Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 2:08:12 GMT -5
Hi,
yesterday, i fit some ernie-ball 11's onto my yamaha acoustic, and it felt rather good, i'd say.
So that arose the question : why don't people use electric guitar strings in acoustics as well? Why are there special strings (nickel) for electrics and special (bronze) for acoustics ? what's the deal here? Ok, i didn't try the acoustic plugged in, just acoustically.
|
|
|
|
Post by b4nj0 on Dec 9, 2013 2:27:39 GMT -5
Hi Greekdude,
I used Guild electric guitar strings on an old Takamine dread for years and years (until they became unavailable) for no better reason than the fact that I found that they did not break so easily. (unfortunately, I'm an aggressive player.)
I imagine that those who prefer a wound third are going to be less likely to use packs of electric guitar strings.
Right now I'm using D'Addario coated acoustic strings on my Heritage Sweet 16 and it thrives on them.
I guess that it's "horses for courses" or whatever floats your boat.
e&oe...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 2:49:46 GMT -5
Aha, thanx for the input.
However there are electric-guitar (marketed) sets with wound 3rd, (but also light-gauge acoustic with unwound-bare 3rd) so i don't think that is the problem. There might be smth else maybe lying in the nickel/steel vs bronze choice of materials.
|
|
|
|
Post by b4nj0 on Dec 9, 2013 3:09:38 GMT -5
Perhaps the delineation between the two camps is due to the string bending that goes on with electrics and the generally heavier gauge strings used on acoustics. I know that we do bend strings on an acoustic but maybe not quite so extensively?
The sound changes (imho) but that's it so far as I can see and the difference is unlikely to be detected by the average beer-swilling audience!
For myself, so long as the strings remain in tune and last a reasonable amount of time, either type suits me, but perhaps after a lifetime working in factories, These ears are probably not the best judge!
e&oe...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 3:18:31 GMT -5
Hmm, maybe one thing i (might have) noticed, is that electric sets (nickel-plated) in acoustics do not sound so loud as their bronze-plated counterparts.
Basically i fitted those ernie-ball 11's to this particular acoustic of mine, to play exclusively greek-virtuozo (bouzouki-type)/jazzy/balkan-fusion/gypsy + typical blues (bends, etc) music, and to work on strengthening the left hand. And since this is to be used in a family environment, this, in combination with muting, i guess is a nice way to practice. Besides, this nickel color looks bad-as
|
|
|
|
Post by b4nj0 on Dec 9, 2013 5:32:24 GMT -5
OT I know but... I have a (Roumanian made) flat back zook. I tune it to GDAE. Is that the correct tuning or is it a case of whatever works for you etc?
I learn zook pieces from an old Theodorakis cassette tape that I bought from a trader at the top of Olympos on Cyprus about 18 years ago. Stayed with Tasos at Old Paphos. It's a small world! That tape is now on a CD and I blast it out of open car windows in UK summer time traffic jams. It makes people smile!
e&oe...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 6:15:20 GMT -5
OT I know but... I have a (Roumanian made) flat back zook. I tune it to GDAE. Is that the correct tuning or is it a case of whatever works for you etc? I learn zook pieces from an old Theodorakis cassette tape that I bought from a trader at the top of Olympos on Cyprus about 18 years ago. Stayed with Tasos at Old Paphos. It's a small world! That tape is now on a CD and I blast it out of open car windows in UK summer time traffic jams. It makes people smile! e&oe... That Romanian instrument of yours must be very close to the tambura played in banat region, and whole Vojvodina. Not similar to the bouzouki, except the frontal shape. About tuning, I honestly don't know.I don't even own one (bouzouki) to begin with  Manolis Chiotis, the King of bouzouki, the person who introduced the 4th string, tuned it in standard DGBE guitar tuning, to make it more easy for guitar players to play it. And that's the way i like it. There certainly was some magic going on in greek music from 1920->1960++. Basically the foundations of the music were set in this period. We, the mainlanders, never had anything close to bouzouki, our main instrument was the clarinet, or flute. Also our music was very different than the music from Asia Minor. Definitely poorer. To give you an idea, Theodorakis could not even stand a minute next to the Clarinet music of mainland Greece. |
|
|
|
Post by newey on Dec 9, 2013 6:43:31 GMT -5
I use electric strings on one of my acoustics, just to get a lighter gauge. Makes it easier to transition between the electric and the acoustic.
