Changing strings ahead of the Liverpool gig got me thinking about what an important part of my set up they are. Strings are an essential piece of kit for any guitarist and especially important to consider in slide guitar.
I use light to moderate strings for a ‘normal’ guitar set up, but there are other options better suited to slide guitar where tone is more important than the specific notes. A heavier gauge could give you better resonance and a more soulful sound. Creating different sounds can involve using different strings and tunings, and we explore these in my course, Slide Success, which can take you from complete beginner to confident slide guitarist in just 90 days.
I tend to change strings before each gig if I can. Nothing beats that beautiful, singing, new-string tone, especially on the square neck Dobro. I've been using D'addario XS strings recently, which are coated, and they seem to last a lot longer (which is a lot kinder on the wallet!). I have been getting four gigs out of them, though the G string seems to wear out after one gig, so I carry a bag full of extra G strings at all times 😁
D'addario don't do a specific resophonic set but I make up my own custom set, taking the .16 and the .18 from the D'addario EJ42 Resophonic set. Luckily I have a big tub full of these at home and I don't always change the plain strings when I change the wound strings, as the plain strings keep their tone for longer. As with any musical instrument, you will discover your preferences and favourite tricks as you go.
Which strings do you prefer? How often do you change them?