Would Monel strings solve this problem? Especially with the bass. Dont get me wrong the tone was great but I have a Breedlove that just drips that perfect mellow tone and made the Gibson seem just a little harsh. Being music makers ourselves, we love geeking out on all things gear. This is a very basic question as I am not a technical buyer, I tend to listen to advice and try out to see how strings feel. Any other instruments that use Monel Strings? Monel is an alloy made from a mix of Nickel and Copper. .but I'm not a Taylor tone fan . This gives the string a very long lasting life due to the fact that it naturally repels oxidation. Well, despite these desirable properties, Monel was an expensive alloy. Im so glad I found these strings. It should be said that whilst Monel strings certainly arent all bells and whistles, this is the very attribute that adds to their appeal. To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. Interesting to hear about your friends experiences of them too. Martin Retros also performs better and smoother than most bronze or phosphor bronze strings to unveil your guitars true voice. With regards to the tone, Monel strings will be mellower than the Phosphor Bronze ones you have used in the past. Then I read a similar article to this and thought Id give them a go. And improve the tone of this light build sitka/mahogany dreadnought. While theres a belief that the heavier gauge will produce a better sound, thats not always the case if the added tension makes it extremely hard to fret. Thanks again , I have used Daddario Phosphor Bronze 11-52s on my main acoustic teaching instrument for many years. Are they similar to Monel? They offer a brilliant, full tone, but they are not as bright as 80/20 Bronze strings. Monel steel allows the natural woody sounds of your guitar to stand out. Martin Marquis strings are silk wrapped. Monel is a BIG tonal shift from bronze strings. I really like them and they last a long time. It makes the mahogany warmer sounding, which I like a lot!! Ive been using them on my Recording King ROS-627 which is a replica of the Martin 000-28VS and its like the guitar has come home. From a tonal and feel standpoint, after only a few minutes of playing them, this particular set felt as though theyd been played in nicely and didnt quite have that snappy bite a new set of Nickel Plated Steel (or Stainless Steel) strings often has but they certainly werent dull by any stretch of the imagination either. I didn't realize I really stirred things with this post. The Washburn I expected t to improve, but was blown away by the difference on the Martin. Would love to hear what you think after a few weeks of playing and how they held up with the various changes in tuning. Eric Clapton is a guitar legend, so Martin are proud to introduce the Martin Clapton's choice signature guitar strings. The instrument came to amazing life with these strings. Aside from its quality, Martin guitars and strings are known for their impressive performance and Retro strings are no exception. I play mostly hard rock and funk (separately) and Ive found them to be perfect for it. Heavy Gauge Guitar Strings: What to Expect When You Go Up a Gauge, 5 Guitar Lessons You Can Learn From Eric Clapton. People will like what they like but many of us find Monels have a lot to offer. An unexpected bonus is the immediate stability of tuning. C.F. Whilst Rotosounds Swing Bass sets are considered to be the companys flagship bass set, their Jazz Bass flatwound range has been a staple for over half a decade. Hoping they get into more players hands as theyre a great alternative to bronze strings. Since 1979, Sweetwater has been committed to giving music makers the ultimate shopping experience. The improvment from phospher/bronze was immediately noticable ( and I changed before the SPs were past their best) I know it is subjective, but I wont be using any other strings now. However, larger or jumbo-sized acoustic guitars are better off with a medium to heavier gauges. Bring us your dream, and we'll build it. Weve partnered with Guitar World to present the No Limits Challenge. Of course, the gauges will have been selected to be used for electric guitars and acoustic guitars specifically too. Fortunately, Martin Retro Strings are known for being one of the toughest in the market. From the tweakiest techniques to the biggest ideas, our experts work hard to constantly supply inSync with a steady stream of helpful, in-depth demos, reviews, how-tos, news, and interviews. Everything you need to know about acoustic guitar string gauges. Build your Martin guitar exactly how you like it. He used to play Martin Monel strings loyally for 2 decades back in the 60's and 70's Martin Silk and Steel Strings
