If you have been playing the Gold Tone on a fairly regular basis, your strings are likely dead as a door nail by now, particularly the 3rd string G - it always goes first because it's the thinnest of the wound strings, and that particular string might get plucked more often than the other five. 

Also, I would hope the Gold Tone solid mahogany sounds significantly better than the Gretsch - a better quality guitar which sells for a whole lot more, like around three times the price or more nowadays in comparison to the Boxcar.

My suggestion is to go to one of those online string companies like Just Strings and order three to five different reso sets in 16/17-56 and after you have gone through them over a period of time one or two might emerge as your favorites. I have a tendency to shift to different strings now and then - it's kind of a poor man's version of having a different guitar to play. On my main guitar I currently have D'Addario Nickel Bronze Resophonic strings - they sound great and have good lasting power.

As you might imagine, there have been many string discussions on the hangout over the years. Type in "best strings" in the Search function with the magnifying glass icon on the left side of your screen - there will be hours of reading on the subject.

Thank you. I'll search for the topic as you mentioned. 

Agree with Mark. Try several sets - moderately cheap experiment.

That said, your stock Gold Tone strings were probably D'Addario EJ42s, a very popular (almost ubiquitous) set. Were the ball ends color coded (from bass to treble) brass, red, black, green, purple, silver? The bronze color suggests phosphor bronze, and the EJ42 are (I believe) what come stock. The color codes on the string would be a major clue.

Like Mark, I enjoy D'Addario NB16-56 (nickel bronze) for the brighter tone and significantly longer life than the EJ42s.

On a different resonator, I like Stringjoy Naturals Phosphor Bronze 16/56 for tone and longevity.

Another good brand is GHS CR1600 (Americana Series) 17-56. The top 2 strings are ever so slightly beefier, which you may like (or at least you may want to try).

Yes, forum search results would give you a whole bunch of others as well.

Good luck and welcome.

Black Diamond for me. Used by the fellow who made my guitar. Seems to last a long time.

I like ej42’s as well.

Like bars. Everybody has a favorite.

Jamie, to answer your question, none of my string ball ends are color coded, they are all silver. That must mean I don't have the D'Addario EJ42's. I'm going to order a couple EJ42 sets.

You are exactly right Mark, my strings sound dead. That's what made me think that I should consider changing them. I wasn't aware that Dobro strings go "dead" so quickly, that was an eye opener for me.

I also noticed the Dr. Jimmy Heffernan strings (17-19-28-34-45-56) that look interesting. The description makes me feel like I can't live without them...lol. I'll order a set of those too and try them.

And I'll definitely order a set of D'Addario NB16-56 strings. I don't like changing strings more often than I need to, so longer life sounds great to me.

Thanks guys!

The strings from Heffernan are probably the DR string, heavy top with 0.017 to 0.056 They have become my favorites on my Horn and Meredith. Available through the Jimmy Heffernan website and are happily on sale now. I've been through a lot of string brands to get here. I also like a brand by Roger Siminoff called Straight Up Strings.

quote:

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Originally posted by DobroFret12

Jamie, to answer your question, none of my string ball ends are color coded, they are all silver. That must mean I don't have the D'Addario EJ42's. I'm going to order a couple EJ42 sets.

You are exactly right Mark, my strings sound dead. That's what made me think that I should consider changing them. I wasn't aware that Dobro strings go "dead" so quickly, that was an eye opener for me.

I also noticed the DR Jimmy Heffernan strings (17-19-28-34-45-56) that look interesting. The description makes me feel like I can't live without them...lol. I'll order a set of those too and try them.

And I'll definitely check out the D'Addario NB16-56 strings. I don't like changing strings more often than I need to, so longer life sounds great to me.

Thanks guys!

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I just ordered two sets of the DR Jimmy Heffernan strings.

I also saw some very interesting new improved long life strings (XSAPB1656) on D'Addario's website made just for Dobro. They're expensive, but I'm going to put them on my Gold Tone and try them. I'll put the DR Heffernan set on Gretsch Boxcar G9200.

I appreciate everyone's help. 

quote:

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Originally posted by DobroFret12

Last year I bought a Gold Tone Dobro with the solid mahogany body, Beard cone and a Nashville pickup system. I bought it directly from Gold Tone. I was delighted with it out of the case,  because it sounds noticeably better than my Gretsch Boxcar Dobro from Guitar Center (although that is a nice instrument too). They're both square neck models. My four bottom strings are bronze looking on the Gold Tone. I'm wondering if I should try some different strings. I'm using the original ones that came with it from Gold Tone. I just don't know what strings to try. I was hoping for some suggestions from other players. What's your favorite strings? Should I go with thinner or thicker strings? What composition? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.

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Strings are like flavors of ice cream. We all have our tastes as to what we are looking for but it's hard to find one set that will satisfies all. The best advice I know of is try them out for yourself. After experimenting with multiple brands and gauges I'm still on the hunt that started in 1976. I tend to stay away from higher priced resonator sets and prefer to build my own custom sets from individual strings.

Just a fyi that the bulk packed/OEM D'Addario EJ42 sets are not color coded. Only the consumer packaged sets have colored ball ends.

h

quote:

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Originally posted by hlpdobro

Just a fyi that the bulk packed/OEM D'Addario EJ42 sets are not color coded. Only the consumer packaged sets have colored ball ends.

h

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Interesting, did not know that.  Thanks for sharing that info!

quote:

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Originally posted by hlpdobro

Just a fyi that the bulk packed/OEM D'Addario EJ42 sets are not color coded. Only the consumer packaged sets have colored ball ends.

h

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The color coded strings in the string container from D' Addario help with changing strings. I like them.

