I have either Monel or Nickel/Bronze on just about all my instruments for the reasons articulated in this article; from a National Tricone and Steel Ducco to a 39 Kalmazoo KGN14 Oriole. Our specialty is building the guitars you've designed in your head. Of course, if youd like to hear from us about anything else specific in the future, please let us know and well see what we can do. I switched to Martin retro on my 000 DRS1 . Great news Nicholas, glad you are getting on well with them. Interesting to hear that you found them feeling different under the right hand for fingerstyle. This string is specially designed to mellow out quickly so you don't get that harsh toppy sound that phosphorbronze provides. 
. They also sound like new after 2 months. I have them on my dread and later today will return my 000 to Retro's. Glad to hear youve used the Monel strings in the past. Whilst bronze strings sound great, they can have a more boisterous tone in comparison to nickel-based strings. If you found yourself aligned with most of the qualities of lighter strings outlined here, choosing a string labeled Light is a good starting point. Another reason why we love the Martin Retro Strings is its versatility. now it takes a few days of playing for them to sound their best (in my experience). All things considered, theres no doubt that the Martin Retro Monel Strings is a versatile set thats meant for guitarists of different skill sets, as well as for different guitar styles like fingerpicking, country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, and blues. We are proud to carry Martin strings that Clapton Martin Authentic Phosphor Bronze Strings
The only thing those strings did for it was to muddy up the bass end, almost completely knock out the highs, and somewhat mute the mids.it is now restrung with the MSP7100. This compound protects your string from dirt, grit, and other environmental elements, resulting in longer life.
The range of gauges make these strings suitable forrange of genres. Players who strum often prefer medium (.013.056) and light (.012.054) string gauges. It came with MSP7100 strings. We'll email you when this item is back in stock! Theyll still retain some clarity but just may not be as bold as a bronze string. 689983537. Martin Flexible Core SP strings utilize an advanced thin wire core to increase flexibility and improve sustain without sacrificing tone, durability, or playability. Thanks. 92/8 Phosphor Bronze strings use a 92% copper/8% tin material for the strings wire wrap. Pyramid have been in the string business for over 150 years so they really know their onions when it comes to making strings. Given that G is possible, as in a 12 string, what would be the highest note possible with monel on a standard scale guitar? I had tried them because one of the guys in my group loves them and all the hype about them. Glad to hear your thoughts on the Monel strings. Also, these martin strings are wrapped with Monel coating, which is known for being naturally corrosion resistant. We can conclude that its one of the top-rated acoustic guitar strings weve tried. That made for very interesting reading! Another option would be a pure nickel electric set (these are warmer in tone in comparison to the more commonly found Nickel plated steel sets on the market. ! these are the sort of things that many string companies continually strive to improve upon. Interesting to hear about your friends experiences of them too. I love the way they sound and play. Martin Retros also performs better and smoother than most bronze or phosphor bronze strings to unveil your guitars true voice. They do sound and feel almost played in when first put on and they get out of the way of the woodiness of my acoustic. Would Monel strings solve this problem? I also had a musician friend over who had heard the MSP7100 on it when I first got it. Also the claim is for higher tensile strength. The OM 28, not so much. Just recently put them on my J-45 and other than a slight decrease in volume I have been very happy with them. Exclusive deals, delivered straight to your inbox. Back in 2018 Martin discontinued their classic range of strings that had been on the market for decades and replaced them with the newAuthenticRange. |. They match the feel of the old guitfiddle. I restrung it last night with PB and now, I have changed my mind about selling it. Treated with a proprietary formula, Martin SP Lifespan strings repel dirt and oil and play like new, long after conventional strings wear out. Must admit we didnt really notice that so much but its certainly a possibility if he has a unique playing style. Hoping they get into more players hands as theyre a great alternative to bronze strings. The Breedlove however lost something with these on and Ive gone back to the phosphor bronze with that but I now have two guitars that I adore. Whether youre planning to play as is or plugged in, you can count on these strings to deliver your guitars full potential. the guitar just came to life, it vibrates differently and sounds immense. Or do you need your sound to reach the back of an auditorium? They are a little quiter than bronze, ma they sound really beautiful. I can clearly see the difference in clarity in the tone. Thanks! That makes it perfect for acoustic guitars, whether the player is an absolute beginner or a skilled