Monel strings on rosewood guitars

Llewlyn · #1 12-10-2019, 09:25 AM

There is a plethora of threads already regarding monel strings such as Martin Retro, and general consensus seems to be that they sound great on mahogany guitars.

I am interested in hearing experiences from players who tried them on rosewood guitars (or other dark woods), especially for fingerpicking. I tried Martin Retro light on my Martin OM-28 and I noticed a decrease in volume compared to 80/20 but, after a couple of weeks, a very nice mellow sound came out which is delightful for fingerpicking blue/jazz.

What do you think?

Also: I cannot seem to be able to find videos of people playing monel on rosewood guitars, so any share is appreciated.

Ll.

KalamazooGuy · #2 12-10-2019, 09:28 AM

They tamed my rosewood jumbo in all the ways I hoped. PBs were too bright. Now it's a better strummer.

Oldguy64 · #3 12-10-2019, 09:28 AM

I’ve got a set of Martin Monels in 11-52 on my Alvarez PD85S. Spruce with a solid RW back and laminate sides.
Phenomenal guitar.
They’ve been on it for more than a month, and I still like the way they sound.
Not as dark as PB, but less odd overtones.

Osage · #4 12-10-2019, 09:40 AM

They are the best strings in the world on my 1927 000-28. I've tried probably 10 different sets of strings on the guitar and the Monels are the clear winner.

I sold a 1928 00-40H last year and it sounded good with them but ultimately, I decided that EJ-16's sounded better. It wasn't night and day or anything and I would have been happy to always have the monels on that one.

I put them on my modern Brazilian Rosewood Gibson Roy Smeck style guitar and they were less than impressive. I kept them on for 2 weeks and then went back to EJ-17's and it was a big improvement.

I've done setups on probably 7-8 Rosewood guitars with them for customers in the last couple years and with a couple exceptions, they've been pretty great. Maybe not my first choice on some but the owners were all happy.

ChrisE · #5 12-10-2019, 09:41 AM

I like them on my D-18.

They sounded dull and thumpy on my HD-28. In other words, they made it sound like a Gibson.

Llewlyn · #6 12-10-2019, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osage

They are the best strings in the world on my 1927 000-28.

May I ask you which gauge? I tried the light (012) on my long-scale OM but want to switch to Martin Retro LJ (013).

Ll.

warfrat73 · #7 12-10-2019, 10:18 AM

I'm one of the Retros on mahogany guys.

I've been running them for about a year on my D-18.

I tried a couple of sets of them on my Bourgeois (EIR B&S). I liked them ok, and I liked the fact that last well. But ultimately I prefer 80/20s on that guitar. That said, I do play a lot of bluegrass, and I like the punch and shimmer of the 80/20s. But, depending on what kind of finger picking I was doing I very well might prefer the retros, and the retros also do seem to blend a bit better when strumming, if that's an important consideration.

I think the long and short is that you're just going to have to try them and see what you think.

llew · #8 12-10-2019, 10:25 AM

I had a set of Retros on my last HD-28. I liked them but it was short term. Went back to EJ-17's.

raysachs · #9 12-10-2019, 10:48 AM

Tony Rice seems to love 'em on his D-28. But he's Tony Rice...

Jaden · #10 12-10-2019, 01:29 PM

I like them on my OM-21, I’ve been using 11-52 custom light Retros, now have 80/20 EJ11 on it (all rosewood guitars I’ve had eat strings) - next time the monels go on I’ll beef up the plain strings one gauge to thicken up the trebles. As for consensus on mahogany top guitars - I’d rather consider monels on an individual guitar basis, as there is natural variance in wood and string type can vary accordingly.

1Charlie · #11 12-10-2019, 01:36 PM

I'm using a set of Tony Rice monels on my Huss & Dalton sitka/rosewood dread. Lovely combination. Warms the guitar up quite a bit. I also get quite a lot of power out of them that I lose within hours of playing PB's or 80/20's.

PTL · #12 12-10-2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisE

I like them on my D-18.

They sounded dull and thumpy on my HD-28. In other words, they made it sound like a Gibson.

LOL, a bit OT but I had my first ever Gibson borrowed for about 2 weeks - a 12th fret slope shoulder but 'dull and thumpy' would not be remotely my description. It was loud, loud, projective and clear. I'm brand agnostic by the way - not Gibson fan or detractor.

Osage · #13 12-10-2019, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llewlyn

May I ask you which gauge? I tried the light (012) on my long-scale OM but want to switch to Martin Retro LJ (013).

Ll.

Light. It might sound a hair better with 13's but honestly, '27 was very early in the steel string bracing and this one is so light I would probably worry about it. Plus, it sounds great as it is.

musicman1951 · #14 12-10-2019, 03:41 PM

I've been using Martin Retro's on my 000 for over a year now. I play 95% with fingers and love the sound and feel.

ChrisE · #15 12-10-2019, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTL

LOL, a bit OT but I had my first ever Gibson borrowed for about 2 weeks - a 12th fret slope shoulder but 'dull and thumpy' would not be remotely my description. It was loud, loud, projective and clear. I'm brand agnostic by the way - not Gibson fan or detractor.

I was just kidding, anyway. I played a 1961 J-50 last week that really got the GAS going.