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

LastMantra · April 2023

Most strings will sound alright at some point in their life span.

more · April 2023

Smellyfingers said:

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?

I have no idea what would be the best sounding strings on your guitar . However , I only stock strings that I like . Try my 13-56 80/20 Bronze, you can find them on the link below. If you don't like them ,will give you a refund. leave a note on the order

ICBM · April 2023

I have Newtone Masterclass phosphor bronze round-core 11s on my all-mahogany Eggle parlour. It's certainly not underwhelming or lacking dynamics - quite the opposite, it's almost *too* responsive in a way, it's quite easy to overdo it with hard strumming. It's not at all 'dark' either - it doesn't have the big, full-range sound of my Gibson Dove, it's a bit of a one-sound midrange guitar, but has plenty of top-end.

I don't like Monels at all - dull and one-dimensional, and I don't really think they suit mahogany guitars than much more than spruce ones, they just sound less awful on them

.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

I have no idea what would be the best sounding strings on your guitar . However , I only stock strings that I like . Try my 13-56 80/20 Bronze, you can find them on the link below. If you don't like them ,will give you a refund. leave a note on the order

Thank you ! I had been leaning towards the Martin Monels from Strings Direct but yours certainly looks like perhaps a more wholesome shop.

I do have one reservation though, and it’s not a joke, given that I only really want to fit one set of strings (partly for wear and tear reasons).

…Why should I risk investing in a mere £8.95 set of strings for a three and half grand sculpture of exotic wood: when I would probably be more reassured by a more respectable seeming £12.99 set?, in terms of expense, that is.

Sorry.

Kilgore · April 2023

Smellyfingers said:

I have no idea what would be the best sounding strings on your guitar . However , I only stock strings that I like . Try my 13-56 80/20 Bronze, you can find them on the link below. If you don't like them ,will give you a refund. leave a note on the order

…Why should I risk investing in a mere £8.95 set of strings for a three and half grand sculpture of exotic wood: when I would probably be more reassured by a more respectable seeming £12.99 set?, in terms of expense that is

Sorry.

If you want further reassurance, I can flog you a set of strings for £49.99.

markj · April 2023

Martin Monels a match made in heaven with all Mahogany guitars,
but they need to bed in for a time

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Kilgore said:

Smellyfingers said:

I have no idea what would be the best sounding strings on your guitar . However , I only stock strings that I like . Try my 13-56 80/20 Bronze, you can find them on the link below. If you don't like them ,will give you a refund. leave a note on the order

…Why should I risk investing in a mere £8.95 set of strings for a three and half grand sculpture of exotic wood: when I would probably be more reassured by a more respectable seeming £12.99 set?, in terms of expense that is

Sorry.

If you want further reassurance, I can flog you a set of strings for £49.99.

Given the importance to me of this fine piece of work, I would actually be possibly able to accept your interesting offer, if you were kind enough to be a little more specific as to their exact nature.

Would the price include a professional level of figment as well?

DavidR · April 2023

Another vote for monels for mahogany. I put Martin MM12 on everything mainly. They work out so much cheaper because of their longevity and I like them. Except my resonator upon which they don't sound nice to my ears. But on my dread, OM, small all mahogany - monels. I like the steely complex tone for the old man's blues and ragtime which I predominantly play. It seems more in character for the recordings of my favourite 1930's and 40's players who would have been playing on......... monels!! Phosphor-Bronze only introduced in the 1970's.

rustneversleeps · April 2023

markj said:

Martin Monels a match made in heaven with all Mahogany guitars,
but they need to bed in for a time

Agreed.Tried all types of strings over 10 yrs on my Martin 00015SM.Kept going back to Martin Monels.Not great at first but let them settle in.Then there great!.

Mellish · April 2023

On this OM-28 Re-imagined EJ16s give me exactly what I want

@smellyfingers I'd say arm yourself with a bunch of different brands, types and just work your way through. That's all it is, and you'll know when you get the sound.
PB
Monel
Silk & Steel
Nickel Bronze

Good luck mate

tomjax · April 2023

I have Monels on an all mahogany Atkin OM. They sound good with a bright and balanced response.

Smellyfingers · April 2023

markj said:

Martin Monels a match made in heaven with all Mahogany guitars,
but they need to bed in for a time

Thank you for the reassurance! and really no hard feelings at all if they don’t work out.

But given that I don’t want to be wearing the instrument (or my sanity) by fitting infinite string combinations: could you kindly inform us what gauge of string diameter you deploy on your axe with these Martin Monels- so as to get the ideal chord resonance?:))

But if you don’t have that info, no worries, I’ll try to experiment myself

Smellyfingers · April 2023

Once again many thanks for all the tips.

To summarise I tried Martin Bronze strings and D’ EJ16’s on this all-hog guitar and neither sounded quite right, ie somewhat dissonant, as.if they were burying a somewhat better sound.

So I took some of the advice and fitted Martin Monels and the result for me is a much richer and fuller sound, more in tune with the nature of the wood, although I guess some ears might find the tone a bit muddier or murkier

So thanks again, and it’s a big relief that I now won’t have to murder anyone for giving me the incorrect string advice. That would have been a real drag.

Here’s a pic of the.instrument.

thomasross20 · May 2023

ICBM said:

I have Newtone Masterclass phosphor bronze round-core 11s on my all-mahogany Eggle parlour. It's certainly not underwhelming or lacking dynamics - quite the opposite, it's almost *too* responsive in a way, it's quite easy to overdo it with hard strumming. It's not at all 'dark' either - it doesn't have the big, full-range sound of my Gibson Dove, it's a bit of a one-sound midrange guitar, but has plenty of top-end.

I don't like Monels at all - dull and one-dimensional, and I don't really think they suit mahogany guitars than much more than spruce ones, they just sound less awful on them .

Newtone keep popping up on my radar hmmm....

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

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

Comments