Getting ready for the String Test

[Freeman Keller]

You all have made some great comments on the Pin Test, and since I am getting ready to do the Great String Test (starting tonight) I would like your suggestions of how to make it better.

 

Here are my thoughts, but I would like any help and comments.

 

1) I am going to do it "blind". I will identify the recordings as "String 1, Day 1" but will leave the actual brand, material, etc to a footnote in the post.

 

2) I am going to continue to use the D-18 (restringing the slothead 47 times isn't really something I want to do). Based on the pin test I am going to use stock Martin plastic pins.

 

3) Was that format of recording each string played with the pick open, harmonics, and one chord strummed, followed byt the same thing with my thumb OK? Different chords? More time between notes? I thought I would add one slide (lets say the 5th string from the 2nd to the 7th fret since I use that one a lot) to see how much string squeek is present. Any thing else that would make it more meaningful?

 

4) How about the recording itself? That was a pretty generic mic pointed at the 12th fret from 7 inches - and I tried very hard to maintain the placement. The controls were completely flat on the recorder. You folks that record a lot - should I do something differently?

 

5) I'm going to record at day one and three or four. That should show the initial brightness of each string plus any changes. I will try to play that git at least an hour a day between the two recordings (is that enough?). Part of the problem here is that I would like to get it done by the second week in March when I will be going on a vacation.

 

6) The strings that I have gathered are Martin SP Bronze (80/20) and PB, Elixer Polyweb (80/20), Nanoweb (80/20) and Nanoweb (PB). I have been promised a set of DR Sunbeams (round core) - I am kind of interested in these. I know there are a lot more that would be really interesting but this is all I have time for.

 

7) In my efforts to record something for the HCAG album project I happened to record the same song on my 000-28 with an old set of Nano PB's and a new set of Poly 80/20's. I thought I would grab a quick clip of those two just for the heck of it. I might also do the same format with this guitar and my Taylor all with the same strings (sorry JT, they will be Elixers) to see what you think comparing three completely different guitars with the same strings. Heck, might even do the old Yamie (with those brassies) too. (did that make sense, what I'm saying is that I think I will duplicate the D-18 test with the 000, T314 and FG-150, all using the SAME strings).

 

Help me please

[babablowfish]

The pin test was perfect. I was able to note the time of those sections of each pin tested that I wanted to focus on and then went to that section of each file back and forth to note the differences. I would do the string test the same way. My only apprehension is that I will prefer the Elixirs and then I will have to commit sepuku.

[Queequeg]

Good plan, Freeman. What I liked about the last one was I was able to open up 2 browsers side-by-side, and play one immediately after the other. I learned to spot visually on the putfile continuum where the pluck, strum, and/or harmonic would begin and would match them one against the other.

You'll need a vacation after all this.

[Cldplytkmn]

adding the 5-2-7 slide would be a plus, IMO.

 

as far as recording set up, i'd say your set up for the pin test was pretty good and consistent. if you can leave the mic and chair set up (or mark the floor with tape) it'll keep you in the same place in the room every time.

[guitarist21]

3) Was that format of recording each string played with the pick open, harmonics, and one chord strummed, followed byt the same thing with my thumb OK? Different chords?

 

First of all... we all owe you a lot after the pin test and the fact that you're willing to do a string test too is pretty crazy. My hat's off to you.

 

Second of all, I would have liked to hear another chord or too in addition to the E. A different "cowboy chord" like G or D and maybe a bar chord. Just a suggestion.

 

Ellen

[Freeman Keller]

Thanks, Ellen. I had considered also doing a first position Am - the minor chord is a nice counterpoint to the major E. However, it is just a 5 string chord so I left is out 'cause I wanted to use all 6 strings. For the same reason I wouldn't do a C (I don't normally add that low G unless I'm doing alternate bass - it just isn't natural for me). G is a good one and I might consider something up the neck - maybe another E?

 

The other thing that I did with the pin test is let both E chords ring out until I couldn't hear it coming out of the sound hole - you can use that as a measure of sustain (assuming I hit them with the same force which is pretty unlikely).

 

I'll experiment with some other chords tonight before I record, but I might end up doing it the same way.

[bigby]

Where is Eric Johnson when you need him? Local legend has it that he can tell the difference between Eveready and Duracell batteries in his pedals; although I'm not sure if anyone's actually tested him on it.

[d03nut]

Can't wait.

 

Also, at the risk of repeating myself, I have to add that the e-leeks nano PB match up well with a "darker" sounding guitar. And that, only after about a week. TME.

 

It's great that you're doing this.

[Kap'n]

If I could make one suggestion FK, it would be to include D'Addario 80/20 strings, as I think a lot of people use them, and they would make a nice reference point for the other strings.

[jsgates]

+1 for D'Addario PBS These are a pretty common string choice.

[Freeman Keller]

In the interest in time (and because I really don't think there is a whole lot of difference between different brands) I am only going to compare the Martins in PB and Bronze. I would like to include Pearse and Newtones and D'Addarios and ... but I think it is much more important to see if there is a difference in composition (and Martin is as close to a "standard" as you can get) and then see if adding the coating makes a difference. I am going to include the DR Sunbeams (which have a round core) mainly because I am curious about them.

 

I decided to add a comparison of one set of strings on four of my guitars to see what that sounds like - and, like it or not, they will be Elixers. That will definitely be an apples to oranges test and we may not learn a thing, but it might be possible to extrapolate the data to your personal guitars.

 

The real goal here is to try to answer two questions "which is brightest/mellowest/ or whatever words you want to use" and "do Elixers suck/rock". I am thinking that I'll try to post this right before I leave on a weeks vacation (away from computers) and I'll identify them when I get back. I am really looking forward to the comments from my esteemed fellow forumites LOL

[Kap'n]

IIRC, last time I checked, some, but not all Martin strings were made in Mexico. So there might be some manufacturing differences as well.

 

Fender also has strings MIM. Hmmmmmmm.

[Freeman Keller]

 

IIRC, last time I checked, some, but not all Martin strings were made in Mexico. So there might be some manufacturing differences as well. Fender also has strings MIM. Hmmmmmmm.

 

 

I have a Martin factory tour video that show their string fab shop and it sure implied that it was at Nazareth. There is also the (urban guitar legend?) that some brands are all manufactured in the same plant.

[LaXu]

I'd like to hear more strumming because I feel that's where you'll notice the differences easiest.

 

Another thing would be how the files are shared. I'd recommend putting them into a single zip file and put that up rather than each file requiring a separate browser window or download. I'd rather listen to them through foobar2000 rather than some WMP plugin because it's much easier to jump back and forth between files and compare.

[Kap'n]

 

I have a Martin factory tour video that show their string fab shop and it sure implied that it was at Nazareth. There is also the (urban guitar legend?) that some brands are all manufactured in the same plant.

 

 

I'm not doubting that Martin does make some of their own strings. However, they did have a Musician's Friend/Martin semi-private label. IIRC, the cheap "Martin" brand strings, and the MF-cobrand were MIM.

 

I'd guess that there are probably only two or three major string manufacturers (GHS, D'Addario and ????), a handful of smaller ones, and a buttload of folks who private label strings from the big two or three. I find it very hard to believe that Ken Smith, John Pearse, Guild, Gibson, Elixer, Charlie Stringer, etc. all make their own strings.