The "bronze" acoustic strings are meant to be brighter-sounding (and they are), which does give a bit of extra volume overall as well. However, I really dislike the sound of those, plus they really accentuate the noise of one's fingers on the strings. There is a type of acoustic string called "Silk and Steel" that are not bronze-plated, and I tend to use those for my acoustics when I can find them (they used to be much more commonly available).
Interesting that the bazouki is tuned to GDAE. Standard ukelele tuning is GCEA, with the G in the same octave as the C-E and so higher than those strings (called "Re-entrant C" tuning). The alternative tuning used is to tune the G down an octave.
The bigger-bodied baritone ukes generally use DGBE, so just like a guitar but an octave up.
So, on the Bazouki, is the G an octave down or not?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 7:05:22 GMT -5
So, on the Bazouki, is the G an octave down or not? basically they have *2 strings, fretted at once, so the classic 3-string from Asia Minor had 6 strings, while the new 4-string design of the 50s++ had 8 strings. I think the basic tuning is like the guitar. |
|
|
|
Post by lunaalta on Dec 9, 2013 7:44:26 GMT -5
I started off using electric strings on my acoustics, way back in the 1960s. Don't know if there were acoustic specific strings back then, maybe there were, but I didn't see them.... I understand that Nickel is the best material for use on an electric, because of it's giving a better signal to the pick ups. But it hasn't the strength for the job, so it is mixed with steel, for strength. Not sure about that, just trying to remember. I started using Earthwood bronze acoustic strings, for their lovely round sound, some 15-20 years ago. Then I changed back to E B slinky (10s) strings, wanting to improve the sound on recordings I was making. I bought Earthwoods again, this last time, having improved the way I record acoustic....LOL.... sadly, the wound 3rd broke! So, I don't have anything playable there....  You pays your money and you takes your choice..... |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2013 8:10:34 GMT -5
You pays your money and you takes your choice..... Whatever you need, whatever you use, whatever you win, whatever you loose! (Status Quo?) |
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Dec 9, 2013 9:38:59 GMT -5
I tried electrics on my Washburn Rover (10's wound 3rd), with such a small body, they sounded even MORE banjo like, so I went back to D'Addario acoustics (EJ 10's), but even went up to EJ 16's (12's) to make it sound less tinny... Didn't help much, but anything brass sounded better than the electric's.
I also put electric's on the 3/4 Yamaha student model my girls tried, it made it very playable and quieter (straight acoustic). If your going for that zouki sound, electrics could be your best bet. A co-worker of mine had an electic zouki and a '65 Twin Reverb... He was freakin' AMAZING.
|
|
a914man
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 11 
Likes: 0
|
Post by a914man on Apr 30, 2015 13:01:41 GMT -5
I've been using Elixer Nanoweb extra light gauge acoustic strings on my Taylor 615CE for a long time, and I love those strings. I'll admit they do not have the resonance and sustain that heavier gauge strings provide, but that doesn't bother me. I had my Taylor set up at Glaser Instruments in Nashville for the extra lights, and everyone that plays that guitar loves it. The maple body and light gauge strings make it a perfect performance instrument (especially with a band), it's bright and punchy. Not as warm as I'd like for sitting around pickin' with my buds, but plays like a dream.
|
|
Manolis Chiotis, the King of bouzouki, the person who introduced the 4th string, tuned it in standard DGBE guitar tuning, to make it more easy for guitar players to play it. And that's the way i like it. 
