[PlazaAlta]

Hi all - I would like to hear your thoughts on above topic i.e. what are the advantages and/or disadvantages of one versus the other. My teacher is a big fan of High Tension (Hannabach) which I've tried and they're amazing on my cheap classical, although pricey and have a short life. I am now using Luthier 20 Medium Tension which are very good but again I'm finding a short life for the "bordones". I don't play much (30 mins to 1 hour a day; 2 hours a day in the weekends) but find it's expensive to keep up with the requirements of having to replace the "bordones" so frequently. Specially for an aficionado like me (lower-intermediate level).

Also, I found that the High Tension require more work on both hands and not very sure if they're worth the effort as I am comfortable with the Medium Tension at present. I know that each guitarist must find his own comfort zone but would like to know your experiences on this matter.

Thanks

[at_leo_87]

it really depends on your hands and your guitar. but this is what i have found...

higher tension strings feel better for the right hand. the effect on left hand fretting is negligible if your action is good except vibrato is a bit more difficult. higher tension strings might be good if you have a thick top since it'll put more energy into it. this might translate to more volume. but i find that normal tension strings gives you a wider palette of sounds, they're more "manipulative."

i switch back and forth from normal to high to extra high.

but again, it really depends on your hands, your guitar and your preferences. keep in mind different companies have different ideas of what normal tension is.

[PlazaAlta]

Thanks, Leo - I have found that it took me a few days to get used to Hannabach 827 HT coming from normal tension but after that, I forgot they were High Tension.

I think my guitar prefers the High Tension ones though. I may try Luthier 50 HT next... strings can become an obsession though and at the end of the day, it's all about practising and playing

If you can read Spanish, have a look at this interview with Gerardo Nunez (at the very end of the interview)... he apparently switches string brands quite regularly but doesn't say anything about tension. Crónicas - Entrevista a Gerardo Núñez -Norberto Torres Cortés

[PlazaAlta]

Just to add that Gerardo Nunez says, which is interesting, that the quality of the strings is generally poor and thus he moves from one to the other without much concern...

[Payul]

It is allways difficult to find the strings you like, also in time can you get a bit stronger, or if you play a lot in noisy places ( performing in restaurants /cafe's) or play a lot for dance classes, your attaque can become heavier.
So, if you have your flamenco guitar quite low ( 3mm at fret 12 6th string, or maybe even lower) medium tension can give more buzz than you want, and you maybe want to go from medium tension to high tension.

DÁddario EJ46 I use for a long time, it keeps the sound of the guitar clean as it is. So if you want to try another brand I can suggest that one.

But if you are content with medium tension I would stay on medium, it plays easyer and the benefit at-leo-87 say also counts!

Payul

[Frontera]

I use only medium tension. Black La Bella trebles and D'Addario basses.

[PlazaAlta]

Thanks for the suggestions

After a couple of weeks playing with Luthier Popular Supreme 20 (MT) I'm terribly dissapointed. The 4th string broke and I find the set having lost a lot of sound plus the 3rd string is kind of thick and produces a dull and hollow sound I don't like. I know Tomatito has used them but they just don't work for me and my guitar.

I've now ordered La Bella 820B and Royal Classics Flamenco HT. Let's see how I get on with those. I must say the ones I've enjoyed most so far are the Hannabach 827 HT but they're pricey (I get them at approx €14 a set) and don't last long.

Has anybody played the Royal Classics? Serranito and Carlos Piñana are among their users which may not mean much anyway. At the end of the day, each string brand has some star guitarist endorsing it...

[Frontera]

PA, I had same problem with Hannabach. Royal Classics wear to fast for the price IMO. The La Bella basses wear quickly. I can wear them out in about 4 hours. The trebles seem to last for months. My playing style has a lot to do with that. The only basses I found that will last are the D'Addario. They sound a little metallic at first but quickly mellow and seem to hold their tone very well. For wear and economics I found this combo the best. I order them in treble sets and bass sets. Strings by mail offers them this way. You might experiment with mixing different brands until you find the sound and durability that fits your ears and budget.

Many famous players don't mind if strings wear fast as by endorsing them they get them free.

[PlazaAlta]

I believe there's even a few famous guitarists endorsing X brand but not using it or so my 'maestro' tells me. Nothing wrong with that though.

I've been trying to get in touch with Strings by Mail to get a quote on shipping (I live in Ireland) - they've only come back with a question on my town of residence - as if Ireland was big In Europe, there's a new(ish) site called the LordoftheStrings.com at hyper-competitive prices and minimal shipping costs within Europe but don't sell basses/trebles only sets though.

In Ireland, there's very little about strings for flamenco and they're ridiculously overpriced. I'll get some next time I go back home though (Spain) but in certain places strings are a rip-off too. Best way to get them is online.

[AntonioM]

Try D'Addario Classical Guitar strings, EJ45C, medium tension. These have the composite bases. These strings last and last and improve with a few hours of playing. They are the loudest most powerful strings in normal tension. They are much easier on the left hand as well.