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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Hi,
yes another subjective string question you think. Not so.
This is not about your opinion or string gauge or the like, it's more a scientific question.
I would like to know what other type (not neccessarily make or gauge) of strings are brighter than phospher bronze. For example Bronze Wound (are these the 80/20s?) have a bright sound when brand new which fades quickly with time whereas Phosphor Bronze Wound gives the string a warmer sound and extended tonal life.
All there any others that are "brighter" than phosper bronze.
The reason I ask is that the 06C KOA is inherently warmer (less bright) and I have phosper bronzes on there hwich is bit like over egging the pudding so to speak. Apart from trying the bronzes is there another type you can recommend?
You can mention brands if you like ;)
Yes I know I could try them all and find the one I like but I would like to know what type (i.e. what metal) would be a good place to start.
THANKS! |
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April 2009
Posts: 130
Location: London, UK | I have found that strings labelled as Brass tend to be brighter than those marketed as Bronze.
For many years I used very cheap Yamaha Folk Brass sets (now no longer produced). They were quite a light yellow colour and had a good bright tone, but deteriorated quickly.
I note that Dunlop are calling their latest offerings Brass, so they might be worth a shot. £5.20 at stringbusters.com
Anyone know whether Brass is really just another name for 80/20 bronze, though? |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | 80/20, means that the string is made up of about 80 percent copper and 20 percent zinc and I believe are 'brighter'.
The Elixir nanowebs on my 07C are simply SUPERB and so will try their 80/20 Nanowebs... |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc
Bronze is copper and tin
Phosphor bronze is copper, tin and phosphorus
AJ |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Interesting yet confusing.
On the Elixir 80/20 packets it says "80/20 Bronzes" so are 80/20s actually brass? If so what's the bronze reference? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | 80% of the strings in the package are bronze color. 20% are not. |
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Posts: 130
Location: London, UK | Like AJ said, if applied strictly 80/20 bronze is 80% copper 20% tin and 80/20 brass is 80% copper 20% zinc.
Elixirs will be bronze. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I'm going to try the 80/20 Bronze and report back.
As an aside : I've found that it's well worth trying loads of different strings (makes, types, gauges) until you find the one that REALLY works with the guitar). |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have found the ALCHEMY Dean Markley GoldPhos to be a brighter string than the typical phosphor bronze. |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | AH, thanks for the tip!
In fact they say the GoldBronze are "Bright & Powerful" whereas the GoldPhos are "warm and evenly nice rounded"
So perhaps I'll try the GoldBronze if the 80/20s don't cut the cake. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | go to the daddario website they'll have some info. To me 80/20 bronze are bright and stainless steel Jazz light (xls590) |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by dweezil:
In fact they say the GoldBronze are "Bright & Powerful" whereas the GoldPhos are "warm and evenly nice rounded"
wow....now that is scary cause putting the GoldPhos on my Collings C10 Maple is definitely brighter than when I had regular PhosBronz on it. I would be afraid to try the GoldBronze because I think they would be too shrill!
Get both sets and let me know what you think. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | You want brighter than PB, use stainless or nickle wrapped. |
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Location: Cork, Ireland | Originally posted by dweezil:
Interesting yet confusing.
On the Elixir 80/20 packets it says "80/20 Bronzes" so are 80/20s actually brass? If so what's the bronze reference? I read somewhere that manufacturers don't like to call their strings 'brass' as this implies they sound 'brassy' and cheap. 'Bronze' apparently sounds 'better'. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...some folk are really talking these strings up: Red Copper Strings
...haven't tried them myself, but might be worth a try.... |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | but again they say "and a warmer, richer tone", I'm trying to get a brighter not warmer sound but worth a try perhaps. |
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Location: Yucaipa, California | ...use a sixpence ala BM ;) |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I don't use a pick, I play (solo) fingerstyle. |
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Location: Nashville TN. | http://www.ghsstrings.com/products.php
go to acoustic strings
It goes from brightest White Bronze to warm mellowest Silk & steel.