guitarist. Monel is an alloy made from a mix of Nickel and Copper. Hi David, glad youre loving the Monel strings . I fitted Martins Retro strings to my 00028 and it instantly felt more playable and I felt the sound was warmer/better than with the original Martin SP strings. Well, before steel strings were even available, players used Catgut for their guitar strings. Contrary to all Ive read, they sound a bit brighter to me. The possibilities for a custom guitar are virtually endless; limited only by your imagination. Took it too a huge music jam and could cut through the roar anytime I wanted with an already loud mando, but now one with a distinct bark! Although the name suggests the strings were made using the guts from our furry feline friends, this wasnt actually the case. Theres one surefire way to give your guitar the tone it deserves. Each week, through the month of April, eight skilled guitar shredders will go head-to-head to test the limits of our SC-10E. Maybe its my inexperience, but they sound much better than the Claptons Choice Ive been using. something that may sound appealing for a lot of players. Thanks Ian, glad youre getting on with the Monel Strings. I recently became the proud owner of a 1949 Gibson Super 400 non-cut acoustic. The seller through in a packaged set of M465s. 2022 Strings Direct. The good news is that its not just electric strings that are constructed using this alloy. They suit what is a recreation of a 1930s guitar and they just sound right. Featuring introductions to the Authentic, Road and 16 & 17 Series, ukuleles, and stunning new additions to the Custom & Special Edition lineup. In particular, the core-to-wrap wire ration may be different across the two sets, which will influence how they feel. This solution helped solve the tonal demands of the modern player and also helped bring manufacturing costs down too. Whether you play live or are recording in the studio, Martin strings will give you maximum string life and a clear, rich, and detailed sound. Thanks for signing up! . All Rights Reserved. If youre a player thats concerned with the lifespan of your strings, Monel may be a new avenue you wish to explore. It was like the guitar was made for these strings. D'addario Phosphor Bronze Stringscome from the world's largest string maker, and their Phosphor Bronze strings are the most popular acoustic guitar strings in Martin Authentic Lifespan Strings Sweetwater Sound, 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Get Directions | Phone Hours | Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700. I would like to introduce a slightly heavier E and A string on my acoustic. If youre not a huge fan of the feel (or cost) of coated strings, Monel could be a more organic option for you. When he heard the monels, he asked what I did to my guitar? And they seem to hold tone and tune forever.
Now it's available for Mandolin Martin Retro Strings Another thing we observed was that they didnt take a long time to settle down and for their tuning to stabilise, possibly a result of Monels higher tensile strength. Back in 2015, Martin reintroduced Monel strings into their product lineup and in doing so their Retro Range was born. low E have a thick enough core wire that you should be able feel that its not smooth if you turn it between your fingers. Ive searched for the density of steel and monel and it appears that monel is something like 15 percent denser than steel which would result in much higher tension in the same diameter string tuned to the same note. So, why did manufacturers move away from creating Monel strings? If youve used Monel strings in the past, feel free to leave a comment below as wed love to hear the experiences that youve had whilst using them. If youre finding finger-fatigue is an issue, or you wish it was easier to bend notes, try extra light or custom light gauge strings. Thanks for reading our blog. Hhhmm, close, but not quite! Monel alloy is a combination of copper and nickel with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and other materials Martin Tony Rice Strings It should be said that whilst Monel strings certainly arent all bells and whistles, this is the very attribute that adds to their appeal. Dont get me wrong the tone was great but I have a Breedlove that just drips that perfect mellow tone and made the Gibson seem just a little harsh. The Martin Marquis Strings are strings that are designed to give you the warm tone of an 80/20 bronze string but with a great innovation;Silk wraps around the ball end, Martin Authentic Lifespan Strings The monel alloy makes the string feel a little more responsive and therefore allows you to be much more expressive. Rather than going down the route of creating a set wound with Monel, DAddario opted to create something slightly different whilst indirectly giving a nod to the Nickel strings of yesteryear. Martin Retro strings are the real deal. Even if you aggressively attack it with a pick, it will still deliver that clear and warm guitar sound thats truly enviable. Strings are a personal preference, and your choice depends on what kind of sound you want. I have also used Curt Manganese Monel 10s on my James Collins GTA, whichhad previously has Rotosound Nickels on. It went from a real shiner to a dull common sound. and I like the thuddy, huge fundamental tone without all the overtones.
