Best Flamenco Guitar Strings?

[Black Sheep]

As I go further into this, I find that the guitar itself seems to have a preference for the strings it needs to bring out its best. What enliven some, is deficient in others. It's what suits your guitar. That's why we'll never have the ultimate sting on this thread (no pun intended)...

[ronjazz@mac.com]

I think that the Luthier trebles are all the same gauge; only the basses vary from set to set. 20 is the lightest, 50 is the heaviest. I have settled on the set #% because they last a little longer than the 20, and they are a bit darker and warmer in sound on my Lester DeVoe guitars, one is a negra, one a blanca with pegs. I have used D'Addarios as well, and they are good, but lack a certain "character", purely subjective. In fact, I tend to use D'Addario lightly polished basses when recording. I have tried the Hannabach strings, and they are very Flamenco sounding, indeed, but not as consistent as they might be for the price. The La Bella Red and Black trebles are also good, although I don't like the basses at all.

I do know that throughout my 4-decade career I have found that different guitars respond differently to various string brands and gauges, and players must make their own choices. My recommendations are only made as suggestions, and not with any certainty that they would be appropriate for someone with a different approach.

[ssante]

I just recently tried Luthier Supreme 20's since they seemed to be a recommend. I did not like them at all. The wrap on the bass strings is quite pronounced and felt rough and wore nails quicker. The Trebles to me sounded somewhat bland. That was on a Tomatito Aguadulce Carrillo/Gonzales 2a Blanca. I am now using D'Addario Composite Basses EJ46C and D'Addario T2 Trebles. Quite a nice combination. But as stated above the do lack a certain character. They don't color the sound.

One my Yamaha CG171SF I quite like the LaBella 820B's. Especially the trebles. I may try mixing those with D'Addario Composite Basses. The 820B are very easy to fret. These have character but the basses are much weaker the D'Addario.

Guitars definitely have preferences.

[57paf]

ronjazz, ssante, blacksheep:
Thank you for your thoughtful replies. You are correct that the strings are dependent on the guitar and what the player wants to hear. I have a negra because I wanted volume, but I still wanted to hear bright and crisp trebles.
I found the Savarez Corum/Alliance hard tension to be perfect for me, as my negra was very responsive on the basses and I needed trebles with "zing" to balance out the sound.
So I suppose that it would be better to find out the characteristics of the various strings and use the appropriate one to achieve what one wants to hear. This comparative review seems to be helpful: strings, although I believe that one should apply it as appropriate for your own personal situation.

[flintsghost]

Originally Posted by Peresh

QUESTION #1

I just replaced by Lutheirs which were old to the EJ45 Normal Tension.
The strings seem to go out of tune really quick and I keep tightening them. Is this normal? Using an electronic tuner. After praticing last night, the B went to B sharp this moring. Anyone know whats up here? Is it because the strings are still new? and they need to stretch a bit further?

Thanks for any help in advance. Realizing how different strings can sound completely different.

I can't help with question 2. But with question 1, I am surprised no one has answered that for you or tried to. I am not a luthier but this is based on my experience with the 6 guitars that currently reside in my house. First, when you restring your guitar next time, check the saddle. If it is really loose in the bridge and will fall out or move with very little movement of the guitar then is it moving under tension and as the tension changes with humidity it will continue to move back and forth. I have found that most noticable with intonation and proper tuning. You may want to either make a new saddle, have one made or shim your current one with a thin piece of paper. Lots of people including some luthiers think a loose saddle is no big deal. As a player who listens to his own guitars I found my own shiming with paper changed the tone and life of my strings considerably when playing. My opinion, it is a big deal. The string is able to create vibrations of a certain type based on it's posiition and tension of the string stretched across it. If it moves during vibrations or with humidity then the sound is not going to be the same all the time. Some people say, the strings tension will keep it in position. Since the strings are moving with vibrations one can never be certain of that. I like the saddle to be fixed but not so tight I can't get it out. I shimmed my sloppy one with a small piece of paper.

Second, if this is happening constantly take a look behind your bridge on a flat plane from the side and see if you are getting any belly. Your guitar may be getting changes because of radical humidity changes where it is located. You may also be overhumidifying it causing the string tension to change. This year in my region the humidity has been much higher than we are used to and I had to stop humidifying my guitars a few months ago because the elevation of humidity combined with my oasis humidfiers was too much. You may need to get an inexpensive hygrometer like an oasis. You will be surprised that the temp in your house could be different than your thermostadt shows and the humidity where your guitars are stored may be considerably different than what the weather info shows for outside. AC will lower the humidity in a house but only when it is on. At night when it is off the humidity goes back up. Guitars react to those changes and the easiest way to tell is changes in tuning overnight with just a little change in the bridge elevation due to that humidity.

Strings always need to stretch in, no matter what type or style of guitar you play. Nylons take more than most steel string guitars. I've found with my Labella Professional studio's about 3 days to normalize. Then they may still be a bit sharp or flat as the humidity changes but not usually out of the range of the Korg tuner I use and only very slightly. Hope this helps.

[ronjazz@mac.com]

Sounds very sensible, flintsghost. the nut should fit properly, as the flamenco guitar needs every bit of energy in order to function most efficiently, and a loose bridge nut will be less than efficient. strings do indeed take a few days to settle down, and keeping the the instrument at a reasonably consistent humidity level will also add years to its life.

[Teknoguitar]

The best! Yellow card or red card

[Stoney]

Hey,

New to the forum. Trying to get past 5 posts.
I use the Savaurez 510-p strings with the plastic /nylon winding over the nylon core. They aren't easy to find but the sound is great cause I don't have a flamenco guitar but they give my cheap classical a flamenco feel and sound.

Stoney

[rispoli]

Newbie here, bear with me guys (I am a sax player who is starting Flamenco guitar...).

I bought from the US a Yamaha flamenco guitar (the usual CG171F) and I read almost everywhere that the stock strings should be changed to get the most out of this guitar.
Since I do not yet have a flamenco instructor I took it to a music store and the service guy recommended and installed Savarez Corum Alliance High tension.
What do you think of this combo?

I went with the intention to get D'Addario EJ45 normal tension but he thought they were exactly the same as the stock strings so he expected no difference, recommending instead the Savarez.

Thanks all in advance!

[David Gonzalez Sr.]

Originally Posted by rubendiaz

Helle friends in this video of buleria I play with: 6th,Savarez high tension Corum,5th,Luthier dark silver n.35 mediumm to high tension,4th,Aquila pure silver medium tension ,and some titanium treables by the company Galli Italian strings ,tell me if you like the sound.........Flamenco Guitar Royal Conservatory of Toronto Ruben Diaz Official Website

To be quite honest, i couldnt really appreciate the quality in sound of your guitar strings on your video, but on the other hand WOW! AMAZING GUITAR PLAYING!!!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK RUBEN!!!