String = sustain question......

[sirpug]

I'm playing a custom shop Peavey Cirrus fiver and I'd like to start experimenting with different strings. I've had her since January and I've never changed them from the original Cirrus strings.

Now, I like the tone I get from these and would like to maintain something similar but I would like to get some more sustain if that's possible. I know new strings will increase the sustain somewhat no matter what I get at this point (due to the ones I'm playing now being a year old) but I'd like to get strings that will give me the most sustain bang for my buck.

I play in standard tuning, nothing fancy there.

Soooooo...

Will steel or nickle give me more sustain? A particular brand and/or type?

 

[JimmyM]

Steels are a little more sustainy usually.

 

[deckard]

This is just me & my H.G. Thor-epoxied-fingerboard fretless, but...

As an experiment, I recently went from using Rotosound RS66LDs (which I've used since God was a boy) to lighter gauge Roto RS66LCs.

I immediately noticed that the lighter strings ring/sustain longer.

And I was able to lower my action & thus get more of that fretless buzz/growl (aka "mwah"), as well as getting more note fundamental.

I also immediately noticed that I need to clean up my technique if I'm going to use lighter gauge strings and lower action...



JMHO

(p.s. - I'm staying with the RS66LCs.)