My Love Affair with Monels and D'Addario NB's may be over

[Ed66]

Not throwing out my spare sets yet, but after a recent post I decided to go back to my previous favorite - D'Addario EJ16s - to A/B them. Wow, bright and warm and delicious on both my Seagull Artist Studio and my Alvarez Masterworks Mahogany. I'm keeping the Monels on a couple others right now and I'm sure I'll probably go back and forth, but it was nice to realize what I had with the EJ16's. They are also super cheap when you by them in 10 packs. I do love the lifespan of Monels and D'Addario NBs, as well as how they look, but they might be missing a little warmth. The jury is still out in this courtroom, so we'll just have to see how things play out.

[TBman]

I'm going to start recording strings after they have a couple of days play time. I'll just do folders of the guitar's name and then do the name of the wav file as the string description, date, gauge, etc. It'll be interesting to see comparisons of the same strings on different guitars at the same string age too. I'l record them in the same room without any external mics to keep things even and its for convenience too as I can do these recording on the day needed. I won't have to wait for a quiet weekend.

It's so easy to get enamored by the new string sound. I think it throws off comparisons because we're comparing new strings to strings going out the door.

[Dustinfurlow]

I like the lifespan of the NBs as well, they’re all I use for gigging nowadays, but for recording the EJs have more warmth and overtones most times. Would agree the NBs have a midrange scoop but sometimes that’s good once you get past the initial crisp sound.

[Brucebubs]

I'm a big fan of Monels on mahogany and NB's on almost everything else but I've ventured out and tried a few different strings recently - I blame the AGF!
Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze work nicely on mahogany too and DR Sunbeams really took me by surprise on my EJ-200 .... so much so that I ordered more sets on day 2 .... oh, and some DR Rares too for comparison.

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by Ed66

Not throwing out my spare sets yet, but after a recent post I decided to go back to my previous favorite - D'Addario EJ16s - to A/B them. Wow, bright and warm and delicious on both my Seagull Artist Studio and my Alvarez Masterworks Mahogany. I'm keeping the Monels on a couple others right now and I'm sure I'll probably go back and forth, but it was nice to realize what I had with the EJ16's. They are also super cheap when you by them in 10 packs. I do love the lifespan of Monels and D'Addario NBs, as well as how they look, but they might be missing a little warmth. The jury is still out in this courtroom, so we'll just have to see how things play out.

I think you are discovering how things can get a bit stale if you always play the same strings. There are always trade-offs with strings and you can get bored with one sound.

Before you ditch one string for another, try putting the ones you like in a rotation. You may decide to continue to use the Monels and NBs, but not continually.

[Jaden]

I have one guitar, a 000-18 with very rich harmonic bloom that I will try Martin Retros on next string change; right now it has D’Addario Nickel Bronze which seems to add something extra to its tonal complexity - almost an added ‘thickness’ which the guitar doesn’t need any extra of. I’m hoping the Retros will reign it in more. Otherwise I find D’Addario 80/20s work just fine.

[SalFromChatham]

I have moods... and I switch back and forth between PBs and nickel. That’s half the fun!

[Ed66]

Originally Posted by Paddy1951

I think you are discovering how things can get a bit stale if you always play the same strings. There are always trade-offs with strings and you can get bored with one sound.

Before you ditch one string for another, try putting the ones you like in a rotation. You may decide to continue to use the Monels and NBs, but not continually.

That's a very valid point and since I've built up a supply of NBs and Monels it looks like the path I'm going down. Regardless, that new string sound can be so sweet. I think I'm going to work from home this morning and do a little playing

[Woolbury]

Have you ever read Tommy Emannuels take on strings? He feels your guitar gets "used" to a certain string, and they begin to sound dull and lifeless. He says he changes brands and types to get the most lively sound. Maybe you'll circle back around to your Monelsat some point

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by Woolbury

Have you ever read Tommy Emannuels take on strings? He feels your guitar gets "used" to a certain string, and they begin to sound dull and lifeless. He says he changes brands and types to get the most lively sound. Maybe you'll circle back around to your Monelsat some point

I think he explains it starting around 2:45 mark

I have different preferences for different guitars (Martin Retros being favorites), but I always have a pack or two of Pearse Phosphor Bronze on hand, just to shake things up every now and then. They pretty much sound great on everything, and it's fun to breathe new life into a guitar I've grown used to. I'll enjoy a couple of months of those, and then let the Monels amaze me all over again. Replace, enjoy, repeat!

[Pura Vida]

Strings are a personal thing, and they can vary by player or guitar. I know that Monels are well-liked around here, but I just can't play them. And I like NB fine, but prefer the warmth of a PB string. I always have a 10-pk of D'Add EJ16, but I've been playing GHS strings (PB or Americana lights), and I do like DR Rare on my Mahogany body guitars, as well. Keep mixing it up, once in a while!

[martyloo]

I recently put some D'aD NB's on for 2 weeks. In hindsight that was about 13 days to long, but I wanted to be sure. Too wiry and metallic for me.

A lot of people dig them and it is great to have so many options.