#1
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String Advice Please
Hi,
I have a new Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 500 mahogany guitar with D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Light (.012-.053)strings. When they were first fitted, I thought they sounded a bit too bright and jangly but I reckoned they would settle down. Well, 2 months of 1 -2 hours a day of playing and they're still too "in my face". They sound great individually picked but strummed (which is where I'm at for the moment) they are too bright and twangy for me. Can anyone suggest strings which would give a more mellow, warmer sound? I was thinking of maybe Elixir 80/20 (Bronze Ultra-Thin Nanoweb Coating). Any advice gratefully received.
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Gibson SJ-200 Studio Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 500M Gretsch 5420t Electromatic Mike Terris Maple E body squareneck dobro Squier Telecaster standard Squier Jazz bass vintage modified 70s Yamaha Pacifica Gretsch Electromatic lap steel Gold Tone GT 750 6 string banjo Guild GD 125 12 string http://www.reverbnation.com/alanwalker/songs http://www.reverbnation.com/ravensreturn/songs |
#2
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the elixir nanoweb is a good choice. that is what i use on my aj500.
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#3
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80/20's are what I go to when I want a brighter tone. But it really IMO depends largely on the individual instrument. 80/20's were just what the doctor ordered on my Silver Creek D-160. IMO GREATLY improved the tone over other strings I had tried (original set and replacements my luthier recommended during set up) . But much to my surprise, I didn't like them on my Silver Creek T-160. Sometimes you just have to experiment.
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#4
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I use DR Sunbeams med-heavy and replace the 13 & 17 with a 14 & 18 (I don't even notice any diff in tension, then again they are round core). Mury's Music site has pro reviews on all kinds of strings, Here is the Sunbeams ones, btw, thanks Maury for your sponsorship and support for the forum:
http://www.maurysmusic.com/dr_sunbea..._todd_s_review http://www.maurysmusic.com/dr_sunbea..._tony_s_review
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08 Larrivee L05-12 02 Larrivee DV-09 73 Granada Custom Kids got the others http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=797065 |
#5
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I have tried many strings and always come back to elixir
Phosphor bronze, simply best overll sound.
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_____________ Collings D1H Custom Collings D2HA Collings OM2H Custom |
#6
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While I love the elixirs, about 3 or 4 years ago, at every gig I had the g-string break. So, I switched to D-Addario's EXP16 strings. They sound great, and after working them in they, for me at least, hit the right amount of brightness and full sound.
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Steve 2003 Taylor 814cES 2000 Taylor K14c 2011 James Tyler Variax JTV-69, Lake Placid Blue JR Beck SHC-908 (ES 135 copy) Crate Powerblock and JDesign custom cabinet http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevefeinstein, The Tim and Bob Show buy our CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/timandbob http://www.feintuned.com |
#7
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I'd suggest a set of Martin bluegrass strings. (M420). Dang! They're dirt cheap (about $3.49 at www.muisiciansfriend.com ) and sound good to me. They settle down within an hour and seem to last as long as some of the higher priced strings.
I put a set of them on a Yamaha dread yesterday for a friend of mine and he told me he'd never heard his Yamaha sound that good before!
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Three Dreads - 2 Martins and 1 Yamaha |
#8
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If I was trying to get away from "bright and jangly" I wouldn't go with 80/20s or any lights.
The Martin mediums to me are fairly mellow once settled. Try some DR Sunbeams though. I think they are just right. Just my .2 cents...
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A few 'horses from Montana... |
#9
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I had the same problem at one time. My HD-28 just doesn't like phosphor bronze strings. I would suggest D'Addario EXP11 80/20 Bronze, or the Martin SP 80/20 Bronze.
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#10
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Hi Monty…
A question. How thick is your pick, and where do your strum in relationship to the soundhole (right over it, toward the bridge, between soundhole and bridge)? OK that's 2 questions. |
#11
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I second Larry's advice. I often rotate my pick to the rounded corner. I don't have to do that with my thick as a brick jazz pick but it's amazing the tonal difference I get with different picks, placement in relation to the soundhole, and the angle held.
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#12
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If you want to go towards full, rich and warm (and rich and expensive) probably nothing better than Thomastik Plectrums (for "only" $18/set). Their Spectrums are a little brighter than the Plectrums. I'm hooked on them for one of my guitars, but do wish they were less costly. They do last longer than many for what it's worth.
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#13
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Quote:
I use a Dunlop 0.6mm nylon pick and strum over the middle of the soundhole.
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Gibson SJ-200 Studio Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 500M Gretsch 5420t Electromatic Mike Terris Maple E body squareneck dobro Squier Telecaster standard Squier Jazz bass vintage modified 70s Yamaha Pacifica Gretsch Electromatic lap steel Gold Tone GT 750 6 string banjo Guild GD 125 12 string http://www.reverbnation.com/alanwalker/songs http://www.reverbnation.com/ravensreturn/songs |
#14
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.6mm is a big part of the problem. You won't produce many lows to balance the highs.
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#15
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DR Rares will calm that thing down. Play mediums if you can. Also, GHS Laurence Juber Bronze are pretty good and on the darker side.
Also, yes, pick thickness will change the tone more than strings. |