Trying a set of Martin Retro Monels...

[Grantgreen42]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

On a 1957 00-18. So far I am less than underwhelmed.

I have them on my D18 and they sound really good:
https://youtu.be/Axp1McCoUfY

I've tried them on Om's that were rosewood and they didn't sound so good.

[kcnbys]

They sound super fab on my son's Sigma 000m-15+

[email4eric]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Couple of hours.

Well, there you go. They are less than impressive when a couple of hours old. They're a string that changes in a pronounced way after a week or so.

They're unfortunately not instant gratification strings. But once they settle, they last a long while.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by email4eric

Well, there you go. They are less than impressive when a couple of hours old. They're a string that changes in a pronounced way after a week or so.

They're unfortunately not instant gratification strings. But once they settle, they last a long while.

That's been my experience as well.
Not great at first and then better and better until they're done.

[rokdog49]

Here's an Ipad recording of the Retros on my Eastman E10 00 SS which have less than three hours on them... not the greatest but you can hear them anyway
I tried to single pick the notes and add a little strum from top to bottom.
Notice the sustain this guitar has...Addy and Mahogany

[sakar12]

They make my 2016 D-18GE sound heavenly, but I hated them on my Lowden. Couldn't take them off fast enough. I've found that my favorite strings for the Martin are Retros and Ernie Ball ABs. My Lowden seems to love D'Addario PB 16s, Dean Markley, and La Bella. Curiously, none of my guitars sound good with Pearses.

[MrDB]

Had them on my 000-28 and did not care for them at all. Put a set on my Eastman E5SS and really like them.

000-28 is Rosewood, Eastman is Hog B/S.

[Mycroft]

Follow up: five days now. They have gotten a bit better with playing single note leads or fignerpicking. Clearer and less harsh. But when fingerpicked notes are meant to ring out together, or when chording, the individual notes seem to clash rather than blend. Very different than how Pearse PBs on the same guitar would still stand out individually but still blend.

The reminded me at first of some strings, I don't remember who made them, that had a selling point of having been "cryogenically enhanced" by freezing them in liquid hydrogen or some such. They sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I'll still give these a bit more time, but so far...

[GaryH]

I have one guitar on which I've installed a set. They went dead fairly quickly, but have sounded the same now for months. I won't say that I really like them, but they ain't half bad. They do seem to turn my fingers dark, though.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by GaryH

I have one guitar on which I've installed a set. They went dead fairly quickly, but have sounded the same now for months. I won't say that I really like them, but they ain't half bad. They do seem to turn my fingers dark, though.

They have been dead for months and stain your fingers? That doesn't tempt me at all for some reason!

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I play a lot of chords and I like them on my E6 OM because they give it a throatier more powerful sound to me. They do reduce the sparkle and overtones.
That was a benefit on this particular guitar.
No doubt every guitar and every ear is different.

They are the best string for my E6OM as well. They add extra HP on mine and the tone is a good fit too, not to mention playability.

I have tried them on other guitars and they either sound really good or horrible IME.

They do have an odd "sizzle" factor for several days but if they sound really bad to you brand new, they will never settle down to a place you'll like 'em on your guitar. They seem to either mesh well w/a guitar or not.