I purchased full dozen bulk sets of both Muscians Friend and JustStrings versions. Sent a set of the MF versions to Greg Booth for testing, and gave a couple of sets to local reso pickers for their opinions. I have tried two sets of each now. Gauges are 056, 046, 036, 028 in phosphor-bronze and 018 and 017 in plain steel. (Tried a 019 and a 020 for the second string but sounded kind of "thunky" and too loud compared to the rest of the set on my W/S Maple).
The strings look physically the same (color, winding, ball shape, etc.). The packaging is slightly different in that the MF string plastic sleeves are heat sealed on both ends. The JS sleeves are folded over and taped with label at one end. Each sleeve has a silica gel pack to absorb moisture. The MF strings worked out to about $3.50 with shipping, the JS strings are $4.05 per set with their standard shipping charges.
I have not seen any differences in the strings in terms of tone or useful life. The JS 028 string may be "burnished" by the bar faster than the MF version, but I am not certain. I put great weight to Greg's comments, however, because he puts the strings to greater demands than me and my local picking friends do. It appears that there are some quality variations in the JS strings based on Greg's experience with the 028's.
So, the Musicians Friend strings are somewhat lower in cost, especially if you order enough other stuff to get the free shipping. They appear to hold up better to more aggressive picking styles. Many of us may not notice a difference, so MF seems to win based on cost and quality combined. Your mileage may vary....
Michael Barton :
from
HMM- Let me think about it. with
posts since12.07.2004...
Sad to say the just strings bulk set failed the test. I'm bummed. The 3rd string was going before the end of the 2nd 45 minute set. Long gone during the third. I think I'm just going to have to take my medicine on move back to the 1650s at the higher price. I guess I'll keep the JS sets for when I know I only need an hour or so out of them. Too bad. They never went that quick a few years ago when I used then.
Live and learn.
Michael Barton :
from
HMM- Let me think about it. with
posts since12.07.2004...
Update. Wednesday I put another fresh set on of the Just strings bulk. I had a 45-60 minutye practice - thyen a 7 song set at a club. The third was totally shot before the end of the set.
That's the bad news. The good news is that a dozen sets of GHS 1650s arrived in the mail the other day. The just strings sets will be relegated to when I know I don't need more than a set out of them - or when I am doing string changes on lots of guitars of a reso gathering.
Greg Booth :
from
Alaska with
posts since12.03.2005...
Update. Wednesday I put another fresh set on of the Just strings bulk. I had a 45-60 minutye practice - thyen a 7 song set at a club. The third was totally shot before the end of the set.
That's the bad news. The good news is that a dozen sets of GHS 1650s arrived in the mail the other day.
I'm with you Michael. Where did you order your 1650s and for how much? I need some good news.
Michael Barton :
from
HMM- Let me think about it. with
posts since12.07.2004...
I got them from Beard for $5.70. There is cheaper out there (back on this thread a few posts from MitchC). But I wanted to support Beard, and knew they would come quick (took one day shipping). Wanted to be sure I had them before I head to Nashville next week.
MitchC :
from
Ventura County, CA with
posts since06.08.2008...
I'm going through the JS .028s like crazy. I put one on yesterday and it played horribly out of tune up the neck. Everything tuned up perfectly open but at the 12th fret and above the 3rd string was ridiculously flat! I took it right off and the 2nd one intonates normally. I wonder what would cause this.....? Add that to the poor longevity and JS has lost me for good. Back to my good old GHS 1650s!
I've experienced the same type of intonation problems with bulk strings from JustStrings (as well as another discount bulk string supplier). I don't know what company manufactures them for JS, but based on my personal experience and limited testing it appears either loose tolerances for the phosphor bronze wrap wire they're using allow too much variation in mass, or their winding machine has enough variation in its wrap spacing and/or wrapping tension to cause string mass per unit length to sometimes vary considerably.
BTW, if you don't clean (or replace) your strings regularly they'll eventually accumulate enough 'gunk' in between wraps in the area where you play the most to cause a similar intonation problem due to uneven mass. FWIW, if you want to quickly improve the intonation and liveliness of gunked-up strings without changing them, loosen each wrapped string a couple halftones and give it a good snap -- this will shake at least part of the built up residue from in between the wraps.