Phos Bronze is in the middle |
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Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Hey 2nd what Pez says. If you get a chance call GHS customer service. I had a nice converstaion with a fellow there (he has as 1769) and we talked strings/pros and cons. He ended up sending me out a couple of different sets to try. He was very helpful. I tried their regular phos/bronze and they were similar to the Daddarios except the lights were a bit thicker on the bass strings. I also tried the coated ones but I have to say I am not a fan of coated strings right now (that may change). |
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Location: NJ | brass are the best but they go dead quick and then tarnish and your fingers get black |
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Location: Chicago | I'm with you on the 80/20 Nanos, Dweezil. My Adamas 1581 loves 'em (demo: Carbon 14) |
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Location: Michigan | Not to be contrary but do you think maybe you are trying to make the guitar something it is not? I wanted to make my 1767 a bit brighter to sound a little more like a 2077 (to me anyway) and went through the same process. In the end I just stayed with phos/bronze and embraced the tone for what it was. I now appreciate the balanced tone of the 1767 more than ever. Nothing to me quite sounds like it and that is kind of fun too. Anyway it is fun to experiment. |
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Location: Chicago | It must depend on your fingers and the way you play. I find that the Nanos are great; others do NOT like 'em. Go figure... |
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Location: SoCal | Dob, try the Elixir Phospher Bronze. You'll like 'em. Lights on the Adamas, mediums on the ADII and Legend.... |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Originally posted by twistedlim:
Not to be contrary but do you think maybe you are trying to make the guitar something it is not? No. The 06Cs KOA top certainly defines most of its sound BUT strings DO make a difference. As I said a darker sounding guitar with dark sounding strings is not a great combo. As with all my guitars certain types of strings bring out the best (true characteristics) of the guitar. The phosper bronzes are just too dark for the 06, all I'm simply trying to do is find a brighter (or perhaps more accurately a more neutrallly balanced tonally) string to allow the KOA sound to come through without too much other tonal colouration.
I love the warmer/darker KOA tone, I also like Italian food, but I never put spaghetti bolognese on top of pizza!
Being critical about your tone (amongst other things) is paramount to being a good musician. That's why I have as many guitars as I do (and owned a *LOAD* of others too). At least that's what I tell SWMBO ;)
PEZ, ta. |
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| When I want bright, loud strings on my Adamas's, for an acoustic gig with no amplification, I buy the Martin strings. Not sure if they are made by one of the big brands but they sound great to me. The Nano's I like as well but they are just slightly quieter and they loose a little from the coating. But the longevity is great if you're playing a lot.
Not sure about the Brass vs Bronze. Sure do not want the fingers all black, ya scratch your face during a set and you have war paint all over yourself and don't know it but the end of the night. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Well...................
Try nickle or stainless wrapped, that's what Adrian uses.......
(SHHHH!!!!!--you already said that once. Maybe suggest black nylon tape wrapped strings, that's exactly the opposite of what he's asking about.) |
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Posts: 2487
| Ya know just when you think you've tried eveything, ya think you have your choices and you put the blinders on and then you really do not want another thread about strings.....
here we go again.....now I have to go out and try stings again....
Thanks Boys. |
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| GHS White Bronze |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | yes, those will work as well. |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Will be sticking on some 80/20 bronze today. Then if I need more 'brightness' I'll try those GHS White Bronze, exciting stuff this!
Adrian used electric guitar strings as opposed to acoustic strings right? A whole new world! :) |
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Location: Tennessee | Try some of these. I found them to be brighter than most other strings I've used. Not too expensive, either.
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | An update:
Stuck the Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 Bronze (11s) on the 2006 Collector (KOA loveliness) and it's just perfect. :)
It's brightened it up just right.
And so it goes to prove that trying different strings is a worthy exercise. |
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Posts: 103
Location: Verona,Italy | Originally posted by dweezil:
Hi,
yes another subjective string question you think. Not so.
This is not about your opinion or string gauge or the like, it's more a scientific question.
I would like to know what other type (not neccessarily make or gauge) of strings are brighter than phospher bronze. For example Bronze Wound (are these the 80/20s?) have a bright sound when brand new which fades quickly with time whereas Phosphor Bronze Wound gives the string a warmer sound and extended tonal life.
All there any others that are "brighter" than phosper bronze.
The reason I ask is that the 06C KOA is inherently warmer (less bright) and I have phosper bronzes on there hwich is bit like over egging the pudding so to speak. Apart from trying the bronzes is there another type you can recommend?
You can mention brands if you like ;)
Yes I know I could try them all and find the one I like but I would like to know what type (i.e. what metal) would be a good place to start.
THANKS! I have the same problem with my 07 BCS, the guitar is VERY dark and sounds muddy with phosphor bronze...I tried almost every kind of string, silk and steel, 85/15 and 80/20, the latter gives the best results.
Among the 80/20 I liked the Ernie Ball earthwood, at the moment I'm trying the D'addario EXP but they shound a little "dull". |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | WOW! My 07C is anything but dull or dark. If anyhthing I need to tone it down! |
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What strings are "brighter" than Phosper Bronzes?