How do string coatings affect tone?

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by JC.

My bad. When I talked about coatings in my original post, I really meant "material" ie PB, 80/20, etc.

But actually, I quite like Elixirs....

Then the better description might be "winding material"

80/20 (bronze) were the standard for many years, until the 92/8 (phosphor-bronze) formulation came out (by D'addario) in the '70s, and were largely seen as an improvement in tone and duration.

I only use "Bronze (80/20) on one of my 12 strings - an ancient Harmony because it seems more age appropriate for some reason.



80/20s "may" be slightly lower in tension - not sure about that.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by redir

I'll stop being pedantic sorry I just can't help myself.

Sometimes you just have to.

[1Charlie]

To complicate matters further, the neck and headstock also are involved in producing the tone you hear. The entire instrument vibrates, from end to end.

How the neck is made, what woods it is made of, how thick or thin it is, what reinforcement it contains, how heavy or light the tuners are, all have a subtle impact on what you hear when you strum.

[RalphH]

Originally Posted by redir

I'll stop being pedantic sorry I just can't help myself.

No worries, its normally me

[DesertTwang]

I have perceived much greater differences between different brands and types of strings than between uncoated and coated strings. My go-to Elixirs sound just as bright and loud as any uncoated string, at least in my experience.

[Sonics]

Originally Posted by JC.

My bad. When I talked about coatings in my original post, I really meant "material" ie PB, 80/20, etc.