80/20 or Phosphor Bronze

guitarfishbay · February 2014

Just wondering what you guys prefer and on what types of instrument.

I have been using (bulk buy packs of D'Addario) Phosphor Bronze strings for several years now. On a whim I decided to give 80/20s a shot.

First impressions were that they were too bright but after a small amount of playing time they've settled in to being some quite nice sounding strings. I feel like I'm hearing more fundamental and less overtone with the 80/20s which is actually a good thing with what I'm playing currently. I love my guitar but it is so alive with overtones that I some times feel like I'm fighting it to get a clear and simple sound when required. These 80/20s seem to make getting less complex sounds a lot easier.

My acoustic is a BSG rosewood/spruce jumbo. I'm using 13s tuned to D.

I am now tempted to go and try some other brands of 80/20s!

bertie · February 2014

Got to be 80/20s - PBs just sound dead, like dirty stings nowhere near articulate enough

I used to use DRs which I really liked, but I use Lixy's on all my acoustics now.

ICBM · February 2014

Phosphor Bronze always, for me.

I don't like 80/20s, they sound tinny when new and go dead quickly.

guitarfishbay · February 2014

They do sound tinny to start with but where they're at in terms of their life sounds great currently. They've got a bit of sparkle but the overtones seem quieter and less complex. Seems to work for the bright+simple pop style strumming sound. They'll probably sound pants tomorrow!

midlifecrisis · February 2014

are they good for electro acoustics, either piezo or magnetic soundhole pickups?

ICBM · February 2014

It shouldn't matter - neither metal is ferromagnetic so magnetic soundhole pickups are designed to compensate for the lack of volume from the wound strings compared to the plains.

crunchman · February 2014

Sometimes it depends on the guitar. As an owner of too many guitars, some guitars seem to respond better to one type, and soem to another.

I have found that Phosphor Bronze last longer and they are my default string.

ToneControl · February 2014

Elixir Baritones are 80/20 - they work well

They do normal gauge 80/20s too, I think I tried them on a very very dark mahogany body

Lewy · February 2014

80/20 for me. The extra brightness is good for cutting through in an acoustic band context. They do die away quite quickly but Martin multipacks make it cheap enough to change often.

You mention that your guitar is a bit hyper on the overtones....perhaps you should try some monel strings like Martin's Tony RIce set. I've heard people say they calm overtone-heavy guitars.

mellowsun · February 2014

ICBM said:

Phosphor Bronze always, for me.

I don't like 80/20s, they sound tinny when new and go dead quickly.

+100

bandmaster188 · February 2014

Always preferred phosphor bronze personally. Can't get on with the harsh zingy brightness of 80/20's.

The23rdman · March 2014

I agree that it depends on the guitar and the only way to know is to try different sets. Mt Faith Naked Venus comes alive with PB, but they sound horrible on my two Recording Kings.

bertie · March 2014

I think if youre mainly just a strummer, I can see that 80/20s may be a bit bright......but for fingerpicking you need the clearer definition of them, PBs are just too muddy

ICBM · March 2014

bertie said:

I think if youre mainly just a strummer, I can see that 80/20s may be a bit bright......but for fingerpicking you need the clearer definition of them, PBs are just too muddy

I don't find that at all. I dislike 80/20s even more for fingerpicking than strumming, if anything.

The23rdman · March 2014

bertie said:

I think if youre mainly just a strummer, I can see that 80/20s may be a bit bright......but for fingerpicking you need the clearer definition of them, PBs are just too muddy

I disagree. I'm 90% a fingerpicker/flatpicker and much prefer PBs.

bertie · March 2014

ICBM said:
I don't find that at all. I dislike 80/20s even more for fingerpicking than strumming, if anything.

yeah but knowing your tone preferences you'd probably prefer 100 year old strings that have never been cleaned

ICBM · March 2014

bertie said:
yeah but knowing your tone preferences you'd probably prefer 100 year old strings that have never been cleaned

lol

Actually although I don't like brand new strings for the first few days or so, I don't like old dead strings either, they have to be kept clean.

But curiously enough, speaking of 100-year-old strings, a few weeks ago I was working on an instrument made just before the First World War which did have most of its original strings on! A 43-string harp-zither, if it matters… and I had to replace them all. It felt a bit like I was destroying its history, but they were so rusty many of them broke when I turned the tuning posts anyway.

bertie · March 2014

last year we were clearing out the loft and found mrs berts first ever (no name classical) guitar, she got second hand in about 1970.....twas a tad 'mouldy' from the usual 200yr old loft dampness, but totally original including strigs............. cleaned it up...... and it played/sounded superb TBH

daveww · March 2014

Newtone Masterclass Phosphor Bronze for me.

Evilmags · April 2014

Tomastick Infeld phosphor Bronze.

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80/20 or Phosphor Bronze

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