The Aluminum Bronze "Experiment"

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Recently, I wrote a thread asking about Ernie Ball's Aluminum Bronze strings. I bought a pair (one medium and another medium-light) to compare them to the Martin Monels I've been using for a long time and also to the D'Addario Nickel Bronze I put after writing the thread on my GS Mini Koa. I was hoping to put them first on my Taylor DN3 and then decide what to do. Well, the medium-lights came earlier than the mediums, so I put the medium-lights on my Taylor 414CE just a couple of hours ago. My impressions:

Right out if the gate, I felt a deeper bass with the AB's and a bit less harsh than with the Monels, which doesn't say much in terms of tone because Monels start quite harsh but eventually mellow out nicely, although at a slower pace. Nevertheless, I like that a string can "mature" quickly and, on that matter, based on my experience, both the Aluminum Bronze and the Nickel Bronze "mature" much quicker than the Monels.

About the feel: the Aluminum Bronze FEELS really UNcoated. Of course, the Monels and the NBs are also uncoated, but the Aluminum Bronze strings don't be to be as slinky as both the Monels and the Nickel Bronze strings. I'd dare to say they feel. . . manlier Also, I find them a bit tighter than Monels, but not as much as Phosphor Bronze.

About the sound/tone: of course, the strings are on different guitars, but I can safely say that the tone of the Aluminum Bronze, for now, is somewhat similar to the Nickel Bronze, the difference would be the added bass that the Aluminum provides (although it can be that koa and ovangkol have certain similarities in tone). The Monels and the Nickel Bronze are a bit more balanced while the AB's, as of now, have a bit of a scooped midrange (taking in consideration that I put them on my 414CE, which has a very strong midrange).

So far, those Aluminum Strings will definitely stay on my GA. The "waiting for a good tone" is much less than with Monels. Now I'm waiting for my mediums to arrive.

[Monsoon1]

Aluminum oxidizes very easily. I wonder how this would affect strings in the long run.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Monsoon1

Aluminum oxidizes very easily. I wonder how this would affect strings in the long run.

It's not pure aluminum. It's a blend of aluminum and copper.

[Groberts]

Any idea what the expected life for these strings might be? Keep us posted.

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Any idea what the expected life for these strings might be? Keep us posted.

They have become one of my staples.
I’ve done three months on a set with my Journey Instruments takedown guitar.
Granted, it would have been less if I’d been taking it apart and putting it together more.
And they do sound pretty darn good.

[Monsoon1]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

It's not pure aluminum. It's a blend of aluminum and copper.

Yes, i realize that it's an alloy. The aluminum will still cause oxidation.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Monsoon1

Yes, i realize that it's an alloy. The aluminum will still cause oxidation.

Most things metal will do that. By many accounts, the ABs behave somewhat like the Monels in the sense that they last a long time. Let's wait

[Guitarplayer_PR]

THE NEXT DAY. . .



Certainly, the Aluminum Bronze have begun to mellow out, just as quickly as the Nickel Bronze did on my GS Mini. The strings exhibit a really warm sound, but it's still very articulate and clear. So far, it makes my 414CE a better fingerpicker than with the Monels, and on par with the Monels while being strummed.

Plugged in, it certainly has more definition and more warmth. The bass is clearly more present, but it's not overpowering like it'd probably be if put on rosewood b&s guitars. And they still feel manlier

[FThomas]

An interesting combination of metals. It is the same material used in the middle of the Philippine 10 Peso coin. Highly resistant to corrosion. I wonder what the composition of the aluminum bronze is really made up with.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by FThomas

An interesting combination of metals. It is the same material used in the middle of the Philippine 10 Peso coin. Highly resistant to corrosion. I wonder what the composition of the aluminum bronze is really made up with.

For starters, bronze itself is an alloy, made up mostly of copper. I think it depends on what "kind" of bronze it is. That's why you have phosphor bronze, aluminum bronze, nickel bronze, etc.

[swarfrat]

Aluminum oxidizes nearly instantly. It doesn't slowly oxidize over months - it's oxidized the moment it comes off the machine. Certainly before you string it up.

[Tnfiddler]

I watched Tony Polecastro’s video on these yesterday and it picqued my interest in them.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Our friend, Wikipedia, has some light about aluminum bronze, for those asking:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_bronze

[Dryfly]

Anyone have experience of compare to GHS White Bronze "Alloy 52"?
Supposedly bright and non tarnishing.

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Just an hour ago, my medium Aluminum Bronze strings arrived. Immediately I put them on my Taylor DN3 and. . . everything I wrote about them on my 414CE applied to the DN3, but the difference between the Monels and the Aluminum Bronze is quite bigger on my dread. Even more bass and volume. And plugged in the tone is bassier. Veeery interesting. I guess I'm turning into an Aluminum Bronze convert.