Anyone using bronze strings?

[Recky]

Hi,

I notice that most of you guys seem to use phosphor bronze strings. I'd played them for 25 years until I was given a set of bronze strings to try out a few weeks ago. I put them on and was totally blown away, then I toured with that set and played at least five full gigs with it, and was even more impressed. Having said that, the strings came from a small traditional German manufacturer, Lenzner - I have never tried "factory-made" bronze strings. However, Lenzner strings are nearly as cheap as, say, d'Addarios, so while being "boutique", they are pretty affordable, at least over here in Europe.

What I've found is that my D-50, for example, suddenly sounds like on a 70s singer-songwriter record, if you know what I mean. My D-50 has always had a strong growl or bark, and with the bronze strings, it has gotten a broader bandwidth, so to speak. Sounds lovely!

I just wanted to share this experience

Cheers,
Recky

 

[chazmo]

Recky, I really like the sound of strings wound with phosphor bronze. I use coated and uncoated versions of PB on most of my guitars. PB has a pretty warm sound.

80/20 bronze wound strings, which is what I think you're talking about, have a brighter sound to my ear. They do really jump out at you. Taylor uses them on all of their guitars (I think) as standard, and it's one of the reasons why Taylors have such sizzle.

I haven't tried the German brand you mentioned, but really there's no question (to me, anyway) that strings are the single most important factor in altering your guitar's tone. Experimentation is lots of fun!

Oh, by the way, D'Addario offers 80/20 bronze and phosphor bronze, and I think you can get them coated (EXP) or not. The coated sets are roughly twice the price.

 

[Recky]

Hi Chazmo,

you've hit the nail on the head: strings really do have a major impact on the sound of any guitar. I used to think that bronze strings (usually 80:20, most manufacturers add traces of phosphor, Lenzner don't) sound unbearably bright and chimey, but I have since changed my mind. For a start, no two string brands sound the same, i.e. I can't stand the sound of Elixir PB strings, but d'Addario PBs have always sounded pretty nice, "woody", on my guitars.

Put a set of 80:20 on a Taylor or Lakewood dread, and you get extreme brightness, because these "modern" guitars are voiced like the smiley curve on a graphic equalizer, i.e. boosted treble and bass, so that they sound reasonably loud and fat ("hifi") when fingerpicked (but break up when petetownshended - or should that be petetownshent???). My D-50, however, simply sounds rounder, more balanced than with PBs. I never expected this.

I do think, though, that most industrially produced 80:20 strings sound extremely bright, perhaps to set them apart from their already-bright PBs, but I'd be interested to find out if anyone has any positive experience with the bronze strings of the more common manufacturers.

Cheers,
Recky

 

[sitka_spruce]

I think you just said it yourself in this thread, Recky. I'd recommend Bronze/ 80/20s to RW bodied acoustics for more snap, any day of the week. For the overly bright mahogany and the rather bright maple, for instance, I feel phosphor bronze to be a better match. Also the gauge of strings have an effect here - heavier gauges sound fatter and richer.

Then size and shape of the actual instrument, whether it's played with a pick or with the fingers... intended for rhythm or solo lines, size/ complexity of setting/ arrangement are also factors that comes into one's choice of strings. If the instrument is smaller (or have a pronounced waistline), intended for solo lines played with a pick and is the only instrument played you'd probably want phosphor bronze strings, for instance.

 

[kitniyatran]

Not as common, but also available is 85/15 bronze, such as GHS Vintage Bronze. A quote from JustStrings.com:
"The blend of copper and zinc provides a warm rich tone."

 

[Firebird]

80/20 bronze is all I use on my Guild acoustics. I am a flatpicker and love the bright tone. Phosphor bronze just sounds dead to me.

I currently use Martin SP Custom Light Bronze and like them better than the John Pearse strings I had been using for years. When I go parking lot pickin', I'll put on a set of mediums to get a little more volume. I normally change strings every 3-4 weeks to keep that tone nice and bright.

Ya just can't beat a D55 with a fresh set of strings.

 

[DocNE]

Guten Tag There Recky

Yep, mostly use bronze strings on my guitars (85/15 Dean Markley Alchemy). Like them a lot. I do use PB, too, on certain guitars because they just tend to sound better to my ear on those particular guitars. It just all depends.

Strings are all about personal preference. Trust your own ear and go with what sounds best to you. The nice things about strings, they're cheapest way to significantly change the sound of a guitar, cheap enough that even those of us with fairly modest axe budgets can afford to experiment a bit and find out which type and brand of string sounds best on a given guitar.

DocNE

 

[zplay]

80/20 bronze is all I use on my Guild acoustics. I am a flatpicker and love the bright tone. Phosphor bronze just sounds dead to me.

I currently use Martin SP Custom Light Bronze and like them better than the John Pearse strings I had been using for years. When I go parking lot pickin', I'll put on a set of mediums to get a little more volume. I normally change strings every 3-4 weeks to keep that tone nice and bright.

Ya just can't beat a D55 with a fresh set of strings.

I've been trending toward the 80/20s too and I'm mostly a fingerpicker. I don't perceive the brightness being all that much different vs. PBs once they've settled in a bit, but some PBs seem to me to more retain their metallic zing, which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tone preferences. I personally like the clarity I hear in the 80/20s. Also, I think they bend a bit easier.

 

[kostask]

I am using the GHS Signature Bronze Lights (LJ30Ls) on my DV-52, and all of my other spruce topped dreads. The only dread that I don't use them on is a cedar topped/mahongany back and sides one (non-Guild) which doesn't like the GHS strings, but sounds really good with the D'Addario Lights (EJ-16). I went through about 8-10 different string brands before settling on those two for my guitars. I don't know if the GHS's or the D'Addario are bronze or phosphor bronze, but they are the best sounding to my ears, although the GHS's are noticeably stiffer strings than the D'Addarios, and most of the other brands that I tried, with the possible exception of the Martin SPs.

