Martin Retros vs Titanium

[TBman]

An unofficial comparison for discussion. The 1st 14.4 seconds of the recording are 1 month old Martin Retros (12s). The second part is 12 hour old Martin Titaniums (12s).



Titaniums:

Tone - so far so good. I give the nod to the Titaniums, but a month down the road we'll see. A 12 hour comparison might be bringing too much "new string" to the table. You can hear the zing of the new strings still.

Feel - They feel a little easier to play. I have some Flexible Cores on the way to a/b these with. The titanium strings do not have the really easy feel of SC low tensions.

The cash - I don't know if I have the "zero fret" (s) () to leave them on for the 14 months it would take for the strings to be the monthly dollar value of other strings that I use, which works out to be $3 a month. Generally I get 2 months out of a set of $6 strings. Once I get my money's worth from a set of strings I'll change them out to have a change of pace. I admit I get string GAS (SAS) from time to time.

If I remember, I'll do a recording around March 11th and then do the comparison again with the Retros and with the new Titanium string recording I just made.

Strange occurence - I put the strings on, tuned them and then let them sit. Later I took it out and tuned again and played for a while. I then put the guitar away in its case for the night. Just now when I checked the tuning it was spot on. Generally that doesn't happen this time of year and especially with new strings.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by TBman

Strange occurence - I put the strings on, tuned them and then let them sit. Later I took it out and tuned again and played for a while. I then put the guitar away in its case for the night. Just now when I checked the tuning it was spot on. Generally that doesn't happen this time of year and especially with new strings.

You did read my previous note about their uncanny ability to stay in tune right?

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

You did read my previous note about their uncanny ability to stay in tune right?

Yes, and I thought the southern sun had baked your brain,

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by TBman

Yes, and I thought the southern sun had baked your brain,

That can happen.

I get a feeling these Titaniums don't do well if you like to alter tuning and change the string tension a lot also that unusual ball ending might be like that for a reason - they can't handle the usual 'twisted' string around the ball fitting maybe?
Just a thought.



Put them on as per instructions - tune them up - leave them like that and they'll serve you well.

Go outside those parameters and maybe they won't.

[TBman]

I have them on my Gibson and I like that one in standard all the time. Once I put a guitar in another tuning, except for just drop D, they usually stay in that tuning for a while, but not so much because of string wear considerations, I'm just too lazy to re-tune them,

[Guitarplayer_PR]

I haven't used the Titaniums. From the samples, I didn't hear a real difference (enough to distinguish one from the other, but that's it) that would make me switch from the Retros I use. But who knows if in the future I'm willing to put Titaniums.

[jpd]

Originally Posted by Guitarplayer_PR

I haven't used the Titaniums. From the samples, I didn't hear a real difference (enough to distinguish one from the other, but that's it) that would make me switch from the Retros I use. But who knows if in the future I'm willing to put Titaniums.

I will when they sell for $8.99

[ChrisE]

The only real difference I can pick up is that the titaniums are faster.

[zmf]

Thanks.

I'll have to try some retros. Titaniums sound too bright in comparison.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by zmf

Thanks.

I'll have to try some retros. Titaniums sound too bright in comparison.

I'm on my second set of Titaniums on my Pono SS Dread. The first set was as a Beta Tester, the second were purchased. I do not find them to be that much brighter than Retros at all when both are new. In fact , they sound "meatier" to me and even easier to play.
They have a smooth feel to them. $40 is definitely too much to pay in the sense that they are an extravagance, but they work so well on that guitar and last so long, I will continue to bite the bullet and use them.
All the claims about them staying in tune are accurate. In my experience, they do.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by TBman

An unofficial comparison for discussion. The 1st 14.4 seconds of the recording are 1 month old Martin Retros (12s). The second part is 12 hour old Martin Titaniums (12s).



Titaniums:

Tone - so far so good. I give the nod to the Titaniums, but a month down the road we'll see. A 12 hour comparison might be bringing too much "new string" to the table. You can hear the zing of the new strings still.

Feel - They feel a little easier to play. I have some Flexible Cores on the way to a/b these with. The titanium strings do not have the really easy feel of SC low tensions.

The cash - I don't know if I have the "zero fret" (s) () to leave them on for the 14 months it would take for the strings to be the monthly dollar value of other strings that I use, which works out to be $3 a month. Generally I get 2 months out of a set of $6 strings. Once I get my money's worth from a set of strings I'll change them out to have a change of pace. I admit I get string GAS (SAS) from time to time.

If I remember, I'll do a recording around March 11th and then do the comparison again with the Retros and with the new Titanium string recording I just made.

Strange occurence - I put the strings on, tuned them and then let them sit. Later I took it out and tuned again and played for a while. I then put the guitar away in its case for the night. Just now when I checked the tuning it was spot on. Generally that doesn't happen this time of year and especially with new strings.

Like I said. Titaniums = Retros on Steriods.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by ChrisE

The only real difference I can pick up is that the titaniums are faster.

Lol, too much coffee.