The perfect Strings: a never-ending quest.

[Michelob]

A recurrent subject, which I would like to make peculiar to flamencos here, is that of which strings we use, should use or at least try. While it would seem fair to say that each guitar’s inner voice will each be best stimulated by different strings, it is equally fair to say that certain strings have become the customary choice for many flamenco dedicated musicians.

From various earlier posts I gather that these are mainly the choices:
1. La Bella Elite Flamenco, black trebles
[which i am ordering now, influenced by the many who use them]
2. Luthier Flamenco,
3. Hannabach Flamenco
4. D’Addario Pro Arte, or their Composite variety.
5. Savarez, carbon or titanium trebles, often mixed with higher tension Chorum basses

Tensions… many seem inclined to hard tension.

I personally have been using the Composite D’addario, with coffee colored G, normal tension, and have gotten satisfactorily used to it.

But this is a never-ending quest, and it is quite enjoyable an adventure.
Please post your comments and preferences.

[Dave Tate]

Hard tension? For flamenco? Madness!

EJ45C, and that's that. :D

[mrMagenta]

My favourites for sound and feel of the ones i've tried so far (haven't tried the black La Bellas or any composites):

1. Savarez Corum Alliance
2. Luthier 20
3. D'Addario EJ45

All normal tension. The problem with Corum and Luthier is their lifespan, D'Addarios continue sounding decent for a long time, even when they look totally wasted. Right now I'm trying Hard tension D'Addarios just to test what it feels like. Next set will be EJ45C, been wanting to see what that composite string is all about.

[Michelob]

My favourites for sound and feel of the ones i've tried so far (haven't tried the black La Bellas or any composites):

1. Savarez Corum Alliance
2. Luthier 20
3. D'Addario EJ45

All normal tension. The problem with Corum and Luthier is their lifespan, D'Addarios continue sounding decent for a long time, even when they look totally wasted. Right now I'm trying Hard tension D'Addarios just to test what it feels like. Next set will be EJ45C, been wanting to see what that composite string is all about.

Thank you mrMagenta, it is really nice to see you post here.

[NGiorgio]

After spending an extremely long time trying to evaluate strings on a few different flamenco guitars over the last five or six years, I have come to a conclusion. My conclusion is that each and every player and each and every guitar is going to produce different results. Strings that might work for me on my negra, may not be satifactory for another player even with a negra exactly like mine. Also, on my guitars the same strings may sound different at times when temperature and humidity conditions change. Flamenco guitars seem to be very tempermental with these types of changes and the strings may respond accordingly.

After trying just about everything out there, I have settled on D'Addario medium basses on my blanca and D'Addario lights for my negra. Occasionally I will use Mari lights on both guitars, just for a change. I have been using LaBella medium and medium hard 2001 trebles, with an occasional set of Mari lights.

Biggest problem I have with strings is intonation, especially that ******** G string.

I think it really comes down the feel to your fingers and the sound to your ears.

[Todd]

I like J45's (normal tensions) for flamenco. J46 for classical.

TK

[Anjelo]

Happy New Year Guys! Haven't been here in a while, but would like to share a recent experience. Having played nothing but EJ45 for a long time I decided to try something new. Installed La Bella 2001 Classical Medium tension (which I believe is lighter than the EJ45s)

Results:
-First week, really long sustains and very warm, but I feel the top vibrates more freely. Harder to do a crisp dry rasgueo but easier to fret.
-Now a month later, the string is more worn out and more dead and its just about perfect for me. Drier sound and más flamenco. Would have been the perfect strings for me but had to wait more than a month to get the sound I want.

Now if I can find strings that are lighter than EJ45 and feels like these La Bella Classicals but drier sounding?

[NGiorgio]

Now if I can find strings that are lighter than EJ45 and feels like these La Bella Classicals but drier sounding?


Anjelo, try a set of EJ43 light tension D'Addario's. I have found them to be a bit drier than the LaBella mediums and work well for me.

[tanolonco]

as to strings...i like toyotas, others like hondas and a few like fords (go figure). the point is that if you talk to 10 people you will find about 8 different strings they like.

then we have the case where one string works well on one guitar or a scale length and on another guitar they sound like crap. case in point about scale length. many years ago i was hot to trot for mari flamenco strings. for a long scale guitar, say 664 they work well but for a 650 they are too low tension.

personally i use on my old and dear ramirez flamenco: hannebach superlow (yellow)tension trebles (the clear not peach colored strings) and aranjuez 200 basses. my ramirez is a 656 and the tensions work quite nicely and i get a super bright and raspy sound.

Michelob: as to black trebles (or purple or peach) i find them sort of plastic feeling and do not like them. i like the labella purple strings (i happen to like purple) but god the sound...yuk! as to tensions--for a blanca and for the old school of music i think low tension work strings work best. i kind of wonder if folks have guitars that will not get that steely sound and try to push their guitars with high tension strings.

[Sandra]

I really dislike the look of black trebles. They just seem so tacky to me.

