#1
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Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze Strings on my Eastman
As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I strung my converted Eastman (from a MDC 805 to AR 805) with Ernie Ball aluminum bronze strings (13 - 56) a few months ago.
I'm still really liking the tone. It adds just enough vintage C&W twang/vibe, and the volume is great! It might not be what everyone is after, but overall I prefer the sound over Newtone archtop strings and Martin retro monels. I bought a set of 11's to try on my Altamira Sel-Mac copy too. |
#2
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Nice to see this discussion - how do you feel they differ from the other options (specifically)?
I have an Eastman 810CE-7 that I play acoustically (I actually took the floating pickup off). When I got it I believe it had pure nickel rounds which seemed very polite and quiet to me. I bought it from a proper jazzer, so that made sense. I wanted something more like a traditional acoustic archtop, and was planning to strum it rather than play fingerstyle "lap piano". I currently use phosphor bronze rounds - it is tough to find the 7th string but I've located a few options that work. Acoustically it has a hard, loud, and "dry" sound. While a flat top can have a smooth shimmer and fill space behind a vocal, I see this archtop as filling more of an electric guitar role - it punches through with a hard tone that grabs attention on single notes. I suspect that the X-bracing makes this a little more flat-top like than it might be if it was parallel braced. I really like the result since 99.9% of the people I play with have flat tops and this provides a compliment that suits my playing well. -Douglas C. |
#3
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Quote:
Like most Eastman's I've played, mine sounds more modern - greater sustain, warmer tone, etc. - than a true vintage archtop. The aluminum bronze strings give it more of a vintage tone with a sharp attack, though there is still a lot of sustain. Mine has the two tone bar braces. |