String choice for new Gibson Hummingbird

[Cibby]

I wanted a mahogany dread to give me a different sound that my 2004 HD 28. I tried a Taylor Grand Pacific but Taylors to my ear never sound right. I ended up with a new Gibson Hummingbird Sustainable the bare bones bees wax finish,walnut back and sides,spruce top. I've played since 1966 I'm 65 . I've played almost everything..almost. But I've never heard a dread with a more woody,dry, sound. I flat pick and play a lot of Carter style played in a bluegrass band for 35 years. This Bird flat picks like a old vintage Martin. I've been thinking about what strings work best. I already took the Gibson lights off and put a set of Tony Rice Monels on. They sound pretty good. Do you guys have any suggestions about other string brands. I'd almost rather play mediums or a bluegrass set. Never really used lights on my Martins. I have on hand Martin mediums phos.bronze and Monel mediums (not the Tony Rice) and Elixir phos.bronze mediums. Hope to get a few suggestions.

[WildBill82]

You've got the major bases covered. I've got PB lights on my Country Western now and it's such a warm, sweet sounding guitar with those, with a surprising amount of overtones. I've had monels on it and loved those too, they were much more basic sounding and didn't have what the Gibson guys call the PB "honey glaze" or something like that.

But with monels my CW absolutely nails the sound of Keith's Hummingbird on the golden era Stones albums. I don't need overtones and sweetness out of this guitar; my D-35 has enough of that so I think I'm going back to monels on it.

Having a guitar that sounds like the Rolling Stones is pretty cool but it's also kind of niche market so to speak, has me thinking I just might roll the CW into a J-200 one of these days.

[Tnfiddler]

I’m a HUGE fan of GHS Signature Series Bronze strings on all of my guitars. They’re my favorite strings I’ve tried.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Cibby

I wanted a mahogany dread to give me a different sound that my 2004 HD 28. I tried a Taylor Grand Pacific but Taylors to my ear never sound right. I ended up with a new Gibson Hummingbird Sustainable the bare bones bees wax finish,walnut back and sides,spruce top. I've played since 1966 I'm 65 . I've played almost everything..almost. But I've never heard a dread with a more woody,dry, sound. I flat pick and play a lot of Carter style played in a bluegrass band for 35 years. This Bird flat picks like a old vintage Martin. I've been thinking about what strings work best. I already took the Gibson lights off and put a set of Tony Rice Monels on. They sound pretty good. Do you guys have any suggestions about other string brands. I'd almost rather play mediums or a bluegrass set. Never really used lights on my Martins. I have on hand Martin mediums phos.bronze and Monel mediums (not the Tony Rice) and Elixir phos.bronze mediums. Hope to get a few suggestions.

Monels are great. Nickel Bronze is even better

[Goodallboy]

If your Hummingbird picks like a vintage Martin, string selection is far less crucial. Those guitars excel with either PB or some nickel combination. I'm sure you already know what those sound like so I won't go on.

[thomasinaz]

I've pretty much settled on D'Addario Bluegrass 80/20s for my Standard HBird. I had been using 80/20 Lights but the Bluegrass gauge strings give a little extra bass, that sounds good from that guitar. Enjoy your new Bird!

[SalFromChatham]

Loved daddario nickel bronze lights on my prior bird...

[Planemaker]

I loved Daddario EXP 16 on my Hummingbird