Rainsong, too much B string sustain?

[Recoil Rob]

Still getting to know my CO-OM1000NS.

I changed out the Elixers it came with to Martin Retro Monel 11's (standard tuning) and I like the tone but I have noticed while strumming chords the open B string will ring on and on and on, to the point it can be annoying.

My wood guitars have good sustain but nothing like this, is this a common occurrence with CF?


thanks,

Rob

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Recoil Rob

Still getting to know my CO-OM1000NS.

I changed out the Elixers it came with to Martin Retro Monel 11's (standard tuning) and I like the tone but I have noticed while strumming chords the open B string will ring on and on and on, to the point it can be annoying.

My wood guitars have good sustain but nothing like this, is this a common occurrence with CF?


thanks,

Rob

Is this B-string sustain noticeable when playing acoustic only and when plugged-in?

[Recoil Rob]

I only play it acoustically.

[mountainmaster]

In my experience CF is more sensitive to string differences than wood.

My Emerald X30 semi-baritone came with 014 D'Addario strings. Which was what I had specified but as it turned out it was more than I could handle.

So I switched to 013-056 D'Addario XT and that was the worst sound I ever had in any of my guitars. Dead dull bass strings and the B-string suddenly had an ugly high pitched harmonic.

Then I went back to my favorite Elixir phosphor bronzes (same 013-056 gauge) and all is well again.
One thing that annoys me about Elixirs though is the coating dandruff. Since I play without any kind of pick I can go a long time without it, but as soon as someone else starts strumming my guitars the strings go flaky immediately.

[Earl49]

You must be using Polywebs then. I’ve never noticed flaking or shedding of the coating on Nanoweb strings. I’m not saying that it can’t happen, but it hasn’t happened to me. I flatpick and strum about 25% of the time.

And ditto on carbon fiber guitars being far more sensitive to string type than wood guitars.

[mountainmaster]

Originally Posted by Earl49

You must be using Polywebs then. I’ve never noticed flaking or shedding of the coating on Nanoweb strings.

Nope, Nanoweb. It's usually others who strum my guitars though. So maybe it all comes down to a bad strumming technique, hitting strings with the side of the pick.
Even with just fingerpicking my Elixirs eventually get a bit of a "hairy" look.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by mountainmaster

In my experience CF is more sensitive to string differences than wood.

Changing string brands is unlikely to address a B string problem. They're all pretty much identical, regardless of manufacturer - at least, I've never seen any credible claims of sonic differences.

I don't think it's a CF-specific problem, either. Much observation of this and other forums has not revealed any consistent definition of a 'CF sound' profile, any more so than the endless tonewood debates elsewhere.

I suspect that this may either be one of the infamous wolf notes, or a simple setup issue - there's a sharp corner somewhere at the nut or saddle which needs easing.

Try tuning the whole thing down a semitone, and see if the problem persists.

[mountainmaster]

Originally Posted by eatswodo

Changing string brands is unlikely to address a B string problem. They're all pretty much identical, regardless of manufacturer - at least, I've never seen any credible claims of sonic differences.

Unlikely perhaps, but it did solve my issue in the end.

However, I believe the major factor in Recoil Rob's case is not the change of brand but the change of string gauge. Rainsongs come standard with a 012 set and he is now using 011. This could reveal a setup issue such as you mentioned, which would have remained hidden with a heavier gauge.

I merely used my case as an example because my trouble also began when I switched to a lighter string gauge.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by mountainmaster

Unlikely perhaps, but it did solve my issue in the end.

However, I believe the major factor in Recoil Rob's case is not the change of brand but the change of string gauge. Rainsongs come standard with a 012 set and he is now using 011.

I used my case as an example because my trouble also began when I switched to a lighter string gauge.

Agreed. My response failed to take gauge into account.

Mea culpa.

[mountainmaster]

Originally Posted by eatswodo

Agreed. My response failed to take gauge into account.

Mea culpa.

You are quick to respond. I had made a small edit to my post in the meantime.