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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 12:49:18 GMT
My CLD-41S came with stock D'addarios and they sounded warm and very nice when playing chords but they sounded less good when playing solo lines. I always plucked the strings close to the bridge to get the notes pop out but this also made the tone shrill. I have bought Elixir nano strings same gauge (12's I think) and they sure have much more projection and are very loud. they sound very good for soloing but too sharp when playing full chords! In comparisson to the D'addario these Elixir seem like the guitar is on steroids! Really bloody loud and I can see this being good in live situations where maybe shrill and toppy tone better to cut through the mix (and crowd talking and shouting). These strings might suit dodger well Elixir might also suit the dark sounding guitars made of plywood which tend to have poor projection. But for recording these strings are not the best. They also lack dynamics as all the tone is "in your face". Just like solid state apms can do in comparisson to tube amps. Will need to find strings that suit both solo lines and chord playing on this Walnut guitar with Spruce top.
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Post by dodger on Jan 2, 2019 0:15:00 GMT
@chedapapa I've tried a few different strings and found elixirs are best after settling for 2 or 3 weeks. Also used the uncoated D'addarios EJ16 I think which soubd great but didn't last long.
You're right about cutting through the mix - perfect for noisy bars
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 7:14:50 GMT
I honestly hope these Elixirs will "calm down" a bit as that would mean I have found the perfect strings for this CLD41 of mine! Im sure yours is Mahogani back and sides which should be a bit darker than my Walnut back and sides. I have noticed less Low End with Elixirs but that might chagne if they can mellow down a bit after a few weeks. I sure enjoy the tone up the frets around 12th fret as these strings dont choke the tone but project it really well. Also the Bare Chords sound good in the higher register which often sounds muddy on other guitars (strings? )
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Post by salteedog on Jan 2, 2019 10:46:09 GMT
I was listening to Bruce Springsteen's recording of his Broadway shows yesterday and it occurred to me that although I generally love acoustic guitar music most recordings of acoustic guitars (including Bruce's) in a live setting sound terrible. In fact it's not just the recordings but the live sound itself is terrible. Usually too trebly and zingy and sometimes too boomy too. It's a theory I have (not yet proven or disproven) that live acoustic guitars will only sound good when using alternate tunings. And I suppose it's true that acoustic guitar in a mix is largely a percussion instrument and is best played as such.
Alternatively, maybe I have a cloth ear when it comes to acoustic guitar.
I'm going off now to think of examples of live acoustic guitar in a standard tuning which I like.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 11:08:32 GMT
Maybe these Elixir's are the same. Dont get me wrong Im VERY happy that I can play clear solo notes all over the fretbaord with these strings. Lets not forget that the ONE acoustic guitar I played in a guitar shop was a Yamaha Grand Auditorium with these Elixir strings. I have tested the same day Martin, Gibson etc , and only these Yamahas sounded very clear on each note I played even in the higher register where most guitars choke (sustain-less and you just get a "thump" note). These Elixir excell in this regard. They do have more treble and less low end in comparison to the D'addariois (which also have some sort of coating). When playing full on chords one has to strum soft otherwise it rocks your head off BUT, but, if dodger is right by saying that these strings settle in after 2-3 weeks then maybe all good as I really need an acoustic guitar that projects clear sustained notes all over the fretboard and even when I use bare chords! Most acoustics guitars, even this one when with D'addarios, was not sustaining the bare chords in comparisson to the open chords. NOW with these Elixir the volume and sustain of Bare chords is the same as with Open chords! This is a HUGE imporevement! Im impressed. All I need is for them to become a bit mellower with time which might also improve the low end (strings do strech for a some time until they settle in). I will try and record it once I decide what mic to buy ...
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Post by dodger on Jan 2, 2019 16:08:25 GMT
@chedapapa - yep a few weeks to settle should defo do the trick.
I find my piezo guitars plugged in sound great for a small bar but never at a 'big' gig through a proper pa. Never sound properly acoustic if you know what I mean
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 16:50:57 GMT
I prefer the sound/tone of the pups that go across the sound hole (magnetic I guess).
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1,110 posts
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Post by dodger on Jan 2, 2019 17:29:54 GMT
DefJef - I am solo now and playing small bars and restaurants with a small mixer and alto trouper. The trouper is very transparent and with the mixer I can mess with the treble, mid and low to give a nice acoustic sound. I try to get the speaker behind me cos I don't use a monitor. I find with a bigger pa the piezo sounds really metallic and the sound engineers are more worried about a clean sound with no feedback than making it soind natural. Takamine seem to do a good job with their pickups. As you said too on a small bar you're getting some of the natural acoustic sound in the mix.
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