Best acoustic guitar strings?

[12 inch legend]

Having just gone to elixer nano web 12's, from my previous martin 10's, im (my fingers) regretting my decision slightly!

So what is everyone's opinion on the best brand, and gauge strings you can buy? Im after a more bright sound than warm if that helps!

[garycat]

I always use D'Addario 11-52.

[gingerpaul]

I've tried just about every common brand about and settled with Martin 80/20 12-54s, although the phosphor bronze ones are ok if a little less bright. Generally I have found that phosphor bronze strings are a little wooly for me, in particular the D'addario EXPs. I also found that I kept breaking the G string on a lot of sets of strings. I think I must play harder than the average player! The Martins are fine though.

I made a bone nut from a piece of bone I bought off ebay for less than a fiver and it has made a bigger difference than messing about with strings has. I would highly recommend it if you have a couple of hours free to sand one up. My acoustic is a Taylor and came with a tusk nut as standard I think just so you know where I started from.

[12 inch legend]

gingerpaul said:

I've tried just about every common brand about and settled with Martin 80/20 12-54s, although the phosphor bronze ones are ok if a little less bright. Generally I have found that phosphor bronze strings are a little wooly for me, in particular the D'addario EXPs. I also found that I kept breaking the G string on a lot of sets of strings. I think I must play harder than the average player! The Martins are fine though.

I made a bone nut from a piece of bone I bought off ebay for less than a fiver and it has made a bigger difference than messing about with strings has. I would highly recommend it if you have a couple of hours free to sand one up. My acoustic is a Taylor and came with a tusk nut as standard I think just so you know where I started from.

Making a nut out of bone? That sounds very tricky to me?

[gingerpaul]

I bought the bone from here. It's cheap enough that you can have a crack at it yourself.

The main things are firstly when you're close to getting the right shape don't rush it. One mistake and you'll have to start again! The second is make sure you get a perfectly flat bottom at the bridge. This is where almost all of the vibrations from the strings are transmitted to the body. The flatter it is the better. If you're ok with your hands (and if you play the guitar you probably are) and have patience then given a few hours I'm sure you could make one. All you need is few different grits of sand paper, a flat surface (glass, granite work top?) and a metal file.

I didn't take a photo of it when I'd finished but I do have the old tusk one and a pictre of it in situ. The tusk one is still marked up so I could copy it.

[Promised Land]

gingerpaul said:

stuff

That isn't a nut, you'll find the nut at the other end of your guitar.

[12 inch legend]

How about these?

[gingerpaul]

Ahh yes, sorry. I obviously meant the saddle.

[gingerpaul]

12 inch legend said:

How about these?

Sorry, as above I meant the saddle not the nut!

I would start with trying the saddle first because they quite often just lift out, meaning you won't have to damage anything to have a go. Making a nut means you first have to remove the old one. They are glued in and you need to be confident you'll get it out without damaging anything else. You also need a couple of decent files to make the slots in the nut properly. If you leave a rough surface behind then you'll have tuning and tuning stability problems. Also the one you have shown already has the slots started so you are restricted as to the string spacing already. I think you'd be better off starting from a blank.

If you fancy having a go I would just get a piece like the one I put a link to above and have a go at making a saddle. If it doesn't come out right at least you can just pop the old one back in. Time it with a string change and you won't even lose much playing time.

[Asterix]

Usually Martins but use D'addarios often as the Martins are hard to get hold of.

.012-.053's

The Phosphor Bronze strings start out very (too) bright but play in well.

[12 inch legend]

Asterix said:

Usually Martins but use D'addarios often as the Martins are hard to get hold of.

.012-.053's

The Phosphor Bronze strings start out very (too) bright but play in well.

Mate there are thousands of sets on the bay of fleas, i ahev just bought some martins, 11's for £3.50 delivered!!

[Asterix]

12 inch legend said:

Asterix said:

Usually Martins but use D'addarios often as the Martins are hard to get hold of.

.012-.053's

The Phosphor Bronze strings start out very (too) bright but play in well.

Mate there are thousands of sets on the bay of fleas, i ahev just bought some martins, 11's for £3.50 delivered!!

Sorry - I forgot to add I'm in Dubai.

[12 inch legend]

Asterix said:

12 inch legend said:

Asterix said:

Usually Martins but use D'addarios often as the Martins are hard to get hold of.

.012-.053's

The Phosphor Bronze strings start out very (too) bright but play in well.

Mate there are thousands of sets on the bay of fleas, i ahev just bought some martins, 11's for £3.50 delivered!!

Sorry - I forgot to add I'm in Dubai.

Well now your just showing off! im very jealous here!

[Asterix]

12 inch legend said:

Asterix said:

12 inch legend said:

Asterix said:

Usually Martins but use D'addarios often as the Martins are hard to get hold of.

.012-.053's

The Phosphor Bronze strings start out very (too) bright but play in well.

Mate there are thousands of sets on the bay of fleas, i ahev just bought some martins, 11's for £3.50 delivered!!

Sorry - I forgot to add I'm in Dubai.

Well now your just showing off! im very jealous here!

You won't be too jealous for the next few months - already hitting over 40C. At least a the moment there's low humidity - August and September can see +50C with 80% humidity or more.

Think Singapore but 20C hotter!