronze or nickel.
Very cool! Glad you found a setup that works for you!
Great video, motivated me to change the strings on my Taylor myself back to what Taylor recommends for the BBT, the Elixir Nanoweb 12/53. Now that beautiful bright sound is back. Thanks Alamo!
It really does just come down to what texture and sound you are trying to create. Great video
Couldn't agree more!
I’ve used elixir phosphor bronze 12-53 since inception and love them but after watching this I’m going to trial the flat tops, that sound blew my mind.
Let us know how you like it on your guitar!
Alamo Music Center ok gave it a try, double the price of Elixir and to be honest not worth the extra coin.
Sure less noisy shifting chords/sliding but only beneficial if recording.
Personally I like the odd squeaky noise shifting, sounds human.
Thanks for updating us! It's definitely not for everyone!
Thanks for such a great video. Hearing all the diffwithent kinds of strings was very interesting. I’m totally blind and I only use medium 13 56 gage strings. The only way I play my guitars is with my fingers and no picks. The piece used to demo the strings was very good. I have never liked the sound of lighter gage strings. The strings always had tinny sound that I have never cared for. The intro at the beginning of the video was very informative as well.
Good one to watch while changing strings. Mine looked good still, but the guitar had begun to sound 'blah', and I was favoring my other one. Much better now.
I watched this video in order to open my knowledge , Yes it did. The thing is I love D'addario strings I love 11-12 string those are the strings I use on all my guitars, sometimes I try alice strings and Fender strings but nothing beats the D'addario in my opinion thank you for the video I loved it
You're welcome!
Thank you for taking the time to change the strings so many times to do this comparison. I wished you had of played a few different styles on each set, especially just strumming as that what most beginner/intermediate guitarists do. Each set sounded different at the start compared to the set before but then after a little while, I forgot about the previous set and the current set still sounded good.
Strings are on of those things that are very influenced by personal preference. Especially the gauge. After I started using 14s I never wanted to go back to lighter strings. I have strong hands, and in my opinion 14s are very versatile: if I want to pick lightly, I have that option. If want to strum heavily, I have that option. Took me 2 years to figure out the perfect strings for my tastes.
11:37 Those are pretty nice; to me they seem to provide a deep, clear tone.
Thanks a lot! I finally can figure out what is the impact of the strings. More subtle than I expected.
Super work, as usual.
I have 5 Acoustic Guitars and They All have the same D'addario extra lite 10 Gauge strings And i am more than happy with the sound from them, However your quite right when you say to experiment as different guitars and how their made will sound Very different, At the end of the day the best strings are the ones your happy with and work well on the guitar you own.
Well said!
That was the channel I was looking for since I start playing guitar, finally, after 1 year and a half, I found it
Yes I've heard Tommy E say that he switches string brands at times. But he also plays all over & that may have something to do with it as well as "tone wood memory ". This is a very good comparison. Never thought about tone woods and stings sounding different, but makes sense. Thanks Chris.
You are very welcome!
@@AlamoMusic ` what is the best string for brazilian rosewood ?
@@AlamoMusicgreat job and a lot of work. That finger picking its hard to tell a lot of difference in some other then a few have more string noise sliding. I would like to heard those strings played more in a flat picking and strumming style.
I use earthwood ernie ball extra light phospher bronze alloy i noticed I don't get as much fret wear with lighter strings on my Taylor and my electrics. I haven't had to fret dress my guitars since the chage to lighter strings and I still love the sound I get.
Hands down my favorite on this vid are the D'addario 80/20 bronze Light 12-53. Not too mellow like the elixir before yet not too bright either. Wish I had watched this vid before replacing my guitar strings.
There's always next time!
Really good video, thanks for going to the effort to put this out. I use Elixir 23/53 Nanoweb on most of my guitars for most of the reasons you mention, but use 11/52 on a couple and I've got 10/47 on my main guitar as it allows older fingers to bend easier.
There is a massive difference in volume but plugged in they stand up well.
An excellent point re using the strings that was on the guitar when you bought it as thats the sound you fell in love with.
Thanks again for the effort.
Thank you for watching!
This was probably the best string breakdown I have found. Outstanding idea and job! Thanks for doing it! Those Martin Monels sound amazing on my DSS-17.
No problem! Thanks for watching!
Great vid Chris & team! Can tell it was a lot of work - have watched several "strings videos" but this one is now bookmarked for reference... Thanks for enriching the San Antonio music community; always enjoy visiting your stores!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Have used D´Addario Ex light for years on my nearly 40 year old Yamaha FG 200. After this test I will try out Elixir!
No dislikes! STILL!! (I mean who would?) Kudos for taking the time to do this. Though there is no way to accurately display how strings age, this might be the most useful comparison I've seen. I use different strings on different guitars of course, because each guitar has a different treble, midrange and bass response. I have switched to D'addario Nickel Bronze on my OM guitar--this confirms my choice much better than my memory. You can hear the increased bottom and clarity from the phosphor bronze, which IMO works better on a dreadnought. I think it's a taste issue, but if someone is looking to nail a particular tone for a recording for example, this is the go to video.
