Silk And Steel Strings

Started by stevelawsn, March 22, 2004, 07:10:26 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Print
Go Down 1
User actions
March 22, 2004, 07:10:26 PM
I have been trying out different strings on my RW parlour and I found some that really have a nice tone. They are Martin Silk and Steel .0115-.047 and the wound strings are silver colored. D'Addario makes some like these also. Nice tone and they feel almost like nano's. I had tried a set of .013-.056 phosphur bronze webstrings and they really sounded good but they were punishing my fingers. I really don't like using a pick, so the S/S feels good. The silver looks good with the headstock trim also. Anybody else have an opinion on this type of string?  :unsure:  
Larrivee D-03 (1997 model)
Larrivee LS-05
Larrivee 00-05
March 25, 2004, 11:25:07 AM #1
I have used Silk and Steels over the years and I feel they give a sweet but compressed sound, with regards to dynamic range, to any guitar I've had them on. They are of such a light gauge that any forceful attack will create a buzz, especially on a short scaled Parlor.  If one increases the height of the string to eliminate the buzzing, you will probably hurt the intonation.  If you have a light touch or you don't play enough to create a thick callous, then I believe Silk and Steels can be a desirable alterative.  
Bob
April 05, 2007, 03:13:15 PM #2
What exactly are the benefits/reasons folks use Silk and Steel strings?  :?
Guitars: Larrivee P-05; National Resphonic Style 2 Squareneck;      National Resophonic 12-fret "B"; Dupont MD-50;
Lazy River Weissenborn; Robert Sayers custom flat-top;
Cervantes Crossover; Todd Korup banjo-uke; McSpadden dulcimer;
PRS 22 semi-hollow ltd.; PRS DC3
Amplification: RA-400; Rivera Venus 3
April 05, 2007, 03:28:27 PM #3
they will be great for parlor sized or O sized guitars. easy onthe fingers and for figner picking, they are just that, "silky"....still, the tone is kind of mealy compared to a good light guaged 80/20 or phosphor bronze. as a matter of fact, we use only D'addario PB 12s on our 0-16NY. though the silk and steel were suggested by tthe shop owner, i just found them too easy and a bit on the blah side of string tone....
Woody

2006 L-03-WL
1963 Martin 0-16NY(wife's)
April 05, 2007, 03:54:27 PM #4
Quote from: woodruff on April 05, 2007, 03:28:27 PM
they will be great for parlor sized or O sized guitars. easy onthe fingers and for figner picking, they are just that, "silky"....still, the tone is kind of mealy compared to a good light guaged 80/20 or phosphor bronze. as a matter of fact, we use only D'addario PB 12s on our 0-16NY. though the silk and steel were suggested by tthe shop owner, i just found them too easy and a bit on the blah side of string tone....

Very interesting, woodruff! Do you think that using the liight guage strings as opposed to the recommended silk&steel will cause any harm to that delicate old guitar? (One that I will be buying shortly as you know)

Cheers,
Lyle
FIII LS-03 IS/Hog on the way

OM-01 (For Sale soon, anyone interested?)
Republic Guitars Resolian (for slide)
A bunch of harmonicas
April 06, 2007, 10:53:20 PM #5
When I went to extra lites on my Seagull,  .011's ,  there was not enough tension to pull the neck to a proper releif.  Truss rod adjustments could not compesate and allow the neck to assume a proper arc.  dreaded 14th fret 'ski jump' hump.   Went back to .012 lites and all balance was restored after the neck settled back in a few days later..