Comments
Yep it is too bad. My .028's have been good (3 sets tried)... it's the .019's that for me have been "dead" on arrival.. just dull sounding.
Best price I've been able to come up with on the GHS 1650's is here:
http://jacksmusicstore.com/catalog/guitar/strings/msc/ftd-stg-msc-i~1650-12
I use the 1600's and found the best price at Maverick music awhile back.
I purchased full dozen bulk sets of both Muscians Friend and JustStrings versions. Sent a set of the MF versions to Greg Booth for testing, and gave a couple of sets to local reso pickers for their opinions. I have tried two sets of each now. Gauges are 056, 046, 036, 028 in phosphor-bronze and 018 and 017 in plain steel. (Tried a 019 and a 020 for the second string but sounded kind of "thunky" and too loud compared to the rest of the set on my W/S Maple).
The strings look physically the same (color, winding, ball shape, etc.). The packaging is slightly different in that the MF string plastic sleeves are heat sealed on both ends. The JS sleeves are folded over and taped with label at one end. Each sleeve has a silica gel pack to absorb moisture. The MF strings worked out to about $3.50 with shipping, the JS strings are $4.05 per set with their standard shipping charges.
I have not seen any differences in the strings in terms of tone or useful life. The JS 028 string may be "burnished" by the bar faster than the MF version, but I am not certain. I put great weight to Greg's comments, however, because he puts the strings to greater demands than me and my local picking friends do. It appears that there are some quality variations in the JS strings based on Greg's experience with the 028's.
So, the Musicians Friend strings are somewhat lower in cost, especially if you order enough other stuff to get the free shipping. They appear to hold up better to more aggressive picking styles. Many of us may not notice a difference, so MF seems to win based on cost and quality combined. Your mileage may vary....
Well I'll be putting on my first set in the next couple days and then have a three set gig Saturday - so that should tell me a lot.
The 1650s held up last weekend in a 3 gig set outdoors in high heat and humidity.
Sad to say the just strings bulk set failed the test. I'm bummed. The 3rd string was going before the end of the 2nd 45 minute set. Long gone during the third. I think I'm just going to have to take my medicine on move back to the 1650s at the higher price. I guess I'll keep the JS sets for when I know I only need an hour or so out of them. Too bad. They never went that quick a few years ago when I used then.
Live and learn.
Update. Wednesday I put another fresh set on of the Just strings bulk. I had a 45-60 minutye practice - thyen a 7 song set at a club. The third was totally shot before the end of the set.
That's the bad news. The good news is that a dozen sets of GHS 1650s arrived in the mail the other day. The just strings sets will be relegated to when I know I don't need more than a set out of them - or when I am doing string changes on lots of guitars of a reso gathering.
I'm with you Michael. Where did you order your 1650s and for how much? I need some good news.
I got them from Beard for $5.70. There is cheaper out there (back on this thread a few posts from MitchC). But I wanted to support Beard, and knew they would come quick (took one day shipping). Wanted to be sure I had them before I head to Nashville next week.
Best price per pack on the GHS 1650's is at Suncreek music here: $5.24 - shipping cost reasonable and they were mailed out the next day.
http://www.suncreekmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=718
I'm all for supporting Beard though too !
Apparently the ResoNation forum drove a stampede of hungry shoppers over to SunCreek. Be forewarned.
I've experienced the same type of intonation problems with bulk strings from JustStrings (as well as another discount bulk string supplier). I don't know what company manufactures them for JS, but based on my personal experience and limited testing it appears either loose tolerances for the phosphor bronze wrap wire they're using allow too much variation in mass, or their winding machine has enough variation in its wrap spacing and/or wrapping tension to cause string mass per unit length to sometimes vary considerably.
BTW, if you don't clean (or replace) your strings regularly they'll eventually accumulate enough 'gunk' in between wraps in the area where you play the most to cause a similar intonation problem due to uneven mass. FWIW, if you want to quickly improve the intonation and liveliness of gunked-up strings without changing them, loosen each wrapped string a couple halftones and give it a good snap -- this will shake at least part of the built up residue from in between the wraps.