strings too bright

[tuftyrock]

hi all i am considering changing the make of strings i buy , and would welcome any input from you guys.
i have for the last few years always bought d`addario strings and until recently been very satisfied with them
but the last 6 or seven sets i have used have been very bright and i don`t like the tone .
i usually get 11s for the strat i play shads songs on and 9s or 10s for my other strat [easier to bend the strings]
i have not changed anything on my guitars they have the same pickups set up etc and i am still using the same amps as before and the same settings.
it is the strings that appear to be brighter. i suppose it could be my ears but other people have commented that my guitars sound more trebly than normal.
i was wondering if anybody has any suggestions i have tried fender strings in the past and didn`t like them i have also tried ernie ball and rotosound.
could anybody tell me if newtone strings are any better and if so what gauges or does anyone have any other suggestions .
i play and practice the guitar about 18 to 20 hours a week and usually change the strings about every six weeks.

i have tried changing the amp settings and changing the eq on the units but still doesn`t sound right so have reverted back to the original settings.
thanks tuftyrock.

[Deleted]

buy the pure nickel wound strings like pyramid , fender ,d`addario etc , they are a warmer tone than nickel coated , or you can put flat wounds on

[philc]

Unless you know what flatwounds sound like don't experiment with your money. In the early 60's quite a lot of UK new guitars came with them on, I remember it well, one of the first things you did was change them to round wounds. There was a discussion some time ago about whether Hank used them on the early tunes, I fitted a set to a Strat just as an experiment, the tone, string buzz etc is not the same as roundwounds.

Phil

[peterbower]

Tufty
I had the same problem, well it wasn't a problem just what choice to make. After many guitar set ups over the years I have got to know what most strings sound like. D,addario round wound nickel plated on hex core were bright, no question. That also goes for quite a few other strings makes with the same spec, however, I found from experience that a pure nickel round wrap on round core were the warmest, a good example is the Newtone 'Electric Masters', fabulous string in my view but hey, it may not be for every one. Good old Fender pure nickel 150'S are also pretty warm as are the 250's. DR 'Pure Blues' pure nickel wrap on round core are also quite warm. Most other strings seem to fall into the middle of the road for tone so I won't mention brands, one man's poison-- as they say!! My suggestions are from my experience and I have to say that I have in no way used every string available.

[baz]

Hi,,,,I go with Dave D....Dads Pure Nickel........but cheap they ain't

Baz

I'm also with Phil.......I wouldn't go for flats............great for a bass player but not lead

[somebodyelseuk]

You want Elixirs.
I prefer D'addarios, but Elixir will sound the way you want.

Edit: Just occurred to me... check the tone controls are working (especially if the bridge pickup is wired through one). The capacitor might have gone?

[tuftyrock]

hi thanks for all your suggestions will probably try the newtone electric masters first .
the tone controls on the guitars are not the problem my guitars havn`t got tone controls on the bridge pickup and i doubt that both guitars would develop a fault at the same time especially as one is 10 years older than the other one.
it is definately the strings .
thanks tuftyrock

[Darryl]

Hi,

I've just replaced D'Adarrio 11-48 (wound 3rd)with Pyramid Nickel Classics 11-50 (wound 3rd)pure nickel wire wound. Great sound. Still have some bite but not bright like the D'A's.

Probably not for heavy metal but Eddie Floyd's Knock on Wood sounds good as does Shadows & country.

Had to wind in the bolts a bit to increase vib. spring tension but no adjustment to any other settings.

Not too expensive - £7.60ish so worth a try.

I also replaced the D.A's (10-46) on my Burns double 6 with Ernie Ball 12 string slinky 8-40. IMO sound much better.

I do use a valve amp that I built myself & tweaked to suit me which may make a difference.

Rgds

Darryl

[bazmusicman]

Hi Tufty, I'm with Peter Bower on this one, Newtone Electric Masters 11-52 round core.