Just picked up a great new D2H straight from Collings! So far its really great, but i wanted some advice ons strings. It came with the D'Addario E17 Phopher Bronze (13-56). I like how ull and loud they were, and how each individual note was very lush and distinct. However, they seemed a little bright (I only left them in for 3 days...I know, I was eager to try new things!)

After that, I tried the John Pearse 700M (13-56) and they were definitely darker, but I lost that fullness, and some volume.

So anyone have any reccomendations? I wanted full/lush notes, but on the warmer side if possible.

Yes....Definitely try D'Addario EXP's!

A good Friend and upstanding Collings player told me a few months ago to do myself a favor, and try the EXP's! He said that he, and some other Collings players all agree that the EXP's are warmer and fuller.

Well, I just put a set on my D1A Varnish tonight, for the same reasons you are mentioning here........What the Heck Took me so Long!!!!!! They did it!!!!!!

I might experiment with the B and High E a little more, but Man, the Big E,A,D,G strings are exactly the sound I was searching for. Sure wish I would take advice a little quicker!!!!!

Good Luck,
Michael

PS...I know it is Blasphemy....but I put the EXP16's on, just to see...unbeleivably Full, Warm tone and volume.....But, Hey....I am just a fingerpicker!!!!!!!!!!!! What do I know!!!!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dadthrash,

oh alright, ill definitely give those a try. I just noticed I have a pack fo Elixr nanowebs lying around. Are they worth trying? I sort of remember them being quite bright.

I use EXP's on stage and off.I find not only do
the last longer with great tone,but also have stopped breaking strings when I switched to these about a year ago.

dtirer,
I played Elixir PB Nano's on my D2H for a while. I am an Elixir Nano fan, and always make them part of my string R&D, due to the benefits of reduced string noise. But I am not using them at the present moment.

For me, I like PB's on Rosewood Guitars, and did not find the Elixir PB Nano Mediums to bright for the D2H. They were full sounding, but a little thumpy and plain. The sound was liveable, just depends what your priorities are.

MRT

Pearse makes the perfect string for Collings guitars in my opinion. Once they settle in there's no hyped zing which most strings tend to have, and that's what contributes to the brightness of other strings. I find that they let the tone of the guitar come through best. But the caveat is that you have to play them a few minutes when you initially put them on because they have a little extra brilliance that makes them seem less warm. That goes away quickly and you're left with a very warm string. They definitely cannot be judged by their first 10 minutes of play.

Are they quieter than other strings? Maybe. Not to a level that I find important, especially when tied to a cannon like a D2H.

I also experience what elambo is talking about, with the John Pearse PB's. It has boiled down to John Pearse Pb's and D'Add EXP for taming my D1A Varnish.

It is too early for me to really say for sure, but I know one thing....you must give the strings time to settle in before you make a good evaluation of their performance. How long is that...well, sometimes it seems to me it can be a few hours of playing time. And if I am not playing too much, they seem to get better with each passing day.

It regularly surprises me, how they sound better as time goes on...

MRT

Re Pearse: it has long been my habit, born of the winding down process after gigs, to change strings at night, bring them to pitch, and then put the guitar away for the night. By morning, bingo. Perfection. Just an old player's experience.

sonoman,
I was told that exact procedure by a very experienced Professional Acoustic set up man....he said he always puts the strings on....then lets them sit over night. He said if you played them right away....they loose something.

Never experienced that myself, but I do change strings at night whenever possible, and then play them the next day. But if necessary, I put them on and play right away, and just play thru the Brightness, and Zing.

MRT

I change my strings out and let them sit a day then I play them for a good hour and then I consider them ready to play out.
My favorites are D'Addario EXP17's, and they last me a solid 6 months.

you must be a man of great virtue, papi. I can't get much more than a month, tops, out of my strings. I don't wait until they're roadkill dead, though, or until they won't hold pitch.

I like the Cleartones, they are not as waxy feeling as the Elixirs, and last about the same, and they are made in Texas, just like your D2.....I use custom mediums. They last, even under stage lights, where my hands sweat like crazy. I think there are a little better sounding strings, but not any that last as long
Michael