Most popular string type for Reso?

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

what is the most popular type of string for Reso - Phos Bronze, Nickel or Stainless ???
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Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

I own several resophonics, high end ones and the cheep ones. They all sound best with the phosphor bronze. I do have one metal Dobro that I keep tuned down to F and have nickel strings on it to soften the tone some. Have tried the nickel on a lot of my guitars, but they all seem to lose the reso sound with the nickel. Never tried the stainless, probably won't.

Thanx,
Jim

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Yeah, I think phos bronze. D'Addario EJ42's are really poplular. There might be some others competing by now.

I used JD nickel sets for a couple changes, but didn't like the tone unplugged.
D'Addario used to make a bronze set called Flat Tops, I don't know if they are still available, but they have flatter windings and are quieter when using an onboard mic or transducer.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Phosphor-Bronze for sure. Beard special 29's for me.

I have a Rob Ickes instructional DVD that appears to have nickel or stainless strings on the Scheerhorn he was playing. Still sounded great if they were. Could have been one of those optical hallucinations caused by the camera.
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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.

Mark Eaton · Posted 6 Jan 2010 9:52 pm

Phosphor-Bronze.

Richard, I think Rob is a long-time D'Addario EJ-42 man. I have used these more than any other string set myself.

In the past couple of years I have discovered a newer Phosphor-Bronze "Fusion Matched" set from Curt Mangan, and I have been pretty happy with these. Good quality, reasonably priced.

Along with other musical endeavors, Curt Mangan was in management with Ernie Ball for something like 17 years, and in 2004 struck out on his own.

http://www.curtmangan.com/bluegrass.php
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Mark

Greg Booth · From: Anchorage, AK, USA

Rob and Jerry use D'Addario EJ-42s, Randy Kohrs uses GHS, both phosphor bronze. I like the GHS 1650 set which has the gauges I like, .016, .018, .028, .036, .046, .056. The GHS 1600 Tim Scheerhorn set is cryogenically treated and some feel the tone lasts a little longer. It has a heavier 1st and 2nd string than I prefer. I haven't tried D'Addario in a while, but it seems like the 3rd string lasts a little longer for me with the GHS. That's the string that always goes bad first.
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Greg
Kathy Kallick Band
www.youtube.com/user/aksliderdobro

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

So we all agree(of those who answered)phos-bronze is the choice. The brand probably doesn't matter as much except for the gauges in the package. That's where your personal preference and your guitar's characteristics determine what sound and feel you want. I always start with the EJ-42 set and then may choose a heavier first and second string depending on the guitar.

As far as sustain, the heavier the bar the more sustain and fuller bass you will get - which is not always desireable on a dobro/reso. Just experiment and see what you like.

Also, Mike Auldrige is another EJ-42 user.

Thanx,
Jim

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Would someone please direct me to a source for an 8-string set of C6 phos-bronze, or where I can find singles? Gauge recommendations if I get singles?
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Al

My equipment:

One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Thanks guys, as I suspected ... Yes I knew Rob Ickes used the EJ42's ...I have his DVD set as well - very impressive! I have a new Beard Reso coming so just wanted to be organised. I'm due to order some more Jagwires and I see they have a Phos Bronze set in 56 - 17, might give them a spin and see how they go!
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

As usual, I'm the odd man out! I use Thomastik-Infeld Jazz BeBop strings on my resos..014 thru .055. My 1935 Dobro M32 is just a very mellow-sounding guitar, and these nickel strings brighten it up a bit. But on that guitar, I'm playing fingerstyle and bottleneck, so my sound needs are different that someone playing dorbo style, I suppose.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Paddy,

Do the strings on Rob's guitar look silver to you? It could be that I play the DVD on my laptop and the color is not so accurate.
_________________
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.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

Al,
juststrings.com has them. Go to guitar 'singles'
D'Addario, Phos Bronze and choose gauges. For plain go D'Addariom and choose plain then gauges.

Gauges: .015 (or .016), .018, .022p, .024w,
.030w, .036w, .042w, .054w (for C6th)

Thanx,
Jim

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

Jim -- you're the BOSS. Thanks for the site and the gauges.
_________________
Al

My equipment:

One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about

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