Martins proprietary Monel wrap wire is naturally corrosion resistant, so you can play them for a long time with nothing to get in the way of your music. 80/20 strings break in faster than other strings. Interesting and informative reading. From fingerpickers to hard strummers to hybrid pickers, Martin has a string that is perfect for your acoustic guitar. From a tonal and feel standpoint, after only a few minutes of playing them, this particular set felt as though theyd been played in nicely and didnt quite have that snappy bite a new set of Nickel Plated Steel (or Stainless Steel) strings often has but they certainly werent dull by any stretch of the imagination either. Of course, the gauges will have been selected to be used for electric guitars and acoustic guitars specifically too. Thanks. Pure Nickel strings typically impart a warmer tone whereas the popular Nickel Plated Steel sets of today deliver a brighter modern tone. What made Monel a popular choice for guitar strings? I took a punt on some Martin Retros recently (in contrast to the Martin 80/20s I normally use), and the first thing that struck me was how different they felt under my right hand! It sounds amazing!. The windings on a halfround sets are polished off slightly at the end of the production process which means they do tend to have a more mellow sound than traditional roundwound electric strings. They offer a brilliant, full tone, but they are not as bright as 80/20 Bronze strings. Marquis strings utilize a soft silk wrap by the ball end of the string to protect your guitars bridge from unwanted wear and tear. Whilst Rotosounds Swing Bass sets are considered to be the companys flagship bass set, their Jazz Bass flatwound range has been a staple for over half a decade. So whether youre buying your first guitar or building your dream studio, get your gear from a place you can trust, from people that care. They deliver the sound that I demand..
One thing to keep in mind when trying out a new string gauge is to make sure your guitar is set up correctly for the gauge you're playing. Are you sure you want to remove the following product from the cart? You learn something new everyday, eh! Another Nickel-based acoustic set you may wish to check out would be the John Pearse Pure Nickel Acoustic strings which can be found here. These materials are known for their durability, so you know that they wont be easily susceptible to breakage. Thanks to Martins special Monel wrap wire. I am so glad to have discovered these strings. Monel alloy is a combination of copper and nickel with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and other materials which were used for Acoustic Guitars before Bronze became popular in the 1970s. After the tests we carried out, we certainly wouldnt grumble about using them again! After all, theyve been interacting with musicians for almost 200 years. I have since put Newtones Monel strings onto a Cort Ga10 electro-acoustic and the improved depth of sound and sustain is quite remarkable. Light gauge strings are perfect for beginners, especially considering the lower tension and easier playability. Martin dont appear to specify the core shape anywhere, only that its a solid steel core. We are confident that they are hex core strings as were sure Martin would have mentioned that they were round core otherwise. As a result, some players, including Tony Rice, argue that a brighter bronze sounding string can colour and dominate the sound of the guitar, rather than allowing the natural character of the guitar to be heard. Would a plain steel string be appropriate? It has one of the widest gauge options weve encountered, so youre bound to find one that best suits your acoustic guitar. The official term Monel was given to the alloy and was named after one of the company presidents Ambrose Monell. Gauge refers to the diameter of a string. Are they similar to Monel? Hi Tim, I dont find the noise to be greater than that produced when using bronze/phosphor bronze. Tonally, the Monel set certainly didnt have the jangly brightness of bronze strings, although they still gave a nice projection in the upper mid-range, so theyd be more than capable of cutting through in a band situation. Seems to be a bit deeper and yes, a bit looser but in a way that sounds good to me. not a daft question at all. 80/20 Bronze strings use an 80% copper/20% zinc material for the strings wire wrap. These Monel strings also deliver a warm vintage tone, making them the perfect string replacement for most acoustic guitars. Martins solid nickel/copper alloy blend provides a reduced pick attack that allows the guitars tonewoods to be heard, not overshadowed. Fortunately, Martin Retro Strings are known for being one of the toughest in the market. Thanks for the input . I didn't realize I really stirred things with this post. I had to raise the pickups on my guitar on the wound string side when using Pyramid Monels compared to Pyramid Pure Nickels. Developed in conjunction with bluegrass guitar legend Tony Rice, Martins Retro strings are crafted from a long-lasting, proprietary nickel-based Monel alloy blend that delivers a warm vintage tone. Very informative, thank you. Its quite unusual to unwrap a set of acoustic strings and see a silver/nickel coloured set as opposed to the familiar golden colour of bronze. The one thing that you may notice about the companies that produce Monel strings is that they all tend to subscribe to the big selling point that the strings are there to help bring out the natural tones and voice of your instrument as opposed to imparting some sort of mystically new and wonderful tone. I think if you research Monels on the AGF threads you will find that there is significant praise for them on Mahogany guitars which means absolutely zero to you and your ears. At the factory they told me to put Retro strings (monel) on it and it will "warm it up even more". Easier to fret (important for beginners) and to bend, Better resonance under a lighter touch, common when first starting out, Bigger sound - provide more volume and resonance, Better tuning stability - stays in tune longer, Exert less tension and are typically recommended for smaller bodied guitars such as 0, 00, 000, and OM, plus all cutaway models, Exert more tension and are typically recommended for larger body sizes such as D, Jumbo, and Grand Jumbo, Good choice for rock, folk, country, and blues style playing with a lighter attack (plucking), May break more easily with more aggressive playing styles, Good choice for bluegrass and genres that require tuning down, Good choice for rock, country, and blues style playing with a harder attack, Offer appropriate volume and range for playing in an intimate setting, Great choice if youre accompanied by other players. In the fall of 2018, Martin replaced their Traditional Budget range of Phosphor Bronze Guitar Strings with this new Authentic line which is based on their Martin Authentic 80/20 Bronze Strings By clicking Sign Up, you agree to allow Martin Guitar to send you a one-time email notifying you of the availability of this product. A few months ago I purchased a Martin that came with the retros on it. They are backed by our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible manufacturing practices. When I play acoustic guitar, whether in a studio or onstage, these Martin strings are my choice, says Eric Clapton. Usually when playing hard rock, I use a pick and fingers for funk. In fact, DAddarios tagline for the Nickel Bronze range is Reveal whats real. Their RS200 Top Tape set comes in gauge 12-52 and have wound 3rd string. Martins Silk and Steel strings use a round core that has a soft wrap and then a silver-plated copper outer wrap. Certain techniques and styles of playing will demand different attributes from your strings and can impact which gauge you should choose.
