Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Plenum n Heather on March 30, 2013, 01:59:03 PM
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I have been a DR user since ... pssh, since they were just starting out and you could only get 'em at guitar shows. After a time, I gravitated towards Pure Blues and have been using Pure Blues 10s and 11s since about 2004.
I have always been interested in other high quality strings, though, and finally pulled the trigger on 4 sets of strings for my Tele and Strat; 2x Pyramid nickel strings and 2x R Cocco electric guitar strings.
Really looking forward to checking these out as I've heard nothing but great things about both companies.
Any Pyramid or R Cocco fans out there?
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I've not heard of those company's here Ben. Have you tried any of DR's other types of strings with these space age coatings or coloured varieties?
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I've not heard of those company's here Ben. Have you tried any of DR's other types of strings with these space age coatings or coloured varieties?
ive used the DR neons. They feel fantastic to play and sound just like the regular DR tite fits which is a bonus as i find that coated strings usually have a dull top end.
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Any Pyramid or R Cocco fans out there?
Wasn't R Cocco part of the E& O Mari/ La Bella family?
I have used some of his strings many years ago
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Pyramid are my string of choice, and I have tried so many brands. EB, D'adarrio, Dean Markley, DR, Dunlop, La Bella, GHS, etc. Love the feel, the sound, and the life. Although I still break my wound strings left and right, they last alot longer.
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I've not heard of those company's here Ben. Have you tried any of DR's other types of strings with these space age coatings or coloured varieties?
Nope. But I have noticed an increase in defective strings from DR and since I cannot get singles here, it's actually cheaper to start looking onto alternatives than buying complete sets to make up for broken defective singles.
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Any Pyramid or R Cocco fans out there?
Wasn't R Cocco part of the E& O Mari/ La Bella family?
I have used some of his strings many years ago
I am not sure, to be honest. But I know he was involved with the creation of DR Strings ...
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Pyramid are my string of choice, and I have tried so many brands. EB, D'adarrio, Dean Markley, DR, Dunlop, La Bella, GHS, etc. Love the feel, the sound, and the life. Although I still break my wound strings left and right, they last alot longer.
Thanks for the first-hand knowledge! I've been wanting to try R Cocco's for many years, and figured I would try the Pyramids whilst I was at it, as there is free shipping after you spend $35.
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I use Pyramid strings, have done for a good 3-4 years now and love them - as does everyone who's tried them that I've given sets to.
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I've heard pyramids are pretty good. Not used em. Used DRs, Kerlys, GHS, EB, Rotosound, Newtone, Dunlop, Daddario and some more I've forgotten. Like Daddario the best. Also, very consistent.
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I've heard pyramids are pretty good. Not used em. Used DRs, Kerlys, GHS, EB, Rotosound, Newtone, Dunlop, Daddario and some more I've forgotten. Like Daddario the best. Also, very consistent.
Consistency is definitely a valuable piece of the string puzzle.
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According to USPS, the strings are in NYS; I may see them as early as today!
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I've heard pyramids are pretty good. Not used em. Used DRs, Kerlys, GHS, EB, Rotosound, Newtone, Dunlop, Daddario and some more I've forgotten. Like Daddario the best. Also, very consistent.
what do you think of rotosound cryogenically treated strings? ever tried them, I also keep going back to daddario.
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Never tried the cryos. Dont trust the general idea to be frank.
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(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/Strings1_zps3fac2274.jpg)
The strings arrived yesterday via USPS. Very well packaged and with enough Strings & Beyond paraphernalia that you will never forget where you got the strings from :) -- fridge magnet, a couple of S&B branded picks, and a vinyl sticker.
Before moving into the actual strings, I must talk about the packaging for both of these strings, which is outrageous in every sense of the word.
First up is PYRAMID.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/Strings3_zpsd0b2d6c6.jpg)
Each string is packaged within its own baggie which is turn within a a thick plastic envelope (like the old Ernie Ball packaging) ... not very eco-friendly at all!
This is the first time I have ever got strings with actual RHETORIC on and in the packaging! The Pyramid strings come packaged with a single sheet twice the size of a single baggie and folded in half. One side of the instructions/rhetoric is in German, the other in English (not the best translation into English, either).
