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Post by jugbandman on Nov 6, 2013 15:37:25 GMT
Well I never. I've played guitars (and sometimes other stringed instruments) for centuries but only yesterday discovered strings made of Monel. It's a nickel/copper alloy that's used to make the wrap wire. Some mandolin strings use it, but guitar strings haven't for many years. Now Martin are doing a 13-56 set. I looked into this & decided to order some. They're expensive on Amazon, less so from Strings Direct. Having been evangelical about D'Addario American Bronze 85-15 strings for some time, I'm looking forward to a change.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 6, 2013 15:54:14 GMT
Let us know what you think of them jbm! Keith
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,556
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Nov 6, 2013 21:55:10 GMT
I have a set on my D28 right now.
On this guitar, they are perfect for flatpicking - the notes ring out loud, rich and clear. Fingerpicking is nice too, with a warm vintagey sound. However, when strumming, there seems to be something missing, like some of the life has been sucked out of the guitar. They don't feel as stiff as the gauge suggests so are pretty easy on the fingers.
I have heard that these strings really shine on mahogany backed guitars. I would certainly recommend them if you are into bluegrass at all.
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 6, 2013 23:05:25 GMT
Thanks, WV. That's interesting. I'm looking forward to trying them even more. My Jumbo is mahogany back & sides.
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mattyfez
Strummer
Posts: 21
My main instrument is: Martin DRS-1
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Post by mattyfez on Nov 7, 2013 15:54:35 GMT
I couldn't find them anywhere in the UK when looking a few months back, so picked up a set of John Pearse Nickel medium gauge instead.. although I've not had chance to try them out yet.
Decided to bag a set of these too from strings direct after reading this, let me know how you like them!
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 8, 2013 20:33:44 GMT
I've put them on today. Too early to say how good they'll be, but they seem loud.
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,556
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Nov 9, 2013 9:56:54 GMT
I'm going to take them off the 28. I want to have Newtones properly broken in for the 20th, the Monels just aren't the right strings for my original stuff. I'll save them for later when I want to flatpick
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 9, 2013 14:27:20 GMT
Well, I've tried these Monels out with fingers, fingerpicks and plectrum. Compared to my usual PBs, they are louder, clearer and better balanced. It's like playing a different guitar. I played to my wife Carol and she said all the same things that I'd thought. Somehow, they're just not as warm and likeable as the PBs.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2013 15:40:24 GMT
I have a set on my D28 right now. On this guitar, they are perfect for flatpicking - the notes ring out loud, rich and clear. Fingerpicking is nice too, with a warm vintagey sound. However, when strumming, there seems to be something missing, like some of the life has been sucked out of the guitar. They don't feel as stiff as the gauge suggests so are pretty easy on the fingers. I have heard that these strings really shine on mahogany backed guitars. I would certainly recommend them if you are into bluegrass at all. The sound for strumming is consistent with Rice's rhythm style. He favours partials on a really low action, sort of a jazz/country hybrid. The strings would probably have suited me, as it goes.
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 13, 2013 22:40:25 GMT
Like any strings, they're a tool for a job. My Faith Jupiter was inclined to make a wiry sound. It has matured. Martin, Earthwood and especially D'Addario American Bronze strings help it to sound right. These Monels, however high-quality they are, take it back to wiry. I'm not sure about putting them on any of the other guitars. They might be great for a guitar that's overly soft-sounding, and according to some folks they seem to do the job they were designed for. They're just not for me.
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mattyfez
Strummer
Posts: 21
My main instrument is: Martin DRS-1
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Post by mattyfez on Jan 12, 2014 21:02:52 GMT
Sorry to bump the thread but I can't say I'm a fan after about a week of playing, they do sound good in some ways, but they don't have any oomph and they don't seem do be able to resonate the body very well. They do have a vey nice crystalline sound but they lack warm rich bass and are not for me, so its back to 80/20 for me!
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Post by jugbandman on Jan 13, 2014 12:43:22 GMT
Well there you go. They're certainly different. Perhaps they're good on a 6-string banjo...
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