Aging New Strings

[Eagle]

Here's some acoustic samples recorded with a small diaphragm condenser from 10cm off the neck joint.

Ibanez RG5121 new strings


Gibson Les Paul new-ish strings


Ibanez GRG121DX new-lemon-aged strings



Aside from the string difference, it is interesting to hear that each guitar sounds completely different acoustically.
The lemon aged strings have zero harmonics, almost sound like rubber bands which is perfect with distortion.

Why perfect with distortion?

 

[Orvillain]

You could play Elixir, they are dead out of the pack.

Absolutely couldn't WAIT to get those off my guitar. I persevered for a few months, trying a few different packs, trying in vain to like them. But I just didn't. Hateful things.

 

[Eagle]

Absolutely couldn't WAIT to get those off my guitar. I persevered for a few months, trying a few different packs, trying in vain to like them. But I just didn't. Hateful things.

I use NYXL these days.

 

[Orvillain]

I hate the sound of new strings, particularly nickel wound strings (E,A,D), I can hear harmonics when I palm mute with high gain that should not be there.
Searching the web I was not surprised to discover that I am not alone, some people don't like the sound of new strings either and suggested a few way to age them quickly.
I'll skip the journey and tell you what works the best; fresh lemon juice from a lemon, this is 100% acid, it eats the nickel coating in minutes.
Dip two fingers in lemon juice, apply by garbing each string individually and rub across its length, the string should be wet with lemon juice, let sit for an hour.
After an hour the string will be sticky and lose its shine, now dip a cloth in water and wipe the sticky string till its smooth.
The next day the strings will be dead as disco and ready for metal, very nice!

James have you tried a fret wrap type of thing?

 

[newholland]

Here's some acoustic samples recorded with a small diaphragm condenser from 10cm off the neck joint.

Ibanez RG5121 new strings


Gibson Les Paul new-ish strings


Ibanez GRG121DX new-lemon-aged strings



Aside from the string difference, it is interesting to hear that each guitar sounds completely different acoustically.
The lemon aged strings have zero harmonics, almost sound like rubber bands which is perfect with distortion.

i mean, i know im not a high gain guy, per se- but i guess im not sure why you couldnt back down on presence or treble, or back your pickups up a bit, or even.. just back off the gain a scoch. or get rid of v30s (if youre using them)- though thats kinda the most expensive route.

i fully know yer just solving problems, and thats what we do, really... but i cant help but thinkin yer taking the most abstracted and difficult route to the end point here. i do hear ya on a lotta ring- for years as an acoustic player i fricken RAGED against the idiocy of phosphor bronze strings sounding awful tinny and bright and they were just all you could find without spending literally 4x as much for thomastiks. but i didnt have an amp.

mebbe help us contextualize this with some info about the rest of your rig and what yer doin here!

 

[James Freeman]

Why perfect with distortion?

Distortion adds a lot harmonics of its own so to eliminate various 'noises' I want a purer fundamental signal from the guitar.

James have you tried a fret wrap type of thing?

Yes, that's not it.

 

[newholland]

Distortion adds a lot harmonics of its own so to eliminate various 'noises' I want a purer fundamental signal from the guitar.


Yes, that's not it.

OH. man. go up a gauge in strings! i know it takes some adjustment, but thisll get you there. if this is the end goal- thatll fix you up. i went from 10s to 11s.. ultimately went up to .13s, but settled back on .12s. fundamental r'us!

 

[Eagle]

Distortion adds a lot harmonics of its own so to eliminate various 'noises' I want a purer fundamental signal from the guitar.


Yes, that's not it.

If that’s what you like. Dead strings are definitely not better with distortion.