I wonder if the really lite silk and steel's have enough tension to avoid this same complication  ??


ds
L-03 BlackWood..... "Pluck"
OM-03- MT Forum #14/17
F-III IS/Hog #63/78....SOLD
Seagull Artist Folk
Pono and Kanile'a Tenor Ukulele's
The real Day Sailer...1966 Day Sailer..the boat, not the person
April 24, 2007, 03:04:11 PM #6
Quote from: woodruff on April 05, 2007, 03:28:27 PM
easy on the fingers and for figner picking, they are just that, "silky"....still, the tone is kind of mealy compared to a good light guaged 80/20 or phosphor bronze. as a matter of fact, we use only D'addario PB 12s on our 0-16NY. though the silk and steel were suggested by the shop owner, i just found them too easy and a bit on the blah side of string tone....
+1
I do not like that silk and steel :nanadance
I do not like the way they feel :nanadance
I do not like the silky tone :nanadance
So to the landfill they were thrown. :nanadance

thank you.
thank you very much ladies and gentlemen
:humour:


April 24, 2007, 06:33:30 PM #7
I used to use Silk & Steels, they were all the rage in the 60's.
Today I find them washed out.
I DO still use them on my camping Applause plastic backed guitar. They are the only string that does sound tinny.
I tried them once on the Bay T, but they just produced no sound.
They are easy on the fingers and are what some folks are looking for.
I recommend them for anyone looking to mellow out their guitar.
SD-60 SBT
O-50 TSB
OM-03 Koa
D-09 12 string
Gibson-J50
Gibson Blues King
A gaggle of ukes
April 25, 2007, 07:55:23 AM #8
I tried Silk and Steels hoping to ease my fingers into steel strings after only playing nylon. First off the g string snapped before I had them all on and had to order a single string online (from a different manufacturer), I was hoping the sound would be clear but less ringing and a mellow tone that might support playing classical reportoire on a steel string. BUT, the sound just wasn't right for me. Just soft all around.

I have a set of John Pearse Silk's waiting to go next. These got a good review from Maury's music. I thought they'd be worth a try. See the review below.

http://www.maurysmusic.com/john_pearse_silks___todd_s_review
If it sounds good, it is good.

April 25, 2007, 01:04:07 PM #9
I tried them once, Hey-DA-Dit.
Bland for my ear, but there is a hat for every head, that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.
Larrivee LS-10 Custom "Jesse"
Larrivee 000-50 "Emma"
Larrivee 00-50 "Dublin"
Larrivee 00-60 "Rose"
Larrivee L-03 Koa "Hula"
Martin 5-18 ('57) "Tink"
Banjitar  "Plinky"
Baby Taylor "Lichious"
Taylor GC-5 E
Oscar Schmidt OU-5 concert uke "Abalone & Cheese"
Makai MT-70 tenor uke "Kimme"
Martin M3 Soprano Uke "LJ"
A couple non descript cl
April 28, 2007, 08:06:48 PM #10
Hi Cowgirlie, hows the new addition now you two have had chance to get acquainted. Hope you are having as much fun as I am with the L05. John
God is Good
Larrivee L09, L05, L05 MT, P 09, OM 03 MT 12 string
Hofner Committe Thin 1962
Musicman Albert Lee (blue)
ditto in red but hard tail
Silhouette Special
April 28, 2007, 09:01:25 PM #11
Quote from: Queequeg on April 24, 2007, 03:04:11 PM
I do not like that silk and steel
I do not like the way they feel
I do not like the silky tone
So to the landfill they were thrown.

My daughter is 7 months old and we are reading to her a lot. My favorite books? Dr Suess !!!
And... of course... posts by   :bowdown: Queequeg!
"The barrier to knowledge is the belief that you have it"

2006 Larrivee LV-10 MR   1980 Les Paul Custom Natural   2008 Larrivee LV-03-12   1998 Carvin LB75 Koa Bass
May 04, 2007, 11:01:57 AM #12
I discovered Silk and Steel strings in 1973 for my old Yamaha 12 String guitar. The lower tension worked well with a 12 string. My problem with them was they went dead rather quickly.
May 04, 2007, 12:38:03 PM #13
Quote from: bearsville0 on April 25, 2007, 07:55:23 AM
I have a set of John Pearse Silk's waiting to go next. These got a good review from Maury's music. I thought they'd be worth a try. See the review below.