I have since put Newtones Monel strings onto a Cort Ga10 electro-acoustic and the improved depth of sound and sustain is quite remarkable. Oh, my! Rather than going down the route of creating a set wound with Monel, DAddario opted to create something slightly different whilst indirectly giving a nod to the Nickel strings of yesteryear. I intend fitting some Pyramid Monels to my Yamaha CPX12 II next. Whilst its unlikely that Monel will reach the popularity of some other alloys, its certainly something worth trying if youre on the lookout for something a little different. The possibilities for a custom guitar are virtually endless; limited only by your imagination. Martin Silk & Steel Strings deliver the force of steel strings with the soft tonal properties of classical strings making them ideal for fingerpicking and soft folk D'addario Phosphor Bronze Strings
Martin supports engagement with nonprofit music, arts, education, and environmental action organizations. I just put a set of Martin Monel 12-54s on my 000-18GE. . Interesting and informative reading. Join or Renew your membership today! Treated with a proprietary formula, Martin SP Lifespan strings repel dirt and oil and play like new, long after conventional strings wear out. Martin crafts these strings with bronze electroplated steel core wire and a custom wrapping technique for full, rich tone. Thanks. Whilst they dont tend to have the brightness or growl of a round wound set, theres plenty of top names that have used these flatwound sets including Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy), John Deacon (Queen), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) and many more. And now because of this article I am informed as to why. Fast forward to today and Nickel Plated Steel is still the most popular alloy used. With regards to the strings for your guitar specifically, if youre looking for something a little less bright, Monel may do the job, certainly worth a try. The good news is that its not just electric strings that are constructed using this alloy. Well, below well be running you through what these lesser-known strings actually are and see what all the fuss is about so, lets get cracking! 2022 Strings Direct. I have 3 Gibson slope shoulder guitars. I must admit, I havent come across anybody mentioning anything about the lines left on the hands but thats not to say it doesnt happen. So, why did manufacturers move away from creating Monel strings? Silk and Phosphor strings are similar to Silk and Steel, but have a brighter sound due to the phosphor bronze outer wrap. If you want to benefit from this improved service, please opt-in. Learn More. Im wondering what the difference is between an electric set and an acoustic one. LOL, General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion. Monel was first created by a gentleman named Robert Crooks Stanley back in 1901 whilst working at the International Nickel Company. Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! If youve used Monel strings in the past, feel free to leave a comment below as wed love to hear the experiences that youve had whilst using them. Good question! Whilst many of the other flatwound bass sets on the market today use stainless steel as their wrap wire, Rotosounds flatwound sets use Monel and have done so ever since they were first released back in the 60s. I dont know what it is, but since I put these strings on, I cant put the guitar down. Rotosound say the Monel wrap helps to add more warmth to the sound whereas the tone from stainless steel can be a little harsher. If you dont, youll notice a change in its intonation and overall quality. I had been struggling for years to get a good tone out of my Gibson Songwriter. In particular, the core-to-wrap wire ration may be different across the two sets, which will influence how they feel. I took a punt on some Martin Retros recently (in contrast to the Martin 80/20s I normally use), and the first thing that struck me was how different they felt under my right hand! In the fall of 2018, Martin replaced their Traditional Budget range of Bronze Guitar Strings with this new Authentic line which is based on their premium SP Martin Retro Monel Acoustic Guitar Strings, Martin Marquis Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings, Martin Authentic Lifespan Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings, Martin M140 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings 12-54, Martin Retro Monel Strings for 12-String Guitar, Martin MTR13 Tony Rice Signature Monel Strings 13-56, Martin MA130 Silk & Steel Folk Guitar Strings (11.5-47), D'addario Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings, Martin Authentic Lifespan Phosphor Bronze Strings, Martin Clapton's Choice Signature Guitar Strings, Solid monel wrap wire, propriety blend of nickel and copper. The monel are a bit more mellow and have a bit more of a neutral tone (neither overly bright or mellow). Of course he is a banjo playing bluegrasser but he has a real good ear. Thanks Ian, glad youre getting on with the Monel Strings. I can kill a set of strings in a couple of days. Are the cores plain steel? Some guitarists use heavy gauge strings for amplification, sustain, drop/down tuning, or tuning stability reasons. It went from a real shiner to a dull common