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Thread: Seagull deterrent techniques?

  1. #1
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    Default Seagull deterrent techniques?

    I have a couple of Harley Benton tenors (tuned g d a e), the ones that look like 'honey I shrunk your dreadnought'. They're great for the money, but come with seagulls. Shift a chord up or down the neck - 'phhhsst', it's that noise you get on many acoustics, but louder relative to the playing sound. I'm not much of a guitarist, are there techniques to quieten this a bit? I know it's 'all part of the sound', but I'd like a bit less of it. I like the playing sound, so don't want to fix this by fitting strings that don't sound as good or have less treble.

    Thanks, Max

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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    Are you still on the original strings?

  3. #3
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    That is easy just get some ….
    Click image for larger version. 

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  5. #4
    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    Not quite sure what you are referring to. String squeak on round wound strings?

    String lube like Fast Fret, or coated strings or flatwounds might help, although I don't like flatwounds on acoustic guitars.

    But, I think technique is the key. Practicing shifts with reduced pressure in your fretting fingers will help reduce the sound. If you have to slide a chord or note, reduce pressure, slide, then increase pressure for the new note/chord. Just generally reducing the pressure of your fretting fingers overall can help, too.

    Hope this helps.
    Kit
    Guitars, Mandos, Violins, Dulcimers, Cats

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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    Strings on the one I bought used are I suspect the original set - plain/plain/round wound/rround wound. That one's due a setup and string change, as I think that set is for CGDA, and I use GDAE. The other is strung with John Pearse 'Irish tuning' (GDAE) plain/round/round/round which sound much better, and they both squeak on all the wound strings.

    I guess the Thomastik flat wounds might help, but I also guess they cost $$$s I think it's my playing that's at fault. I'll try Kit's playing suggestions first.

  8. #6
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    The price is in my picture, £22.

  9. #7
    Registered User TheMandoKit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    maxr:

    Two other things: First, if you have thick or dry calluses, they may squeak more. I use Climb On lotion bars in the winter for dry hands, and it keeps playing calluses supple without softening them

    Second would be to watch/listen to some classical guitar technique videos to see how they avoid string squeak.

    I have been playing guitar for 50 years, violin and mandolin for somewhat fewer years, and whenever things start sounding weird or I can't get a passage to work right, I go back to looking at my basic technique for the instrument, and the solution is almost always there.

    Good luck!
    Kit
    Guitars, Mandos, Violins, Dulcimers, Cats

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  11. #8
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    Default Re: Seagull deterrent techniques?

    Quote Originally Posted by fox View Post
    The price is in my picture, £22.
    Not too bad compared to their mandolin strings

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