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Post by LeoThunder on Aug 14, 2018 18:57:31 GMT
I just tried the Orphee strings. For 1,31€ per set, shipping included, I thought all I could really waste was time. This guy likes them but I don't: They were a bit of a pain to put on. Nicely packaged with coloured balls, all looked good until the strings failed to lose their curve. Fiddling a curved string through the body of a guitar then through the saddles on top of it became a patience test with the thin ones. Then the high E unravelled, as in the video above, although it was a 0.010. I replaced it with some spare I had from another brand and that's where trouble started. These Orphee strings produce a much weaker signal than what I had before and what I complemented them with. In addition, it seems the plain strings are also weaker than the wound ones. I could have turned the knob if it hadn't been for that loud replaced E string. I had more spares, so I replaced the other two plain strings as well. It still wasn't good. I had to raise the pick-ups on the low side to compensate for the unbalance. I guess I would have had to do it the other way around if the high E had not broken. They feel ok and do not sound indecent. Let's see how long they last.
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Post by Vincent on Aug 15, 2018 12:10:17 GMT
Update. I did try to solder my remaining thin E strings. I knew it would be near impossible with nickel but I thought/hoped I would somehow be able shroud the winds with solder and have it hold. Nope. Was able to get solder on the copper/brass ball-end super easy though but that only carries one wind and the whole exercise became pointless except to confirm they do contain nickel.
Since then I broke a thin E string. Tried three of these before I found one that did not break. And sure, a weaker signal but not too bad.
Sometimes things are cheap for a reason. We never learn do we.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Aug 15, 2018 13:04:26 GMT
Hmm...I had the same scenario recently with an e string that came off my MS-60. I didn't bother with solder though - when under tension the string itself is sufficient to keep the ball on. Easier to do with on that guitar (top loading) than on a strat or string through tele bridge though.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Aug 15, 2018 13:08:43 GMT
So, now I need a guitar with a Floyd Rose so I can use my unravelled cheap strings. I never buy a new guitar without a good reason
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Post by Vincent on Aug 15, 2018 13:17:30 GMT
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1,773 posts
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Post by MartinB on Aug 15, 2018 13:42:50 GMT
I’d like to launch Michael Gove from a cannon into outer space.
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Post by Vincent on Aug 15, 2018 18:45:09 GMT
These cheap strings are what they are. We know the risks. The greater problem is fake strings. I received some multi-pack D'addario strings from a seller on ebay. Of course they were an amazing price so I was prepared for the worse. The packaging was extremely well done but the colors of the cartons were less vivid. Inside contained the familiar looking plastic bags of strings. Each had the same unique anti-counterfeit number Even the strings had colored ball-ends. Opened a case. Reported the seller to both ebay and my contact at D'addario. No response to the case. Case timed out and I get my money back. Seller has had no inventory for sometime. Still registered, maybe he got his account suspended.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Aug 15, 2018 21:20:30 GMT
Last time I bought a guitar from Thomann I also so ordered 5 sets of their Harley Benton value electric strings. I got 9-42 and I have to say they are really good. At £1.33 or 1.5 euros a set I took a gamble. I've had them on my strat and no problems whatsoever.
Here is a video (bit long winded but does get there in the end) that came out a few weeks back reviewing some cheap strings.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Aug 15, 2018 21:54:11 GMT
The HB strings are identical to the ones that appear for sale in Lidl every now and again (boxes of 10 sets ...each set with an extra D string). I use them - they're fine....but I hate bright zingy strings anyway.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Aug 15, 2018 22:48:23 GMT
I've not seen strings in lidl, I did get some cheap acoustic strings from amazon. 3 sets of strings 1 bronze, 1 silver and 1 multi coloured and a string winder in a luxury tin!
I put the coloured set on my folk size guitar and they had just over 2 tuners length so not a lot to trim off! And I've got to say not impressed, I lubed the nut and they rattle a bit. I've stretched them again and I don't like the sound of them. I do not think they will be on there long.
I think there are some reasonable cheap strings about but the really cheap acoustic ones need to be avoided.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Aug 16, 2018 2:40:06 GMT
The HB strings are identical to the ones that appear for sale in Lidl every now and again (boxes of 10 sets ...each set with an extra D string). I use them - they're fine....but I hate bright zingy strings anyway. This makes it look like the HB Value were never very bright to start with and I can happily live with that but I tried them too and found they had a strange, stale, non ringing sound, as if a part of the frequency spectrum was missing. Strumming a chord would make it sound slightly out of tune too, which I cannot explain because it was not. I was expecting this to come out of that review but it didn't. Maybe I got a set from a bad batch. I have been happier with Fender, D'Addario, GHS and Pyramids.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Aug 16, 2018 2:48:40 GMT
These cheap strings are what they are. We know the risks. The greater problem is fake strings. … Each had the same unique anti-counterfeit number That's a "no go". Can't play strings with a fake number, can you? I agree, though. I'm not buying fakes, no matter the quality of the product. Now, if someone were to sell cheap M'Ammario strings, I'd try them…
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Post by Vincent on Aug 16, 2018 6:45:27 GMT
I did try a set and they were lifeless. Really dull sounding. Imagine a unsuspecting buyer decides to try some D'addarios for the first time and receives a pack of these. M'Ammario strings come in three gauges. Light, Medium and Grand M'Ammario. Generally they are not available for public consumption and only change hands in darkened rooms. The fact that you have even heard of them is very telling. You must know some shady characters, LeoThunder
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Aug 16, 2018 8:53:49 GMT
The HB strings are identical to the ones that appear for sale in Lidl every now and again (boxes of 10 sets ...each set with an extra D string). I use them - they're fine....but I hate bright zingy strings anyway. This makes it look like the HB Value were never very bright to start with and I can happily live with that but I tried them too and found they had a strange, stale, non ringing sound, as if a part of the frequency spectrum was missing. Strumming a chord would make it sound slightly out of tune too, which I cannot explain because it was not. I was expecting this to come out of that review but it didn't. Maybe I got a set from a bad batch. I have been happier with Fender, D'Addario, GHS and Pyramids. Quality control and hence variation on the cheaper stings is likely to be sub-par I guess.
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