sound. Less is more is certainly the expression wed use here. Claptons Choice Phosphor Bronze guitar strings give you the signature acoustic tone favored by one of the worlds most iconic rock and blues artists. These Monel strings also deliver a warm vintage tone, making them the perfect string replacement for most acoustic guitars. The official term Monel was given to the alloy and was named after one of the company presidents Ambrose Monell. Martin guitars and strings are known for more than their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone. Theres one surefire way to give your guitar the tone it deserves. . The Martin Authentic Lifespan 2.0 Strings series is designed forlongevity. Lighter gauge strings will be more forgiving on your fingers as youre learning, but as your dexterity and hand strength improve, you may find you prefer strings with different qualities. Hi Annie, I dont find the noise to be greater than that produced when using bronze/phosphor bronze. Another option would be a pure nickel electric set (these are warmer in tone in comparison to the more commonly found Nickel plated steel sets on the market. In fact, DAddarios tagline for the Nickel Bronze range is Reveal whats real. Its known to have high tensile strength and is also highly resistant to corrosion too. something that may sound appealing for a lot of players. These were designed in conjunction with bluegrass legend Tony Rice after he originally asked Martin to create a set of Monel strings especially for him. Well, before steel strings were even available, players used Catgut for their guitar strings. I like their resistance to corrosion and lack of coating. When nickel became harder to come by, much like many other string manufacturers, Martin began to explore other materials and made the popular move towards using bronze strings. Glad to hear youre loving the Monel Strings Roddy! Much like the Martin Retro strings, DAddario say that these let the true tone of your acoustic guitar shine through, rather than your natural tone being dominated by the sound of the strings themselves. They do sound and feel almost played in when first put on and they get out of the way of the woodiness of my acoustic. Martins solid nickel/copper alloy blend provides a reduced pick attack that allows the guitars tonewoods to be heard, not overshadowed. Martin Marquis strings give you the tone, clarity, and response you expect from a fine string. This site uses cookies to provide and improve your shopping experience. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to allow Martin Guitar to send you a one-time email notifying you of the availability of this product. Although the name suggests the strings were made using the guts from our furry feline friends, this wasnt actually the case. I have them on a Fender Jazz Bass and only use the front (neck) pickup which gives them a big sound. Interesting to hear that you found them feeling different under the right hand for fingerstyle. The aim was to bring out the true tone of his instrument allowing its natural character to shine through. One part stunning customer service. I can clearly see the difference in clarity in the tone. They suit what is a recreation of a 1930s guitar and they just sound right. And I play finger style most of the time, so the feel of the Retro's is much nicer on the right hand. See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners! At Sweetwater, were sure theres a Martin string that will offer the tone, response, and feel you want. Tonally, the Monel set certainly didnt have the jangly brightness of bronze strings, although they still gave a nice projection in the upper mid-range, so theyd be more than capable of cutting through in a band situation. On the other hand, those on the heavier side are perfect for more experienced players, since they have already mastered how to control their guitars. I restrung it last night with PB and now, I have changed my mind about selling it. I put Martin Retros medium on my Martin HD-28 1993 & on a 1982-85 Washburn with rosewood back & sides. They are treated with Martin'sProprietary solutionwhich extends the life of Martin Clapton Strings
Typically a bright and twangy instrument, the Monel strings certainly gave this particular guitar a touch more warmth and helped to tame that twang. Sweetwater Sound, 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Get Directions | Phone Hours | Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700. Martin Retro String Gauges & Tension Chart, Best Guitar Case for Flying (Top 7 Picks & Buyers Guide), Amazon Prime Day Guitar Deals To Look For In 2022, Guitar Fretboard Wood Types: Ebony Vs Rosewood Vs Maple, How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? Martin need no introduction when it comes to guitars, and their strings are hugely popular amongst acoustic players too. In general, the larger the body, the more tension they can withstand. I purchased a used 2011 Collings MT Mandolin playabilty unseen via the mail. But we are talking guitar strings so as ever a subjective opinion! I will never go back now. Strumming standard tuning sounds great, but open D & G are magnificent. That made for very interesting reading! I like a crisp loud bark and these strings do deliver. They match the feel of the old guitfiddle. "Protecting the environment and all of its precious resources has been at the forefront of my familys business since its inception.". Thanks. Usually I restring every 3 months but recently decided I wanted something different. In the fall of 2018, Martin replaced their Traditional Budget range of Phosphor Bronze Guitar Strings with this new Authentic line which is based on their Martin Authentic 80/20 Bronze Strings
