Need more volume from treble strings

Tasos · #1 06-23-2020, 02:36 AM

Hello, I am currently using D'addario XTC46 hard tension strings but I find the treble side to be lacking in terms of volume. Could be guitar related (I play a Takamine GC5E).

Any string recommendations for getting higher volume from the treble strings (or overall) without them overpowering the bass ones (love how they currently sound).

Could it be the coating on the XTC strings that is giving me this issue or are the treble strings uncoated?

dosland · #2 06-23-2020, 03:12 AM

I haven't noticed this issue with these particular strings, I have found them to be pretty balanced, if sort of nondescript. Upside is they last forever for me. Overpowering bass can be a downside of some guitars in the lower price range, in the nylon world, something to do with being "overbuilt" maybe. Someone else will have all the details. For now, it's worth switching out the trebles with a different brand - you can get them one at a time or in batches from strings by mail or somewhere else. "Carbon" strings might make a noticeable difference for you, I'm not much of a string tinkerer unfortunately, so I can't recommend a brand for you to try.

Don W · #3 06-23-2020, 03:59 AM

I switched to Savarez Alliance hard tension. The trebles were much better.

Tasos · #4 06-23-2020, 05:20 AM

I'll try carbon next, thank you. Are they lasting the same and do coated ones exist?

dosland · #5 06-23-2020, 02:20 PM

By "coated" do you mean wound with a metal wrap like the bass strings? Someone once posted a link to a brand that makes wrapped trebles, but I've never seen them. I don't know what the impact is on sound. If you just mean coated with whatever they use to make XTC bass strings last forever, I'm not sure - the coating is supposed to make the metals in the winding last longer because (I guess) they don't oxidize as quickly. In my experience, it's pretty normal for the treble strings to last much longer than the bass strings on a classical.

rick-slo · #6 06-23-2020, 02:39 PM

A powerful and sustaining treble on a classical guitar takes a quite well built guitar (generally a higher end guitar). Good base response is relatively easier to come by. Since you are already using hard tension strings I doubt some other strings will improve things. I'd be considering trying out other guitars.

Carey · #7 06-23-2020, 09:03 PM

Agree with the suggestion to try some carbon trebles, though they're not a cure-all, as mentioned above. Knobloch Actives CX are the best carbons I've tried, by quite a ways.