What might be the best strings for an all mahogany guitar?

Smellyfingers · April 2023

I mean a reasonably high end instrument, similar to a Guild M20 or a Martin D15.

I ask, because the special tonal characteristics of all hog acoustics could mean that, despite their certain good points, they may be given to sounding less ‘colourful’ or even one dimensional compared with other combination wood guitars.

Therefore the particular choice of type and brand of strings may be especially important to all hogs.

Any opinions would be gratefully received.

Thanks!!

bertie · April 2023

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder

Tannin · April 2023

Do you want your all-hog guitar to sound like a second-rate imitation of a conventional spruce-top instrument? Then something bright, probably brass. Martin MA140 or D'Angellico Prohibition Bronze 85/15 or SIT Golden Bronze.

Or do you want tour guitar to sound like what it is - a different instrument with a different sound? D'Addario Nickel Bronze (might be a bit too dark), or Martin Retros.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

bertie said:

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder

agreed, but all hogs may be similar to Meryl Streep in some ways.

Mellish · April 2023

Yep, what @bertie there said.

No-one can tell you. Just pick up as many brands as you can. Phosphor bronze, 80/20, hex and roundcore, and see which sound best to you.

Mellish · April 2023

@Tannin ;; Martin MA140. Happy days with those on the HD-28 I had. Put them on this Martin OM-28 Re-imagined and meh.

bertie · April 2023

Smellyfingers said:

bertie said:

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder

agreed, but all hogs may be similar to Meryl Streep in some ways.

what one considers "dark and dull" and recommend a bright zingy string to counter, others might enjoy and go for a more neutral palleted string

personally I don't like all hog, all a bit "underwhelming" and no dynamic response, bit like stringing up a dinner plate

Kilgore · April 2023

I like bog standard D'addario 80/20s.

To my ears they add a bit of zing to the trebles. I'm easily pleased though and not much of a string connoisseur.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Tannin said:

Do you want your all-hog guitar to sound like a second-rate imitation of a conventional spruce-top instrument? Then something bright, probably brass. Martin MA140 or D'Angellico Prohibition Bronze 85/15 or SIT Golden Bronze.

Or do you want tour guitar to sound like what it is - a different instrument with a different sound? D'Addario Nickel Bronze (might be a bit too dark), or Martin Retros.

That’s a really good point. My instinct was to go with brighter sounding strings, but if I wanted a bright sound why did I purchase an all hog guitar in the first place?

Mellish · April 2023

So what were you looking for that you thought an all hog would give you?

thomasross20 · April 2023

I use D'addario XT on everything.
I also use one gauge lower than recommended (so 11s instead of 12s on OM) and find that it is not only easier to play but sounds noticeably better. NOTICEABLY !!

bertie · April 2023

Smellyfingers said:
My instinct was to go with brighter sounding strings, but if I wanted a bright sound why did I purchase an all hog guitar in the first place?

same reason you're asking us about strings ?

Mellish · April 2023

@thomasross20 ; try their XS.

I tried XT and XS and (to MY ear) the XS had more zing.

thomasross20 · April 2023

Say whaaaat - now you mention, I recall seeing those but shied away due to price. Another thing I'll have to checknout : )

Gandalph · April 2023

Always worth trying a set of monel's on an all mahogany.

thermionic · April 2023

Gandalph said:

Always worth trying a set of monel's on an all mahogany.

Yes.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Mellish said:

So what were you looking for that you thought an all hog would give you?

Thank you for asking - the thing is my favourite bit of pure guitar music is the intro to ‘Gimme Shelter’ which is obviously quite dark, so I thought it would suit all mahogany. Also there is something about the unembellished tonal purity of mahagony which I thought would give my own little chord arrangements more definitive clarity.

But the question for any psychiatrists out there might well be - why was I so mental, as to trade in all my other guitars and max out on my credit card, for one used 3.5k all hog special? Given that wood’s obvious limitations.

