What strings for your Godin 5th Avnue Kingpin?

[slewis]

I still have the factory strings on mine and I have to think that there may well be something I like better. Big fan of Elixir Nanos on my acoustics, but I really don't know what direction to go with the Kingpin, or even specifically what I'm looking for, or how the archtop string world is different fom the acoustic string world.... Any thoughts?

[drunkinminer]

I do know the Godin line ships with Daddario's.

[mr. beaumont]

With the pickup, you want something ferromagnetic...

I like John Pearse Nickelwounds on mine, but I occasionally use D'Addairo Chromes (flatwounds) on it too...

I like .012's on it, sometimes I'll use a .013 for the high E though...


Excellent guitars...best budget archtop out there...

[slewis]

Any other input here, anyone?

[JCave]

Originally Posted by slewis

Any other input here, anyone?

Nope, not yet. I plan to try JP's when the time comes. No idea how much mileage to expect of these original wires...

[Beemer]

Originally Posted by slewis

I still have the factory strings on mine and I have to think that there may well be something I like better. Big fan of Elixir Nanos on my acoustics, but I really don't know what direction to go with the Kingpin, or even specifically what I'm looking for, or how the archtop string world is different fom the acoustic string world.... Any thoughts?

I bought my 5th Ave Kingpin today and immediately changed the strings to Elixir Phosphor Bronze Nanos 12 - 52. These are the same strings as came with my Faith Patrick James Eggle 000 12 fret and I love their deep tone and of course their smooth feel.

Photo is before I changed them:


Ian

[slewis]

Ian, let us know how you like those. I almost went that route too, but instead tried some D'Addario EXP blues/jazz 11s, which seem satisfactory, but I'd love to also hear what those Nanos sound like.

Beautiful guitar, by the way!

[Beemer]

Originally Posted by slewis

Ian, let us know how you like those. I almost went that route too, but instead tried some D'Addario EXP blues/jazz 11s, which seem satisfactory, but I'd love to also hear what those Nanos sound like.

Beautiful guitar, by the way!

Sean,

This might be of interest to you:

http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/ElixirPBN.htm

and this is what they sound like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oga3RWt0NJA

Ian

[mr. beaumont]

Things won't sound balanced plugged in with PB's.

[slewis]

Thanks, Beemer; great info there!...

[Beemer]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Things won't sound balanced plugged in with PB's.

Please elaborate.

BTW: Liked your playing on your MP3s. However some are quite "muffled", e.g. "Wine and roses" is very clear and pleasant to listen to but others like "Laura" and "Villa Manderinas" are muffled. I'm listening on high quality Beyer Dynamic DT770 headphones. Sorry if that was your intention.

Ian

[guitararmy]

http://www.ghsstrings.com/strings/el...nickel-rockers

I've used these on jazz boxes....

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by Beemer

Please elaborate.

BTW: Liked your playing on your MP3s. However some are quite "muffled", e.g. "Wine and roses" is very clear and pleasant to listen to but others like "Laura" and "Villa Manderinas" are muffled. I'm listening on high quality Beyer Dynamic DT770 headphones. Sorry if that was your intention.

Ian

The P90 pickup is made for ferromagnetic strings, phosphor bronze strings will not sound balanced through it--the 3rd string in particular will be very quiet.

The "muffled" sound are electric guitar sounds, "Wine and Roses" is an acoustic. I don't really consider them "muffled," persay, I think all notes are still identifiable in the chords, but yes, it's a much darker sound than an acoustic guitar. The electric tone I use for jazz is different than the acoustic tone I use.

Thanks for listening.

[bohemian]

Try some D'Addario "chromes" perhaps 12's.

This is not an acoustic guitar.

[slewis]

Bohemian, that's exactly what I put on, last week, and while mine is not an experienced ear in the world of archtops, I do like their sound quite a bit.