Re-string: LP Black

This is my LP Classic, a guitar that I should not have bought because it's black. I've had it with black & sunburst finishes. I don't fancy these colours any more. I find them over-hyped but this one was on a clear-out at Swee Lee's I12 branch back in 2020 & it's an opportunity not to be missed. I particularly like the slim taper neck carve & the '61 humbuckers but only in this guitar. Somehow, the '61s sound good here especially for distortion. The slim taper neck profile is Gibson's take on a fast neck but it's nowhere near what Ibanez has to offer when it comes to 'slim'. This was played last weekend & had a re-string done.

I'm still wondering how dirt got to this part of the bridge pickup mounting ring. During play, this part was clearly blocked by the strings so how do those get there? Hmm...

The only imperfections in this guitar are the tooling marks at the fretboard edges. I'm just showing one part of it. In my opinion this guitar should be a B-Stock. 

This is a common issue with LPs sporting pickguards. The nut leaves a dent on the body but it's invisible, of course, unless you remove it like I did here for cleaning. The nut was covered with sponge & taped up to prevent further physical aggravation. Problem solved.

Strings of choice for this re-string episode - DR's Veritas. DRs are for those of us who are aggressive pickers, not for those who thrive on bends. Metalheads will enjoy DR. My Dad likes DR bass strings, that's what made me check them out.

Re-string midweek - Veritas goodness

It's midweek already, time just zips by when you are pre-occupied with stuff. I'm a little pre-occupied with medical bills, coming fast & hard. The P20 here is the perfect distraction for that bother. I'm just thankful that PRS makes parlor-sized acoustics for people like me who struggles to handle a full-sized acoustic guitar; not the scale length but the body outline. 

I'm a DR convert in the mean time. The Veritas strings sound very crispy; it's that slinky feel when one experiences Ernie Ball strings for the first time but this is the acoustic version of that ecstasy. Also, they last longer than the average acoustic set without being outer coated in any way. They are loud as well, no idea what took place at the factory but they manifest a superior volume projection. DR strings are available at Davis GMC.

DuRability

I somehow knew I had this lying around in the house somehow. I bought colour variations to match some guitars but this blue one was (again) stashed away in a guitar bag somewhere & forgotten. In fact, it's now discovered about a year later. OK so the strings were coated to begin with & upon opening the pack, everything was as good as new. My GRGR010 happened to require a fresh set so it now has a proud blue set to see things through. I have ceased buying DR colour coated sets as I simply do not see the need for them in the mean time but I still buy the 10.5 set & occasionally, the flatwounds. You can get DRs at Davis GMC. 

Flattening Sunday

So I had this stashed away in a bag pocket somewhere. It had been there since late 2018. It's past mid-2019 & the DRs are still good to go. Some manufacturers make it a point for their products to last while others ride on their reputation & gave the durability factor a sub-standard treatment. 

Flatwounds aren't bright & crunchy, they are mellow-sounding, lots of warmth & the winning reference for jazz dweebs. I'm not a jazzer by any means but I enjoy that fast, slippery feeling on some days. They also make tapping a more enjoyable experience as all strings across the neck feel the same; no grooves under your finger tips for scratchy noises to happen. They last longer too, a definite plus for many of us.

Neons!

DR Neon strings are here (@ Davis GMC). They cost as much as the colour coated strings- $18 per pack. Brother Ijau, if you are reading this, the GREEN packet is on the way to you...

Glow!

If being seen is your concern, especially in dark performance venues (not to mention being forgotten as the highlight had always been your vocalist...), DR's new NEON string range might help.

It's not available here yet, I'm awaiting its debut rather eagerly- attention seeking, eh? Not quite. It's the technological revision which attracts me. The manufacturer promises improved durability (9x more lasting) compared to its current coated set (I'm using them in a few of my guitars).

Yellow + red

Stop rubbing your eyes. Yes, those are red & yellow strings in my Ibanez RGR08. I have some boxes of coated DR strings at home- wonder if a combination of colours in the same guitar would make me play better. Hmm...

DR: Extra Stringlife

DR's Extra Stringlife is a fluid-based polymer coating which acts as a blanket for your strings, acting against the elements, to promote your string's 'life' so to speak.

It's not cheap, $16 per bottle (the size of an average string cleaning fluid) but it lasted me more than half a year.

Does it work? Yes, it helps prolong that fresh, out-of-the-pack feel provided you wipe your strings down after each play.

Do strings rust? The coating itself has its useful life, once it wears out, strings deteriorate like they always do.

So why buy it? If you wish for your strings to last a little longer, more importantly, if you want that freshness to last a little longer, it's quite worth the asking price. Which would you endure:

• $16 for a bottle of string protection fluid (which you can re-use),
• or $18 for a fresh set of coated strings each time?

Coated!

Yes, I do install coated strings in some of my guitars. I have the above DR red set...

...in my RG1550. So what's the big deal? Coated strings last longer, they would not corrode till the coating wears off. People are wary of coated strings because these affect feel- not quite. the coating here is minimal, it won't bump your .009 wire much thicker, it's negligible. However, people still feel the difference, some said the coating restrict movements but if one's accustomed to the feel, it's not a hindrance. A friend also told me the coating restricts (pinch) harmonics triggering. I've not encountered this problem thus far; the fact that my gain/drive/distortion is always at overdose levels might be the assurance.

The real setback here would be the cost of these strings; $18 per pack, that could get me 3 packs of D'Addarios...

Also, for us dweebs who grind our strings, the coating over the picked length disappears more rapidly than the bits over at the fretted section.

DR strings are available @ Davis GMC.