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need recommendation on bright / long lasting strings..

SamJ

SamJ

Founder - Fender MIA Club
Apr 22, 2006
4,628
2,821
57
SFO / HNL
#1
I have probably some of the oiliest and sweatiest hands I know.. and I go thru new strings weekly.. with only 2 hours a day at best of use..

I tried the D'Adarrio EXL165s and while they last a bit, they're not very bright, even when new... Maybe it's the coating..

Can anyone recommend a good bright, punchy (piano like sound) string, that will last too? I'm willing to pay for it.
 
#3
I've got a couple of thoughts & ideas to try for yourself.

1) I've tried some SIT Stainless Rock Brights. They're the zingiest string I'd ever tried. I was bound & determined to keep them on until they toned down a bit. A year later, they just stopped staying in tune & never did loose the zing.

For me, too bright. But, You may like.

2) I am currently trying out some DR Black Beauties. They do NOT feel coated, like Elixirs, because the winding is whats coated. NOT the whole string. They're brighter than I expected them to be. I've only had them on for one day, so, I cant tell you about longevity.
 
#5
ive been a fan of elixir polywebs for about 4 years now but they stopped making it. i have tried every other kind except the new ghs coated ones.

warwick sucked
dr died quickly
d'addario dead within a day
elixir nanoweb sounds great, but didnt last.
black diamon coated blows. worst of em all.


i am now trying that denatured alcohol thing.
 
#6
I've found that DR Hi Beams keep their brightness much longer than any other string I've tried. The initial 'new string RR sizzle' goes away as quickly as any other string, but that second stage, nice punchy, grindy type sizzle lasts for weeks and weeks. Very nice... and nicely priced also.
 
#7
xshawnxearthx said:
d'addario dead within a day
Click to expand...


So true! I was soooo disappointed with mine! And I still have a set of 3 unopened! Anyone wana buy them?

I'm trying the D'addario stainless steel (non-coated) to see how long they'll last... I'll be happy with a couple of weeks for $17/set..
 
#8
KJung said:
I've found that DR Hi Beams keep their brightness much longer than any other string I've tried. The initial 'new string RR sizzle' goes away as quickly as any other string, but that second stage, nice punchy, grindy type sizzle lasts for weeks and weeks. Very nice... and nicely priced also.
Click to expand...


those the same as the "pro-steels"?
 
#9
SamJ said:
So true! I was soooo disappointed with mine! And I still have a set of 3 unopened! Anyone wana buy them?

I'm trying the D'addario stainless steel (non-coated) to see how long they'll last... I'll be happy with a couple of weeks for $17/set..
Click to expand...
they were the worst of all of them.

try the prosteels, but whatever you do, do not use a product called string life or extra string life. it killed a brand new e string before i had a chance to even try them out.

i'm going to be trying the denatured alcohol thing, with d'addario pro steels
 
#10
DR Hi-Beam or Lo-Rider strings last a long time. The stainless are bright enough. The Elixers last a while, the coating usually sheds, while I found that it doesnt lessen the string life, you would probably change them, because they start to look bad.
 
#12
xshawnxearthx said:
.

i'm going to be trying the denatured alcohol thing, with d'addario pro steels
Click to expand...


I'm now wiping my strings down after each time I play with a quality microfiber cloth and alcohol.. I just hope it doesn't dry out the rosewood fretboard.. but I figure if I oil that between string changes, it should be no problem.

btw... off topic a bit, but what do you guys use for rosewood oil?
 
#15
D'Addario Pro Steels kept their "rock zing" the longest. Terrible strings though for ME.

They are exactly what you are asking for though.

If you want the best string for what you're asking for - and many different players can use them for different styles - are DR Hi Beams. Really great strings.
 
#16
For bright piano tone i found Ashton strings to be great! i don't know about how long they keep that sound though, only had these on for 2 weeks, but the sound the same as when i put them on though. Although i don't think they are available in the US and they have stopped making them :crying:

But apparently they are changing to hand made and will be back in a few months :hyper:
 
#17
I've read a few strings are "hand made" .. I cant for the life of me see how the can make enough by hand.. though I'm a big fan of hand made.. don't get me wrong, and I know most guitars.. even the less expensive Mexico and China made are also hand made... but the hand that makes them may or may not be as "skilled" is all.
 
#18
SamJ,

Similar issue with my hands...for both guitar and bass strings. I was an Elixir user for a long time. About 1.5 years ago, I tried the Snake Oil Brand strings & I'm now a solid convert to these as sold by Dean Farley. They are long lasting and stay the way you want them. I am also one to wipe down the strings after each use (as I did/do with the Elixirs & Snake Oils).

Check out Link Removed

HTH

PS. One other thing I do to help cut down on my hand oils is carry a bottle of the hand sanitizer stuff (that's made from alcohol and dries quickly)
 
#20
Well, I also just placed an order for some Optima Maxima 24K Gold plated strings which I've read last for ever.. they also retail for about $100 and have street pricing in the 60-75 range.. but what the heck! I'm trying out a bunch of strings, can't exclude them.
 

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