Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 25, 2014 at 7:50am

Depends on scale length, tuning, number of strings, slide versus not or both, what style of music you wanna play, and your skill level.

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Permalink Reply by SlowFoot on February 20, 2017 at 2:21am

No...not really.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Goodman on August 27, 2014 at 2:26pm

I use $4 medium Martin Marquis acoustic strings, sound good hold tune fairly well. I use D-G-B (.035, 026, 017) strings and am happy with that. My CBGs are all 3-string slide only.

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Permalink Reply by joe on August 28, 2014 at 4:20am

Thanks Jim.

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on August 29, 2014 at 5:34am

some rusty fence wire will provide the most authentic sound,  not the best, but the most authentic.. don't know what  they used on.those old Delta recordings,  probably rusty fence wire   ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 20, 2017 at 9:07am

I use D'Addario strings and have been very very happy with them for 35 years. Other less expensive brands have not been dependable for me.

I play 4 string CBG's and I use the 4 middle strings of a 6 string set of 10 gauge strings for electric, 12 gauge for acoustic. Gauge referring to the smallest string size in a set. I use Round Wound strings. Flat Wounds and heavy gauge are great if you play a lot of slide, but the Flat Wounds tend to be pricey.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 20, 2017 at 4:48pm

D'Addari medium phosphor bronzes, when I can't get Elixir Nanoweb mediums. And yes, even though I have a heavy right hand, the Elixirs can often last me 6-7 MONTHS, playing 2-3 times per week. Then again, I play til I break a string ( usually the B or e, then I change out the entire set. On a 6-string...

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 20, 2017 at 12:49pm

New ones!!! Bright, snappy and full of tones. Change your strings and make that box sing! 

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on February 20, 2017 at 2:32pm

I use D'Addario light electrics. They have good sound with a pickup with a high impedance ( i,have one with a 7.75 Kilo-ohm pickup). I find them easier to play than acoustics. They have a much lighterload on the neck. I had tried hybrid classical/steel strings. They corroded very quickly. Just my taste.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on February 20, 2017 at 4:06pm

As far as brands go? I use the same as I do on all my electrics. GHS boomers. I've  got a few sets of Ernie Ball. But haven't tried them yet. Size. 9's. I don't play slide and I'm lazy. I don't wana work to get the music out. : )

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