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Post by LTB on May 21, 2020 20:44:41 GMT -5
Replacing the year old moderately played John Pearse 200L's the first thing I noticed was how incredibly loud this guitar became. Strong piano-like lows, crisp. I ordered these because I always liked the coated elixirs I had on my Taylor GS Mini but found them a little too waxy feeling due to the coating. These don't seem to be as noticeable and the string squeak is greatly reduced. I just got a set of Curt Mangan 11-52 (largest size my Mitchell Acoustic was made to use) Phosphor Bronze. Like you I love Elixir Nano-web Phosphor Bronze coated strings on my 79 Takamine F-349 (known as a Martin D-17 lawsuit)But I don't think it rivaled the Martin tone.It was previously given to my mom by Carol and I for Christmas 1979 and was the best sounding guitar we could afford at that time. I put EXP's on it after mom passed away in 2005 and then replaced them with Elixirs in 2018 at the suggestion of my Son in Law. It really woke that guitar up and made it pleasurable to play. What I am more concerned with while nice to have more volume is how tone compares to Elixirs Nano-web PB's. Also how the string compares tonally to John Pearce. The Pearce have been the best sounding strings on the Mitchell Acoustic Electric but Elixir on the Tak. Funny how a particular string efforts different guitars.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on May 22, 2020 8:12:05 GMT -5
I installed the 11-48 Curt Mangan Round Core Nickel Wounds on the Gretsch and I can honestly say I'd probably not notice the difference if someone swapped them when I wasn't looking. The guitar came with a fresh pair of D'addarios so I think it'll probably be a "what's cheaper" proposition moving forward. We'll see how they wear.
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Post by LTB on May 22, 2020 11:04:09 GMT -5
I installed the 11-48 Curt Mangan Round Core Nickel Wounds on the Gretsch and I can honestly say I'd probably not notice the difference if someone swapped them when I wasn't looking. The guitar came with a fresh pair of D'addarios so I think it'll probably be a "what's cheaper" proposition moving forward. We'll see how they wear. I do hear a difference from D'Addario Pure Nickel wound and Curt Mangan Pure Nickel Wound At least on my Ibanez Archtop electric. Higher output, chrisp but not harsh highs and nicely defined lows. Strings seem to be pickup selective in my experience. Sound good on some guitars, not so much on another with different pickups. I am going to try a set on my Gibson SG Standard this weekend as time allows. First I want to put the Curt Mangan PB on my acoustic.
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Post by guildx700 on May 22, 2020 19:12:25 GMT -5
The darn thing is, new ones change a hell of a lot in sound early on as they get played in. I'm always listening for how they sound after some hours on em.
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Post by LTB on May 23, 2020 17:39:41 GMT -5
Ok, I put Curt Mangan Phosphor Bronze strings on one of my acoustic electrics. I will give it more time before I give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Having said that Right out of the box I liked John Pearce Phosphor Bronze a little better on this particular guitar. Acoustically They sound great. Amplified not quite sure yet hmmmm
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Post by HenryJ on May 26, 2020 9:13:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the critique, Auf.
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Post by guildx700 on May 26, 2020 22:50:43 GMT -5
IMO the break in of the strings, and their usable life span with consideration to your body chemistry, playing style and hours used is most likely the biggest wild card in strings, not the brand/type used.
Consider this about sweat which affects strings big time:
Perspiration consists of water, minerals, lactate, and urea. On average, the mineral composition is:
Sodium (0.9 gram/liter) Potassium (0.2 g/l) Calcium (0.015 g/l) Magnesium (0.0013 g/l) Trace metals that the body excretes in sweat include:
Zinc (0.4 milligrams/liter) Copper (0.3–0.8 mg/l) Iron (1 mg/l) Chromium (0.1 mg/l) Nickel (0.05 mg/l) Lead (0.05 mg/l)
A players specific personal body sweat chemistry will play a huge role in the strings "performance".
So fresh strings IMO are no indicator of what they will be in typical use. Bottom line?
It's those hours they are being used after break in that show what they can do for you, until the time they die.
I learned early on to never be fooled by a fresh set of strings.
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Post by cedarchoper58 on May 27, 2020 13:11:37 GMT -5
IMO the break in of the strings, and their usable life span with consideration to your body chemistry, playing style and hours used is most likely the biggest wild card in strings, not the brand/type used. Consider this about sweat which affects strings big time: Perspiration consists of water, minerals, lactate, and urea. On average, the mineral composition is: Sodium (0.9 gram/liter) Potassium (0.2 g/l) Calcium (0.015 g/l) Magnesium (0.0013 g/l) Trace metals that the body excretes in sweat include: Zinc (0.4 milligrams/liter) Copper (0.3–0.8 mg/l) Iron (1 mg/l) Chromium (0.1 mg/l) Nickel (0.05 mg/l) Lead (0.05 mg/l) A players specific personal body sweat chemistry will play a huge role in the strings "performance". So fresh strings IMO are no indicator of what they will be in typical use. Bottom line? It's those hours they are being used after break in that show what they can do for you, until the time they die. I learned early on to never be fooled by a fresh set of strings. Rory Gallagher basically melted his guitar
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Post by guildx700 on May 27, 2020 22:43:38 GMT -5
" Rory Gallagher basically melted his guitar|"
Now there's a guy who deserves WAY more props that has been given to him! Thanks for dropping his name.
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Post by LTB on May 30, 2020 19:11:59 GMT -5
I would think Body/skin acidity play into the equation also.
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
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Post by pdf64 on Jun 1, 2020 10:08:12 GMT -5
" Rory Gallagher basically melted his guitar|"
Now there's a guy who deserves WAY more props that has been given to him! Thanks for dropping his name. Yes, thanks also, Rory is my music hero / key inspiration! I think that most of the damage to the finish on his Strat got done when it (and a Tele he’d borrowed!) were stolen then dumped over a garden well, in Dublin back in the late 60s. He even appeared on a Crimewatch type national tv programme appealing for information! I guess that the thief realised the guitars were too hot to sell on, safer to dump them. By the time Taste appeared at the Isle of Wight festival, most of the damage was started, after that the rest was just the wear and tear of maybe tens of thousands of admittedly very sweaty gigs. I think he left it in that condition because firstly it suited his image and approach, never being a ‘shiny new gear’ kinda chap. Secondly, because to have had it restored may have an act of vanity that tried the patience of the supernatural forces that granted its return (maybe even his initial acquisition of it) in the first place. And his gigs were very sweaty, to such a point that at the peak of his activity in the late 70s / early 80s, he had to get a spare neck to swap on for a while to allow the other to dry out, as it got so damp that it was causing tuning problems.
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Jun 1, 2020 15:02:54 GMT -5
I was lucky enough to see Rory twice mid 70's and mid 80's. bot times he blew the roof off he used my string guage 10-38's
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