Strings for a CH-PA

blue4now · #1 02-19-2021, 06:49 PM

Took delivery of a like new CH-PA. Came with some elixir 80/20 11’s which sound pretty good ! What do you all like on the Rainsong Parlors.

steelvibe · #2 02-19-2021, 07:11 PM

Strings are such a personal thing but since your asking....

When I hear the CH-PA it reminds me of a mahogany blues box, partly because of it's traditional body shape and partly because of the hybrid "mellow" construction. I would personally try Martin Retros. I find that they sound great for fingerstyle, blues, and strumming and were the absolute best strings I ever tried on the Shorty I previously owned.

blue4now · #3 02-19-2021, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelvibe

Strings are such a personal thing but since your asking....

When I hear the CH-PA it reminds me of a mahogany blues box, partly because of it's traditional body shape and partly because of the hybrid "mellow" construction. I would personally try Martin Retros. I find that they sound great for fingerstyle, blues, and strumming and were the absolute best strings I ever tried on the Shorty I previously owned.

Thank you !

AZLiberty · #4 02-19-2021, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue4now

Took delivery of a like new CH-PA. Came with some elixir 80/20 11’s which sound pretty good ! What do you all like on the Rainsong Parlors.

Anything but Elixir 80/20s

I have been using EXP-16s on my Rainsongs (and just about anything else) but unsure what to use now that those have been discontinued.

Something PB though.

Frettingflyer · #5 02-20-2021, 06:52 AM

I used mostly Elixir PB on my Rainsongs, but I tried those Martin Monels and they were awesome. Enjoy the new guitar.

blue4now · #6 02-20-2021, 11:50 AM

I am going to try the Retros. Listened to some sound samples and they do appear to do that bluesy tone nicely which I think will work well the the Parlor.

steelvibe · #7 02-20-2021, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue4now

I am going to try the Retros. Listened to some sound samples and they do appear to do that bluesy tone nicely which I think will work well the the Parlor.

I think you will really like them. They take a few days to settle (but then again so does almost everything- especially phosphor bronze) but once they do they sound really nice on RainSongs. And as an added bonus they last forever, yes even as long as Elixir.

dadio917 · #8 02-20-2021, 12:31 PM

after trying a bunch of strings i found Thomastik-Infeld Plectrums to sound head and shoulders above anything else on my RS Parlor. They cost A LOT but in my opinion worth it. Have 11s on it now which i think i like better than 12s. I'm a bare finger player.

blue4now · #9 02-20-2021, 03:35 PM

So I stopped by GC and grabbed a set of monels in 11. Got home and started wondering if I should have bought them in 12 so a threw a set of Diadarrio 12’s I had on hand to to be sure and yeh I like the feel of 11’s on the parlor better. Maybe just the intimate nature of size and/or the neck but the 11’s feel better to me on this. Will wait a few days to be sure but I think the monels in 11 might be a go.

blue4now · #10 02-20-2021, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue4now

So I stopped by GC and grabbed a set of monels in 11. Got home and started wondering if I should have bought them in 12 so a threw a set of Diadarrio 12’s I had on hand to to be sure and yeh I like the feel of 11’s on the parlor better. Maybe just the intimate nature of size and/or the neck but the 11’s feel better to me on this. Will wait a few days to be sure but I think the monels in 11 might be a go.

Idk. These D’addario 12. PB’s sound pretty good ! And I’m warming up to the 12’s

blue4now · #11 02-20-2021, 07:25 PM

I couldn’t wait. I put the monels on. First the 11’s work way better for me on this guitar. Second they sounds fantastic! I love these strings. Thanks so much for the recommendation.

dadio917 · #12 02-21-2021, 06:48 PM

hmmm. I think it'll order a set of the monels and see how they compare to the plectrums. Certainly a lot less $. Had tried the monels on one or two of my wood guitars but didn't care for them. Never tried on the CF.

thanks for the topic.

northtrader · #13 03-17-2021, 12:38 PM

I got a set of Martin Retro Monel 11 on my CH-PA. I also got them on my 2009 JM1000.

I might try a set of Ernie Ball electric Beefy slinky with a wound G just for fun in the near future.

blue4now · #14 03-17-2021, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northtrader

I got a set of Martin Retro Monel 11 on my CH-PA. I also got them on my 2009 JM1000.

I might try a set of Ernie Ball electric Beefy slinky with a wound G just for fun in the near future.

Nice ! I am still loving the retro’s on the CH PA. Absolutely no thought about trying anything different.

tdq · #15 03-18-2021, 05:31 AM

I played one eons ago on the MacNichol roadtrips. I don't remember what strings it had, but personally I don't think 80/20s work on Rainsongs as they are so bright already. Monels are my string of choice on a couple of my guitars, could be good on that little parlor. Or maybe just some regular PBs failing that.