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Topic: Strings |
Ron Epperson
From:
Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 5:24 am |
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| Which do you prefer stainless or nickle |
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Bill Ferguson
From:
Milton, FL USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 5:58 am
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I use stainless but honestly, I can't tell any difference in my tone with either.
WE have a tendacy to adjust our amps to sound the same no matter what.
_________________
AUTHORIZED George L's, Goodrich, Telonics and Peavey Dealer: I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables, Goodrich Baby Bloomer and Peavey Nashville 112. Can't get much sweeter. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 7:01 am
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I get a richer, fuller tone with nickel.
Also my bar slides easier over nickel strings. 
Erv |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 7:24 am
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| Nickel for me. I have used SIT strings for years. |
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Ron Epperson
From:
Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 7:33 am Strings
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| Thanks guys I always used SIT AND LIKED THEM NOW I USE D'ADARRIO THEY ARE NICKEL THEY DO LAST LONGER BUT AS FAR AS BAR CONTROLL SEEMS TO BE THE SAME I JUST PUT ON SIT ON C6TH AND D'ADARRIO ON THE E9TH. I THINK THERE BOTH GREAT |
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Larry Baker
From:
Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 7:51 am
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I've used both, but I like stainless better.
I get my strings from Jordan at Live Steel Strings.
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P. |
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Ron Epperson
From:
Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 8:03 am Strings
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| Thanks I always buy from Jim at JUST STRINGS |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 9:50 am
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Nickel for me. Sometimes I use stainless on C6 for a brighter sound. I prefer Live Steel Strings.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 10:16 am
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I never got such good tone out of that high 3rd string until I went to Live Steel Strings.
Erv |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 10:37 am
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On the rare occasions that I've been forced to use them, I've found that stainless strings have a brittle, almost tinny, sound. I also found that the bar encountered some resistance as I moved it.
I've no idea of the science behind that.
Nickel are warmer to me and feel smoother; an easy choice for me. |
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Ron Epperson
From:
Riverside,Calif. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 10:42 am Strings
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| Thanks you guys |
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Jerry Horch
From:
Alva, Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2022 11:14 am Strings
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Nickel..Jagwire...
_________________
Franklin D10 /Walker Sterio Steel JBL's /DigiTech Quad4/ Korg Toneworks/ Dobro DM 1000 / Santa Cruz Guitar VA |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2022 5:06 pm
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
I never got such good tone out of that high 3rd string until I went to Live Steel Strings.
Erv |
That's undoubtedly just luck. The 3rd is a plain steel string just like every other plain steel string.
The only differences are between companies that draw their own plain "piano wire" from raw steel alloy bars. Only a few - the major names plus Mapes, Mount Joy and a few others have the hundreds of thousands of dollar equipment needed to draw wire - and also draw piano wire!
Most who actually "make" strings buy drawn piano wire in bulk reels in required gages and alloys - then put the ball end/twist on plain strings, and do the same plus have the expensive equipment needed to wind wrapped strings so they can wrap the core properly.
Most smaller companies order strings made to a particular specification and packaging from one of the actual manufafturers.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Bill Duncan
From:
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2022 5:12 pm
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| NYXL all the way, both guitars. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Dan Kelly
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 2:25 am
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I have tried a variety of different string brands. From my limited experience, I can say two things;
1) Personally, I have never run into a brand that was "bad."
2) String choice contributes to one's tone... It just boils down to personal preference.
I have been using D'Addario NYXL's for 5 years now and, IMHO, they are the best sounding and longest lasting strings I have used. Again, IMHO.
_________________
blah, blah, blah.
Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn!
blah, blah, blah. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 5:32 am
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A 'PS' on strings in general:
It's been a while since I played for my living and, for years, I'd unwittingly acquired a stockpile of 10-string sets sent to me for nothing.
For various reasons I'm not playing anywhere but here at home now and that's how it's likely to stay.
Last weekend, it occurred to me that I hadn't changed my strings in two years! Partly due to Covid as well as my brief defection to the UK in 2020, my last paid work ended in December, 2019.
I did change both necks in the UK in 2020 because, during shipping over the ocean, there was some dampness in the case and rust had formed. I learned that lesson: when I shipped my stuff back to the US in early-'21, I put newspaper between the guitar and case-lining. It worked. Those same strings, as I said, had been on the steel two years this month.
My guitar is in pretty good shape and was playing nicely, despite the age of the strings. I knew it was long overdue so I bit the bullet and did a complete clean-and-restring last week. The difference is astounding. As I said, it was playing well before but now it resonates so much more freely; it was well worth the arduous changing process.
