String Quality

David Griffin · Post by **David Griffin** » 21 Dec 2009 5:39 pm

Can I be the only one having trouble finding good strings today? I've tried a lot of different major brands this last year(not naming names) & I find them to be really inconsistent. A coupla months ago I started checking gages (w/ a machinists' caliper), on different brands & found some gages off by almost .002! And I've even bought 3 packs of the same strings in the same store & every pack sound different. Alot of the time strings will sound dead as soon as you tune them up. Is it bad metals?Maybe someone w/ connection to the string industry could pipe in. Then again,it might just be me!

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 21 Dec 2009 5:57 pm

David, I use Frenchy"s Silent Series nickel strings, also available in stainless, and have been very happy with the quality and durability. Frenchy really watches the quality control, and I would think that other manufactures do too. Jody.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 21 Dec 2009 7:56 pm

Frenchy's strings are great! So are Jagwires, which you can purchase from b0b, here on the Forum, and Bobbe Seymour's Cobra Coil strings are excellent.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 21 Dec 2009 11:27 pm

Every so often a Forum Expert will state that there is only one or two string manufacturers left in the country.

That being the case, how is it we keep coming up with a dozen or more "BEST STRINGS in the WORD"?

I'm confused...........

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 22 Dec 2009 1:05 am

Everytime I forget and buy either Ernie Ball or Fender strings I regret it. I find their 14s, 17s and 20s do not produce a pure clean tone. The 17s in particular on the B string of the E9 neck drive me crazy with their weird overtones. This happens with freshly installed EB and Fender strings, and usually 3/4s of the batch will be bad. As soon as I replace those strings my problem is gone. I have had good luck with D'Addario strings.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Dec 2009 3:10 am

i've had no probs gettin' good strings David

Jagwires here :

http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings.html

& Cobra Coils here :

http://www.steelguitar.net/

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 22 Dec 2009 6:08 am

I basically don't keep strings on long enough to play the "care" card.

I use Cobra's on the Steel and if playing out change them fairly often . I use Fender 150's or 250's on the electrics and change them at least every other week when playing out.

I just don't see how anyone can claim consistent tone with strings that are starting to age.

But then again it may be me as I am certainly aging ! ( or aged)

t

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 22 Dec 2009 6:35 am

Jagwire's are great.

Paul

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 22 Dec 2009 6:50 am

Franklin wrote:Jagwire's are great.

Paul

My thoughts exactly !
Hook

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 22 Dec 2009 7:15 am

With the Jagwires you don't have to worry about string breakage either.

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 22 Dec 2009 4:17 pm

Nothing but Jagwires for me. Also available from Herbie Wallace or from Mullen Guitar Co. I rarely break a string between changes. good luck, Larry

Danny Hullihen · Post by **Danny Hullihen** » 23 Dec 2009 2:40 am

For a complete selection of ALL sets and single gauges that are currently being produced by Jagwire, click here. http://www.jagwirestrings.biz

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 23 Dec 2009 3:47 am

I have been waiting with anticipation for the next "best string" thread , one of the constants of forum life !

t

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 23 Dec 2009 5:16 am

I've used Frenchy's Steel Mill strings for quite a while now and have yet to break one. Being a dealer for them, at times I purchase several sets and singles and have not had any problems. My second choice are the Cobra Coils.

David Griffin · Post by **David Griffin** » 23 Dec 2009 9:28 am

I didn't mean to start another "best string" thread! $:\$ I was mainly talking about inconsistency. Even our beloved Jagwires. Jagwires seem to be better as far as gaging(although the last batch of JWs I got had an .034 in a .038 package!). AND I wasn't talking about how long strings will last,some GHS & EB strings I've gotten lately are DEAD right out of the package. I haven't tried Frenchys so I have no opinion,guess I'll have to try some. Thanx,everybody!

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 23 Dec 2009 1:18 pm

Going on 3 years using Jagwire, no broke strings on 5 different guitars, as for as consistent, they have all sounded the same.

ernie

Doug Palmer · Post by **Doug Palmer** » 23 Dec 2009 3:42 pm

Strings age in the pack. Just like tires on the shelf. I buy GHS Boomers (same as Emmons) direct and have had no problems. You should also put a right angle bend on your wound strings before cutting them to keep the core from slipping. If possible, when putting the string on the pin twist it 45 degrees. A trick I learned from an old piano tech. It gives the string a rounder sound.

Doug

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 23 Dec 2009 4:32 pm

I have had outstanding durability and tone with the Jagwires ... best I have used, but haven't tried the Cobra coils which I believe are also very good.

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 23 Dec 2009 5:13 pm

I used to use Cobra Coils when you could buy them cheap by the case and they were fine.
I have also bought Emmons strings in bulk, they were fine too.

I do have to agree with David though, it seems like all of them are not as good lately. They are dead right out of the package. I have been buying a set or two at a time, trying to make sure they are fresh and trying all different "brands" to no avail.

Maybe Ray is right and the company that makes most of the strings is having problems. I wish whatever the problem is, it would stop.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 23 Dec 2009 6:15 pm

I wonder in a blind test, how many could tell the difference in brands.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 23 Dec 2009 7:00 pm

It's all in that high grade Chinese steel

All the good USA steel mills are ghost towns. Packed up and left town.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 24 Dec 2009 9:56 am

Paul Franklin and Danny Hullihen are talking straight. Get a set of Jagwires. I have been using them at least four years now and have broken two in all that time and neither was a third or the strings fault.

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · Post by **Ulric Utsi-Åhlin** » 26 Dec 2009 3:34 am

My string rating system is really blunt;NO-NAME or
NAME BRANDS...the former don´t work w/ PSG...
having said that,I believe I might be missing out...
one day I´ll find myself checking "Jagwires" etc...
McUtsi

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 26 Dec 2009 8:43 am

Playing an Excel Universal , I can only say that a good set of strings are the ones that don't break on me when I string it up with new strings .......I don't have the luxury of trying diffeent strings out as the tension is so great on this steel that only a few manufacturers strings will work .....I like the tone I get using Jagwires on a 10 string steel , but they won't even string up on the Excel ....Nothing against Jagwires, as 85% of the other companies stings do not work on the Excel either !!..... Jim

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 26 Dec 2009 8:52 am

I am not complaining about breakage as much as the strings going dead too quick or being dead right out of the package. Anyone else experiencing this.

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