Let’s take a minute and talk about guitar strings

Wow…December!  I don’t know about any of you, but time sure seems to be in a hurry these days.  It has been another interesting year, and the further we get from covid, the more back to normal life seems…..outside of certain Covid effects that are lingering. Here at Solo there are lots of interesting things brewing, that hopefully we can tell you about in early 2025…for now, it’s business as usual.  If you haven’t checked, our store right here in Vaughan, Ontario it’s open Saturdays from 11-4 until Christmas.

As usual, somebody either says something or does something…or I do something that leads to the next blog.  In this case it was me, and I’ll fill you in a bit later in this blog, but, this months subject is about guitar strings….and maybe next months too, we’ll see.  This month however, I will concentrate of acoustic strings…for the above-mentioned reason.

So who makes the best strings?  What materials make the best strings?  Is there really that much difference between manufacturers and materials?  What about manufacturing methods?  Doesn’t matter what stringed instrument you play, there tons of choices on the market for string brands and materials.  You have your favourites…I have mine, he or she have theirs, and I’m sure there are many discussions and arguments as to who is right or wrong.  Short of telling you its all hoodoo-voodoo…which would be a bad thing, strings are very much a personal choice, and we tend to hear what we want from the strings themselves.

In the last 50 years, I have probably tried almost every string out there. Part of the reason I have done this is to simply learn, and the other part is to find a string brand/manufacturer that I like.  For me, I have typically ended up with Martin and DR as my prime choices.  Strangely, these are two companies who actually manufacture their own strings.  Some of you may know there are companies who fulfill the manufacturing for many name brands (such as it is with many products we use in life).  Martin for me, has always produced a great simple string that does its job the same way every pack.  Yes, they have come out with some fancy strings (scroll down) but really, their good old phosphor-bronze strings do exactly what acoustic strings need to.  DR on the other hand have always produced the boutique “hand-wound’ string which boasts less stretch, better tone etc. I’m on great terms with both companies and I don’t get anything for free from either one, so this is not a biased review…in fact it isn’t at this point a review at all.

In my opinion, for the first several hours you play a fresh set of strings, virtually every string sounds from ok to good.  I don’t care what name is on the package.  As the strings age however, the changes start to appear or become obvious….do they keep stretching?  Do they become dull and start to corrode?  Good strings take longer to collect oil and grime before they become dull….they also take longer to start the corrosion process, but this too depends on the player.  My son has very acidic sweat, and he can completely kill a set of strings in one night…whereas I do not have that issue and can keep the same strings on for weeks. So maybe he should use a coated set?  Well yeah, you can, but is there a cost to sound?  The early coated strings always seemed to lack some sparkle in my opinion….you know that special crispy top end that makes your acoustic sound so great, and those clear deep bottom tones….yes the coated strings lasted longer, but they lacked tone in my opinion.  The new coated strings are far better…technology has improved, and the companies like DR, D’addario and Elixir listened. Again, in my opinion, most of the coated strings feel different, but they do last longer.  It’s up to you to decide whether you buy less expensive strings and change them more often, or whether you step up to the premium coated strings and change them less.

For me, whether the strings are made of different alloys, whether they are cryogenically treated, painted, dipped, coated or compressed, they won’t make your guitar sound better or worse….they will only amplify the design and material choice of your instrument.  I know a lot of people will take issue with that statement, but put it this way….if I were to blindfold you and put a new set of acoustic strings from the same manufacturer on three levels of guitar (like a $300, a $1500 and a $3000 model), could you tell me whether the strings were the same or not?  Conversely, if we put three different kinds of strings on one guitar in the same blindfold test, could you tell the strings apart?  Likely not in either case, so really, pick the string you like to play, and the one that agrees with your wallet and be happy. I don’t think anyone has the right to tell you whether you are making a good or bad choice of string for your instrument. That said….try other brands, materials or manufacturing methods…you might be surprised in that there is something out there you might like better!

So, back to what it is that I did that brought this whole question up.  Martin has a new extremely boutique string they call MTCN 160 Titanium Core.  They are stupidly expensive but of course Martin says they are worth every cent.  Well, I took the bait. Titanium huh? “Titanium Core strings provide the most superior intonation and tuning stability of any string on the market.” That’s what Martin says. Titanium is more flexible than other materials but as strong as steel, so easier to bend, won’t stretch out etc etc etc….. So I have installed a set on one of my hand-made acoustics (alpine spruce, Indian rosewood, all solid).  The intention was not to prove them wrong, or to suggest that their advertising is misleading, only to say yeah yeah…it’s just another really expensive string. Well, dang it all, it’s a great string! Really! I’m getting older and have some arthritis in my hands, so I can tell you I can play longer without the ‘ache’ (some of you will know what I mean).  So, are they softer and take less pressure to fret?  It does seem that way.  They have been on the guitar for 5 weeks now, and outside of tweaking the tuning very very minimally, they have stayed in tune despite playing or not, temperature changes in the house and now going to a less humid time of year.  I also checked the intonation on the strings that were on the guitar and compared that to the Titanium strings….I have found different strings have an affect on intonation and the Titanium strings did show slightly better on the old Peterson strobe. Hmmmmm.  You know, I am the guy who says that name brands are less important than the product and that the best guitar in the world still hasn’t been designed yet, so there’s always room for improvement.  Well the chaps down at Martin might actually have something here.  Is this concept worth the price of admission….truly, the cost on these strings is not for the faint of heart, but I am not regretting the purchase yet.  I’m also not about to order a case of them, but for this guitar right now…the Martin Titaniums are staying where they are.

Like always, opinions are like butts….everybody has one lol. Make sure you check out the great selection of strings we have here at Solo Guitars, manufacturers and brands, materials and gauges….I doubt you will find a better in-house selection. www.sologuitars.com.  While you’re at it, stop by the store on a Saturday right up until Christmas, we will be happy to see you!!!