http://www.maurysmusic.com/john_pearse_silks___todd_s_review
I've got these JP Silk's on my ladder-braced 000-size guitar and I can't see myself using anything else in the near future. They feel and sound great. I actually bought a few sets online after reading that review from maurysmusic.com and was impressed from the get-go. I've had the same set on for over a month and they still sound great. There is no way I would ever put them on my dread, though.
Guitars: Larrivee P-05; National Resphonic Style 2 Squareneck;      National Resophonic 12-fret "B"; Dupont MD-50;
Lazy River Weissenborn; Robert Sayers custom flat-top;
Cervantes Crossover; Todd Korup banjo-uke; McSpadden dulcimer;
PRS 22 semi-hollow ltd.; PRS DC3
Amplification: RA-400; Rivera Venus 3
May 04, 2007, 12:57:10 PM #14
This one's just a personal preference issue. If you like them and they meet your needs, then it's good. I personally tried them once. Gave it couple of days to see if I'd adjust, then ripped them off.
I thought they killed tone. Seen good player who liked them.
10-1614 more than a number, it's body and soul.
May 04, 2007, 01:48:10 PM #15
Quote from: flatlander on May 04, 2007, 12:57:10 PM
This one's just a personal preference issue. If you like them and they meet your needs, then it's good. I personally tried them once. Gave it couple of days to see if I'd adjust, then ripped them off.
I thought they killed tone. Seen good player who liked them.

I've got a buddy that plays a Takamine copy of a Martin NY O-16 (small guitar) he uses extra light silk & steel. The guitar sounds awesome, can't imagine how it would sound with some real strings on it. He does a lot of finger picking and it a very good player.
SD-60 SBT
O-50 TSB
OM-03 Koa
D-09 12 string
Gibson-J50
Gibson Blues King
A gaggle of ukes
May 04, 2007, 04:28:15 PM #16
Quote from: PortHueneme on May 04, 2007, 01:48:10 PM
I've got a buddy that plays a Takamine copy of a Martin NY O-16 (small guitar) he uses extra light silk & steel. The guitar sounds awesome, can't imagine how it would sound with some real strings on it. He does a lot of finger picking and it a very good player.
The guy I know that uses them is a finger picker as well / teaches.
10-1614 more than a number, it's body and soul.
May 04, 2007, 09:51:27 PM #17
I bought a Martin D28.  It had medium Martin SP's on it.  I thought it sounded brash and tinny and it seemed hard to play.  I tried the d'adario mediums which played better but the tone still was not there....  the bass just wasn't right.   I thought about the silk and steel but felt that was going too far so I tried the Martin finger picking strings.  They are available in light or medium.  They're a steel core with a layer of silk over that, then the wire is wrapped around it.   The basses are much nicer and I can still get bright tones depending on the pick I use.  The best part is the ease of play, the silk makes them less rigid and they play like lights but have the volume and tone of the mediums...

Might be something to try............. :thumb
Gary

Larrivee L-03 MT 
Martin J 40
Epiphone DR500M
Aspen AD-38 (1978)
May 06, 2007, 09:06:04 PM #18
On vintage guitars without trus rods - silk and steel are the general rule - i have three of them and its suicide to consider putting anything on them but Silk and steel --- when they get put away for some time - I take the tension down ( just as a precaution - especially when your dealing with the 1850's - to early 1900 )
May 06, 2007, 09:17:55 PM #19
Quote from: gsammy52 on May 04, 2007, 09:51:27 PM
I bought a Martin D28.  It had medium Martin SP's on it.  I thought it sounded brash and tinny and it seemed hard to play.  I tried the d'adario mediums which played better but the tone still was not there....  the bass just wasn't right.   I thought about the silk and steel but felt that was going too far so I tried the Martin finger picking strings.  They are available in light or medium.  They're a steel core with a layer of silk over that, then the wire is wrapped around it.   The basses are much nicer and I can still get bright tones depending on the pick I use.  The best part is the ease of play, the silk makes them less rigid and they play like lights but have the volume and tone of the mediums...

Might be something to try............. :thumb

You might want to switch brands - Sometimes on Martins the best srtings for them are not Martin - You might find a better match with D'adarrioPB lights for your D-28 - they have alonger life to them and will be a tab bit easier to play - you can also buy them in three packs and save some money !
User actions
Print
Go Up 1
Powered by EzPortal