By the way, though, there's an issue with my stockpile of strings. They're now getting a bit old in their packaging. The plain strings do have tiny rust spots and it's a reminder that they do have a shelf-life. The newest strings in my stash are from 2017. I suppose that, despite having maybe 20 sets for each neck, there'll come a time when I'll have to buy new ones.
www.steelguitarshopper.com/pedal-steel/ |
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John Peay
From:
Cumming, Georgia USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 6:25 am Re: Strings
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| Jerry Horch wrote: |
| Nickel..Jagwire... |
Same here, love the "Tommy White" Artist set. |
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Dennis Detweiler
From:
Solon, Iowa, US
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 7:57 am
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I tried Live Steel strings and found intonation problems while moving up the neck. This was early when Live Steel was introduced. Maybe it's gotten better. I used GHS stainless for years, but now use SIT stainless. Nickel doesn't last long for me. I have a high ph level and quickly get a black residue and dragging bar with nickel. Stainless lasts much longer and wounds stay brighter longer. I order from B0b.
I use powder coated bars which slide easily and reduced wound noise and also takes the edge off of the 3rd.
_________________
1976 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics 427 pickup, 1975 Birdseye U-12 MSA with Telonics X-12 pickup, Revelation preamp, Carbon Copy Delay and Hall Of Fame Reverb, Crown XLS 1002, 2- 15" Eminence Wheelhouse speakers, ShoBud Pedal, Effects Pedals. 1949 Epiphone D-8. |
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AndrƩ Sommer
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 8:50 am
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I use SIT SHO Nickel plated strings for as long as I can remember. They work for me and I hardly ever break a string.
On all of my electric and acoustic guitars I use Elixer strings and love them. I just wish Elixer would come out with nanoweb coated pedal steel guitar string sets. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 9:04 am
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Breakage isn't an issue for me. As far back as I can remember, I never broke a string on C6th; has anyone? 
When I was working 8-show weeks, I would always change the 3rd and 5tth on E9 every seven days or so.
Maybe that's why I didn't have breakages. 
Neither have I broken a string, though, since I retired (late-'19). The key for me was going from an .011" to an .0115 and finally to an .012"
My .018" 5th is pretty solid but E9 is almost dead in the water with no middle-B string! I'd sooner cover myself.
A big shout out here for Jagwire Nickel. I don't much mind whose picture is on the front of the package as long as the gauges correspond. Most of mine seem to have Paul Franklin or David Spires, with Weldon on C6th. |
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AndrƩ Sommer
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 9:32 am
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| Roger Rettig wrote: |
Breakage isn't an issue for me. As far back as I can remember, I never broke a string on C6th; has anyone?
When I was working 8-show weeks, I would always change the 3rd and 5tth on E9 every seven days or so.
Maybe that's why I didn't have breakages.
Neither have I broken a string, though, since I retired (late-'19). The key for me was going from an .011" to an .0115 and finally to an .012"
My .018" 5th is pretty solid but E9 is almost dead in the water with no middle-B string! I'd sooner cover myself.
A big shout out here for Jagwire Nickel. I don't much mind whose picture is on the front of the package as long as the gauges correspond. Most of mine seem to have Paul Franklin or David Spires, with Weldon on C6th. |
I also do over 100 gigs a year and many recording sessions and change the whole set about every 8th gig. I do change string 3, 4 and 5 after about 4 shows or so. I also loosen up the wound strings, pull them up and let them slap hard back on the fretboard to get the dirt out of the windings. They sound like almost new after that I'm thinking about changing my .011 to .012 to get a bit of thicker tone. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 9:41 am
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That's a good dodge, AndrĆŖ! I might resort to that myself.
Changing to an .012" 3rd was a good move for me. It sounds 'bigger', somehow, than the .011". There's certainly no issue with tuning the .012 up to pitch; getting the old thinner string up to the G#/A was always a lottery. I lost a few doing that! |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 24 Sep 2022 10:51 am
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I've used various strings. I like GHS Super Steels and Bobbe Seymour's Cobra Coils. And George L's Stainless, although not as easy to come by. I generally prefer stainless for pedal steel - I think they last longer for me. I've still got several Cobra Coil sets that I bought a bunch of last I was there, before they closed, as well as some GHS Stainless, and some SIT Stainless. I have some other miscellaneous sets I've accumulated. I can live with any of them, and I have at least a year or two supply on hand.
I replace the most tortured plain strings pretty frequently - especially 3, 4, 5, and 6 - and use juststrings.com bulk singles, which I keep in quantity for all the disparate tunings I use for nonpedal and especially slide guitar. The plains especially are dirt cheap and I've had no problems with them. For me, the most important thing is to have fairly fresh strings on a pedal steel, especially those critical plains. And I have quite a few guitars, so I do not live in a "price is no object" world on strings. |
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