monel strings...interesting tone

[michaeljohnr]

I love these strings on my J45.

[rbachman]

How coarse are the strings?

I'm an Elixir user for many years

[earri]

I really really like them on my E10SS, as well as John Pearse pure nickels (12's). Liked them on my E10D as well (13's). They do take a while to break in and kinda "grow" on you; The JP PN don't seem to take as long. They do last a long long time also.

They are lower tension, so albeit not slick like coated strings, they do have a smooth softer(er) feel to them.

[jimmy bookout]

I like the Retro's, but (and this is simply my opinion) they seem to be very specific in what they will do for a guitar. I tried them (and liked them) on my 2 "bigger" guitars (Gardiner Concert and Avian Skylark), loved them on my Gardiner Parlor. What I've ended up doing is using D'addario Nickel Bronze on the larger guitars and the Retros on the Parlor. I find that the Retros don't "color" the guitar tone like PB/80/20/NB. On the Parlor, which because of it's size, tends to be bright, the Retro's really mellow that down. On the bigger guitars, I wanted more punch than the Retros provide.

As always, YMMV.

Jimmy

[Jim Owen]

Hi DMoss,

Me likey.

I also like John Pearse Pure Nickels. I'm now in the screwy position of using different types and gauges on several of my guitars. The monels sound great on my 000 18.

When I started playing acoustic, a lot of us used Nickels. So the sound seems very old school to me.

I get a lot of longevity from monels and nickels--they seem to resist corrosion.

I loved them on my all-mahogany 00015M, and I really love them on my adi/mahogany CEO-7.

Maybe it's the sitka tops or maybe they just don't like Gibsons, but I wasn't nearly as impressed with them on either my J-35 or LG2.

[valleyguy]

My experience was that for finger picking they are great, but with picks, not so much, just too jangly for my taste. I took them off after a week as I am primarily a pick user.

[HHP]

Two things I've found. The variable "break in" period is likely the players getting their ears wrapped around what the Monels do. They are a big jump tonally from 80/20 or PB so it takes time to get past the "different" stage to where you can judge them on their own merits or lack thereof.

I've also noted that finding the right gauge for a particular guitar is important. With 80/20 or PB, a change of 1/2 or whole gauge makes a subtle change. With Monels, the gauge makes a much bigger difference. In one case, I didn't like them on a particular guitar but when I put on the next heaviest gauge, it transformed the combination. In another similar case, I went down a gauge and the previously mediocre combination became a great fit.

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by HHP

Two things I've found. The variable "break in" period is likely the players getting their ears wrapped around what the Monels do. They are a big jump tonally from 80/20 or PB so it takes time to get past the "different" stage to where you can judge them on their own merits or lack thereof.

I've also noted that finding the right gauge for a particular guitar is important. With 80/20 or PB, a change of 1/2 or whole gauge makes a subtle change. With Monels, the gauge makes a much bigger difference. In one case, I didn't like them on a particular guitar but when I put on the next heaviest gauge, it transformed the combination. In another similar case, I went down a gauge and the previously mediocre combination became a great fit.

my guitar was recently setup for .12 gauge strings, but with the .12 monels, i'm getting a little buzz on my d string. i may have to bump up to .13s on this guitar. i'm still under three hours on them, and am going to keep going.

yes, they are completely different than pbs, but i hear potential in them. and everything i read says they need a week or so to "settle". i'm being patient. i also hear they last many times longer than either pbs, or 80/20s, so this is a work in progress.

[ridethewind]

I'm reviving this older thread because I'm interested if anyone has put Monel strings on an all-blackwood or all-koa guitar. If you did, what kind of sound did you get? Did it end up being rich and warm or did it tend more toward dull?

I've been using Newtone round-core strings on my all-blackwood Cole Clark and the discussions of Monel in this forum have got me wondering if they're worth a try.

Thanks, everyone.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by ridethewind

I'm reviving this older thread because I'm interested if anyone has put Monel strings on an all-blackwood or all-koa guitar. If you did, what kind of sound did you get? Did it end up being rich and warm or did it tend more toward dull?

I've been using Newtone round-core strings on my all-blackwood Cole Clark and the discussions of Monel in this forum have got me wondering if they're worth a try.

Thanks, everyone.

They are relatively inexpensive and certainly worth trying.
Give them a week or 2 before you make up your mind about them.
D'Addario Nickel Bronze also worth trying - quite powerful, more zing than Monel, tone kinda halfway between Monels and PB's.

Don't be surprised that both Monels and NB's are silver color.

[Seby]

^ I have never tried them on a koa guitar, but they have been my main string on my little 3/4 size $5 Chinese nylon string. I just stuck steels on it over twenty years ago and it sounds great. I did not like them so much on my F25 however. Seconding a lot of the above, they do last a long time compared to most other acoustic strings that I have tried.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by blindboyjimi

I'm with a seemingly big group that really likes them on Mahogany guitars and not so much on Rosewood.

The key is they really come into their own after a week or so. I've had them on 3 months and they are still very strong and now seem as loud as the Elixirs that came off.

My experience has been very positive as well on Addy topped guitars and mahogany. Usually after a week or two they warm up and mellow out for that "vintage" tone. They are a bit "jangly" at first, you have to give them a little time, even Martin tells you that. I just popped a set on my Pono Slope shouldered Dread which came with D'Addario PB's that I quickly removed. They match up beautifully and give me the J45 vibe, woody and warm. I have also used the GHS "Vintage Bronze" which sound very good righ out of the gate. They just don't last as long.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by rbachman

How coarse are the strings?

I'm an Elixir user for many years

I don't think they are coarse, but they aren't coated so...

[Ken Olmstead]

Looking forward to trying them. I used to love Monels on my Gibson mandolin but not as much on my Weber.