Active Band Man Chats - Strings -

Today's theme is... strings!

Oh, are you going there?

Yup! The strings are a very important factor because the amp picks up the sound of the vibrated strings that you play and amplifies the sound.

That is... that's right.

When I was a guitar beginner, I didn't have many choices, but now there are so many.

What did you used to use?

Ernie Ball recommended by a classmate who taught me the guitar!

That's a standard model.

Yeah, it's still a staple. The gauges are 10-46 Regular Slinky. But when I was a student, I used to use cheap Fernandes or a music store original brand set of strings.

Agreed. My hometown was quite rural, so the strings they had at the music store were... Yamaha? There weren't many options. After I went to Osaka to go to college, there were many types of strings... I remember being happy to find D'Addario strings that I saw in a magazine. Lol

Oh, I used D'Addario, too. The ball ends are colorful and cute, aren't they?

And now, what strings do you use now?

Mostly, Elixir lately.

I see.

I first tried them because Tomoyasu Hotei used them, and I've been addicted to them ever since.

In the end, that's how you choose. Elixir strings are coated so that they don't rust easily.

Oh yeah, I only change strings a couple of times a year since I started using Elixir! Booyah!

I think that's extreme, but... maybe you originally didn't change strings often (mumble…)

Did you say something? Lol. But I feel the gorgeous sound of Elixir strings lasts long! I feel like it does! It does!

I've heard that. That's the selling point.

The gauges are still 10-46. For a while, I thought I'd switch to 09-42, but when I tried them, I felt they 10-46 are still better. I think it's also because I mainly play chords. By the way, I buy strings in bulk at Sound House! For love!

It's an important point!

How about you, Horry? What kind of strings do you use?

As I said earlier, when I was a beginner, I didn't have many choices for strings, so I couldn't even stick with them, but... when somebody asks me about my preference for the strings now... For me, the strings don't have that high a priority for me in making a good sound... It's more important that it's easy to buy them.

Ah, that's important.

It's important that they're available at a local music store when we're on tour. So D'Addario strings are still a standard for me. I also used Ernie Ball for a while. Ah, but lately, I can easily buy the strings at Sound House, so I'm trying out various types here and there. The gauges are... thinner than before. Is it maybe because of my physical issue? Lol

Oh, by the way, Steinbergers require special strings, right?

Yup. Only double ball end strings, which have ball ends on both ends of the string, can be used... I installed adapters to all of my Steinbergers so that I can use ordinary strings. After all, the double ball ends are not something that you can find everywhere, and they're expensive as well... You can try various strings with the adapter.

Different strings for fretless bass?

Ah, yes. I use flat wound strings for fretless. They're a little slippery, unlike the general (?) round wound strings. The flat wound strings sound more subdued, so I think they go well with the fretless.
Also, with round wound strings, the fretless fingerboard can easily get damaged. And, there are fewer gaps than in round wound strings, so they have the advantage of being less likely to get dirty and lasting longer.

I see, the world of strings is also deep. I also want to try out various strings again! Such as flat wound guitar strings! Yes, and everything?

Is for love!