Savarez 500ARJ

Finding the right strings for your classical guitar depends not only on personal taste but also on numerous other factors. Not least of these factors is the guitar itself. What sounds good and is pleasing for the player on one instrument may not work at all on another instrument.

My rating: Overall, 5 stars, for excellence. The reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 for sound is because there are some strings that have more colour, though they may lack in other ways. One has to strike a balance. I gave 5 stars for quality, for which there is no question of doubt. These are very durable strings and the intonation is flawless.

The Savarez ARJ 500 Corum-Alliance classical guitar strings consist of high tension silver-plated wound nylon basses, with normal tension carbon fibre trebles. The silver plating reduces fret noise and protects from rust. I find these strings flexible, yet with a robust feel and presence.

I spent several years trying different string sets. The holy graal is to find a string set that will sound good at home, in rehearsal, or in performance where projection and dynamics become paramount. For a while I experimented with high tension and normal tension strings. I found the normal tension strings to work well for practicing in a small space, especially the New Crystal type, which produce very colourful tones in the treble, a luxurious, sparkling array. However, in performance, these did not work for me as they lack volume and projection in a larger space. My audience had to work too hard to listen, and I had to work too hard to force the louder passages.

Mixed string sets, of high tension polished basses and normal tension trebles, was an immediate improvement. The polished basses reduce fret noise, while the reduced volume is balanced through the higher tension. When I first tried the 500 ARJ strings, I was uncertain. The tone seemed at first less colourful than some other strings, yet the volume and dynamics is undoubtedly superior. These strings have enhanced projection and oomph on my guitar, and my first thought was that they would be great for performance.

The kind of music one likes to play is important. I am not a flamenco player as such, yet there is some overlap with the more strictly classical idiom. I read from music scores, while improvisation is a strong point. In performance, I will always place a few flamenco-sounding pieces in the set. That means I need a string set that is versatile.

After I had gone through a few more string sets, swapping from one kind to another, my appreciation of the 500 ARJ strings increased to admiration. They have depth of resonance in all situations. The dynamic range of my guitar from soft to hard is enhanced. I was thus able to work on bringing greater attention to this significant element in classical music. At the same time, for a little flamenco excursion, or something like the very loud, fast section of Prelude No. 2 Villa-Lobos, these strings have bite to them, affording brightness in the treble without lacking anything in the bass.