DADGAD #58 (Martin LJ Retro test drive)

[TBman]

Just put on a set of the Martin Retro Laurence Juber strings. Mellow tone and sound good right out of the package. I started messing around with this short drone bass noodle the minute the strings held their tuning.

So just for fun, here it is.

DADGAD58:

[Glennwillow]

The new strings sound good, Barry! Very nice recording, too!

The technology we have today for recording is so amazing, isn't it?!

- Glenn

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

The new strings sound good, Barry! Very nice recording, too!

The technology we have today for recording is so amazing, isn't it?!

- Glenn

Thanks Glenn!

Yes, it is amazing. I'm trying not to go down the recording rabbit hole too far, but its hard to resist. Such cool toys,

[keith.rogers]

Sounded very nice!

Post a long-term review later on those strings. (I keep getting intrigued by some nice sounding recordings done with monel strings, but I was disappointed in my own trial.)

Oh, and good luck with that rabbit hole!

[Wrighty]

Hi Barry

I also quite like the recorded tone - more clarity for some reason? (are you doing anything different here?)

I have never liked monels on any of my guitars, just not enough clarity or sparkle for me - however that sounds good!

[started with 1]

New String Day! Sounded great.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by keith.rogers

Sounded very nice!

Post a long-term review later on those strings. (I keep getting intrigued by some nice sounding recordings done with monel strings, but I was disappointed in my own trial.)

Oh, and good luck with that rabbit hole!

Thanks Keith! I plan on doing another review of the strings on this guitar when I put a set on my rosewood guitar. I plan on reviewing that one as well.

Originally Posted by Wrighty

Hi Barry

I also quite like the recorded tone - more clarity for some reason? (are you doing anything different here?)

I have never liked monels on any of my guitars, just not enough clarity or sparkle for me - however that sounds good!

Thanks Wrighty!

I moved the mics back from the guitar quite a bit. They were 2 feet from the guitar approximately. Previously they were only 10 inches from the guitar. I turned the mics so that the front was more perpendicular to the plane of the guitar instead of slightly angled towards center. I also used the Waves F6 plug-in to boost the mids slightly.

[Wrighty]

Thanks Wrighty!

I moved the mics back from the guitar quite a bit. They were 2 feet from the guitar approximately. Previously they were only 10 inches from the guitar. I turned the mics so that the front was more perpendicular to the plane of the guitar instead of slightly angled towards center. I also used the Waves F6 plug-in to boost the mids slightly.[/QUOTE]

Interesting - maybe that space just reduced the proximity effect a little but it sounded better to me.

Try using that F6 to reduce the low mids slightly - (80-200hz) instead of boosting the higher mids directly, you may find it works well (I did)

[FrankHudson]

Sounds nice. I'm thinking should try a farther mic position too.

I put a set of those strings on my Biscuit resonator which I usually play in Open G. The gauges on this set were designed for DADGAD I think, but my hope is they'll work well with somewhat similar lowered tunings.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by started with 1

New String Day! Sounded great.

Thanks SW1!

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

That sounded great, Barry. Really good playing!! I'm a fan of the Martin Retro Juber set. As you just demonstrated, they work great in DADGAD.

[cedartop52]

Really interesting...I'll also be interested to see how you feel about them as time goes on. It sounded to my ear like a very clear, roundish tone without tons of shimmer/sparkle. Is that relatively accurate in person? I'm all about DADGAD and cedar/rosewood, so I'll stay tuned to your testing. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us, Dan

[UKPhil]

Sounds great Barry. I've also tried Monels and didn't care for them too much. Sound good here though......

[TBman]

Originally Posted by FrankHudson

Sounds nice. I'm thinking should try a farther mic position too.

I put a set of those strings on my Biscuit resonator which I usually play in Open G. The gauges on this set were designed for DADGAD I think, but my hope is they'll work well with somewhat similar lowered tunings.

Thanks Frank! I'm going to try my Rodes and AKG small condensors too.

[pickinray]

Sounds great, Barry. That tune makes me want to drink a pint of Guinness! Nice mellow tone from the LJ Retros.