Everything you love about Sweetwater in the palm of your hand. I have a question regarding these monel strings, specifically the Martin Retros. low E have a thick enough core wire that you should be able feel that its not smooth if you turn it between your fingers. While its one of the more expensive strings out there, we believe that its benefits far outweigh the costs making it the ideal investment for any serious guitarist. not a daft question at all. The monel alloy makes the string feel a little more responsive and therefore allows you to be much more expressive. It seems the claim that they resist corrosion is true. Whilst Rotosound havent been making strings for quite as long as Pyramid, they have a long history in making top quality strings and recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary. Good Luck! Discover your guitars true voice. I love the guitar in every way save for an aspect of the tone which is a tad too bright for my ears. Developed in conjunction with bluegrass guitar legend Tony Rice, Martins Retro strings are crafted from a long-lasting, proprietary nickel-based Monel alloy blend that delivers a warm vintage tone. . All things considered, theres no doubt that the Martin Retro Monel Strings is a versatile set thats meant for guitarists of different skill sets, as well as for different guitar styles like fingerpicking, country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, and blues. Certainly warmer too. After the tests we carried out, we certainly wouldnt grumble about using them again! In a nutshell, round cores add a bit more flexibility and warmth to a string. The range of gauges make these strings suitable forrange of genres. Acoustic Vs Classical Guitar: Whats The Difference? Are the cores and plain strings regular steel? But Martin Monel Mandolin Strings
Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales. There's nothing more critical to our futureand everyone else'sthan developing forests with long-term sustainability. Experience the small but mighty sound of Martin Ukulele Strings. Hi Alan, No, the Aluminium Bronze strings arent really similar to the Monel strings. To make the most of your strings, we recommend using Martin Guitar Retro Strings. At the factory they told me to put Retro strings (monel) on it and it will "warm it up even more". I had no idea about Monels and thought I wanted Flatwounds. Back in 2015, Martin reintroduced Monel strings into their product lineup and in doing so their Retro Range was born. That makes it perfect for acoustic guitars, whether the player is an absolute beginner or a skilled guitarist. Certain techniques and styles of playing will demand different attributes from your strings and can impact which gauge you should choose. I have a set of Pyramid Monels to go on the Les Paul which may even end up with flats on, as I thinkthey are more period correct for a 59 (R9, not a real one unfortunately)? When I play acoustic guitar, whether in a studio or onstage, these Martin strings are my choice, says Eric Clapton. The strings were in rough shape maybe even originals. Overall, string gauges are classified as: For purposes of this tutorial well refer to anything from extra light to light as lighter, and anything from medium to heavy as heavier. While we want this article to be a comprehensive overview of string gauges for acoustic guitars, it is important to note that Martin does not recommend heavy gauge strings for any Martin guitars. This compound protects your string from dirt, grit, and other environmental elements, resulting in longer life. When he heard the monels, he asked what I did to my guitar? Thus, this impressive range from Martin Retro Strings guarantees is perfect for a wide variety of guitars and guitarists. Of course, if youd like to hear from us about anything else specific in the future, please let us know and well see what we can do. [A Sincere Answer], Best Music Theory Book For Guitar In 2022. Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. You learn something new everyday, eh! Martin Retro MM11: 11 / 14 / 23 / 31 / 41 / 52Martin Retro MM12: 12 / 15 / 25 / 31 / 41 / 54Martin Retro MM13: 13 / 17 / 26 / 35 / 45 / 56For 13-56 Bluegrass please see theTony Rice Signature Strings. Fingerpickers prefer light (.012.054) and custom-light (.011.052) string gauges, as they are easier on the fretting and playing hand. Martins proprietary Monel wrap wire is naturally corrosion resistant, so you can play them for a long time with nothing to get in the way of your music. I had tried them because one of the guys in my group loves them and all the hype about them. Martin Flexible Core SP strings utilize an advanced thin wire core to increase flexibility and improve sustain without sacrificing tone, durability, or playability. Strings.ieis an authorised dealer of Martin Strings, we source our products from official distributors toguarantee the quality guitarists expect. The core wire is longer than the wound part, and as best as I can tell its round. A few months ago I purchased a Martin that came with the retros on it. If most of the qualities prescribed to heavier strings appealed to you, start with strings that are labeled Medium. While Martin does not recommend using heavy gauge strings on Martin guitars, we want to paint a complete picture of string gauge options. Hi Tim, They are a little quiter than bronze, ma they sound really beautiful. ! these are the sort of things that many string companies continually strive to improve upon. At first I didnt like them, they sounded too metallic. I have also used Curt Manganese Monel 10s on my James Collins GTA, whichhad previously has Rotosound Nickels on. Sweetwater One part music gear wonderland. Gauge refers to the diameter of a string. Hhhmm, close, but not quite! After much experimentation I have found the Martin Retro Monel medium (.013) strings best. You could also play them pretty aggressively without getting the harsh overtones you often find when using a new set of brighter sounding strings. Does one need to compensate for that with smaller strings? Thanks! They are treated with Martin'sProprietary solutionwhichextends Martin M140 80/20 Strings
One part passion. Glad to hear youve used the Monel strings in the past. Monel alloy is a combination of copper and nickel with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and other materials which were used for Acoustic Guitars before Bronze became popular in the 1970s. Hi Rob, Thanks so much for sharing your experience of using monel strings . After a few days they started to lose some of the metallic sound. It came with MSP7100 strings. They deliver rich mid and low tones for rhythm parts as well as clear and clean notes for lead parts. Usually when playing hard rock, I use a pick and fingers for funk. Monel alloy is a combination of copper and nickel with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and other materials Martin Tony Rice Strings
Hi David, glad youre loving the Monel strings . I often use Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanoweb strings on my Lowden and Brook acoustic guitars. Just strung up my Collings MT2 Mandolin with a set of DAddario .011-.041 EJM74C. One of my guitars is a 60 year old archtop with a fingerboard mounted magnetic pickup. The Martin sounds like a super Martin & the $100 used Washburn sounds like a $900 guitar. . This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Thanks, Martin, for making them available. Made with bronze electroplated steel core wire and high-quality wrap wire, Martin Acoustic Superior Performance strings offer long-lasting tone and playability. Thanks for the input . If youre finding finger-fatigue is an issue, or you wish it was easier to bend notes, try extra light or custom light gauge strings. As always if you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. The outer wrap material will be the same of course, but whats underneath may be slightly different. Adding to their compact and affordable, yet highly playable "Little Martin" Travel series, the new LX1 features the same great sounding hand-rubbed solid Sitka Soundtracking the Everyday at the End of History: Arp on Nostalgia, Making Music in the Present, and Imagining Futures Haunted by the Past, 12 Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock, 18 Coolest Signature Electric Guitars of 2022, 15 Best Travel Destinations for Musicians and Music Fans, MIDI Pedalboards to Synths: Best Electronic Instruments for Non-keyboard Players. From a business standpoint, they were costly to make so many of the brands began to search for cheaper alternatives. Also, these martin strings are wrapped with Monel coating, which is known for being naturally corrosion resistant. Silk-wrapped strings have their ball ends wrapped in silk to keep the string from coming into contact with your guitars bridge plate or end pins. Now, check out the demo of Retro & Authentic acoustic strings from Martin Guitar. All Rights Reserved. I have generally found that acoustic strings sound very thin when amplified but electric strings sound too bright acoustically. Well take a closer look at a few of these below; The Monel electric guitar sets available are made by German string makers Pyramid. This solution helped solve the tonal demands of the modern player and also helped bring manufacturing costs