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Do you prefer Stainless Steel or Nickel Strings?
Stainless Steel
27%
 27%  [ 8 ]
Nickel
72%
 72%  [ 21 ]
Total Votes : 29

Author Topic:  New to The Steel Guitar Forum
Alex Wilcox

 

From:
Houston, Texas
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 2:27 pm    
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Hi everybody. This is my first post!!! I am 15 years old and have been playing C6th Lap Steel for about a month now. I have a S-8 Remington Steelmaster and am learing to play by watching the George Boards Instructional DVD's. Well, I just wanted to post something. I do have a question though. Which string do you prefer Stainless Steel or Nickel?





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Last edited by Alex Wilcox on 31 Jul 2009 6:17 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Tom Pettingill


From:
California, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 2:48 pm    
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Hi Alex ... welcome to the Forum Smile
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Larry Robbins


From:
Fort Edward, New York
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 2:55 pm    
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Hello Alex,
Welome to the Steel Guitar Forum!
I know you are gonna love it here.
You sure have a great steel to learn on!
Those are some of the nicest out there!!
As far as strings go...everyone seems to like what they like!! Myself, I prefer Stainless. I enjoy there tone (brighter) to my ear and for what I play they seem to stay sounding fresher longer....Just my 2 cents...I am sure you will get a lot of different opinions....what really matters is what YOU LIKE!!!!
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Jon Nygren


From:
Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 6:46 pm    
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Welcome Alex!! Good to see a new non-pedal player!

As for strings...I like nickel semi-flatwound. I like those for a mellower tone.

I think the stainless tend to last longer but they are a bit too bright for me.
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George Keoki Lake


From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 7:58 pm    
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Great to see a young guy like you taking up the steel guitar....Are you inclined to Hawaiian or Country ? Best of luck ! Very Happy
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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 8:01 pm    
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You go, Alex. You'll be tearing up the steel shows in no time. Keep us posted on your progress.
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Doug Beaumier


From:
Northampton, MA
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 10:35 pm    
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Welcome to the Forum, Alex! Nickel is the way to go, in my opinion. Cool
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Don Kona Woods


From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
Post  Posted 30 Jul 2009 10:55 pm    
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Hi Alex,

You did a nice job on your first post - and that was a nice picture of you and your steel guitar.

Welcome and I hope you enjoy being on the Forum.

Aloha, Smile
Don
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Brad Bechtel


From:
San Francisco, CA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 6:47 am    
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Welcome, Alex! I don't really have a preference, myself.
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 6:57 am    
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George Keoki Lake wrote:
Are you inclined to Hawaiian or Country ?

... or Rock, or Blues, or Jazz, or Broadway, or Classical, or Experimental, or [fill in the blank]... ?

Remember (no matter what you might hear or read) there's more than 2 kinds of music that can be played on that thing! For example, to hear some great nonpedal jazz players, visit www.SteelGuitarJazz.com
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Twayn Williams

 

From:
Portland, OR
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 10:04 am    
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Jim Cohen wrote:
Remember (no matter what you might hear or read) there's more than 2 kinds of music that can be played on that thing!


+1

For example, I don't play Country OR Hawaiian, I play Swing on the lap steel.

Nice guitar you got there too!
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AJ Azure

 

From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 10:39 am    
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Jim Cohen wrote:
George Keoki Lake wrote:
Are you inclined to Hawaiian or Country ?

... or Rock, or Blues, or Jazz, or Broadway, or Classical, or Experimental, or [fill in the blank]... ?

Remember (no matter what you might hear or read) there's more than 2 kinds of music that can be played on that thing! For example, to hear some great nonpedal jazz players, visit www.SteelGuitarJazz.com


beat me to it lol
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Charley Wilder


From:
Dover, New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 3:15 pm    
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Hi Alex,
We use the same amp! Mine's a silver face. I usually use nickel but I'm not hard core about it. I'll use either. Good to see a young non-pedal player!!
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Alex Wilcox

 

From:
Houston, Texas
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 6:07 pm    
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George Keoki Lake wrote:
Great to see a young guy like you taking up the steel guitar....Are you inclined to Hawaiian or Country ? Best of luck ! Very Happy



Definnitly Country!!!!! Laughing
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ALEX

2015 GFI Ultra Keyless SD-10
2008 Fender Sonoran S
2007 Taylor Big Baby(With LR Baggs Element System)

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Alex Wilcox

 

From:
Houston, Texas
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 6:09 pm    
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Charley Wilder wrote:
Hi Alex,
We use the same amp! Mine's a silver face. I usually use nickel but I'm not hard core about it. I'll use either. Good to see a young non-pedal player!!


What year did you get yours?
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ALEX

2015 GFI Ultra Keyless SD-10
2008 Fender Sonoran S
2007 Taylor Big Baby(With LR Baggs Element System)

Fender Vibro Champ XD
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Charley Wilder


From:
Dover, New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2009 7:02 pm    
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I don't recall exactly. I've had it four or five years. It's a 1971 with a replacement Jensen speaker. I had a blackface like your's years ago but I sold it.
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:59 am     WELCOME to the Forum.................
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It's wonderful to see such an intelligent post here on the Forum. One never gets a second chance to make a good FIRST IMPRESSION......and the impression I have of you, thanks to your mature post, is a very good one.

Don't paint yourself into a box. Listen to all music. If you like this one, play it. If not, ignore it. Your world of musical expression is limitless unless you impose unrealistic barriers in front of you.

You've acquired excellent equipment now continue to apply yourself to the fullest and you'll likely have many years of enjoyment, just as many of us here, have experienced. Each day can my an exciting musical challenge for you. Don't overwhelm yourself with conflicting 'sources'. Take it all one step at a time.

Best Wishes and Good Luck!
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Josh Cho


From:
New York, NY (orig. Honolulu, HI)
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2009 5:06 pm    
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Alex,

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new steel, it's a beauty.

I'll echo the other forumites in saying that it's highly refreshing to see a young player getting into lap steel guitar!

As for strings, I use whatever they sell here on the Forum, never really looked at what they were made-a Laughing

Furthermore, not only do you use good gear, you're a sharp dresser too! You have a very promising future ahead!
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Danny James

 

From:
Summerfield Florida USA
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2009 6:24 pm    
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Hi Alex,

You have been getting some great advice and comments here. I too want to welcome you.
I have been using D'addirio Electric Chromes Flat Wound from Just Strings for my wound strings. It makes for smoother bar travel.
Rick Aiello got me started on them. My understanding is that Jerry Byrd used flat wounds also.
Remember "Music is much too important to leave entirely in the hands of proffessionals." Very Happy
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Tony Russell


From:
North of England
Post  Posted 11 Aug 2009 5:40 am    
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Hi Alex, and welcome. Some great advice there. FWIW I suggest you try both kinds of strings on your guitar and see what you prefer - record each if you can. Your hands, the guitar, amp settings, picks etc. all go to make your sound. It will probably even change as you get more experienced at handling the instrument. I join with others in saying it's great to see you choose non-pedal - it took me ages to graduate from pedals ! Laughing Tony.
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