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Topic: stainless strings, standard or light gauge? |
Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 10:50 am |
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I'm thinkin about goin to stainless strings, and like the lively sound, but I wonder about the 017 and the 020 in the light gauge.
would they be too lively?
I liked the Emmons extra lively I tried, but they were not stainless. I don't want to get to lively. 
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84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 12:03 pm
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| I may be wrong, but the information I got was: the outside winding is stainless. The plain strings are nickel. Maybe someone can give us the straight scoop here. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 12:29 pm
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| John almost had it right. The plain strings are all stainless steel, as well as the cores of all wound strings. The windings can be nickle or ss. I tend to prefer the heavier guages (0.012 on 3rd string, etc.), but it's a matter of taste and playing style. Try both and see for yourself. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 1:26 pm
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Plain strings ... as well as the core for wound strings ... are actually tinned plain (carbon) steel.
Heres a cool site ... with alot of info on Music Wire
And another ... Mandolin Wire
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HorseshoeMagnets
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 11 August 2004 at 03:33 PM.] |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 2:23 pm
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I know of no string made to day where any plain strings are SS. Stainless Steel has a very low tolerance for strecthing. This is why it is ok to use SS if it is wound.
A Better Way
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Danny Hullihen
From:
Harrison, Michigan
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Posted 16 Aug 2004 12:53 pm
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Rick is correct on this. Most all string manufactures use some type of plating on the plain steel strings. The quality and/or amount of the plating of course may vary, depending on the particular companies specifications for their strings, and of its intended purpose. Core size, type of steel, and quality of steel all have an effect on the strings sound reproduction and tuning capability. This is especially noticable on pedal steel guitar applications where a lot of "individual" raising and lowering is being implemeted.
Tinning, although perhaps a generic term, Rick is correct on this. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any stainless plain strings.
Hope this helps clear things up a little on this. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2004 4:41 pm
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Tinning ...
From what I know ... either
1) Electroplating ... a redox reaction driven by an external power source
or ...
2) Hot Dipping ... dipping product in molten tin.
or ...
3) Reflow ... electroplating followed by heating to melting point of tin for grain refinement.
I thought it better to just call it "tinning" ... not knowing which technique is employed by the major producers of music wire ... 
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HorseshoeMagnets
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Nicholas Dedring
From:
Beacon, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2004 4:45 pm
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Plain strings are pretty cheap...
Given that it's a matter of taste, you could easily spend a few bucks at the most and get an array of them, and see how they feel and how balanced the sound is.
I use stainless for the consistency of tone/longer life issue. I use a 12 on the 3rd string, and have used both 22s and 20s on the sixth string.
Try 'em on for size, I think... it's your ears you have to make happy. My sense of lively doesn't really matter too much if it doesn't have the same sensibilities you do. |
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