For me D'Addario EJ42's. I bought a new Beard about 2 years ago and was impressed with the sound so inquired what they strung it with. EJ42's was the answer I got from them so I bought a few. Time passed and I used up those sets. Then a gig came up and I thought I should put on a new set but all I had on hand was some John Pearse strings which I preferred on my other reso. OMG what a sonic letdown! As soon as the gig was done I got more EJ42's and will not be looking back. They're dramatically better, for me, on my Beard, compared to what I used to favor on a different reso.

As others point out, the question of strings is always a matter of personal taste. Try a few different sets yourself; its worth doing.

Yes, try different strings, they're reasonably cheap. And try an unwound 3rd string; you might like it, or might not. personally, I use EJ42s for wood- spider/squareneck, and Martin retros for metal- tricone/squareneck & biscuit/roundneck.

What set has a plain 3rd string? (For a squareneck 16 to 56 +- range set.)

I'm not aware of any set that does; you'd need to get a single. It's 22 or 23, and pokes your finger worse than any other string. Be careful when changing so you don't bleed all over your instrument.

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Originally posted by l2t

What set has a plain 3rd string? (For a squareneck 16 to 56 +- range set.)

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There's a John Pearse "Uncle Josh" 3050 set with a plain third.  It's a nickel set, and the gauges are unusual, but for $6.99, might be worth a shot.  Or you could just buy singles, like Wayne said.

https://www.elderly.com/products/john-pearse-3050-nickel-wound-resophonic-guitar-strings

I tried a plain third once, and it came off right quick.  Too sterile sounding for me.  Weird feel.  But those are just my ears/hands...

Tried a plain 30 once for a 3rd string - didn't like it all.

And I also don't care for the sound of pure nickel wound  strings on a large body Resophonic guitar. The last time I put a set on several years ago (a buddy who had been to NAMM got them as a freebie and passed them on to me) I couldn't get them off the guitar fast enough. 

I like the sound of EJ42s, but they go dead too fast, so I have been using the D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings. They cost twice as much, but they last 3 to 4 times longer for me and have a more consistent, gentle, and predictable decline over time.

OK, I have a really dumb (I think) question for you dobro engineers (Howard).

Is the difference in tone (a bright string vs. a mellower string) , or for that matter, a new string vs. a “dead” string, heard through the interaction of the bridge transmitted to the cone, and then back at our faces hovering above the cone?

Or are we hearing the acoustic strings themselves ringing out bright (or not) between the bridge and the nut.

Both most likely?

And in that vein, I’m playing in a little four-piece group through the Nashville Bridge—->JD Aura box, and I don’t seem to worry much about fresh strings. I don’t notice it as much, as when practicing unplugged (nickel/bronze strings). And I’m playing exclusively these days in open D (if that matters….?

Opinions?

quote:

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Originally posted by Lounge Primate

And in that vein, I’m playing in a little four-piece group through the Nashville Bridge—->JD Aura box, and I don’t seem to worry much about fresh strings. I don’t notice it as much, as when practicing unplugged (nickel/bronze strings). And I’m playing exclusively these days in open D (if that matters….?

Opinions?

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Not Howard, but...

In my experience, the Nashville Pickup/JD Aura can partially disguise certain deficiencies (older strings), and exacerbate other issues (unbalanced picking dynamics).  Within reason of course.

So I also tend to get more mileage out of strings when playing amplified via pickup.

In Open D, my #2 (high A) tends to get "plunky" and annoying via pickup when the set is really dying out.

I read the question 3 times and don't understand it. Care to try again?

h

Yes, sorry, my composing on the iPhone is a dumb and dumber scenario. And it is really a question and an observation:

I’ll try again : on a dobro
When you hear the difference in tone between different types of strings, are you hearing that tone difference broadcasted from the cone, or are you hearing a sound (bright or mellow or dull) that is augmented by the strings’ sound that is ringing independent of the bridge to cone vibration. Does that make sense?

And playing dobro with a pick-up: I’ve noticed when playing (when it is just a string vibration going to stimulate the nashville bridge system, which then goes to the JD Aura, and then coming out the amp) , I don’t notice string difference as much, and “dead” strings don’t seem to be as much an issue.

Which makes me wonder if string tone is an acoustic thing independent of the cone.

You’ll probably read this three times again….sorry…

I'll take a stab at it.

Strings are mechanical devices that vibrate. Wear, dirt, stress and fatigue are all part of that equation and whatever the string "transmits" is altered and amplified by the nut, spider, inserts, cone and the acoustic properties of a guitar's specific design and setup.

When plugged in, add any devices "downstream" from the guitar including the Aura (NOT a transparent device), effects, preamp, line input...etc, etc, etc. So, that "deadness" you experience in an acoustic state is always altered in the downstream signal path.

Actually, mics also alter a sense of "deadness" to an extent. An audience really can't sense dead strings.

Hope this makes sense. I fully admit that this is imho and based on my perceptions and experiences.

h

Thanks Howard.
Jamie, haven’t notice the clunky 2nd string yet. I have a gig friday, and will see if I notice