Strings for a project

[b1j]

I’ve never been adventurous about trying different strings. Simple tastes, limited knowledge, infrequent changes.

In my Dreadnought Era, 2021 — present, I’ve put D’Addario EJ16 on the J-45 and HD-28, but so far I’ve left the (unknown) medium set on the D-18, since they were new when it came to me and I wanted to see if mediums gave the D-18 a more stable fundamental sound than lights would. (They seem to, but there’s that other variable that I don’t know the brand.)

Anyway, I’m working on a project that will use the three dreads and the high-strung Gurian, each playing a solo melody (and occasional interval), along with a bass line (not sure yet which bass I’ll use). No chords, no strumming. Five-part counterpoint. Possibly no pick, but I’ll try some lines both ways, pick and nails.

This is also going to be my inaugural recording with my new Motu M6 and eight 3” x 2’ x 4’ absorption panels. My vision is to have deep, resonant, blooming tone available in every line — not continuously, but to access at key moments in the piece.

So, here’s what I’m wondering. Would 80/20 be going in the right direction, or is PB already a better material for single notes?

I know: put some on and try them. But I suspect people here have experience with string material and strumming vs. solo notes. If folks think I’m already good, it would save me the time.

[b1j]

I picked the wrong day to start a thread about strings. I didn’t want to hijack the others, though, and I have a different question: between PB and 80/20, is one typically better for bringing out lush, blooming tone with individual notes, as opposed to strumming chords?

[b1j]

OK, I'll just leave the PBs on and see what I get.

[warfrat73]

I guess maybe the question that you're asking is a bit unclear... you're asking which strings will move you more towards "lush and blooming"? And wondering if 80/20s will get you closer than PBs?

I mean, it kind of depends. I've been using 80/20s on my Bourgeois (sitka over EIR) for years, but mostly because I like the directness and "sizzle" when they're fresh. I guess I've personally found PBs to be more lush. But, about the lushest that I've played have been the DR Sunbeams, when they're right.

But you're also asking about what's better for single notes too, and I guess I find that lush and blooming aren't necessarily the best for single notes.

And it depends on the guitar... I put D' Addario Nickel Bronze on my Bowerman OM and it was a revelation after playing PBs on it for the first year or so. They weren't lusher, but they were pretty much better in every other way on that instrument.

So... maybe experiment a little bit?

[Mandobart]

For a lush, blooming sound my recommendation is Curt Mangan round core phosphor bronze. I started using Mangan strings about 5 years ago after trying just about every other brand.

[Joseph Hanna]

b1J,

No string, Phosphor Bronze, 80/20, Silk and Steel, Monel, Luxe or Classical will move the chains to deep, resonant, blooming tone. Strings don't do that.