Elixir for me. Been using it (nanoweb phosphor bronze 12/53) for my Taylor and my other guitars.
this video must've taken so much effort for sure left a like
You have no idea. The crew hated my guts. LOL!
@@AlamoMusic So be sure to extend our appreciation to the crew as well! They are the unsung heroes of all of your great videos. As a musician this reminds me of how the band are the unsung heroes who make the singer sound good! LOL!! Now let's see how much flak this comment gets! 😂
@@AlamoMusic Holy Molly Crew.
Thank you Chris for going to such lengths to give us the comparisons, very much appreciated. One factor you didn't mention is the 'squeak factor' which can become overpowering for the listener, spoiling the listening experience, and some uncoated strings can sound great but 'squeak noisy' at the same time, even with excellent player skills.For this reason I ended up using coated strings tho' I must try the D'Addario Flat Tops Phosphor Bronze at some time.
But what counts most in the end is the player, and I really enjoyed your playing as I listened over to compare the different strings...👍
Brother, you are a blessing. Thanks so much for the information. I bought a Taylor 214 plus a year ago and your channel has been a great help.You are great at what you do! 👍
I fell in love with and bought a Martin custom dread with addi top, tiger wood back and sides. The top is a darker blond and the Martin lifespan it was fitted with have a bronze color on the B and E. They sound superb and enhance the appearance of that yellow wood. I’m happy you did finger style during the demo. Picks (thickness, shape, material) as you know, can make a surprising difference in tone. Another factor is the room you’re in. We’ve all fallen in love with a separate room, usually locked so you need a special invitation to enter, filled with the best and most expensive options. When you play anything in that room, the sound will move into, around in, and back out to your ears from the other instruments in the room. You should ask to play in a room by yourself to hear what any guitar will really sound like.
Which strings did replace those msp 's with the gold looking e and b string for you on that guitar ?
@@krisverding3908 finding “favorite” strings is an inexact science in my world. I’m using D’Addario XT phosphor bronze medium. I’m not only a weirdo for caring that b and e are gold color but I very rarely play in front of others who would see them. Every time i change strings I think I’ve found the best because new strings always sound and feel wonderful. Some pros change strings daily. Yeah. Pros. Those on tour with technicians to keep everything optimal.
Outstanding, comprehensive and beautifully mic'd video. Great job controlling all the variables to achieve max consistency in the evaluations 😊
This is a great video I really appreciate the time you guys took to give us ABC comparison they are more helpful than anything else
I really liked the first set for that particular instrument although the D'addario lights sounded nice as well. I use Coated Martin's on my acoustics. Also, I use D'addario 9.5's on my electrics. I find no problems with intonation or the need for truss adjustments. On bass, I love the GHS pressure wounds on my Mustang. They don't chew a six string player's fingers up but can still get nice and growly when pushed through a good analog preamp followed by a killer compressor.
Thanks for sharing!
Such an incredible help this channel has been in my guitar journey.
10 responds much better than I expected !
great TH-cam post. You answered all my questions about strings and their sizes and makeup. i have experience that buzz from light strings All so true. GREAT job and Thank You so much.
So much great info packed into this video. i’m just taking up acoustic guitar again after many years away from it and your info has been very helpful in helping me to make some informed choices on strings to try. I live in SA, so I may come down for a visit! Thanks so much!
As a newbie I didn’t tell the difference. They all sounded awesome. And so was the presentation, I learned a lot in a short 18 minutes.
Great video a lot work to do this for us, Thanks you. I hve to admit one of my absolute favorites is Ernie Ball Aluminum/ Bronze so clear and so much depth nothing can really stack up in my opinion.. Thanks
I think lighter strings (11-52s mostly) really ring and bring out the guitar‘a natural woody voice. I especially love monel strings. The ones Curt Mangan makes with a round core are superb. At least for my D18 Golden Era and J-55
Don’t envy you for having to change all those strings.
Great video and very informative. Thanks!
i love the retro strings and i was surprised by the deeper sound of the 13s! i play a smaller parlor size guitar so i'm afraid 13s would be too much for it. i just put some Martin Marquis silked phospher bronze 11s it on and they sound really warm and mellow. cool comparison.
This vid is so timely ... Thank you for all the time you invested in it. I have a Taylor 224e deluxe and loved the strings it came with. But no one could tell me what strings were on it so I tried the medium gauge elixr nanoweb. Nope, not happy with them and seemed to deaden quite quickly. I heard Madison Cunningham say she liked d'addario flat tops so I am trying them next. They sounded great here on your vid. I was surprised at the XL gauge - I liked them as well.
