What guitars do you string with Monels? - Page 3

kiva238 · #31 08-14-2019, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPicker

Love them on the OM18 Authentic, and the 0018V

Yes. Superb on my OM-18 Authentic. Against all intuition, Monels sounded just awful on my 1937 D-18.

I'm still of the mind that the Monels are very guitar specific. When they work, they're spectacular. But when they don't. . . .

They do take a while to settle down when new, but I've found they really last a long time.

fuman · #32 08-14-2019, 08:54 AM

I tried them on my maple Taylor GSCE. They sounded terrible at first. Give them a day. I really liked them, although I have Martin Authentic PBs on there now and may like them better. I liked them a lot, and they last a long, long time.

DanR · #33 08-14-2019, 09:22 AM

Monels are my favorite strings for my 000-18. I've used them a lot on my J-45 but I may end up going to PB. I've been alternating formulas on the J-45 and I'm not sure that Monels are gonna be what I finally decide on.

Heroditus · #34 08-14-2019, 09:24 AM

I recently put a set on my Martin OM-42. I love the sound of them on it and will probably continue Monels going forward.

TheJackal · #35 08-14-2019, 09:50 AM

I just replaced the D'addario phosphor bronze with Monel Retro Lights on my Larrivee OM-40R. Based on previous comments about these strings on a rosewood guitar, I wasn't expecting what I got. Rich, resonate, responsive, sustain. I'll stay with these as the other plus I've found is that they last a long time. I'm glad I gave them a try.

jaymarsch · #36 08-14-2019, 09:55 AM

I only tend to use the nickel strings (Monels, Nickel Bronze, JPs) on my Alvarez all mahogany parlor guitar.

Best,
Jayne

beatcomber · #37 08-14-2019, 09:56 AM

In keeping with conventional wisdom, the Retros sound spectacular on my all-hog Martin 000-15SM, especially now that they've been on the guitar for a few months.

I loved them on the Gibson F-25 I used to own, and am now breaking in a set on a Farida OT-25.

I wouldn't describe them as "warm" per se... words like "clear" and "plump" are more accurate.

jnf91 · #38 08-14-2019, 10:27 AM

Have them on my '57 Country and Western, and I see no reason to change. They sound really good.

Couldn't get 'em off my D-28 fast enough.

oliverkollar · #39 08-14-2019, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiva238

I'm still of the mind that the Monels are very guitar specific. When they work, they're spectacular. But when they don't. . . .

Agree 100%.

I think they sound perfect on guitars that sound perfect with dead(er) strings.

Have them on my Fairbanks L2. It has a brighter tonal profile, and the monels seem to mellow out the highs and bump up the bass a little.
PB's are way too bright on it, but sound great when they are played in and almost dead.

zmf · #40 08-14-2019, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oliverkollar

I think they sound perfect on guitars that sound perfect with dead(er) strings.

Have them on my Fairbanks L2. It has a brighter tonal profile, and the monels seem to mellow out the highs and bump up the bass a little.
PB's are way too bright on it, but sound great when they are played in and almost dead.

As the OP, I was going to try to summarize responses, but they seem to be all over the board in terms of tonewood and body shape/size. So the answer seems to be: When they work, they work.

Guess my own preconception is the above -- if you leave other strings on for a long time and like the sound, you might as well start with monels.

Something that didn't get much comment was whether monels suit a certain style of play. Had it in my head that they would suit the rags/blues Americana style where you want a thumpy rhythm.

bufflehead · #41 08-14-2019, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmf

Something that didn't get much comment was whether monels suit a certain style of play. Had it in my head that they would suit the rags/blues Americana style where you want a thumpy rhythm.

I find them to be well-suited for folk styles, especially in accompaniment to singing. A good string whenever you don't want the guitar masking the vocals.

oliverkollar · #42 08-14-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmf

Something that didn't get much comment was whether monels suit a certain style of play. Had it in my head that they would suit the rags/blues Americana style where you want a thumpy rhythm.

I flatpick the L2 80% of the time....old time songs, fiddle tunes, etc. When I do fingerpick it's rags and country blues.

The L2 is 12 fret so I tend to adjust for tone with my right hand position.
IMO the string gets you the fundamental and the right hand position gets your tone...if that makes sense?

I pick with a few bluegrass guys that love monels on their D-18's. I'm more of a PB fan on my bluegrass guitars.

Borderdon · #43 08-14-2019, 02:55 PM

FWIW, Monel lights are the Bee’s knee’s on my ‘73 000-18.
- this from primarily a flat picker.

ChrisE · #44 08-14-2019, 03:23 PM

They sound great on my D-18. They sound dull and thumpy on my HD-28.

emuhunter · #45 08-14-2019, 05:41 PM

I've only tried them on (and LOVE them) on my 2007 000-18 GE. As I believe others have said, they took a few days to settle in and stop being so darned bright but now I'd describe them as sounding like everything I want out of a guitar to accompany vocals. It may be worth noting that I really like the sound of worn strings on all of my guitars.