Aditya Swaminathan, a 26-year-old self-taught metal guitarist from Pune, has been a passionate force in the Indian metal scene since 2013. Over the years, he has honed his skills and contributed to several renowned bands and projects, earning recognition as a key figure in the country’s metal music community.
Let’s hear Aditya’s experience after trying S.I.T. strings.
Q. How did you hear about SIT Strings, and what made you interested in trying them?
Aditya: I had heard about SIT strings when I saw a post about Willie Adler from Lamb of God being an SIT artist, as well as Mohini Dey. However, they were properly brought to my attention when Sunny contacted me regarding them.
Q. What were your initial impressions of the CRT Coated Electric Guitar Strings – LIGHT – CS1046 and the Glenn Fricker Guitar Strings – Glenn Fricker Signature 7-String-SS-S71062GF strings?
Aditya: The CRT-coated strings were actually quite surprising since my experience with coated strings, albeit not too much, has been very different when it comes to the totality of them compared to non-coated strings. I’ve always enjoyed the bright tone that comes with non-coated strings and on the other hand the long life that comes with Coated. These are the perfect balance between the two.
The Glenn Fricker set is the ideal string gauge for my style of playing, and this exact set is the first of its kind to be available in India (GO STOCKIST!). The standard 10 gauge sets we get here have a low 59 gauge at max, and with a 25.5″ scale 7-string guitar (which I use) they tend to get a bit flubby. The low 62 on this set for a standard scale length on a 7-string is a match made in heaven.
Q. Can you describe the tonal differences you noticed between the CRT Coated Electric Guitar Strings and your usual strings?
Aditya: The most obvious one was the overall reduction in brightness in the strings, but not as much as other coated strings I’ve tried my hands on. These CRT-coated strings provide the perfect balance between tone and longevity.
Q. The CRT Coated Electric Guitar Strings are designed with a coating to prolong their life. Did you notice any difference in the feel or sound of the strings due to this coating?
Aditya: Yes absolutely, they have a slightly darker tone overall as compared to non-coated strings.
Q. How did the feel of the strings affect your playing comfort? Were the strings easier or more comfortable to play than others you’ve used?
Aditya: The coated strings definitely had a different feel to them overall, and I did notice a difference in my overall playing (for the better!) but I think I’d have to attribute that to the difference in tone that comes with Coated strings.
Q. Have you had a chance to test the durability of these strings yet? How do they hold up to your playing style and frequency of use?
Aditya: I’ve been playing them nonstop for weeks now and it’s surprising how little they’ve lost lustre. I pick fairly hard and they really hold their ground and stay true to their name (and stay in tune!).
Q. How do these strings compare to your previous favourites in terms of tension, tone, and overall performance?
Aditya: The 7-string set especially is a game changer for me since I’ve been looking for this exact gauge and they’ve never been available in India, until now! And rest assured I’ll be grabbing more of the coated sets in the near future, I’m really enjoying the new feel of these warmer smoother strings.
Q. Based on your experience, would you recommend these SIT strings to other guitarists? If so, what type of player or situation do you think they would be best suited for?
Aditya: I’d absolutely recommend them, and to players who are especially open to trying out new things. The wide variety of gauge options (coated and uncoated) is unmatched and I’m happy I got to try my hands on them. Safe to say there’s no turning back for me.
Q. Did you find any specific features or aspects of these strings that complimented your playing style?
Aditya: The main thing I look for in guitar strings is durability and tuning stability, considering the sheer abuse my guitars go through with me blasting metal day in and day out. SIT does the job and some!
Q. Do you plan to continue using these strings in the future?
Aditya: 100% SIT has a new regular customer now!
Q. Describe SIT Strings in 3 words.
Aditya: RELIABLE, DURABLE, TRUSTWORTHY!
