Guitars, classical basses, chainsaws, and bonesaws

[chronarchy]

So, I'm now the proud owner of the family guitar. There's just one problem: it's in dire need of a re-string. After fighting with the thing for about two hours last night, I have come to the conclusion that the current strings simply cannot be tuned: they are not only older than me, but frayed in places, anyway, and the sound. . . well, bagpipes

Comments

[viedansante]

I used to play tunes with a guy who owns a guitar shop on High Street. I'll send you the info.

[chronarchy]

Cool, got it, and thank you.

[acousticdryad]

I use Dean Markley strings for my guitar, about $7:
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/demavibracgu.html

Let me know if you have any questions :) I'm not a guru or anything.

[chronarchy]

Do you have a suggested gauge?

[solemn_druid]

Ernie Ball strings are really swell, in my own opinion
http://www.ernieball.com/

and under products, my personal favorites would be the Earthwood 80/20 bronze
http://www.ernieball.com/products/strings/earthwood-80-20-bronze-strings/

You can order them at Guitar Center Online, page 2 of ernie ball products:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/home/navigation?N=100005&Ntk=GCAll&Ntt=ernie+ball&Nty=1&page=2

the medium-lights are 4.89

Hope this somewhat helps :)

would you bring it sunday so i could see?

[chronarchy]

If I can fit it, yes. It also has no case, so that may pose a problem, too.

But like I said, it's a cheap guitar. It's just the "family guitar" because it's got a bit of family history (more than I do, technically, since it's older than me).

My Great Uncle Gus bought it for another (slightly more distant) relative, Dan, who never played it, so it went to my mother and now to me.

[incendiary_dan]

I have to disagree about the Ernie Ball, because the guitar strings tend to lose tuning too quickly. They're great for bass, but my experience with their guitar strings has been iffy.

[solemn_druid]

yeah, but to be fair, all your guitars are in your house, which is out in the country, you also have AC on/eventual moisture, etc., perhaps more than others. I've used EB on the Fender and the Ovation and found them WAY more able than any set i've used. Sebastian's, who's guitar gets cased WAY too much, noticed them loosing but discovered it's because there was a moisture leak in his case.

[dragynphyre]

I like nylon strings to practice on - steel strings cut the hell out of my fingers, but sound better.

[chronarchy]

Duly noted, thanks! That's a central issue I've had with these strings, too, is that they cut. They're definitely cheap steel strings.

[airthesea]

My father used to play... well, everything; including guitar.

You can have a guitar lesson and they can teach you the proper way to replace and tune strings. A good pro can teach you this in one sitting. :-)

BTW
Bagpipes are damn cool.
:-P

[chronarchy]

Bagpipes are quite cool. But they still sound like cats that have been squeezed to me :) I don't think that their rather obnoxious sound takes away from their musicality or their coolness. It just makes it more fun to poke fun at them!