down too. Different ears, different guitarsplay what sounds good to you is my motto. Today, they produce an 80/20 Bronze set for those players looking for a more conventional set of mandolin strings, but their M465 set is wrapped with Monel, making them great for players looking to hark back to those earlier mandolin tones. I wont claim I could feel the difference for the D or G strings but the A and esp. Ive searched for the density of steel and monel and it appears that monel is something like 15 percent denser than steel which would result in much higher tension in the same diameter string tuned to the same note. Would a plain steel string be appropriate? Less breakages and less rusting!? The Aluminium Bronze are a lot brighter and zingy in tone than the monel. In choosing the right gauge, a good rule to remember is that acoustic guitars with smaller bodies work well with strings with light gauges. The one thing that you may notice about the companies that produce Monel strings is that they all tend to subscribe to the big selling point that the strings are there to help bring out the natural tones and voice of your instrument as opposed to imparting some sort of mystically new and wonderful tone. I have them on my dread and later today will return my 000 to Retro's. I love the Martin Retro on my new Martin 00-28. Towards the latter part of the 19th Century, Catgut began to be replaced with steel and by the early part of the 20th century, steel strings were the norm on most guitars. As a result, that makes it less likely to be brittle, even when exposed to high humidity levels. Love them on my CEO 7. Martin strings are designed to give you excellent tone, clarity, and response. Gauges are described in thousandths of an inch and can be found listed on the back of a string pack. Another Nickel-based acoustic set you may wish to check out would be the John Pearse Pure Nickel Acoustic strings which can be found here. They describe their Monel strings as bridging the gap between Pure Nickel and Nickel Plated steel strings. If youre just starting out, its not unusual that your fingers will have to toughen up a little. I switched to Martin retro on my 000 DRS1 . Things like fret buzz can be a symptom of needing to visit a luthier to have your guitar adjusted. Thanks for signing up! I recently put them on a Taylor 812 and the guitar sounds better than when it had the Elixirs . We are proud to carry Martin strings that Clapton Martin Authentic Phosphor Bronze Strings
Much like the electric set we tried, the mellow nature of this set made them sound and feel as though theyd been played in straight from the pack. We recommend using only extra light through medium gauge strings on our guitars. That also means that it will look great for a long time. Martin originally fitted Monel strings to their Mandolins but began to use them on their guitars as far back as 1922. But to make sure that our guitar always sounds great is to replace the strings once every three to six months, depending on how often you use it. Its quite unusual to unwrap a set of acoustic strings and see a silver/nickel coloured set as opposed to the familiar golden colour of bronze. Pyramid have been in the string business for over 150 years so they really know their onions when it comes to making strings.
80/20 strings break in faster than other strings. Strings.ie. Warm and round with smooth bass right out of the pack, they are great on a guitar with maple back and sides and that iconic, heavy, sustain-enhancing brass tailpiece . But what steel was used? Heavy strings can cause too much tension on the top which may cause irreversible damage. After all, theyve been interacting with musicians for almost 200 years. Flatwound Bass strings are typically favoured by many Jazz players and those with fretless basses as they deliver a distinct deep, warm and mellow tone and also help to reduce finger noise too! Or do you need your sound to reach the back of an auditorium? The strings feel a little tighter but do sound warmer, fuller and maybe softer. Treated strings are dipped in a proprietary compound that adheres to the string without altering its feel or tone. However, that being said, Catgut did use the lining of other animals intestines (e.g. Not quite as stark as, say, switching between rounds and flats on a bass, but quite a different feel for playing fingerstyle nevertheless. Hope that helps. One thing to keep in mind when trying out a new string gauge is to make sure your guitar is set up correctly for the gauge you're playing. And thats quite impressive. document.getElementById("copyright_year").innerHTML = new Date().getFullYear(); Martin Marquis Strings
sheep and goat being the most commonly used) a bit of an unpleasant thought even for the non-vegans among us!! The article seems to talk mostly about wound strings, but doesnt seem to talk much about the plain steel or plain monel strings. Contrary to all Ive read, they sound a bit brighter to me.
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