Martin Monel/Retro String: Rosewood vs Mahogany Lovers...a survey of sorts. - Page 2

roylor4 · #16 10-20-2019, 08:32 AM

I have tried Martin retros on: Spruce/Hog, Spruce/RW, Hog/hog lam.

I prefer Retros on my Hog top and DR's on everything else (usually Rares).

Cole Allen · #17 10-21-2019, 11:15 AM

I'm still in experimental mode with strings on my guitars. I recently purchased a few packs of Martin Retro Lights and have them on my OM-18A and my HD-28 Retro. The strings sound great on my OM18A and terrible on my 28 (compared to the PB's I had on before.) I was kind of surprised by the results, but have seen similar reviews on here before. I haven't tried them on my Gibson yet, but plan to when the current strings get dull. I think I prefer Mahogany over rosewood in a general sense, but it really comes down to the individual guitar to me.

Jaden · #18 10-21-2019, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coop47

I prefer them on mahogany, but they also sound great on my OM-28. I don't like them on rosewood dreads or jumbos.

Although I don’t have any Ds or jumbos, intuitively I don’t think Retros work well on larger guitars that depend on expansive tonality to sound good. To my mind I associate Retros with focused tonality typical of fingerpicking 000 mid size and smaller, so I agree with your observation.

musicman1951 · #19 10-21-2019, 12:16 PM

I prefer monel and rosewood.

rokdog49 · #20 10-21-2019, 02:07 PM

I’ve had Retros and Mangan Monels on a variety of guitars, all Spruce and Mahogany. They always seemed to give me a reduction in brightness where desirable and I liked the smooth, mellow tone they produce when broken in.
Currently, I have a set on my J15 which is Spruce and Walnut. So far, I like them quite well. As they “settle” in, my hope is that they will tame a bit of the brightness the J15 is known for in the upper mids...and as I said, just a bit.
I am happy with my J15, I think these strings will make it even better to my ears.
I’m also going to try some GHS Vintage Bronze on it next as they are considered warmer sounding strings.

Fresh1985 · #21 10-22-2019, 11:13 AM

I tried then on my 00-28vs and they sounded horrible. Sounded really good on my furch OM32. So in my limited experience they seem to fit better with mahogany.

Slothead56 · #22 10-22-2019, 01:54 PM

I liked Monels on my CEO-7, but hated them on my HD 28vs (though I liked 80/20s on that one).

Triple Zero · #23 10-22-2019, 02:26 PM

I like the monels on my all-hog parlor. Before that I used Ernie Ball 80/20. I have Martin PB on spruce/hog 000. I don't have anything with rosewood.

L20A · #24 10-22-2019, 05:13 PM

My Martin D-35 likes Retro strings more than my Guild D-55 does.
Both guitars have Rosewood sides and backs.
I don't know where the thought that Retro strings are not for Rosewood guitars came from. But I do like them on my D-35.

bufflehead · #25 10-22-2019, 05:17 PM

The two guitars I use Retros on are both mahogany Martins. One is all-hog and the other has a sitka top.

I don't own any guitars with rosewood back and sides. I haven't tried Retros on my cedar-topped Breedlove, and am not inclined to do so because it does so well with D'Addario EXPs.

Ralph124C41 · #26 10-23-2019, 09:55 AM

I put a set of medium on my Alvarez AD-710 which has rosewood laminated back and sides so of course I don't know how much a test that is because of the construction. I don't know how much I like them but I do know when I first put them on they sounded terrible but after a few days they sounded pretty OK. However, I don't think they sound as loud as my usual strings which are PBs.

One other thing, are the Retros being phased out because several retailers I have used in the past don't seem to be carrying them ... maybe they are just not in stock but maybe they have been dropped?

Jaden · #27 10-23-2019, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph124C41

I put a set of medium on my Alvarez AD-710 which has rosewood laminated back and sides so of course I don't know how much a test that is because of the construction. I don't know how much I like them but I do know when I first put them on they sounded terrible but after a few days they sounded pretty OK. However, I don't think they sound as loud as my usual strings which are PBs.

One other thing, are the Retros being phased out because several retailers I have used in the past don't seem to be carrying them ... maybe they are just not in stock but maybe they have been dropped?

I think they’re in high demand so supply or availability could be falling behind for the time being.

Ralph124C41 · #28 10-23-2019, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaden

I think they’re in high demand so supply or availability could be falling behind for the time being.

thanks, you're right. I rechecked and they're just back-ordered.

1Charlie · #29 10-23-2019, 12:50 PM

Monels now live on all of my vintage Gibsons. They are a perfect pairing with old mahogany guitars, accentuating their warm, dry fundamental tone.

I tried them on a modern Huss & Dalton rosewood dread, and they came off after a few weeks. I liked them for a while, but missed the extra horsepower of PB's.

MikePrent · #30 10-24-2019, 07:19 PM

I might be the only one.... I don’t like the Retros on either of my mahogany guitars.

My DSS-17 comes from the factory with Retro’s and I found the strings combined with the lightweight solid mahogany, made it a huge boomer. Fits the personality of the retro model (slope), but sometimes it was way too much. As a trial, I just replaced the Retros with Martin PB 12.5’s (med/lights) and I think it really tamed it down... much easier to control.

I tried the Retros on my Takamine G340SC (mahogany back and sides, solid spruce top, non-scalloped x-bracing) and it was horrible... I took them off within a week. Just sounded weird and hollow. Back to Martin PB’s (13’s) on that one.