Anybody else like Martin coated strings

[Mrbirdog]

I don’t know if they’re supposed to sound better or muffled or bright, all I know is they last a long time and they seem to sound the best on any guitar I put them on which would be a Martin
Mrbirdog

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by Mrbirdog

I don’t know if they’re supposed to sound better or muffled or bright, all I know is they last a long time and they seem to sound the best on any guitar I put them on which would be a Martin

Mrbirdog

I used to love Lifespan SPs when they had the Cleartone treatment. Then they went over to their own process or coating and I hated them - they lasted a week before I needed to change them. A shame as I really like the sound of SPs but without the longer life it isn’t really worth me getting them...

[beatcomber]

I bought a 3-pack of the treated PB on sale at GC and put them on my Farida OT-25 and Martin 000-15SM, replacing the "standard" Martin PB strings.

I immediately noticed a difference; there was less "sweetness" and a more of a dry character. I kept them on the Martin for a month and, while they weren't done for yet, I was ready for a change. I put a fresh set of the regular ol' Martin PB on the 000-15SM, and immediately got back the tone I was missing.

I guess I'm not a fan.

[Shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Mrbirdog

I don’t know if they’re supposed to sound better or muffled or bright, all I know is they last a long time and they seem to sound the best on any guitar I put them on which would be a Martin
Mrbirdog

I didn't have an issue with their lifespan, but I couldn't deal with their stiffness. The 12's felt like I was playing 13 or 13.5 guages. They sounded ok to me. Personally I find the D'Addario EXPs the best (now the XT line, but have not tried those).

Unrelated, I've found a non coated string that gave me coated string lifespan with Philippe Bosett strings. Got them from Strings by Mail.

[Mjme123@aol. Om]

I’ve really liked the lifespan 1s, but I just put a set of the lifespan 2s on my D-18, and I think they sound even better. They also seem to last pretty long.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Mrbirdog

I don’t know if they’re supposed to sound better or muffled or bright, all I know is they last a long time and they seem to sound the best on any guitar I put them on which would be a Martin
Mrbirdog

Martin Lifespans are treated, not coated. I use Lifespan PB mediums on my HD-28V and I'm very happy with them.

[keith.rogers]

It's all I've been using save a few trials of other strings I abandoned quickly. Probably started around 2011/12 when I got my GPCPA3.

I don't find them particularly stiff at all. I use the light gauge.

There's a difference between the 1.0 and 2.0 sets - can't put my finger on it, but the new ones seem just as good. The gold plating on the E and B (1.0 version) made me feel better about the money I spent on them, so I miss that a little, but I haven't noticed any shortened "lifespan" in the new, non-gold-plated, unwound strings.

I keep my strings on until the windings are worn through on the bottom in several places. They still keep true, though they do diminish in brightness/overtones over time. (It probably goes without saying I am not that picky - no pun intended ).

[Brucebubs]

I'm kinda done with all Martin strings.
The packaging is letting them down.
I've had too many packs with corroded strings and I feel I'm just being a nuisance lodging complaints about them.

[keith.rogers]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I'm kinda done with all Martin strings.
The packaging is letting them down.
I've had too many packs with corroded strings ....

Well, those are not Lifespan strings, so it might not be relevant. Never, ever saw that in the strings I buy from the online places like Sweetwater and MF.

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I'm kinda done with all Martin strings.
The packaging is letting them down.
I've had too many packs with corroded strings and I feel I'm just being a nuisance lodging complaints about them.

They must save the crappy ones for Australia!

[Glennwillow]

The original versions of Martin Lifespan strings, I thought, were okay, comparable to D'Addario EXP strings. The latest versions of the Martin Lifespan strings feel sticky to me. I don't like them at all. The sound is okay, I just can't stand that sticky feeling.

I am using more coated strings these days but not exclusively. When I use coated strings I use D'Addario.

- Glenn

[boneuphtoner]

Since I’ve fallen head over heels with Martins, my love of the 2.0 lifespan PBs and retros have followed. I never tried Martin’s older packaging but the new stuff is sealed like D’addario but with separate envelopes which I think is more convenient than the D’addario color coded stuff. In short, Martins new packaging is the second best I’ve seen after GHS where in addition to sealed outer packaging you have sealed individual string packaging. I would hope an unacceptable situation like what Bruce showed would be avoided if the packaging was still sealed, but as we saw from Silly a couple of weeks ago, poking through the sealed packaging is possible- although less likely with the individual envelopes inside the sealed package

[keith.rogers]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

The original versions of Martin Lifespan strings, I thought, were okay, comparable to D'Addario EXP strings. The latest versions of the Martin Lifespan strings feel sticky to me. I don't like them at all. The sound is okay, I just can't stand that sticky feeling.

I am using more coated strings these days but not exclusively. When I use coated strings I use D'Addario.

- Glenn

Huh. I have my last set of 1.0 Lifespans on the old[er] OM and a set of 2.0s on the Martin. I can't feel any stickiness! If anything, the 1.0 set is a tiny bit stiffer in feeling. (Both ~25.5") The sets weren't put on at the same time but pretty close, though the 1.0 set probably has gotten more play time, as that guitar is kind of "new to me" this past month or so, and it's downstairs and I haven't had much cause to go up to the music room lately. Anyway, it might be one of those body-chemistry things. (I can play almost any strings forever - my fingers seem to have no effect on them!)

[Bridgepin]

I really liked the SP Lifespan 7100 but they have discontinued them. I still have a few left but not to sure of an alternative as of yet.

[ChrisE]

I tried the Lifespan 2.0 and liked them a lot. I’d use them again except I just bought a bunch of Daddario EXP on sale and I also have a few sets of the new Daddario XT that I plan on using soon. The Daddarios have always sounded great and lasted a long time, so the supply I have now will probably last me a couple of years.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use the Martin Lifespan 2.0 again, though when the Daddarios run out.

I’ve also used the old Lifespan PB and I liked those also.