Another "What Strings" Thread: Overtones

[stephenT]

Enjoying my recent purchase, a NOS late 2016 Martin 00-28, my first rosewood guitar in 25+ years (that I recall). Looking for a string recommendation.

I play w/ flesh and nail on this guitar, fingerpicking, no picks and I love the sound of this 00-28,.. the string balance, the consistency of tone up the neck, the bottom end, etc., i'm not looking compensate for some deficiency.

But I'd enjoy hearing a bit o' chime in the sustain of the strings and was wondering what strings types and brand/models folks think fill that bill, a string that might emphasize the overtones along w/ the fundamental.

I've googled "acoustic strings for overtones" and it seems folks want to eliminate or control overtones in rosewood guitars rather than emphasize.

Thanks!

[Rille]

Elixir Nanoweb or the new Daddario XS would probably suffice. Elixir has like an inbuilt "chorus effect" that some like and some can't stand. The first reports suggest that the XS is similar to Nanoweb in the sound.

Peace!

[TBman]

Try Elixirs.

......

[stephenT]

I put D’Addario EJ16 PB strings on the guitar when I received it, just to get a baseline w/ known strings. They were OK once they settled in.

I rummaged around my string bin just now and found a pack of John Pearse 300M 80/20 Bronze wound.

Finally remembering that Phosphor Bronze are mellower than 80/20s,... I slapped those puppies (80/20s) on and there are certainly more overtones right off, we'll see how they settle in.

I think 80/20s for this guitar,.. I appreciate the other suggestions.

[Shadowfox]

My vote is 80/20 or Aluminum Bronze.

[thingthatisdone]

Optima. Especially the gold ones.

[Mike McLenison]

I noticed loud reverb-like overtones capoing up at the 7th fret of my Martin HD-35 when using Pyramid round core phos bronze 13's.

[EZYPIKINS]

Rotosound Super Bronze. I dare you.
Once you try them you'll never go back.

[brandall10]

I think there might be some confusion that overtones = bright. 80/20s are actually more fundamental that PBs... but they're brighter. They're typically the option when you want to tame overtones on a rosewood guitar.

Same thing with Elixirs - coated strings lob off overtones... they remove the upper partials. It's just physics. They compensate by making bright vs other coated strings which trend toward mellow.

My experience w/ EJ16s is they have a fair bit more overtones than the PB John Pearse, the JPs are great if you want volume and cut, but I personally find them too dry. If your preference is for 80/20 JPs, maybe that's not exactly what you're looking for.

To do better than EJ16s, which I consider pretty high on the overtone chart, I'd suggest looking into Curt Mangans or Newtones. Something like Newtone double wounds have a ton of harmonic complexity but they're also rather mellow and on the softer/quieter side.

[rick-slo]

Brand new strings have more of that "chime". Elixirs Nanos will maintain it longer in the wound strings. Guitars vary in their "chime" and there is only so much you can do to counter act that.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by brandall10

I think there might be some confusion that overtones = bright. 80/20s are actually more fundamental that PBs... but they're brighter. They're typically the option when you want to tame overtones on a rosewood guitar.

Same thing with Elixirs - coated strings lob off overtones... they remove the upper partials. It's just physics. They compensate by making bright vs other coated strings which trend toward mellow.

My experience w/ EJ16s is they have a fair bit more overtones than the PB John Pearse, the JPs are great if you want volume and cut, but I personally find them too dry. If your preference is for 80/20 JPs, maybe that's not exactly what you're looking for.

To do better than EJ16s, which I consider pretty high on the overtone chart, I'd suggest looking into Curt Mangans or Newtones. Something like Newtone double wounds have a ton of harmonic complexity but they're also rather mellow and on the softer/quieter side.

Good post.

I was thinking D'Addario Nickel Bronze might be worth trying.

[stephenT]

Originally Posted by brandall10

I think there might be some confusion that overtones = bright. 80/20s are actually more fundamental that PBs... but they're brighter. They're typically the option when you want to tame overtones on a rosewood guitar.

Same thing with Elixirs - coated strings lob off overtones... they remove the upper partials. It's just physics. They compensate by making bright vs other coated strings which trend toward mellow.

My experience w/ EJ16s is they have a fair bit more overtones than the PB John Pearse, the JPs are great if you want volume and cut, but I personally find them too dry. If your preference is for 80/20 JPs, maybe that's not exactly what you're looking for.

To do better than EJ16s, which I consider pretty high on the overtone chart, I'd suggest looking into Curt Mangans or Newtones. Something like Newtone double wounds have a ton of harmonic complexity but they're also rather mellow and on the softer/quieter side.

Thanks, so far the JP 80/20s don't have the bottom the EJ16s had, nor the volume. I'll give them another day or so and it'll be on to the next.

I've never been a fan of wrapped strings for the reason you mention, they are bright but not what I'm looking for.

[AcousticDreams]

Round core strings in general seem to have more sustain and dynamics. Just having more in the sustain and dynamics will accentuate the overtones and harmonics sometimes resulting in chime.

My String of choice is Newtones masterclass rouncore. However DR. Sunbeams(which are round core) works very well on Rosewood guitars as well. They are two slightly different sounding strings. Both might possibly give you some of what you are asking for. Also Roundcores are easier to finger.

If those are Martin original plastic pins...you might try purchasing some high quality bone pins. In some cases, They can add chime-overtones as well.

There are no guarantees when it comes to what will work on each guitar. However, Roundcores and bone pins might give you some of what you are looking for.

[SingingSparrow]

Congratulations on the fine guitar, man. Hope you are enjoying it. These string threads are some of my favorites. I just bought a cedar topped guitar and was thinking of trying some 80/20s on it. How does the rosewood Martin sound to you, compared to your Martin 15 and the Waterloo?

[Guilty Spark]

Originally Posted by Shadowfox

My vote is 80/20 or Aluminum Bronze.

..........+1