My 80/20 experience..

[Pender]

Would you recommend 80/20 for my Collings OM2H?

[Wrighty]

Originally Posted by Pender

Would you recommend 80/20 for my Collings OM2H?

I would say it’s worth trying a set and seeing what you think...

[BrunoBlack]

Originally Posted by Pender

Would you recommend 80/20 for my Collings OM2H?

I own two Collings OM2 guitars. One is all mahogany and the other is Adi/higuerilla and find Collings to be so naturally projective that PBs smooth them out a bit. I find 80/20s aren’t a good compliment. But I agree, absolutely worth trying. Everyone has their own ears.

[Lillis]

I think I have settled on 80/20 for both of my guitars. They make the GS mini less muddy And the Martin 0015 sounds very clear and rich. Really has a vintage tone ( I know that’s not a very good description)

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by Haasome

Another thing I’ve noticed is, 80/20 strings are welcomed on a guitar with overly active overtones. They seem to tame the confusion, while maintaining the fundamentals.

Yep, that's what I've found on a cherry laminate BS and spruce topped Seagull S6. It was definitely loud/messy in the mids with PBs but 80/20s give it lots of bass and individual note clarity for flatpicking. That guitar has a nice dry sound anyway and 80/20s really bring that out.

Does any manufacturer fit 80/20s as standard anymore?

[BrunoBlack]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Yep, that's what I've found on a cherry laminate BS and spruce topped Seagull S6. It was definitely loud/messy in the mids with PBs but 80/20s give it lots of bass and individual note clarity for flatpicking. That guitar has a nice dry sound anyway and 80/20s really bring that out.

Does any manufacturer fit 80/20s as standard anymore?

Froggy Bottom Guitars uses and recommends John Pearse 80/20 Lights.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Does any manufacturer fit 80/20s as standard anymore?

I think that's what Gibson has been putting on their acoustic guitars, but I could be dead wrong on that one.


whm

[Glennwillow]

Hi Wrighty!

I'm glad to hear that 80/20 Elixir strings have helped you get the sound you want from your guitar.

I tend to use Martin 80/20 SP Authentic strings because these strings, at least for me have a non-harsh sound to them. Some string manufacturers' 80/20 strings sound quite harsh to me. Martin also makes a coated version of 80/20 (Lifespan Authentic) strings. I use 80/20 strings on my Olson SJ and my Martin 000-28VS because both of these guitars need a bit of a treble boost to keep from sounding too dark.

I also use John Pearse 80/20 light gauge strings.

If you are happy with Elixir 80/20, then you have what you need.

Part of the problem is that we all have different hearing with different frequency response curves. What sounds good to one person may not sound good to another.

- Glenn

[nitram]

For years I had heard that 80/20's were better on rosewood and that PB's were what you needed on Mahogany.
I was given a set of 80/20 Elixir nanos and put them on my J-45 just to see what would happen and I was very pleasantly surprised.
I agree with people who say that it's a good idea to try anything at least once when it comes to acoustic strings.
Every guitar sounds a bit (or more) different than any other and you just might change your perception as to what "should" be used in a given situation.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Lwilliams

I recently got a new 2017 SJ-200 Ltd. Ed. in November. I asked that the strings be changed before it shipped to me. Out of the case, I was really disappointed with the sound. It did not sound great or even good.

I lived with it, playing it everyday, thinking it would improve. It did not. Two months later, in January, I put a fresh set of Elixer 80/20 on it. WOW!!!!!!! Man,that guitar came alive. I asked the seller what he put on it. Cleartone PB strings.

Well, for me I consider it due diligence to immediately pull the strings off of any new guitar that comes my way so I can experiment with the three alloys I always try on any new instrument: phosphor bronze, 80/20 and nickel alloy.

So what happened with that guitar is a bit of a drag, but I would definitely have started experimenting with the strings immediately, and not waited for the set on the guitar to die first. Those are best jettisoned right away, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Lwilliams

I got to thinking, and researching, my guitars, were all voiced/designed during the time that the 80/20 bronze string was what they had to work with. It makes sense that they sound best with those on it. At least that's is my experience.

You might be overthinking that a little bit. To an extent, each guitar with a solid wood top is an individual, and sometimes identical guitars built on the same day with sequential serial numbers can sound startlingly different from each other. I do agree that there are lots and lots of guitars out there that could benefit from 80/20 strings but it never occurred to their owners to even try 80/20 strings.

It is an intriguing thought, though. A lot of dreadnoughts, particularly those made in the latter half of the 20th Century, have more bass response than treble. 80/20 strings can definitely help with those instruments. As factory-built guitars' designs and manufacturing techniques have evolved, though, there's usually more treble response coming to the foreground, so using phosphor bronze strings and coated strings are a non-invasive way to help tame those pesky upper partials.

So in that sense, yeah, you've got a point there.

Interesting. I learn something new every day....


Wade Hampton Miller

[Silly Moustache]

Hi Peter, p.m.sent.
Ol' Andy

[jrb715]

Originally Posted by Pender

Would you recommend 80/20 for my Collings OM2H?

Tried them on my OM2HG. They were fine, but EJ16 PBs are substantially better: richer, better blend of highs and lows.

I do use 80/20s on a Huss and Dalton DS.

[TBman]

I ordered a few sets of 80/20. I never knew they were good for rosewood guitars.

[Birchtop]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

....

Does any manufacturer fit 80/20s as standard anymore?

Yamaha ships their LL/LS/LJ-6/16 series with Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 Bronze Light strings.

[Wildgift]

They sound wonderful on my Taylor 317. Elixir Nano’s