Aluminum Bronze String by Ernie Ball?

Floridapicker · #1 08-01-2019, 03:55 PM

Greetings all. Has anyone tried the Aluminum Bronze Ernie Ball strings? I just picked up a medium set for my HD-28V. I guess I'm tired of the Elixir sound. They sound almost artificial to me.(just my opinion) I saw a good review of the EB's on Acoustic Tuesday. (My favorite youtube show). Any thoughts on these or any other recommendations for my rosewood dread that might be a good fit? Mainly play acoustic rock...(CSN, The Band,etc). Also mediums are safe on the HD-28V correct? I forget what came with it.

Best,

FP

Tube Sound · #2 08-01-2019, 04:10 PM

Hi FP. I have a 1960's Kay Country, mahogany/spruce, that sounds very good with EB Aluminum Bronze. I would try DR Sunbeams or Rares or John Pearse Phosphor Bronze on your HD28. I recently put Rares on a rosewood Mossman with nice results. Mediums should be fine on an HD28.

JBCROTTY · #3 08-01-2019, 04:27 PM

There was a long thread on these strings a few weeks ago - search for it.

I, personally, don't care for EB Alunimun Bronze strings. Doesn't mean they are not good strings, but they don't sound right to me.

I have a rosewood Yamaha LL16D that I really like Curt Mangan PB or 80/20 Traditional Lights on. D'Addario EJ-16 and John Pearse PB Lights are also good matches that sound nice on that guitar.

Rogerblair · #4 08-01-2019, 04:38 PM

You need to give them a few days to settle down, as they will loose the new string “sizzle”. I love them on a few of my guitars (after they warm up).

Rb

YamahaGuy · #5 08-01-2019, 04:56 PM

I really like the EB Aluminum bronze strings. They will bring out more of your guitar's amplitude. They make all my guitars sound louder. They will be more lively sounding than the Elixirs for sure. On a D28, I'd think you'll be fine with mediums.

Tnfiddler · #6 08-01-2019, 05:00 PM

They are KILLER on my GS Mini Koa. I also really liked them on my Taylor Walnut dread and Koa GS. However, I didn't like them on my Rosewood Taylor 810 at all!! I have a set of mediums that I will eventually try on my D-41 just to see if I like them and also a set to try on my Bourgeois Slope D custom.

sakar12 · #7 08-01-2019, 06:56 PM

Love them on my Martin. Too much shimmer on my Taylors.

Oldguy64 · #8 08-01-2019, 07:28 PM

I like them on most of the guitars I’ve had them on.
Currently, I have on my Journey Instruments OF660.
They make that Carbon Fiber just sing.

ohiopicker · #9 08-01-2019, 07:37 PM

As has been noted, there are previous threads here discussing opinions, strengths of the strings, and the guitars folks have them on. I use them on my Ovations. Yesterday I replaced the strings on my Balladeer. I had a couple sets of leftover SIT Royal Bronze so I threw a set on, and today replaced them with the EB Aluminum Bronze. I am a fan, but as you might know, YMMV.

Brucebubs · #10 08-01-2019, 07:48 PM

They were very good on my Martin JDP II.
I went back to my preferred Retro Monels on that guitar but for something different I'd be happy to use the Ernie Balls again.

Clifdawg · #11 08-01-2019, 08:23 PM

I just put a set of lights (.11-.52) on my Tak. Had been using Martin Retro custom lights. Two days in and the AB's still have a lot of that new-string twang, but I do like the volume and balance. We'll see if they age as gracefully as the Retros. Might have been a better fit for my Yamaha dread; bet they would sound good with the added low-end punch.

maxtheaxe · #12 08-01-2019, 10:25 PM

The EB Aluminum Bronze are one of many I tried once I decided that Elixirs were no longer doing it for me. I like them...I also appreciate that they publish a response curve for the strings so one can have an idea how they might sound on a given guitar.

They're designed to have a bit of a scooped midrange, so they sound better on guitars that may have a bit of a bump in the mids, just to balance things out a bit. My biggest objection to them was that they didn't seem to last very well.

The best use I found for them myself was on my brass-bodied resonator (which I sold a while back)...really great on that guitar...tamed the mids and gave a punch & ringing sustain to the lows and highs, under a heavy-walled ceramic slide.

One minor thing I found weird about them is that they have a strange color...almost look like used strings when brand new...sort of oxidized look to them.

Lillis · #13 08-02-2019, 08:34 AM

I really think there are some strings that will generally sound at least good on most guitars. I think the Ernie Ball aluminum bronze is one of those strings that just needs to be gambled on. Might sound fantastic,on your guitar might sound horrible. I agree with others you need to give them a few days to be a fair test. IMO

brandall10 · #14 08-02-2019, 08:46 AM

I've had the experience of not liking them very much for the first few days on my rosewood guitars (OM-28A and braz SCGC OM) but liking them quite a bit after a few days of play.

There is a unique sizzle to the top end that I believe can sound weird with rosewood guitars that dissipates with play. Even after several weeks it doesn't go completely away so the tonality is just slightly off IMO, but the improvements in volume/punch are worth it. Still, I haven't settled on them just yet, both these guitars are back on EJ16s right now.

GuitarLuva · #15 08-02-2019, 08:47 AM

I really wanted to like these strings. I found them to be the most guitar specific strings out there that I've used. They made one of my guitars much quieter than it normally is. Even if I did like them tonally I could never get over that greyish crap that gets on your fingers when you fingerpick.