The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Carbon Fiber

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-01-2020, 01:36 PM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 10,982
Default mellow strings?

I find myself in need of very mellow strings, attempting to offset excessive brightness on a new guitar. Normally I use GHS White Bronze, Elixir Nanoweb PB, or D'Addario EJ-16 PB's. Those work well most of the time on most of my guitars and are easy for me to get, but none of them have worked well on this guitar. I've even tried medium gauge too (it is a short scale so somewhat lower tension). Your suggestions are appreciated -- this is something I have not run up against before.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-01-2020, 02:28 PM
FingahPickah FingahPickah is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: The United States of New England
Posts: 2,088
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earl49 View Post
I find myself in need of very mellow strings, attempting to offset excessive brightness on a new guitar. Normally I use GHS White Bronze, Elixir Nanoweb PB, or D'Addario EJ-16 PB's. Those work well most of the time on most of my guitars and are easy for me to get, but none of them have worked well on this guitar. I've even tried medium gauge too (it is a short scale so somewhat lower tension). Your suggestions are appreciated -- this is something I have not run up against before.
Silk and Steel strings might be worth trying. What model is the guitar?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-01-2020, 04:00 PM
jdinco jdinco is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4,398
Default

I find the DR Sunbeams to be a mellower sounding string....not sure how far in that direction you need to go. Good Luck Earl !!
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-01-2020, 05:57 PM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 10,982
Default

Thanks for the suggestions. I need to go pretty far toward mellow perhaps approaching "dead". I might make a run to my LGS and pick up sets of each. First I need to try medium gauge GHS White Bronze instead of PB EJ-17's.

Normally I don't watch the "which strings" threads very closely because string choice is such a personal matter based on taste and hearing. But this is a whole new experience for me - taming a tone which is too harsh and bright. I'd rather keep the make & model quiet for now. I suspect this one will need strings that are way different than any of my other guitars.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-01-2020, 07:02 PM
Guest 928
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

YOU WANT MELLOW, SHOULD'VE GONE NYLON.................
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-01-2020, 07:37 PM
guitararmy guitararmy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 4,202
Default

DR Rare PB's are on the mellow side...
Elixir Polywebs are also mellower because of the thicker coating.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-01-2020, 07:42 PM
douglasfan1 douglasfan1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 529
Default

You may want to try Martin Strings. I think all of them are quite mellow. I used to have the old one (Martin PB SP7200) but they are not very resistant to corrosion comparing to Elixir. I have to change it once per month or 2, depends on whether I have gig outside or just practicing at home, but that's reasonable to me.
__________________
Leviora A1 Fan Fret
Martin OMC28BLJ
ArchAngels Wings (Dreadnought)


Grace Felix
L.R.Baggs Mixpro
Zoom A3

Trace Elliot TA40CR
Henriksen the Bud ten
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-01-2020, 10:48 PM
Hoyt Hoyt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 697
Default

GHS has a set called Silk & Bronze. These are much better than Silk &Steel. They sound very much like Phosphor Bronze strings minus just a bit of sizzle.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-02-2020, 12:14 AM
Lillis Lillis is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: S.E. Florida via Indy
Posts: 2,146
Default

Highly recommend pearse pure nickels.
__________________
Taylor 322,512ce 12 fret cedar/hog & 362ce
Martin 00015SM
Guild 1966 F20
Larrivee P03 sitka/hog,simple 6 OM & OM 09
Eastman E100ss-sb
Gibson J185 & 2016 J35
Fender player plus telecaster & Mustang P90
Gretsch MIK 5622T
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-02-2020, 12:18 AM
kizz kizz is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 823
Default

Maybe it`s just the guitar. Many guitars can sound stiff and bright at first, but in the end strings wont do it. If you dont like the sound of the guitar, maybe you should buy another one.
__________________
Jan
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-02-2020, 09:41 AM
Earl49 Earl49 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 10,982
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kizz View Post
If you don't like the sound of the guitar, maybe you should buy another one.
That is exactly my fear. Trying different strings is an effort to salvage the tone of a guitar that otherwise would have been returned immediately based on tone, if it were a stock model. Customs are not returnable, and I may have to resell at a substantial loss.

Based on these helpful responses (mahalo) I placed an order with Strings and Beyond last night. Some GHS silk & bronze, GHS silk & steel, Martin Monels, DR Sunbeams, and a couple others are on their way for testing. I have JP Pure nickels on hand already but those REALLY did not work on the Blackbird Lucky 13 - I could not get them back off that guitar fast enough, yet I like them on other guitars. I can try the remaining set, but am not very hopeful.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-02-2020, 09:56 AM
steelvibe steelvibe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: my father's attic
Posts: 5,783
Default mellow strings?

Earl, still don’t know what guitar we are talking about but the Retros sound fabulous on RainSong guitars and many here on the forum agree.

I agree with the suggestions provided for mellow strings, but Monel is kind of an odd string (especially when your ears are used to phosphor bronze or some variation of it). You may need to be patient as they get sweeter with time to my ears. However, I have a hunch we are not talking about a RainSong.
__________________
Don't chase tone. Make tone.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-02-2020, 11:28 AM
Frettingflyer Frettingflyer is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 350
Default

I am pretty sure we are not talking Rainsong, but +1 on the Martin Monel Retro strings on my Rainsong when I had it, FWIW
__________________
Dave
McPherson Sable, Blackbird Lucky 13, Rainsong OM1000. Various wood, mostly Taylors
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-02-2020, 11:33 AM
Chipotle Chipotle is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,301
Default

I hated putting new D'Addario PB (EJ16s) on my Composite Acoustics GX. The bright, nails-on-chalkboard "sizzle" was way too much until they'd been played in for several weeks. So last string change I decided to try out some other options, looking for something more mellow, like you.

The first trial was a set of DR Rares, and I can happily report that they are much, much better than my standard D'Addarios. They have some brightness, but softer, and almost none of the annoying top-end "sizzle".

I also have a set of Monels (Martin Retro) that I haven't tried yet, but even if I don't end up liking those I can recommend you try the Rares.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-02-2020, 11:56 AM
steelvibe steelvibe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: my father's attic
Posts: 5,783
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chipotle View Post
I hated putting new D'Addario PB (EJ16s) on my Composite Acoustics GX. The bright, nails-on-chalkboard "sizzle" was way too much until they'd been played in for several weeks. So last string change I decided to try out some other options, looking for something more mellow, like you.

The first trial was a set of DR Rares, and I can happily report that they are much, much better than my standard D'Addarios. They have some brightness, but softer, and almost none of the annoying top-end "sizzle".

I also have a set of Monels (Martin Retro) that I haven't tried yet, but even if I don't end up liking those I can recommend you try the Rares.
Have you tried Sunbeams? Excellent strings!
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Carbon Fiber

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=