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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

216.0. "Classical Strings" by SPYDER::BRIGGS (Richard Briggs) Thu Apr 16 1987 15:07

    Can anyone enlighten me on strings for classical guitars. I seem
    to have seen steel (ie silver) wound strings and bronze wound strings,
    the former having a much brighter sound. Is that about the only
    choice or are their other factors. For instance are their various
    gauges like on steel string guitars. If so are the criteria for
    choics the same as for other types of guitar.
    
    Any input welcom
    Richard Briggs
    UK SWAS
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216.1I'm tired of this pentatonic stuff...CSSE::CLARKwear your love like headphonesThu Apr 16 1987 16:525
    Can anybody recommend a GOOD jazz teacher in the Worcester/Fitchburg
    area? I'm really interested in playing more 'outside' stuff and
    the theory behind it.
    
    thanks in advance - Dave
216.2oops!CSSE::CLARKwear your love like headphonesThu Apr 16 1987 16:533
    sorry, I wanted .1 to be a new note. How do I move it?
    
    thanks - Dave
216.3BIZET::LOWRYPreserve Wildlife: Pickle a Squirrel.Thu Apr 16 1987 17:274
    extract it
    delete it
    write it
    
216.4Six Silver StringsNEXUS::DICKERSONThu Apr 16 1987 20:3411
    The Augustine "Blue" strings are relatively inexpensive and seem
    to settle down into tune and stay "alive" longer than most.  The
    Suarez strings are also excellent but pricey.
    
    The best sounding classical strings are generally silver as 
    opposed to nickel for electric and bronze or copper for steel
    string acoustic.
    
    					Have fun
    					Doug Dickerson
    
216.5RIGHT STRINGS FOR CLASSICAL GUITARSNEAKY::DORUDIANIThu Apr 16 1987 22:4411
    Every body has a different taste for the sound of guitar.  I recommand
    using low tention strings for base and high tention for treble.
    
    Lately, I have been using Augustine red for base and Augustine gold
    for treble, it gives me a long lasting base and a clear treble sound.
    
    Every guitar has its own charcter!
                                      Regards;
                                      Hossein
    
    
216.6which tension?MAY11::WARCHOLFri Apr 17 1987 16:4210
    When faced with getting new strings for my classical guitar I really
    wasn't sure what tension strings to get. I ended up with a medium
    tension and so far like the results. It has taken almost two weeks
    of use to get them to stay in tune, it is absolutely amazing how
    much they will stretch.
    
    Can anyone give the good and bads points about each type and under
    what conditions you would want to use the different types?
    
    Nick
216.7HOW TO BUY AND CHANGE THE GUIAR STRINGSSNEAKY::DORUDIANISat Apr 18 1987 07:3148
    High tention strings have a quicker respond and they produce shorter
    lasting notes, I always use high tention treble strings which make
    it easier to play tremolo or melody on treble strings.
    
    The same principals apply to the base strings.  However, most people
    use low tention base strings so the notes lasts longer and support
    the melody and/or harmony.  Medium tention base strings are used
    in large atmosphere areas(for instance church or concert hall) where
    the accoustics help the notes last longer.
    
    Unfortunately, it is hard to find a music shop that would supply
    a set of low tention base with high tention trebles or medium tention
    base with high tention trebles.  They usually have sets with equal
    tentions; for instance:
                           Augustine red is low
                           Augustine blue is medium
                           Augustine black is fairly high
                           Augustine gold is high
    etc.
    
    Some shops encourage you to buy two sets of different tentions and
    combining those to one set which is costly, where other shops try
    to order you the set with desire strings.
    
    The good way to change the strings is to take one string out, for
    example 5th string (A) and put the the new one on.  After you put
    the new one on tune it to to a few notes lower than its actual pitch
    (in the case of"A" I would tune it to open 6th string E)and let
    the guitar rest for a few hours like over the night.  Then tune
    the string to one or two notes lower than the actual pitch(again,
    in this case I would tune it to the G on 6th string 3rd fret)and
    let the guitar rest for a few hours.  Now, you string is ready for
    tunning to the actual pitch.  Then you can change any other string.
     It might take you up to two weeks to change them all, you would
    amazed how the strings stay in tune, hardly stretch and even last
    longer.
    
    Since the base strings have metal in their construction, they have
    a tendency to wear out quicker than treble.  Hand lotions are hard
    on the strings, some people end up changing the treble strings every
    other time they change the bases(some manufacturer supply strings
    with doube set of bases).
                            REGARDS 
                            HOSSEIN
    
    
    
    
216.8RHETT::MCABEEDiddly diddlyMon Apr 20 1987 22:0516
    When I was playing a lot of  classical guitar, I used to change
    my basses about every two or three weeks.  The trebles would last
    five or six weeks.  I was using Augustine reds then.  I don't
    play the plastic-string axe much any more, but I was really impressed
    with the last strings I used.  Even the basses lasted a long time.
    I don't remember what they were but the basses were silver (plated?).
    They stayed on my Kohno for nearly a year and still sounded OK
    (for my limited use) when the D string broke for the second time.
    They weren't even seriously corroded.
    
    I agree that it's important to match the strings to the guitar.
    I've found that to be much more true with classicals than steel-string
    guitars.                      
    
    Bob