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  #1  
Old 06-25-2011, 04:34 AM
montydog montydog is offline
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Default 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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  #2  
Old 06-25-2011, 05:24 AM
nm10430 nm10430 is offline
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the elixir nanoweb is a good choice. that is what i use on my aj500.
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Old 06-25-2011, 05:28 AM
Fatstrat Fatstrat is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 05:31 AM
Michael T Michael T is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 06:12 AM
Tunes Tunes is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 08:05 AM
phuufme phuufme is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tunes View Post
I have tried many strings and always come back to elixir
Phosphor bronze, simply best overll sound.
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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Old 06-25-2011, 08:21 AM
Opa John Opa John is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 08:28 AM
Triumph1050 Triumph1050 is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 08:28 AM
gadabout gadabout is offline
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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  
Old 06-25-2011, 08:34 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by montydog View Post
...Any advice gratefully received.
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.


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  #11  
Old 06-25-2011, 08:46 AM
Latif Latif is offline
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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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Old 06-25-2011, 08:54 AM
VT_strummer VT_strummer is offline
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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  
Old 06-25-2011, 09:28 AM
montydog montydog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ljguitar View Post
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.


Hi,

I use a Dunlop 0.6mm nylon pick and strum over the middle of the soundhole.
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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
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  #14  
Old 06-25-2011, 09:38 AM
Landru Landru is offline
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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  
Old 06-25-2011, 10:01 AM
bkharmony bkharmony is offline
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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.
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