Guitars and those strings that go with them – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

jd1 2008-12-04 02:05:18 UTC #1

I am thinking of buying a few sets a guitars strings to give to local bands and have run into a couple of ?

Nylon or steel?

Nylon…classical…ball end or tie end?

Steel…Bronze…light or medium…?

I am not a guitar person but I’m not sure I saw any steel strings when there… 4 times…was I blind?

Any help would be great…

jd ???

jd

jetpilot 2008-12-04 02:40:57 UTC #2

Go to a music store. They may have the information you need.

scovanotian 2008-12-04 03:27:42 UTC #3

I have read that nylon strings are preferred in Cuba. I’d go with ball end, since they can be used as tie end as well. I use a phosphor bronze light guage string on my acoustics and a light guage nickel wound on my electric.

mitch8506 2008-12-04 13:11:39 UTC #4

I have taken nylon strings and they are very much appreciated.

rumrunner52 2008-12-04 14:19:27 UTC #5

In March I took 4 packs of Martin M160 silverplated Classical Guitar strings and 2 packs Dean Markley nylon strings… bought 5 sets and the guy at the store through in a set free when I told him what they were for.

They were very well received.

trvlgirl 2008-12-04 15:42:52 UTC #6

We were at a place either last year or the year before. I can’t remember now but …
We ended up at a little pottery place in the town. The fellow played guitar and we had a set of strings from Walmart with us. When my cousin gave him the new strings he almost cried. He didn’t care what kind they were. Going to a music store is a good idea though and as told they might through in a set for free if they know where they are going and why. I have had this happen for other things.

rumrunner52 2008-12-04 16:46:25 UTC #7

If anyone has a chance to pick up some strings for a bass fiddle please take them along… when I took the guitar strings in March there was a fellow playing bass at a lunch we had in the backyard of an orphanage and I so wish I had had a set of strings to give to him…

stills 2008-12-04 19:16:28 UTC #8

I never would have thought of bringing guitar strings. What a wonderful idea. I’m going shopping for some today. Thank you very much for this great idea

rumrunner52 2008-12-04 19:20:19 UTC #9

But try to get them to people off the resort if possible…Street musicians etc… the resort bands tend to get a lot of things…

karmadoc 2008-12-05 00:21:37 UTC #10

Guitar strings are always appreciated, but as Rumrunner said standing bass strings are also needed. They are quite expensive to buy brand new but a musician friend of mine said used ones usually have lots of life in them, and you can find them on Ebay fairly cheap.
Another good, inexpensive and light thing to bring are reeds for trumpets, saxaphones etc.

rumrunner52 2008-12-05 02:04:02 UTC #11

I have not tried this yet but it was suggested to me that you approach a bass player of the symphony and ask if they would give you there used strings a they change them often.

florita 2008-12-07 21:52:49 UTC #12

I did a mini survey in October and talked to probably 15 guitar players. All except 1 used nylon strings. The lone exception used phosphor bronze. I don’t know anything about what kind of ends, though.
I have taken down sax reeds (much appreciated). I have yet to find an upright bass player who will part with his used strings though – they seem to like them “grungy” for a “rounder sound”.

jd1 2008-12-10 00:52:44 UTC #13

Hey all you great folk…

Looked around and listened to you’s…

Nylon will be what I take…

That and a bunch of picks…we wil see…

Thanks for all the input…oh… and by the way (notice no acronms)

48 hrs to go…Breezes Jibacoa… hola

jd

canuks 2008-12-10 02:09:48 UTC #14

schools are in great need of strings, reeds and any other musical items. Apparently violin strings are remarkably expensive. 90 CUC was what we were told for just one string. We went to our local music store and told him the reeds and strings were for a school (and they were) and we got a school discounted rate.