And could any please recommend what the very best strings might be for it, please?

mgaw · April 2023

GTS from LA talk to them

Mellish · April 2023

@Smellyfingers ; the reason I asked is that your answer may give us more idea of the sound you're after.

So the darker the better?

Tannin · April 2023

One tip: if you try the Martin Retros, do not take them off for at least 10 days no matter how they sound! Retros can and often do sound awful when you first fit them and they take a good while to settle down. Don't make a judgement until you have heard them at their best.

I don't think we can nominate a "best" string for this guitar until we have some more data. In particular, I reckon you need to try one set each of the main string families - phosphor bronze, brass, and nickel alloy. There is lots of variation within each of these three too - for example the D'Addario Nickels are quite different to the Martin Retros - but first things first.

Mellish · April 2023

If after dark, you can rule out D'Addario EJ16, XT, XS, DR Sunbeams, Elixir, 80/20 brass.....

I'd say Monels are your best bet.

mgaw · April 2023

D’addario nickel bronze maybe

Mellish · April 2023

@mgaw ; yes that's the one I was struggling to remember. Thanks

Tannin · April 2023

If you are going down the nickel road

* Martin Retros are probably the lightest sounding nickel alloy string. They are Monel, a nickel-copper alloy, about two-thirds nickel.
* SIT American Roots are also made of Monel and probably sound similar to the Martin ones. I have a set here to try but haven't put them on yet.

* GHS White Bronze are made from Alloy 52, a 50-50 iron-nickel alloy. I don't know what to expect from these. I have a set as yet untried.

* D'Addario nickel bronze. Quite a lot darker than the Retros. I prefer them, but I suspect that that is simply that they happen to suit the guitar I'm using them on. (It's a Guild, Red Spruce over mahogany.)

* John Pierce Pure Nickel Said to be the darkest of all. Another one I haven't tried yet.

My Guild is due for a string change. I think I might try the JPs or the GHS ones next.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Mellish said:

@Smellyfingers ; the reason I asked is that your answer may give us more idea of the sound you're after.

So the darker the better?

I think so now, because darkness might be all-hogs special quality.

I can now reveal what the issue is: that it is a Collings OM1:which I have observed generally seem to have a somewhat more complicated ‘fruity’ tone than other makes, which I would’nt want to murder with overly flat strings.

To be clear - I am really grateful for all the knowledgable suggestions, and I do mean really,

However, the difficult conundrum people are facing now is: what string might accentuate the Collings darker properties, but also have sufficient brightness or ‘sparkiness’ to not dull down this very precious instrument?

I apologise, I only know enough about strings to know that the Company recommended D’ EJ16s currently fitted, do not make the most of a specifically all mh instrument. They simply do not!

Sorry!

thomasross20 · April 2023

Sadly it's not a cheap experiment, either!
Kudos to those trying this out.
Best strings would be those that sound good even toward end of life obvs, Monel sound interesting

bertie · April 2023

thomasross20 said:

Monel sound interesting

hmm not sure that's going to get past their marketing people

Smellyfingers · April 2023

thomasross20 said:

Sadly it's not a cheap experiment, either!
Kudos to those trying this out.
Best strings would be those that sound good even toward end of life obvs, Monel sound interesting

Yes, I agree and certainly Kudos to those who would go through this difficult thought process - with no pay off other than perhaps caring for the future of a somewhat historic instrument!

Tannin · April 2023

Those EJ16s, are they reasonably fresh? Or tired and dull?

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Tannin said:

Those EJ16s, are they reasonably fresh? Or tired and dull?

They are nearly new.

Winny_Pooh · April 2023

I like Newtone masterclass (hex core) PB on just about anything.

IMO you have to like the Monel tone if you're going to put it on anything at all. It's not as if it's magical on some guitars.

Only one way to find out, buy:
D'addario PB
D'addario 80/20
Martin Monel

Then if you like one of those then try other brands from that family.

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What might be the best strings for an all mahogany guitar?

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