Besides basic care tips about using solid nickel strings (helpful), Pyramid goes through great lengths to explain their 'round core' vs 'hex core' technology and what you can expect when stringing up your guitar with these strings (moderately helpful). It's when Pyramid goes into the paragraph explaining the tonal characteristics of the strings that the eye-rolling starts. :) It says, and I quote, that these strings are 'not for metal rockers, but tone hounds ...'. Seriously?! So, if you play metal or hard rock, essentially, you don't know good tone, so don't bother with these strings.
That is just the tip of the iceberg when compared to the R COCCO strings, however.
Cocco goes through great lengths to let you know that these strings are made BY HAND, and there is egomanical rhetoric everywhere, from the outer box ("From my hands to your hands") to the dophin-choking, landfill-clogging individual plastic baggie for each string which has the following print, "The Way Strings Should Be Made -- MY WAY"!!
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq33/Phantom_Isle/Strings2_zpsbcc10291.jpg)
++++
Bold claims, indeed, from both companies.
But are the strings any GOOD??!
Stay tuned. .. :)
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I've only got the picks from S&B. I'm quite disappointed. The R Cocco's certainly look interesting!
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Just fitted the R Cocco's onto my Strat...
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I put about 3 hours of play on the Strat last night, acoustic and amplified, with the R Cocco strings.
I am happy to report that despite the marketing hype, these strings really do deliver. Are they the 'finest handmade strings'? Well, they are certainly the best strings I have ever purchased -- they hold pitch without any serious work (tuning was a breeze), the tension feels great and consistent everywhere on the neck, and the strings themselves have a great feel to them.
Tonally, they are very neutral; not noticeably dark nor bright.
If I made a recording of the Strat using DRs an then the R Cocco's, would anyone hear a difference? Probably not, but I can feel the difference, and that's worth something to me.
Now to see how long they live/hold this feeling and tone!
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It's not very often that a new set of strings inspires a new song!
https://soundcloud.com/bena/an-epical-journey-pt3
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UPDATE:
The Pyramid strings were a COMPLETE FAIL on the tele!
Details: I pulled off the current temporary set of Tite Fits that were on the tele. Put on the Pyramids. The .026/4th string was TOTALLY DEAD. It sounded like someone was holding their hand over the string -- just dead and lifeless, with no sustain. It sounded like a standup bass string. I was perplexed.
After checking the string's travel, etc, and loosening, reseating it a few times, I gave up and put on a brand new .026 from the other set. This string was not dead, but I had MAJOR issues with it -- first, it would not intonate AT ALL. It was going sharp every time I fretted above the 5th fret and would not play in tune with the other strings, even after I verified that the string was otherwise in tune when open.
Frustrated, I slackened the strings and went to bed. Got up this morning and first thing I did was do a whole new setup on the guitar from scratch. Same issue with the .026. After doing some research online, I came to the conclusion that either a) there was something wrong with the nut, b) there was something wrong with the saddle, or b) the string was causing some sort of issue.
So -- I removed the Pyramids from the tele, rechecked neck relief, fret height, etc etc.
Put on the second set of R Cocco's ... BINGO. String tuned up perfectly, no intonation issues at all, no buzzing, nothing.
WTH is THAT about??
I am going to try the Pyramids on a shorter scale guitar to see if it just doesn't like the Fender scale length, but I do not have high hopes.
However, since this was a big experiment anyway, I can say that the R Cocco strings are a big win, though the Pyramids were a complete /fail. :(
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Interesting!!! How much is the difference in price of a R Cocco from a EB or D'Addario?
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Don't know, but it's about 25% more than DRs.
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Interesting observations. I've never had a problem like that with the Pyramids, or really any string. Glad you like the Cocco's though, I'll have to try them out.
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Interesting review, thanks. I also use DR strings; Tite Fits in my PRS and High Beams in my Jackson. They're very good strings so at the moment I have no plans to change, especially not at a 25% premium, though I confess those Cocco's sound very good indeed :D
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I had a set of Tit Fits on my Tele as a stopgap measure until the Coccos got in; it was like barbed wire! :)
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While you're trying on new strings, try a set of Circle Ks before you settle in. I never knew strings could be so good.