Longer lasting strings

dennis

I was given many sets of bosset strings. Possibly a dozen, i forget but it was a box of strings. Each set last me a week (the winding would just get torn apart within a day or two). It was absolutely horrible. This had never happened to me before. Otherwise i used argentine strings light or d addario light and those would last me weeks if not months..

Then i got a new guitar and started using Argentines heavy and the g string would get used up quickly.. Maybe it s because it was a brand new guitar and the new frets were eating the strings.. Right now the strings on it are john pearse nuages that someone gave me. They ve been on since beginning of november, strings are still fine.. I ll switch back to argies soon since i have about 30 sets.

These are my experiences, draw your own conclusion

Stringswinger

Like Dennis, I too found the Bosset strings to be very short lived. Argie lights are the longest lasting strings that I have tried yet of the silver plated variety. The John Pearce strings were almost as good in the durability department, but seemed to have more tension than the Argies. I have yet to try any of the silk and steel choices. The worst part of this Gypsy guitar thing is the expense and hassle of changing strings often.

rgrice

@Stringswinger, It's weird that the lighter gauge seem to last longer, isn't it. I've found that to be true as well. Except maybe the G string, whose life span seems more limited all around.
Looking at your quote, you'd be interested in this: a friend of mine owns Joe Pass's D'Aquisto and I had the thrill of playing it yesterday! What a beautiful playing and sounding guitar.

Jon

Galli GSLs last heaps longer for me than Argies

Jazzaferri

Me too

Jazzaferri

@rgrice ....reflect upon it, thinner strings mean less tension

Less tension mean easier to fret string, less tendency to over control, and more flexible string.

May have something to do with it?

rgrice

Good logic, @Jazzaferri! Maybe so.
How do those Gallis sound?

DragonPL

Buco wrote: »

@DragonPL a lot of people including myself at least in this style of music, prefer the sound when strings lose the initial brightness.

To me it's about not losing volume. The deader the string, the lesser the volume. Although I do prefer the new bright sound, loosing it is not as important as loosing the sound intensity.

Jazzaferri

The Gali's sound great on my DuPont but Imprefer Argies on my Dunn. I use 11's on both. Down to a few sets of each left so early in the new year I am going to try the Lenzer Fisoma SS and the Bossett strings.

DuPont is a pretty bright midrangey guitar whereas Dunnis more balanced fuller sound.

I suspect one reason why so many like old Argies on GJ guitars is the guitars are fairly bright sounding. I have played onereally nice Favino that was more balanced less bright than some of that herd and a couple of older Selmacs that again were a little more balanced than the others I Have played. Both were in Michael Bauer's collection.

Al Watsky

The Argentines are fine.
Nothing wrong with them.
They feel and sound right for these guitars.
When you get into the details you find that you can for sure get a string that compliments your particular instrument. Bright /Dark sound , low, medium and high tension.
I've spoken to hundreds if not thousands of guitarists about their string preferences.
For most folks its about the feel.
The guys who are interested in "string life" seem to go for those coated strings which I dislike with a purple passion.
Am I rambling yet ?
I guess I'm not the right guy to ask. I know you need strings on a guitar or its silent and the bridge falls off .
Of that much I'm sure.
They should intonate correctly and last at least 4 weeks.
Some will notice that with the newer generations of fret wire their strings will wear faster. Some of the new fret alloys are much harder than frets had been even 15 years ago.
So, strings, yeah.
Keep some strings on your guitars .
If you never play the strings last a really long time.
That solves the problem right there.
Strings do not last that long.
None of them do.
Be glad strings for a guitar are relatively cheap.
Fiddle strings can cost 80 bucks a set and most professionals change them frequently.
Shucks Thomastic flat wounds cost near 30 dollars ! They last for ages.
Titi Bamberger was using D'Adarrio Chromes on his guitar last time I saw him. Also very durable.
He sounded just fine.
Be happy.
Use the cheapest string you can afford to change as often as you find necessary.
Change your strings when they break or do not intonate correctly.