Which Strings...?

[Clark Doughty]

LIve Steel Strings and the service and response from them is a good as it gets..............clark

[Sam White R.I.P.]

Live Steel String are the way to go I just put a set on and I will swear by them.
Sam White

[Dave Lewis]

I recently purchased a few sets of Live Steel strings. I also recently purchased a Rains SD-10 and more recently, a Mullen D-10. Both of the guitars came with SIT stainless. Whether by my own actions in trying to learn the pedals on the Rains, or simply a matter of luck, I had breakage on the .11 ga. stings on the Rains. I might add that there were rusty spots on the S.I.T. strings although they were stainless. Perhaps the nickel content in the strings was not high enough to prevent the rust, but it concerns me that "stainless" strings showed evidence of rust pitting, which weakens any string. I'm looking forward to putting on the new Live Steel strings soon. I heard about them from Mike Sweeney during one of his "PSG bootcamp" lessons I took. With his recommendation, I ordered strings and was pleasantly surprised with the quick turnaround from order to delivery.

[Lane Gray]

For clarification, only the wounds strings are stainless. Plain strings on both are identical, plain steel.
If the strings were rusty, they were old and not a fair test

[Dave Lewis]

Regarding my previous post above on string preference ...
Thanks Lane ... I just assumed that they were all stainless, wound or unwound. I stand corrected .. and enlightened!

[Gil Gregory]

LIVE STEEL STRINGS

[Ken Metcalf]

I think rusty strings are a reflection on the supplier and not the manufacturer.
Sounds like the Live Steel folks are really watching this end of the QC... Maybe I will try a set.
My supplier on the rare occasion that I had missing strings or had a problem replaced them with 3-4 times the amount that I had a problem with.
This is why I like to have several extra sets on hand and buy single strings by the doz.
After a year or two... if not used I typically throw them away. Planing ahead and using them up is pretty easy especially playing a Universal 12 string.
I replace the 3rd string each 3rd or 4th gig then 3 and 5 strings after which a new set goes on.
My guitar I have set up for practice I never change except maybe once a year I pop a 3rd string and then put a set on.
I would say that I pick fairly aggressively.

[Sid Hudson]

To add to what Lane said; strings that have rust on them can be old but not necessarily.

Plain strings with visible signs of rust on them and wound strings with discoloration marks have not been stored properly therefore have been exposed to humidity. (Number one enemy of strings hands down)

I encourage everyone that purchases several sets of strings at a time regardless of brand, to store them in a tightly sealed plastic bag somewhere they are not exposed to direct sunlight. Your steel guitar seat should be fine. In your air conditioned home would be better.

Plain strings are coated with tin. The tin coating is to prevent rusting. When the tin coating erodes or forms microscopic cracks, the humidity can get to the core which is made of high carbon steel. High carbon steel rusts very quickly. So it is feasible that a string that is only a few months old could rust if not kept in a low humidity environment.

Dave, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger by not knowing this. You are not by yourself.

There are a lot of player’s with $6000 Steel Guitar Rigs trying to get that ultimate desired tone yet they pay the least attention to one of the more important elements of tone, Your Strings. (See Mike Johnson’s Comments 3rd comment from the top)

Sid Hudson

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=227187

[Clete Ritta]

...I used SITs...

I still do. I voted other in your poll. I once had a nice endorsement with SIT years ago through a deal with a booking agent. I dont get free strings anymore, but I still buy them in bulk and use them on all stringed instruments. I like the Buddy Emmons sets for steel. Theres an extra high string in every set, but not because they break any more frequently than any other brands Ive tried in the past.

Clete

[BOBBY JACKS]

LIVE Strings For Me I think if everyone here hasn't used ALL the Brands And I Havn't BUT Most of them I Have then it would be hard to vote, But The Sound and the Feel of Live Strings Alone Should At Least Make You Want To Try Them Love Mine .

[Chris Dorch]

Thanks to all who have submitted and replied. Apparently, regardless of my oversight, there is a clear favorite amongst the masses...

[Sid Hudson]

Thanks for the Poll Chris.

We have only been in business 12 weeks day after tomorrow! (6-13-12)

It could be that the Steel Guitar community really does want a premium quality string.

I had my doubts before we opened for business.

If we continue to gain support, I will consider continuing making them. If not, we'll see.

Sid

[Chris Dorch]

Then I should probably get off my lazy butt and place an order... :)

[Hans Penner]

Is it possible that there are really only a couple of string manufacturers?
I seem to recall being told that at the Dallas Jamboree.
The person said, that it is possible for a bad batch to be produced for a certain brand, in this case, SIT, and that this can do considerable damage to their reputation.
Did I hear correctly?

[Sid Hudson]

I know of 6

[Hans Penner]

That was fast.
Thanx, Sid.
Do they then package their strings under different brand names?

[Sid Hudson]

Hans, yes they do.

The majority of “Steel Guitar Strings” are nothing more than repackaged electric guitar strings with different art work on the front cover that reads “ABC Steel Guitar Strings”.

Our strings are made per each individual order. Meaning, when we place an order they have to make them to fill our order.

Reason? Our strings are made per our specs, tolerances and material type. There is not 40,000 laying on a shelf somewhere that they can just pull off and send us.

Anyone that buys “Live Steel Strings” they were actually manufactured with the last 15-20 days.

You said someone told you that some companies experience a Bad batch now and then? I guess anything is possible.

If it’s a “bad batch” it’s more than likely a bad design and/or inferior materials to begin with.

So, what’s the big deal about making great strings?

Where the steel comes from
Quality of the steel
Amount of carbon in the steel
Strength of the core
Design of the core
Design of the wrap
Thickness of the wrap
Depth of the grooves in the wrap
How tight the wrap clings to the core during manufacturing process
How it’s handled after it’s manufactured
How it’s stored after it’s manufactured
Level of humidity where it’s being stored after manufactured
How long it’s stored before it’s shipped to the dealer
How long it sets on a dealer’s shelf before sold to customer

Ever use a particular brand that you did not like?

There is a very good reason for this. It's either and inferior design, inferior materials or both.

It’s not as easy as baking a cake.

[Richard Sinkler]

Thanks to all who have submitted and replied. Apparently, regardless of my oversight, there is a clear favorite amongst the masses...

Or just the ones that bothered to answer the poll. Out of more than 10,000 members, I don't think this poll can be considered a representation of the favorite choice of the masses. While Live Steel Strings are great strings (placing another order when I'm done here), it could be that the responders here are just so excited about a new product that they feel they need to brag on them.

To Sid - For years we have been trying to find out the real deal about string manufacturers and what makes one brand different than others. All we would get is "there's only 3 string manufacturers and all strings are the same" or if we were lucky, we'd hear about the possibility of different alloys. Thank you for the details that you have shared with us.