gshall - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:05:22

I've tried a variety of strings, mostly light weight, and all of them were pretty good. I'm a little partial to the brass wound 4th; my finger slides over it a little easier. I also really like the med/light combination Bill Keith strings. Last night I put on my first set of Earl Scruggs signature strings. Wow! What a difference! I hit notes easier and clearer than I did with other strings. They cost a little more than twice as much as the other strings and I can't imagine why they would be better, but they seem to be and I'm happy with them.

"Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy." - Andy Devine in Andy's Gang

Jerry

rwkuta - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:15:00

I used them before and I thought they were very good strings too. I use JD Crowe GHS's now

"Obsession is a great subsitute for talent" Steve Martin
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists...5033&alid=-1
www.myspace.com/rwkuta

chrome - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:21:23

I'm with you rwkuta....Some reason the GHS Crowes just really suits me and my banjo.

'07 Gibson Granada SS

Tomcat - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:32:17

I really liked the Scruggs strings but our local shop doesn't carry Gibson any longer, so I'm still happy with the GHS Crowe


www.banjomafia.com

Just Bill - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:36:11

I think different banjos respond better/worse to different strings--one banjo sounds better with GHS, another with American Banjo's cryogenic, etc. I think it depends on the banjo, its owner/player's ear and how they pick the banjo.

That being said, I have tried all manner of strings and gauges on my banjo. Years ago, I determined the Gibson Earl Scruggs Light Gauge strings worked best for me on my banjo. I still try other strings on occasion (American Banjo's cryogenic having been my latest experiment), but so far, I've always returned to the Gibson Earl Scruggs Light. Again, that's just me, my ear, on my banjo and how I play. "Your mileage may vary." ;^)

Just my two little pennies.

Bill Breen

http://home.earthlink.net/~billybreen/

"If you ain't different, you ain't normal!"

laceyth9 - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:46:54

I've tried a ton of different string too. I keep coming back to GHS Crowe studio strings (9.5, 11, 12, 20, 9.5). However, I currently have a set of GHS medium lights on that I really like too (9, 11, 13, 20, 9). I just took off a set of cryo strings that were (10, 11, 13, 20, 10) and I didn't like them. Quality wise, you will be hard-pressed to beat GHS. I've heard many professionals say they've used them for many years.

Tim Lacey (Chief #5)
www.thelaceyfamilybluegrass.com

davey - Posted - 03/21/2008:  15:57:18

Gibson ES light are the best strings I have used in over 20 years playing. If you have not tried them... I suggest you do !

Davey
Gibson Art Deco 12.

beeliner - Posted - 03/21/2008:  17:01:59

I buy the singles at FQM. Most of them are GHS. However Mapes makes all the unwrapped strings for all companies.

beeliner- Revis Martin
Acts 16:31 [ KJV ]

murfeeman - Posted - 03/21/2008:  17:54:26

The Gibson Earl Scruggs signature strings are $4.82 at FQMS. Not too shabby.....................but you have to order enough sets to justify the shipping price.

Murfeeman
Benton, KY

Murfeeman

grm405 - Posted - 03/21/2008:  17:56:28

I recently installed a set of Gibson ES lights on my Crafters. These were rather old (purchased in 1999) but seem to be in perfect condition. They seem to work fine, about the same as the various GHS Crowe sets. I can't hear any difference. If they were the same price as the GHS I would certainly use them, but at twice the price they are overvalued by a factor of 2.

Gerry

BanjoSKP

rwkuta - Posted - 03/21/2008:  17:59:18

At least for me....the Crowe's stainless steel wound 4th string really punches out the sound. When the are fresh...... boy they sound good. That reminds me.........I gotta go change my strings. BYE.

sorry to hijack yer thread gshall

"Obsession is a great subsitute for talent" Steve Martin
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists...5033&alid=-1
www.myspace.com/rwkuta

ELWOOD - Posted - 03/21/2008:  18:10:39

YUP , I agree , I recently went with scruggs medium on my clawhammer Ramsey and found these to be exeptional. With only one wound string I fail to reason why,but excellent non the less.