[Tony Hyman]

Talk about Black Trebles ,I remember way back my brother was going to be different and play the Classical Guitar back in the early sixtees while us younger cool dudes were messing around with Peter Gun and Guitar Boogy
on one string in the Garage .The only Guitar String name that I could remember was Black Diamond ,the Old Man used them on his guitar well.
But the far out thing was these black nylon strings that looked far more spesial than the fishing line in the tool box.
Dose anybody still use Black Diamond strings as point of interest.
They are still around I see.
http://www.blackdiamondstrings.com/HTMLPages/AboutUS.html

[Michelob]

Talk about Black Trebles ,I remember way back my brother was going to be different and play the Classical Guitar back in the early sixtees while us younger cool dudes were messing around with Peter Gun and Guitar Boogy
on one string in the Garage .The only Guitar String name that I could remember was Black Diamond ,the Old Man used them on his guitar well.
But the far out thing was these black nylon strings that looked far more spesial than the fishing line in the tool box.
Dose anybody still use Black Diamond strings as point of interest.
They are still around I see.
http://www.blackdiamondstrings.com/HTMLPages/AboutUS.html

wow... thank you Tony, I had never heard of those strings!!
I tried the D'addario black trebles and they simply felt thick and stiff. The more i read this thread the more i feel that perhaps i should stay with my now beloved composites. As for the tension, normal it is.

Cannot wait for my index finger to recover... i wasted all the lovely time off these past holidays afforded deprived of guitar-playing. 11 days now and still counting.... man!!

[classicalmark]

Dose anybody still use Black Diamond strings as point of interest.

I never used them but sure remember seeing them around a lot, especially with the steel string folks.

I've used Savarez in some form for over thirty years or so, most of the time they've proven more than capable. However, due to my recent dissatisfaction with the sound coming from my "D" string I decided to try La Bella 2001 hard tension (after a convincing demonstration from a friend). I must say that I'm very pleased with the results thus far.

~edited to add: I didn't realize I was in the "flamenco" section, my experience is from the "classical" style.

[Tony Hyman]

I use the D Addario EJ44's Extra Hard but if I ever had to venture out of the box it would be those La Bella's thats for sure .I remember them from my Bass Guitar days spesially the Deep Taking set .I imagine the CG sets yo be just as great.

[NGiorgio]

Yes, the Black Diamond string company is alive and well. They are no longer located in NYC but on the west central coast of Florida in Sarasota, as I recall. They have a flamenco set which includes a wound G string. I tried a set about a year ago and was not very impressed. They are an extremely light tension and did nothing me.

[flamencoguru]

I don't think the perfect string exists. It's whatever you like and works for you. I play a few different strings. My guitars have a longer scale 662mm and 663mm. I always used high tension strings. They work great for me.

Here are some of the brands I use.

Luthier
D'addario
Hannabach
(All high tension)

I haven't been using the Hannabachs too much because they are kind of pricy. Also, I never use carbon strings.....I don't like them at all.

Peace, Errol

[tanolonco]

a few years ago my buddy nick sent me a set of black diamond strings from the real old days. i have yet to use the set because on the cover of the pack is a picture of sabicas who "endorsed them". i use the quotes purposefully as it appears sabicas never used black diamond strings, at least all the info i have has him using other brands (flamenco supremes and mari--the first source is a photo is jose ramirez's book and the latter verbally from daniel mari himself). of course who really knows, or cares given the advancement of strings. sabicas did play black trebles for a while--or at least the photographs of his guitars in the mid 60's onward had black trebles.

a couple of years ago black diamond strings had a great website promo--hot babes in black diamond t-shirts. other than the babes in clingy t-shirts i doubt anyone would go to their website --to buy strings.

[Dave Tate]

I guess I should clarify, if I'm honest.

Since I only change my trebles once in a blue moon, I use basses from a regular J45 set, not the composite set (yes, apparently the basses are different too).

While the composite basses sound the same as the regulars at first, for some reason they almost immediately go dull on my guitar. The regular J45 basses don't. Maybe it's all in my head.

The trebles from the composite set, including the coffee-colored G string, are great however.

[NGiorgio]

a few years ago my buddy nick sent me a set of black diamond strings from the real old days. i have yet to use the set because on the cover of the pack is a picture of sabicas who "endorsed them".

As I remember Keith, if you use those "Sabicas" Black Diamond strings, you automatically play like Sabicas, guaranteed.

[Michelob]

I guess I should clarify, if I'm honest.


While the composite basses sound the same as the regulars at first, for some reason they almost immediately go dull on my guitar. The regular J45 basses don't. Maybe it's all in my head.
The trebles from the composite set, including the coffee-colored G string, are great however.


that proves that nothing "is" but everything "becomes"; we all change and hopefully improve in the process. When we first met, Dave, i remember you telling me that Composites, along with the coffee-colored G, were your strings of choice. In fact, you mentioned how any guitar at GSI sporting such darker G had to be the result of your re-stringing it.

However, i am glad you influenced my choice then, because i am so happy with the composites. Perhpas i am a few steps behind you though... so keep me posted with all your changes and discoveries, you seem to choose well, dear Dave.

[Dave Tate]

In fact, you mentioned how any guitar at GSI sporting such darker G had to be the result of your re-stringing it.

Hey, I'm allowed to play these guitars too! ;)