Why do Gibsons sound better with old strings?

[nickv6]

The only problem I have with my j45 studio is squeaking. Whatever strings I fit the guitar seems to emphasize the squeaks as I move up and down the fretboard. Does anyone else notice this?
Anyone recommend a non squeaky string type?
Nick

[Wellington]

I just can’t imagine playing on old strings like that, it’s a pet peave of mine, feels gross or something.

[Fireside_Guitar]

Originally Posted by Joe Beamish

I own a Gibson, and yes indeed it prefers old strings. I have a set of Monels on it now, and I think they can stay on approximately forever.

I've had the same set of Monel lights on my J15 for what seems like forever. I look back on my post history one day to see when I actually put them on but it must be a year.
It feels weird not ordering strings all the time.
I have no idea why my J15 sounds good with old strings....but it really does.

[Tony Burns]

seems theirs a place with all strings where we like the way they sound when their old - Ive had one or two that for some reason had the moment of ultimate sound and the next day -gone -- guess some guitars are not normal and have their own rules.

[PapaC]

Until I bought my Taylor last month, my Gibson is the only acoustic I’ve owned for the last ten years. I’ve often been blown away at the difference (in a good way), when I put new strings on. To each his own obviously, but it would for sure save me a little $$ if I left strings on for 6 months lol.

[Brucebubs]

Anyone else reading 'old Gibsons fresh strings, new Gibsons old strings' from this thread?

[jjrpilot]

Are monels brighter or darker than the typical PB strings?

[merlin666]

OP - are you using the Gibson (GHS) stock strings? I think that strings that sound good on Martin-style guitars may not have good results on Gibsons, unless they are fairly old.

[1Charlie]

I’m in the old Gibson, monels camp.

They play in Fairly quickly, and then sound wonderfully warm for a long, long time.

I used to use Elixirs, because My hand chemistry can ruin a set of uncoated PB’s or 80/20’s in just a few hours.

Monels are highly resistant to my toxic fingers, and for my use, are much preferable to coated strings.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by jjrpilot

Are monels brighter or darker than the typical PB strings?

My experience with monel strings is that they sound different from phosphor bronze (PB). Monel strings sound to my ears a little mellower, slightly less bright compared to PB, but what you hear will depend on your particular hearing. But it's not just a difference in brightness. Monel strings have a little different characteristic sound. It's appealing when you haven't heard this sound for a long time (or ever).

I find that I like going back and forth with different strings, just to give a guitar a new sound for a while. Then a change can be good. Or not, depending on your tastes.

- Glenn

[BluesKing777]

Maybe Gibson are making their new guitars too bright sounding?

Old strings are hard to tune and keep in tune, to me anyway.

But if enough people are keeping old strings because of the sound, well, it must be the guitars.


BluesKing777,

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

The Gibson guitars I’ve owned have sounded better to me with fresher strings, so I don’t think your perception of this is universal. I’m a fan of vintage guitars but not vintage strings, on ANY brand of guitars.

I recognize that having a dull thump on the bass strings is part of some folks’ image of Gibson acoustic guitars overall, and it’s true that that’s what you’ll get on some Gibsons. But the ones I’ve owned have had more sustain in the low end, which goes away once the strings have dulled down.

Since I don’t care for that I change the strings once the bass starts getting thuddy.

Different strokes for different folks...


Wade Hampton Miller

I agree with this...in part.
My J45 sounds great with new Gibson Masterbuilt 80-20’s which are the stock strings. They sound good for about 15-20 hours and then the bass string loses its sustain. That’s when they get changed.
On my J15 however, I like the GHS Silk and Bronze and they are mellow right out of the gate. On that guitar I don’t mind the lack of sustain on any of the wound strings, it’s a bright sounding instrument.

[stephenT]

Most strings don't sound good to me until the next day after a change.

I had the opposite experience from the OP w/ an Gibson L-00, it would sound pretty good right after a string change and the next day the guitar would be dead sounding. It's the only guitar I used Elixirs on, it'd sound ok for a week.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I agree with this...in part.
My J45 sounds great with new Gibson Masterbuilt 80-20’s which are the stock strings. They sound good for about 15-20 hours and then the bass string loses its sustain. That’s when they get changed.

I don't need sustain on J-45, here's the rub.

[RalphH]

Originally Posted by nickv6

The only problem I have with my j45 studio is squeaking. Whatever strings I fit the guitar seems to emphasize the squeaks as I move up and down the fretboard. Does anyone else notice this?
Anyone recommend a non squeaky string type?
Nick

I find Exlir's to be less squeaky - the coating is put on after the string is wrapped so the windings are a bit less pronounced and I find they squeak quite a bit less. YMMV etc.