I bought a Taylor 214ce from Zzsounds two months ago. Definitely came with either Elixer or DiAddario version of coated strings. It maybe that the strings were good and worn in when you got it. When you put new strings on the sound hasn't "mellowed" yet. Or I could be completely wrong. Just a thought
Thank you very much!! So glad we could help you out!
Elixir Nano Phosphor Bronze custom lights are just stunning on an Ovation.
A lot of time went into making this video - thank you for doign this.
I bought a Epiphone J200 ec about a month ago , I loved the sound , I changed the strings recently to 11/52 D'addario PB 80/20 , that I use on all of my acoustics , and lost the sound I loved . I ordered , the same strings in 12/53 which is the gauge it came with . I hope the sound comes back . Or maybe Just got a bad set of the 11's , they were the last set in a 4 pack . I don't know what brand it came with .
I completely agree with you about the interaction between string selection and tonewood. I have recently purchased two different mahogany top guitars. I know you said that you like the Retro strings, but I would be interested in hearing comparisons of strings on tonewoods other than spruce.
Will pass this on!
The trade off is always between tone and how long they last. I have always loved Martin medium gauge bronze and long life’s...but they don’t last very long. Elixirs last longer but do not have the same tone.
Great discussion!
Thanks for commenting!
Elixirs not only last longer but hold a consistent tone much longer also. New Martins are very bright and sound great but the tone changes and goes downhill pretty quickly. I have four acoustics and years ago I switched from Martin to Elixir Nanoweb for the consistency of tone and to cut down on the number of string changes. They do cost more but the longer life evens the cost out in the long run.
Try the Martin retros. They last long and sound great.
I'm a little late to the party but here's my two cents, every guitar is different. You have to try every different combination and then you will know which brand or style sounds best on your particular guitar. Taylor's come with the Elixir strings but I just don't like coated strings because they always felt oily to me. But that's just me. So I tried a dozen different sets and ended up loving the strings I thought I would hate. Martin Retro strings didn't sound shiny or slick and I could hear more of the guitar than the strings if that makes any sense. So try everything you can find even if you don't like the packaging or the style. Because everyone can tell you what they think is best but that's for their guitar and yours might sound better than anything with something else.
Exactly what I feel
Elixirs nanowebs definitely sound the best to me. I utilize the elixir hd lights in phosphor bronze. I would highly recommend!!
same!! i actually love the less crispy sound to it, sounds more natural and less irritating!
I totally agree with the assessment here at the end. The Martin strings are nice but they deaden a rosewood back/sided guitar's harmonics (not the played harmonics, but the tonal harmonics). That Taylor sounds super sweet with the D'Addario Nickel Bronze but kinda dead and muted with the Martin Retro Nickel. I use Ernie Ball pure nickels on my 335 style Yamaha SA-1100 and that's after trying every other option out there with it, it's just WHAT WORKS on that guitar whether or not I have any preference about it, it's THAT cut and dry / obvious. That discovery led me to nickels for acoustics (after having played phosphor bronze Martins on acoustics like a robot for, uhhh, 30+ years). I'm kind of a fanboy for La Bella strings for many reasons, about to try our their 80/20 golden brass alloys for acoustic. But, those D'Addario Nickel Bronze have me thinking maybe not lol. You might have just won me over with those. I like the poppiness on-demand that those appear to offer. Dark enough to be subtle when necessary but not without a middle ground, volume-wise, when revving up. The other offerings that come close to those I've noticed are one or the other, I like that lingering quality of a softly plucked string that's then followed by a bright but resonant note that doesn't just pierce your ear like a phosphor bronze will if you aren't super careful. Guess I'm getting old and now want the string to do at least a LITTLE of the work for me. Pitch in, help me out, meet me close to half way, it doesn't have to pay rent or mow grass, just not cut heads off when I space out for 1 millisecond or the arthritis flares up.
I watch your videos all the time! If i'm ever in the San Antonio area i will definitely look to come by the shop. But this videos playing was amazing, so melodic, Great Work!
Thank you! This is the most useful video in the history of videos!
Both of those Martin sets of strings sounded amazing.
Just wanted to say I enjoy watching your videos regularly thank you for them!
I was so happy to find this only to get to the demo and hear only finger picking! But very well done, since I pick 95% of the time I wish I could have heard some strumming.
Why skip 11s?
Its my prefered string Gauge for acoustic
I just ❤❤❤ this channel , and the info that Chris provides...
Above all however, is his ability to play these various acoustics...
Well done Chris...
Well Done 🤠🤘
Wow, thank you!
A really great video! I always learn from you! Thanks! Awaiting my Alamo hoodie. Wanted to buy one to say thanks for your great videos!
Any time!!!
Super cool video, Chris. Thank you very much for the useful information!
My pleasure!
Thanks a million for this! Those flatwounds were an eyeopener! I would never have tried them myself, and I liked them a lot.
Bro.... I know that was a lot of work but we appreciate it!
Thanks for the in depth conversation as well
Great video