What String set is your D-18 wearing?

[warfrat73]

Mine currently has Medium Martin Authentic PBs on it, but I've been kind of going back and forth between those and Medium Monels.

[UncleJesse]

Running the new XS 80/20s on my D18A 37 and have really been enjoying them. But that guitar sounds great no matter the string alloy.

[Mjme123@aol. Om]

Martin lifespan pb lights which make it sound great.

[Wade Hampton]

Robin wrote:

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

We've not heard from Wade Hampton yet in this thread. If he does chip in then my guess is that he has John Pearse 80/20s in medium fitted to his D-18.

Almost. I use John Pearse 80/20 bronze strings on my D-18, you got that part right, but they’re in bluegrass gauge rather than medium gauge.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Zissou Intern]

My D18GE is strung up with Martin Monel Retros 13-56.

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Robin wrote:



Almost. I use John Pearse 80/20 bronze strings on my D-18, you got that part right, but they’re in bluegrass gauge rather than medium gauge.


Wade Hampton Miller

Mmmm.... I have not "noticed" that the strings I have filled to my D-18 are a medium set. I'm not sure why this is the case? I really noticed it on my Seagull and liked playing the "bluegrass" gauge better on that guitar. I now have mediums on my A&L Legacy, my Godin 5th Avenue and my D-18, so I suppose mediums just feel normal to me. Mind you, I never venture more than 4 frets from the nut or capo. There are plenty of notes in that little block of frets to keep me busy! LOL!!!

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by warfrat73

Mine currently has Medium Martin Authentic PBs on it, but I've been kind of going back and forth between those and Medium Monels.

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

Running the new XS 80/20s on my D18A 37 and have really been enjoying them. But that guitar sounds great no matter the string alloy.

Originally Posted by Zissou Intern

My D18GE is strung up with Martin Monel Retros 13-56.

I bought the guitar with medium monels on it, and did think that they were the least monel sounding monel strings that I had played on any guitar. So perhaps (and given the variety of responses in this thread) the D-18 does sound great with many different string styles. H

[Slothead56]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

I'd be inerested in the reasons why some put lights on a large bodied guitar.

I’ve been using lights on all my guitars for decades, including my two Martin dreds. I suppose mediums would bring out a bit more of the guitar but for me it’s kind of a habit. I rarely play with others without amplification so I’m not concerned about driving the top for volume.

Nonetheless, my D-18 sounds fantastic with D’Addario PB’s.

My lifelong usage of lights in now paying off in my 60’s as my hands and finger strength are in question everyday. Gotta’ love arthritis and trigger finger.

[rollypolly]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

I’ve been using lights on all my guitars for decades, including my two Martin dreds. I suppose mediums would bring out a bit more of the guitar but for me it’s kind of a habit. I rarely play with others without amplification so I’m not concerned about driving the top for volume.

Nonetheless, my D-18 sounds fantastic with D’Addario PB’s.

My lifelong usage of lights in now paying off in my 60’s as my hands and finger strength are in question everyday. Gotta’ love arthritis and trigger finger.

I also like lights. Easy of play is the main reason. They're plenty loud for my playing. I guess in a jam circle I might want heavier but I don't do jams much.

[dhodgeh]

I'll go back and forth between the Martin Retros (Monel) Mediums and the Straight Up Strings 'Heavy' set.

D

[PTL]

Originally Posted by dhodgeh

I'll go back and forth between the Martin Retros (Monel) Mediums and the Straight Up Strings 'Heavy' set.

D

Which FEELS like higher tension...? And mind describing the tonal results on your instrument? Thanks.

[RustyAxe]

2005 D18-GE ... D'Addario EJ-19 "Bluegrass" gauge. Medium on the bottom, lights on top.

[SpruceTop]

D'Addario EXP-17 Medium-Gauge Phosphor Bronze.

[Robin, Wales]

Tried out a set of EJ17s. They sounded like, well, phosphor bronze strings. I lost the bottom end and the string to string clarity that I like. They sounded "nice" (i.e. boring) so off they came!

Tried out Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 13-56. I usually like these strings but the 0.034 4th string rattled away on my frets. I did have an Earthwood 80/20 0.036 in a packet so I put that on and the buzzing disappeared. Overall, the strings were no better than the Martin M150 set I have on, and I don't want to be ordering an extra string of a different gauge every time I buy a set - so they are off the list.

Back to the Martin M150 80/20 13-56 mediums. They seem to be marked down as having a slightly higher tension compared to some other makes (perhaps thicker cores?) and I have built my set-up around them. So I could struggle to find something that I both like and works better. Although a set of Martin MM13 monel strings in medium would slot right on at the same gauges/tension.

[brancher]

D'Addario EJ16's. My 2017 Reimagined D18 loves 'em.