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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Quiet Acoustic Strings

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danowensdanowens Frets: 27
in Acoustics
After fitting Flat Tops to my Yamaha Silent guitar, I'm disappointed by how zingy and loud they are. I was hoping for something more akin to flat wound strings (I'm playing jazz and blues). 

Any suggestions for quieter / darker acoustic strings?

Thanks
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Comments

  • TanninTannin Frets: 4394
    Silk and steel?

    Nickel or Monel isn't out of the question.

    Or what about those neon-coloured things DR sells? (I think they sound fairly normal though.)

    Or actual flatwounds?

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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    Try SIT Silencers. No idea where you'd find them, though. Do an online search? Good luck :) 
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  • TanninTannin Frets: 4394
    Silencers aren't very quiet. They play very like an orthodox round-wound 80/20. (I use them often and like them, but "silencers" they are not.) Readily available from any of the usual American outlets - Strings by Mail, Strings and Beyond, etc. - fast, efficient service and cheaper than buying strings in Blighty - but I don't think they will fit the case here.

    But we ARE talking about strings that are quiet here aren't we? Low volume strings? Not strings that don't have much left-hand fretting noise and squeak? 

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  • MellishMellish Frets: 945
    Quiet strings are something I've never sought. I gig, sometimes in the great outdoors, so I need to belt it out :) 
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  • BigPaulieBigPaulie Frets: 733
    I found Monels to make my Martin D-16GT significantly quieter and less bassy.
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    danowens said:
    After fitting Flat Tops to my Yamaha Silent guitar, I'm disappointed by how zingy and loud they are. I was hoping for something more akin to flat wound strings (I'm playing jazz and blues). 

    Any suggestions for quieter / darker acoustic strings?
    Flatwounds...

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • JfingersJfingers Frets: 283
    Drop the plectrum and never pick it up/play more softly. Sorry, Mother in law is currently near death...
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  • danowensdanowens Frets: 27
    ICBM said:
    danowens said:
    After fitting Flat Tops to my Yamaha Silent guitar, I'm disappointed by how zingy and loud they are. I was hoping for something more akin to flat wound strings (I'm playing jazz and blues). 

    Any suggestions for quieter / darker acoustic strings?
    Flatwounds...
    Specific acoustic flat wounds? Or can my Yamaha Silent guitar take Roto Top Tapes?
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  • danowensdanowens Frets: 27
    Tannin said:

    But we ARE talking about strings that are quiet here aren't we? Low volume strings? Not strings that don't have much left-hand fretting noise and squeak? 

    Yeah, I was thinking that my roto top tapes are pretty quiet and its because they don't have much treble and upper mids to 'cut through', so I was equating 'quiet' with 'no top end'.
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    try spaghetti 
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • ToneControlToneControl Frets: 11438
    I use Elixir nanowebs because they squeak much less, last for years, and sound a bit less zingy when new

    they do a polyweb that has a darker sound
    Acoustic 80/20 Bronze with POLYWEB Coating | Elixir® Strings (elixirstrings.com)
    it's a thicker coating than the more common nanoweb, probably squeaks less too




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  • danowensdanowens Frets: 27
    ToneControl said:
    I use Elixir nanowebs because they squeak much less, last for years, and sound a bit less zingy when new

    they do a polyweb that has a darker sound
    Acoustic 80/20 Bronze with POLYWEB Coating | Elixir® Strings (elixirstrings.com)
    it's a thicker coating than the more common nanoweb, probably squeaks less too

    Does anyone here use poly web strings? Does the coating have the desired effect?
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  • bertiebertie Frets: 12145
    edited March 2022
    danowens said:

    Does anyone here use poly web strings? Does the coating have the desired effect?
    its like playing strings with condoms on  -   for me,  not a nice experience and the reason I never liked coated strings for years,  until nano webs came out................
    just because you don't, doesn't mean you can't
     just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
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  • TheBigDipperTheBigDipper Frets: 4501
    bertie said:
    danowens said:

    Does anyone here use poly web strings? Does the coating have the desired effect?
    its like playing strings with condoms on  -   for me,  not a nice experience and the reason I never liked coated strings for years,  until nano webs came out................
    My Brook Taw came with Polywebs and sounded good with them, but I prefer the feel under the fingers of Nanoweb. Don't use either on acoustics now. I'm using Newtone Phosphor Bronze on the Taw. Seagull squeaks can be musical, apparently... 
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