baritone guitar strings?

[bjj22]

I recently bought an alvarez abt60 as my first foray into the world of baritone guitars. Really pleased with it but I'm not huge fan of the strings. I play mainly fingerstyle and I'd prefer something more mellow sounding than the what it came with (d'addario exp phosphor bronze I think). Maybe something more akin to silk & steel strings? I presume there's no way of putting nylon strings on it.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[Twilo123]

I use these
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[blue]

It's really a matter of finding the brand that works for you. John Pearse makes Phosphor bronze and 80/20. I find 80/20s to be bright, but they mellow faster. But if you're finding a coated string too harsh, I don't have any advice other than to maybe look for nickel baritone strings. http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exl157.html

[rogthefrog]

Off-topic, sorry.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by bjj22

I recently bought an alvarez abt60 as my first foray into the world of baritone guitars. Really pleased with it but I'm not huge fan of the strings. I play mainly fingerstyle and I'd prefer something more mellow sounding than the what it came with (d'addario exp phosphor bronze I think). Maybe something more akin to silk & steel strings? I presume there's no way of putting nylon strings on it.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Really the only way is to experiment with different gauges and makes. What someone else likes may not suit you.

That said, I like a .68 low E, which means I can't use Elixers or EXPs. I like Pearse 80/20s on my Padouk-backed Beneteau. I have used their Baritone set with the low .68. I also sometimes get a standard medium set, move everything over one string and throw out the high E, then add the .68.

Picked up a wissenborn set recently with the .68, but that will also have an unwound B string. Have not tried them yet, though.

FYI the string names are all what they are in standard tuning, not turned down to B to B, which is what I use. 28.3" scale: what your instrument has as a scale length will effect what you use.

TW

[bjj22]

Thanks for the replies, had a couple of followup questions

I use these
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are uke strings, can you really use them on guitar???

It's really a matter of finding the brand that works for you. John Pearse makes Phosphor bronze and 80/20. I find 80/20s to be bright, but they mellow faster. But if you're finding a coated string too harsh, I don't have any advice other than to maybe look for nickel baritone strings. http://www.juststrings.com/dad-exl157.html

I was just reading up about nickel strings for my regularly-tuned acoustic. I haven't quite figured out if there's a difference between "acoustic" & "electric" nickel strings. For example, john pearse does a "pure nickel" acoustic set which I was thinking about trying out on that guitar. Maybe there's a difference between pure nickel & nickel plated? Guess I just have to try a few out...

[blue]

Originally Posted by bjj22

Thanks for the replies, had a couple of followup questions



These are uke strings, can you really use them on guitar???



I was just reading up about nickel strings for my regularly-tuned acoustic. I haven't quite figured out if there's a difference between "acoustic" & "electric" nickel strings. For example, john pearse does a "pure nickel" acoustic set which I was thinking about trying out on that guitar. Maybe there's a difference between pure nickel & nickel plated? Guess I just have to try a few out...

There is a difference. But with a baritone, the gauge is pretty large, so it's not like putting Ernie Ball Super Slinkies on a dread. At $6, it's a cheap experiment.

We don't get the same variety of choices as normal guitars. You learn tricks. Picking farther away from the bridge for effect for instances, or simply using stringsets longer. For me it's not so much of an issue, as string character still comes through somewhat, but it's less of an issue on resonators, and you can use "dead" strings longer and not have responsiveness and volume suffer much.

[L20A]

I use these Martin Lifespan strings.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acces...guitar-strings
I substitute the second unwound string [.020] with a PB wound string of the same gauge.
This softens the feel and makes the guitar more playable.
The strings last a very long time.

[Brucebubs]

I've had my Alvarez ABT-60 for 2 weeks now.
Boy the fingertips get a workout but what a guitar for the money!
I just ordered a set of Martin Lifespan yesterday for the 1st string change.

[Earl49]

I switched from the stock Elixir 70-16 set that came on my Taylor baritone to a regular heavy gauge EJ-18 set (59-14) and tuned them C-C instead of B-B. It's like using light gauge strings, which are much easier on my recently weakened left hand. The guitar lost some bass "oomph" but is much easier to play fingerstyle. I might switch out the 59 sixth string from that set for a 63 single at some point to see if the lowest end comes back.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Earl49

I switched from the stock Elixir 70-16 set that came on my Taylor baritone to a regular heavy gauge EJ-18 set (59-14) and tuned them C-C instead of B-B. It's like using light gauge strings, which are much easier on my recently weakened left hand. The guitar lost some bass "oomph" but is much easier to play fingerstyle. I might switch out the 59 sixth string from that set for a 63 single at some point to see if the lowest end comes back.

You might like the John Pearse Open F Baritone strings.
.015 .019 .030w .040w .050w .062w.

[Earl49]

Thanks Bruce. I did not know about those. I just bought the first heavy gauge set that I could get my hands on easily to experiment with, and that was the D'Adarrio EJ-18.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Earl49

Thanks Bruce. I did not know about those. I just bought the first heavy gauge set that I could get my hands on easily to experiment with, and that was the D'Adarrio EJ-18.

I got the guage slightly wrong, the 1st string is .017 not .015.
They are listed as John Pearse 3210 Phos. Bronze Open 'F' Baritone Strings.
I haven't tried them myself, guitar still has the original EXP's, good tone but a little 'squeaky'.

Hey! Looks like the guages have been 'updated' and that 1st string now is .015 and the code is 3210A. Here's a link to an ebay seller;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLOWOUT-JOHN...item35caacd950

[bjj22]

So I bought some exl-157s as suggested above, wanted to try out a non-bronze string, even though it's not specifically for acoustics. First problem - the bridge pins are really tight with these thick gauge strings. I snapped one pin, and can't fit the 6th string. Any ideas, can I file a little bit of the groove to make more space?

[blue]

Originally Posted by bjj22

So I bought some exl-157s as suggested above, wanted to try out a non-bronze string, even though it's not specifically for acoustics. First problem - the bridge pins are really tight with these thick gauge strings. I snapped one pin, and can't fit the 6th string. Any ideas, can I file a little bit of the groove to make more space?

Aren't the EXP baritones that come standard on that guitar 16-70? How can 14-68s be too big?