Martin Retro "Monel" strings

Westerly Wood · Mar 13, 2015

https://youtu.be/qHWAQnEmFhI

just bought a pack of these to try on my BR. Nickel bound acoustic guitar strings. We will see...

Anyone else give them a whirl yet?

merlin6666 · Mar 13, 2015

Are they actually nickel-coloured?

Walter Broes · Mar 13, 2015

Pyramid's released some monel-wound electric guitar strings too - I'm planning to give them a try, they're supposed to be somewhere between pure nickel and nickel-plated steel on a brightness scale.

Friend of mine who's an excellent working bluegrass guitarist uses the Tony Rice Martin Monel strings, he says they took a little bit of getting used to because they're so different, but that in a band setting, he loves them because he gets a stronger fundamental, a big note, and "not that shimmery phosphor bronze harmonics jive".

chazmo · Mar 13, 2015

Looks like it, Merlin. My monel piston valves for my trumpets are not shiny like pure nickel. But, they are silver-colored (like mercury).

Westerly Wood · Mar 13, 2015

Walter Broes said:
Friend of mine who's an excellent working bluegrass guitarist uses the Tony Rice Martin Monel strings, he says they took a little bit of getting used to because they're so different, but that in a band setting, he loves them because he gets a stronger fundamental, a big note, and "not that shimmery phosphor bronze harmonics jive".

Yes, I believe Tony encouraged Martin to create the strings. They are nickel colored. They are supposed to represent the true guitars tone as there is no bronze or PB wrapping to get in the way. Could just be marketing of course. They arrive early next week, will report back then. The only gauge available was lights. .12-.54.

Notguildy · Mar 13, 2015

Monel are on my list for trying. So far I like so much the GHS vintage (even if they get dark real fast) that I give a break in testing strings.

But I'm afraid Monel will sound too bright for me.

davismanLV · Mar 13, 2015

Yeah, Notguildy, I am a HUGE fan of GHS strings! High quality and consistent. My faves are the Bright Bronze, but the Vintage Bronze runs a close second! Super strings, I'm glad you like them!! :encouragement:

Notguildy · Mar 14, 2015

Tom I actually ordered them after you advise me!
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?183913-Full-step-down-and-John-Pearse

AcornHouse · Mar 14, 2015

chazmo said:
Looks like it, Merlin. My monel piston valves for my trumpets are not shiny like pure nickel. But, they are silver-colored (like mercury).

You a trumpet player too, Chaz? That's how I started in music way back when.(In Mass. to boot) Got my Bachelors in trpt performance. Still play a piece in the faculty recital every now and then.

And now back to your regularly scheduled Monel strings discussion.

chazmo · Mar 14, 2015

AcornHouse said:
You a trumpet player too, Chaz? That's how I started in music way back when.(In Mass. to boot) Got my Bachelors in trpt performance. Still play a piece in the faculty recital every now and then.

And now back to your regularly scheduled Monel strings discussion.

NEONMOONY · Mar 14, 2015

I'm a big fan of generic, on-sale strings.

powerwagonjohn · Mar 15, 2015

I have been thinking of trying these on my 1952 L-4. I am inspired now. I will have to give the GHS's a try too. I have been using either the John Pearce or the Erne Ball Aluminum Bronze strings and like both.
Thanks John

jcwu · Mar 15, 2015

Walter Broes said:
Pyramid's released some monel-wound electric guitar strings too - I'm planning to give them a try, they're supposed to be somewhere between pure nickel and nickel-plated steel on a brightness scale.

Are these strings available to the public? I tried searching for them but no luck (then again, I haven't search very hard yet).

davismanLV · Mar 15, 2015

Hey PWJohn, don't you find the Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings a bit BRASH? They are LOUD to be sure, but they sound shallow and tinny to me...... just wonderin. I suppose it would depend on what you're playing though......

Bill Ashton · Mar 15, 2015

I had a promo set of these strings given to me last summer by our favorite central-Mass music store ; ) and put them on my then new F47R. Maybe she and I were still working out our places together, but overall they sounded to me like electric guitar strings someone put on an acoustic. I lived with them as long as I could tolerate and then had to yank them off. It may well be that they need some break-in time and I did not give them enough. I love the sound and feel of flatwounds on a electric, and have even tried Pyramid flats on my former Gibson acoustic (and yes they sound just like The Beatles, but that's all they do!), but I just could not get into these.

Am I remembering right? Didn't Gibson sell "Chet Atkins" Monel wound strings in the orange-box years ago?

I shall go take a pill and eat my tapioca now...

Walter Broes · Mar 15, 2015

jcwu said:
Are these strings available to the public? I tried searching for them but no luck (then again, I haven't search very hard yet).

This guy has them - I understand he was instrumental in getting pyramid to make them.

In Europe, you can get them from Thomann, the largest online retailer, and they're not even crazy expensive. (thomann is German, as is Pyramid)

jcwu · Mar 15, 2015

Walter Broes said:
This guy has them - I understand he was instrumental in getting pyramid to make them.

In Europe, you can get them from Thomann, the largest online retailer, and they're not even crazy expensive. (thomann is German, as is Pyramid)

http://tone-man.com/guitar-strings.html

I'm interested in trying out the pure nickel, too.

powerwagonjohn · Mar 17, 2015

Tom, I am using the aluminum bronze strings on my 1952 Gibson acoustic archtop, it's a 16" guitar so it's mostly about midrange bark. I don't notice them being brash but I am still trying out different strings. I started with D Addirio pure nickels', then John Pearce phosphor bronze then the aluminum bronze. As per this thread I just ordered a set of the Martin Monel, a set of GHS Vintage Bronze, a set of Black Diamond acoustic 80/20 brass and a set of DR Blues Pure Nickel so I will see what works best. It just fun to try. They are all .012 round wounds.
Thanks John

Westerly Wood · Mar 17, 2015

powerwagonjohn said:
Tom, I am using the aluminum bronze strings on my 1952 Gibson acoustic archtop, it's a 16" guitar so it's mostly about midrange bark. I don't notice them being brash but I am still trying out different strings. I started with D Addirio pure nickels', then John Pearce phosphor bronze then the aluminum bronze. As per this thread I just ordered a set of the Martin Monel, a set of GHS Vintage Bronze, a set of Black Diamond acoustic 80/20 brass and a set of DR Blues Pure Nickel so I will see what works best. It just fun to try. They are all .012 round wounds.
Thanks John

looking forward to hearing your findings.

Notguildy · Mar 17, 2015

Westerly Wood said:
looking forward to hearing your findings.

Same here!

Martin Retro "Monel" strings

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