[David Gonzalez Sr.]

You know what? I spent about an hour putting pro arte D'addarios (ej49's) on my guitarra, and i and EXTREMELY dissapointed with the way they feel. They totaly sound muted and dull to my ears....

Ive been using Savarez yellow card and red card exclusively for over 10 years now, and the Difference in feel between D'addario and Savarez is like night and day!!

Savarez has this textured feeling accross the trebles that makes them feel soooo good and inviting to both the left and right hand fingertips.

Ive heard so much HYPE about the"D'addarios", that i decided to try them out, and i feel like ive kicked myself in the family jewels.... I feel so let down by D'Addario.... Even the 4th, 5th. and 6th strings are lacking in sizzle department by at least 50%, and they sound so generic its discusting. (in comparrison to my beloved Savarez brand strings.

Also, the feel of the D'addario trebles is like cheap stretchy plastic...... (my 2 cents)

The Savarez trebbles feel so good in the way that they feel dry and sound so crisp.

Ive learned my lesson. Unless theres another company that has the same type of treble strings as "SAVAREZ", I wil not consider straying away from the tried and true.

[PlazaAlta]

I'm trying string brands for the past few months (Luthier, Hannabach, D'addario, Gato Negro) and just put on Royal Classics AFL60 Flamenco on my guitar. I love the basses but find I still need to get used to the thin trebles. So far so good though, 1 week on.

So far, Hannabach 827 HT are the best I've tried on my guitar but pricey and wearing out very quick, too.

After chatting to different guitarists on this and other fora, the answer to this obsessive string-mania is simply down to your personal preferences and the guitar's.

I'll keep trying until I find the ideal strings - probably never.

I've quoted Gerardo Nuñez on this forum before: "The general quality of the strings is poor. I'm not very fussy and keep using different brands, Labella, D'addario, Luthier, Hannabach, etc"

[Aaron Todd]

Try Luthier brand strings. They have long life, good projection and tone, and good ligado. In my experience, Luthier strings take a little longer than D'addarios to settle in, but once they do, it's worth it. Different strings react in different ways to different guitars, so experiment with different brands. It also depends on your personal style and technique. Lots of factors come into play, so try lots of strings. I still experiment, and change favorites from time to time.

[ronjazz@mac.com]

I like Luthier strings as well. I use set #35, after trying set 20, 30 and 50. The D'Addario lightly polished are good for recording, and the Hannabach Flamenco strings are very loud and crisp, but very expensive. Still, each player needs to find what works.

[t.hakansson]

I used Saverez for some time and always found them to die off after a few days. i eventually found my may to the Conde Hermanos strings which are the strongest and longest lasting strings Ive ever used. I highly reccomend them!!

[Black Sheep]

Isn't it funny... perhaps it is my guitar... perhaps it was a dud set but the Saverez I was taking off my guitar after 2 months sounded far better than the expensive Conde Hermanos I was taking off... They sounded dead. Absolutely soggy, wet, dead and lifeless... I only left them on for a few days before putting on a set of Luthiers...

The whole question of 'best strings' is such a puzzle...

[falseta]

Puzzle is the perfect word Blacksheep!

In describing the best string I suppose the first thing that comes to mind is the sound of the string and secondly the longevity. What I seem to have left out is the obvious which is each guitar will sound different with each set of strings.

So the questions I pose to you all is... how should a set of strings be concluded the best? Is it durability/longevity, materials, performance under stress, etc...

This is an amazing thread so far and it shows clearly that strings can make the best guitars sound bad and the practice guitars sound like concert guitars.

[Aaron Todd]

The best strings for me and my guitar will not be the best strings for you and your guitar... even if your guitar is made by the same hands. This is probably the most subjective decision one can make, and so many personal factors come into play. Heavy hands?...maybe you need higher string tension. Beginner?...maybe try low tension. Beginner with heavy hands?...soooo many factors!!
For flamenco, I would say that the best string for anyone is the string that provides good projection and balance, good ligado and sustain, can stay in tune up high on the fretboard, and has a fairly long life (subject to the amount of playing you do).
If you want to find the best string for you and your guitar, whoever you may be, practice a lot and listen to your instrument. The guitar will tell you what she wants, but you have to listen!!!

[meeuw]

Hello folks, i am fairly new on this forum.

Have 5 classical guitars at home (cheap and some second hand), have put several different strings on them.

I have used the following; D'Addario EJ45, Savarez 540R, La bella 2001 and Luthier set 20.

Mine conclusion is that the same string could make a different sound on an different guitar. Don't use just one type or brand, let your self free and try them all. Give it some days for the strings to get set, the wood to find the right vibration and your fingers to get the know the strings.
And also record your playing sometimes feeling and sound differ.

saludos Alejandro Gaviota

[rumbafied]

I had some D'Addario EJ45's in normal tension put in today and will see how they sound/play - thanks for the recommendation for these. I was always suspicious on how the 2001 La Bella "G" string sounded. It doesn't sound that great in my opinion, perhaps I'll try to locate a wound version soon, once I figure out how to install a string (see my other thread I started about re-stringing..)