Martin Retro 12 String

[L20A]

I tried a set of Retro strings on my Yamaha LL-16-12. FYI, It has Rosewood b&s.

First reaction was that I lost the bass in the guitar. I gave it a week or so and it got worse.

The guitar became very hard to tune or stay in tune.
Tried to give the strings a chance because of their longevity but they just didn't, sound good on the 12 string to my ears.

Today I changed the strings back to Martin Lifespan phosphor bronze and what a difference they made.
The guitar came back to life.

I'm not sure why the Retro strings sounded so bad for my 12 string but I will not try them again in the near future.

With the Lifesoan strings, I got my 12 string guitar back. It tunes easy and stays in tune now.

Not sure why the Retro strings sounded so bad but they did.

[Rev Roy]

In my experience, it’s typical for Retros to sound great on some guitars and mediocre (at best) on others. Only way you’re gonna know is try them. You did. Now you know.

[Brucebubs]

I don't like them on my rosewood guitars but they are excellent on my Martin JDP II with mahogany back & sides.

Might be great on a mahogany 12-string too?

[gwlee7]

My Taylor 555 12 string sounds really nice with Retros on it. It is mahogany back and sides.

[Rockysdad]

My Guild D-1212 (Solid Mahogany) was a whole new guitar, for the better, with Retros.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

My Guild D-1212 (Solid Mahogany) was a whole new guitar, for the better, with Retros.

- as was my Martin J12-15, and my Rainsong JM3000 now has a "woody" depth that beautifully complements the characteristic CF clarity...

That said, it's still PB's for the Guild JF30-12 and Ovation Elite 12...

[Wade Hampton]

My former standard practice whenever I got a new guitar or mandolin was to try two different string alloys in rapid succession - phosphor bronze and 80/20 bronze - leaving them on the instrument for only a few days so I could hear both sets at their best. Since Martin first kicked off the revival of interest in nickel alloy strings with their Retro series Monel strings, though, I've added nickel strings to that initial R&D string testing protocol.

What I have found is that while nickel strings are just right for some instruments, the majority of times I've tried them I just flat disliked them on many of these new-to-me guitars, easily 75% of the time, if not more.

So for me nickel alloy strings are an interesting option, and one that I use occasionally. But phosphors and 80/20's remain more important to me, and better-sounding to my ears, most of the time.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Twin Six]

You've talked me out of experimenting with Retros on my rosewood 12.

[ntotoro]

The consensus since Methuselah had short pants was that Retros didn't work well with rosewood B/S guitars. Anything else, guitars seem to really, really love them or really, really dislike them.

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by L20A

I tried a set of Retro strings on my Yamaha LL-16-12. FYI, It has Rosewood b&s.

First reaction was that I lost the bass in the guitar. I gave it a week or so and it got worse.

The guitar became very hard to tune or stay in tune.
Tried to give the strings a chance because of their longevity but they just didn't, sound good on the 12 string to my ears.

Today I changed the strings back to Martin Lifespan phosphor bronze and what a difference they made.
The guitar came back to life.

I'm not sure why the Retro strings sounded so bad for my 12 string but I will not try them again in the near future.

With the Lifesoan strings, I got my 12 string guitar back. It tunes easy and stays in tune now.

Not sure why the Retro strings sounded so bad but they did.

Sorry for potentially hijacking your thread but maybe you won’t mind since it’s a few days old! I’m wondering how you’re getting on with the ll-16-12. I’m looking at picking up a 12 string and am intrigued by the Yamaha. Is the buy width good for you?

[L20A]

Originally Posted by Jimi2

Sorry for potentially hijacking your thread but maybe you won’t mind since it’s a few days old! I’m wondering how you’re getting on with the ll-16-12. I’m looking at picking up a 12 string and am intrigued by the Yamaha. Is the buy width good for you?

Replaced the Retro strings with Martin Lifespan PB strings and I feel like I got my guitar back.
The body size is more like a Dreadnought than a Jumbo. In fact, my LL-16-12 fits very nice in a Dred case.
It came with a soft case and I'm not a fan of them.

The neck is not too wide and very playable for me.
I sold a great sounding Guild Jumbo because the guitar was too big and the neck was too fat, wide and chunky.

The Rosewood sides and back help give the Yamaha a nice low end.
Something that I have been missing in my last two 12 string guitars.

I really like the guitar and don't know what other 12 string in it's price range would be as good.
Got mine on line from Sweetwater.

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by L20A

Replaced the Retro strings with Martin Lifespan PB strings and I feel like I got my guitar back.
The body size is more like a Dreadnought than a Jumbo. In fact, my LL-16-12 fits very nice in a Dred case.
It came with a soft case and I'm not a fan of them.

The neck is not too wide and very playable for me.
I sold a great sounding Guild Jumbo because the guitar was too big and the neck was too fat, wide and chunky.

The Rosewood sides and back help give the Yamaha a nice low end.
Something that I have been missing in my last two 12 string guitars.

I really like the guitar and don't know what other 12 string in it's price range would be as good.
Got mine on line from Sweetwater.

Great, thanks for the info. Sounds good - I’m thinking something smaller than a jumbo would fit the bill. Did it come with electronics, and if so, how’s the amplified sound?

[L20A]

I like it plugged in.
Not as natural as a mic but sounds very good to me.
It's a passive pick up so no batteries to deal with.
I like that a lot.

[palsed]

I have retros on my spruce/maple and all-hog guitars and they sound magical. I've never and won't try on Rosewood. They don't seem like a good combination.

[stephenT]

I have a set I’m looking forward to installing on my Pono 12 string parlor, it’s mahogany,.. I can only imagine it sounding better. We’ll see. It’s due for a string change. BTW, it’s a slot head 12, lots of fun changing strings.