From there, you can see that the Martin Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings offers a wide selection of coated strings in the light to medium range. Maybe my ear just likes the PB better. You could also play them pretty aggressively without getting the harsh overtones you often find when using a new set of brighter sounding strings. LOL, General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion. We tested a set of the Pyramid Monel strings on a Telecaster. Bring us your dream, and we'll build it. Being music makers ourselves, we love geeking out on all things gear.
Strumming standard tuning sounds great, but open D & G are magnificent. Today, they produce an 80/20 Bronze set for those players looking for a more conventional set of mandolin strings, but their M465 set is wrapped with Monel, making them great for players looking to hark back to those earlier mandolin tones. Im so glad I found these strings. One part passion. In general, the larger the body, the more tension they can withstand. The core wire is longer than the wound part, and as best as I can tell its round. These were designed in conjunction with bluegrass legend Tony Rice after he originally asked Martin to create a set of Monel strings especially for him. We mentioned earlier that in the early days of Monel, Martin would use these strings on their Mandolins. This gives the string a very long lasting life due to the fact that it naturally repels oxidation. Then I read a similar article to this and thought Id give them a go. C.F. Its a trademarked alloy and as part of the trademark licensing, the International Nickel Company were ordered to drop one of the Ls from its name because at the time companies were unable to use peoples names as a trademark name.. If most of the qualities prescribed to heavier strings appealed to you, start with strings that are labeled Medium. While Martin does not recommend using heavy gauge strings on Martin guitars, we want to paint a complete picture of string gauge options. Martin Guitar Custom Shop Experts have extensive knowledge and years of experience producing some of the finest guitars ever built. Then, maybe its just me. Ill probably just try this but I would be interested to know a bit more about the make-up of these strings regarding core metal. Since 1979, Sweetwater has been committed to giving music makers the ultimate shopping experience.
However, larger or jumbo-sized acoustic guitars are better off with a medium to heavier gauges. I love the Martin Retro on my new Martin 00-28. That also means that it will look great for a long time. Ive been using them on my Recording King ROS-627 which is a replica of the Martin 000-28VS and its like the guitar has come home. Everything you need to know about acoustic guitar string gauges. While its one of the more expensive strings out there, we believe that its benefits far outweigh the costs making it the ideal investment for any serious guitarist. The warmer tone is certainly very nice, although I did wonder if it was a bit too much on my already rather dark-sounding acoustic guitar I normally find a bright set of bronze strings helps to balance that out, but Id certainly consider another set of Monels in the future. . My tastes run to the fundamentals with less overtones, which is particularly relevant to the country blues and rag time music I play and love. Aside from its quality, Martin guitars and strings are known for their impressive performance and Retro strings are no exception. Said that I had killed it. I will never go back now. Martin Retro MM11: 11 / 14 / 23 / 31 / 41 / 52Martin Retro MM12: 12 / 15 / 25 / 31 / 41 / 54Martin Retro MM13: 13 / 17 / 26 / 35 / 45 / 56For 13-56 Bluegrass please see theTony Rice Signature Strings. With its wide selection of available gauges, theres one to fit your guitar size and playing type. These are just a few of the many reasons why more musicians get their gear at Sweetwater than anywhere else. I purchased a used 2011 Collings MT Mandolin playabilty unseen via the mail. Experiment with different styles and gauges to see which string best suits your playing style. Typically a bright and twangy instrument, the Monel strings certainly gave this particular guitar a touch more warmth and helped to tame that twang. 