Mahogany players only...80/20 or PB strings?

[geordie]

hi Cheetotoe,
This was a problem for me to.
My main guitars are Rosewood - I like the sound.
I got a 12 string that handled real well - for fingerstyle
but it's mahogany - different sounding guitar x 2 since it's a 12'er.
I now buy 2 sets of strings 1 PB's and 1 80/20 and after a lot of mixing them and swapping them around I came up with the winning combination to suite the guitar and what I like to hear.
Maybe this is the way to go for you,
geo

[Brent Hutto]

Two of my guitar have mahogany bodies. One with a cedar soundboard and one with spruce. On the one that's mahogany and cedar it's 80/20's if they are Polywebs or EXP's and PB if they're anything else. The 80/20 on balance are probably best overall. On the one that's mahogany and spruce I've never tried any 80/20's that sound good, it's PB always.

Why? Because I've tried seven or eight different kinds of strings on each guitar and settled on the ones I liked the best. There is no chance in the world of looking the tonewoods on a spec sheet and knowing what kind of strings you'll want to use.

[brian a.]

IMO, the top wood along with who built it and how it was built are more important than the the back and sides. YMMV.
I am currently using PB's on all my guitars as a test to hear what the guitar offers and not the strings. So far I like it.

[IainDearg]

PB all the way on all my guitars, I'm afraid. Mahogany / rosewood - doesn't matter. I've often read about the qualities of 80/20 strings and from time to time decided to give them another try only to be disappointed on each occasion. For me, PBs sound sparklier and keep their tone longer on any guitar.

[nobo]

Originally Posted by IainDearg

PB all the way on all my guitars, I'm afraid. Mahogany / rosewood - doesn't matter. I've often read about the qualities of 80/20 strings and from time to time decided to give them another try only to be disappointed on each occasion. For me, PBs sound sparklier and keep their tone longer on any guitar.

Same for me!

[dgeorge]

I have 80/20 on my J-50 and PBs on my Collings OM1. SO I guess no genral rule for me....it is what works best for that guitar plus what you like. On top of that with the J-50 I do not like all brands of 80/20s.

[ewalling]

Someone on this thread suggested that PBs 'tame the brightness' of mahogany. Is mahogany supposed to be 'bright'? I thought it was supposed to be 'warm'!

Another case where the meanings of these terms seem to disintegrate... I think it's all down to the individual guitar. I had a British handbuilt guitar in mahogany that responded marginally better with 80/20s. My 000-18GE sounds better to my ears with John Pearse PBs. I have 80/20s on my GC8 right now, but I've a feeling that PBs might sound better. The guitar's new so I'll give them a whirl. For me that's the only way to know anything vis-a-vis this subject.

[rlouie]

Originally Posted by ewalling

Someone on this thread suggested that PBs 'tame the brightness' of mahogany. Is mahogany supposed to be 'bright'? I thought it was supposed to be 'warm'!

it's suppose to be whatever we hear it to be.............more proof that everyone hears things differently

so if mahogany has warm tonal qualities to you how does rosewood sound to you?????

[Matt Mustapick]

80/20s all the time, on everything.

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by rlouie

it's suppose to be whatever we hear it to be.............more proof that everyone hears things differently

so if mahogany has warm tonal qualities to you how does rosewood sound to you?????

Another punctuational retort!

Each guitar has its sound, period, and that sound seems variable according to the person that hears it. I've heard 'warm' and 'bright' used to describe the effects of the same components so many times that I find the terms redundant.

[rlouie]

Originally Posted by ewalling

Another punctuational retort!

Each guitar has its sound, period, and that sound seems variable according to the person that hears it. I've heard 'warm' and 'bright' used to describe the effects of the same components so many times that I find the terms redundant.

that's peculiar as you just said :

Someone on this thread suggested that PBs 'tame the brightness' of mahogany. Is mahogany supposed to be 'bright'? I thought it was supposed to be 'warm'!

[Mad Rose]

Originally Posted by rlouie

nothing to discuss.................PB's all the way............
you should really try these out: http://www.webstrings.com/
great prices and they are very good strings.......

rlouie...How would you compare Webstring's PB's next to Martin's SP PB's...? Don't care for 80/20's, so I usually go for PB's on all my guitars, SP 4100's specifically. I recently strung one acoustic w/ a set SP4150's & really like the added umph! Of course...looking for a good deal, the Webstrings Bluesgrass PB's look somewhat appealing?

[rlouie]

Originally Posted by Mad Rose

rlouie...How would you compare Webstring's PB's next to Martin's SP PB's...? Don't care for 80/20's, so I usually go for PB's on all my guitars, SP 4100's specifically. I recently strung one acoustic w/ a set SP4150's & really like the added umph! Of course...looking for a good deal, the Webstrings Bluesgrass PB's look somewhat appealing?

I'd say they're very comparable...I use the SP4150's as well and the Webstring PB's and 80/20's sound very good at a great price!!!

[Ed422]

Originally Posted by rlouie

I'd say they're very comparable...I use the SP4150's as well and the Webstring PB's and 80/20's sound very good at a great price!!!

I think Webstrings sound as good as most "name brands". They just don't last as long (for me). I like Pearse but I'm on a webstrings kick lately. They are cheap and I don't mind changing strings.

Ed

[Brent Hutto]

Nothing bright about my mahogany and red spruce Lolo Creek.