anyone ever use silk and steel strings?

[fiddlehead207]

i'm looking for an older/warmer (gut sound) on my om-03 mt.  i've also thought of trying flat tops, which are polished. obviously i'll just have to try them to know. but i thought its free to ask around first before i drive and buy one of each to try them out. thanks.

[lw216316]

I did one time many years ago. They sounded so ' dead ' I did not try them again.
Maybe they are better quality now...
- Larry

[Novalis]

The only set I liked was the John Pearse "silks" set. It's not a true silk and steel but very similar.

[Queequeg]

silk/steel: terrible! 

[gtrplayer]

I tried some D'Addarios silk and steel once but found they were too quiet for me.  And if I recall correctly they didn't last very long.  To get a mellower sound I adjust my playing so that my fingers are just over the soundhole ( I play fingerstyle).  A classical guitarist will get a myriad of tones simply from positioning of the hand and string attack.

[bearsville0]

I like them on my S&P parlor, but not on my L03

[unclrob]

I've used them on my Guild 12 string every now and then,mostly due to how my arthritic hands were feeling.I do have a couple of clients that swear by them and will use nothing else.I say try them for yourself and then make a judgement.

[pennerblue]

I am using John Pearse Silk and PB (Med/Lights) on my FIII Hog Top and love them.  I don't hear the dreaded lack of tone that others complain about.  They are just slightly mellower and I really suggest giving them a try.  Ironically, I was just going to start a new post on this subject and you beat me to it.

Someone posted about this a few years ago and included the link to the following review:
http://www.maurysmusic.com/john_pearse_silks___todd_s_review

I haven't tried any other brand of silks yet (GHS, Markley, Martin, etc.), and as much as I love to experiment with strings I likely will.  But I REALLY like the JPs.

Keep in mind, my hog top is brand new with a bone saddle, which could make it much brighter than an older guitar.  I really like the mellower sound.

A compromise would be Martin Marquis PBs which have a silk wrapping at the ball end of the string.  I am VERY surprised at how much mellower they sound than other PB strings.

For $15 you could try both.

I tried GHS Vintage Bronze strings which are supposed to be more mellow on a Silver Oak and a Rosewood dread and didn't care for them, but they might sound good and to your liking on the hog top.

Enjoy.

[RoundLakeDT]

Only tried silk & steel once (forget the brand)... was at a weeklong guitar jam a few years back and my fingers were really hurting... went to local store looking for lighter strings to ease the pain... figured I'd try the silk & steel.  Owner cautioned me that these might not be exactly what I wanted

Anyway, I string them up and manage to snap the G string as soon as I get into a heavy riff.  I'm not one to snap strings otherwise, so I just figured they weren't for me.  They did have a lot lower tension than what I'm used to (light/medium), had an extralight kind of feel to them

I think on the right guitar, where you were looking for a groovy kind of feel, these could be right.  But perhaps not for aggressive playing, I think

[ncognito]

I've never tried silk and steel. but based on some of your responses, it's not lilkely that i would care for them since I tend at times to dig in somewhat agressively at times with my nails.  Everybody's different though so check out the s  & s and let us know your verdict. 

         DAVE   

[Blue in VT]

Silk and steels have there place but that place is not on my MT...YMMV.  I use them and silk and bronze strings (which I like better...GHS I think) on my old Harmonys that have neck issues....the lower tension is nice for now until I get their necks reset....but I don't think they would have enough tension to get a Hog top really working...but they are only 5-7 bucks so why not give them a try and let your ear guide you.

Cheers,

Blue

[tadol]

Love to hear the difference - I've been intrigued with them, but not bought a set to try out yet -

Sure wish we had an easy way to post short .mp3s on the Forum - this would be a great thing to hear -

Tad

[pennerblue]

Tad-

I'll try to do this on my reverbnation site when I get a chance.  It's the end of my semester right now and I'm swamped (whihc is why I'm writing this at work at midnight on a sunday, after finishing some grading of student reports).  I have my FIII hogtop taped with stock EXPs and can do some recording with bronze and silks after I switch the tusq saddle back to the bone to match the first recording.