Kostas

 

[sitka_spruce]

I personally like the clarity I hear in the 80/20s. Also, I think they bend a bit easier.

Yep, espec. the unwound ones! :lol:

 

[sitka_spruce]

I am using the GHS Signature Bronze Lights (LJ30Ls) on my DV-52, and all of my other spruce topped dreads.

This is the Laurence Juber signature bronze 80/20 which is cryogenically hardened, which would vouch for lots of zing and punch on paper. That treatment is what makes them so stiff, so beware of your eyes and fingertips when stringing with these (don't ask :wink.

Have yet to try these, but they're #1 on my wishing list. Martin Cryos were sweet and uninteresting sounding, DMS BlueSteels (the original cryo-string, I hear) perhaps a bit on the full and muddy side (from being Phsphr Brz?). If I didn't say before these are a great solution for guitars of which the top can't take the static torque of mediums but require a similar sound and drive to bloom.

 

[dklsplace]

I like 80/20's, but need to "play them in" some before using them in a live gig. For the most part, I use PB's, or even silk/bronze on guitars around the house because they last longer without getting cruddy. I don't necessarily need the extra umph on a guitar that I'm giving lessons with at home.

 

[zplay]

I am using the GHS Signature Bronze Lights (LJ30Ls) on my DV-52, and all of my other spruce topped dreads. The only dread that I don't use them on is a cedar topped/mahongany back and sides one (non-Guild) which doesn't like the GHS strings, but sounds really good with the D'Addario Lights (EJ-16). I went through about 8-10 different string brands before settling on those two for my guitars. I don't know if the GHS's or the D'Addario are bronze or phosphor bronze, but they are the best sounding to my ears, although the GHS's are noticeably stiffer strings than the D'Addarios, and most of the other brands that I tried, with the possible exception of the Martin SPs.

Kostas

I think I'm ordering more GHS than other brands at this point. I think they're pretty consistent and last about as long as
any other non-coated strings. Of course, the PBs do outlast the 80/20s. For PBs, I like the the regular GHS PBs and the DR Sunbeams. Interesting that - about the cryo treatment maybe causing more stiffening. Anybody try the so-called Vintage Bronzes(GHS 85/15s)?

 

[kitniyatran]

When next I change strings on my D25, I'll be using GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights. May be soon.
I used to(20 years ago) use D'Addario Great Americans on my Martin D18, they're also 85/15, but it looks like they've dropped them, at least the sets I'd consider; can't seem to find them anymore.

 

[zplay]

When next I change strings on my D25, I'll be using GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights. May be soon.
I used to(20 years ago) use D'Addario Great Americans on my Martin D18, they're also 85/15, but it looks like they've dropped them, at least the sets I'd consider; can't seem to find them anymore.

Cool, Mando - looking forward to your report on the 85/15s.

 

[Bluesbob]

suddenly sounds like on a 70s singer-songwriter record

That's exactly what I thought when I put a set of Martin 80/20 bronze SP Marquis 12's on my D35! Especially since I had just taken off a set of Elixir nano's. They were still almost new, but the Martin's just blew them away. The Martin Marquis set comes with a bronzed B and high E string. Very balanced sounding on the D35.
I put a set on my DC5E, which doesn't sound as loud or full as the D35 unplugged, but it woke right up when plugged into a PA or my Fishman Pro 100 acoutic amp. I recommend trying the Martin SP Marquis if you need an off-the-shelf string. They cost a little more, though.

 

[kitniyatran]

When next I change strings on my D25, I'll be using GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights. May be soon.
I used to(20 years ago) use D'Addario Great Americans on my Martin D18, they're also 85/15, but it looks like they've dropped them, at least the sets I'd consider; can't seem to find them anymore.

Cool, Mando - looking forward to your report on the 85/15s.

About time I give that report; I've had the GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights on the D25 for several weeks now, & I want to try Phosphor bronze with a 13 & 17 1st & 2nd next. The 85/15's seem kind of "tight", I think maybe a lot of mid-range. I thought with the extra bottom end the arched back gives, the lows might be a bit much with the PB, but now I think it needs a bit of "warming up". I might would try Silk & Bronze, but I think I need the heavier 1st & 2nd, which I can't find available with the Silk & Bronze, so I'd have to buy singles, & have the lighter strings lying around going to waste.
Regardless of strings, when I've tried the guit at an open mike, you have to watch the bass EQ, or the 5th & 6th will boom like crazy! Sounds great,from the audience, though, apparently.

 

[sitka_spruce]

When next I change strings on my D25, I'll be using GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights. May be soon.
I used to(20 years ago) use D'Addario Great Americans on my Martin D18, they're also 85/15, but it looks like they've dropped them, at least the sets I'd consider; can't seem to find them anymore.

Cool, Mando - looking forward to your report on the 85/15s.

About time I give that report; I've had the GHS Vintage Bronze 85/15 lights on the D25 for several weeks now, & I want to try Phosphor bronze with a 13 & 17 1st & 2nd next. The 85/15's seem kind of "tight", I think maybe a lot of mid-range. I thought with the extra bottom end the arched back gives, the lows might be a bit much with the PB, but now I think it needs a bit of "warming up". I might would try Silk & Bronze, but I think I need the heavier 1st & 2nd, which I can't find available with the Silk & Bronze, so I'd have to buy singles, & have the lighter strings lying around going to waste.
Regardless of strings, when I've tried the guit at an open mike, you have to watch the bass EQ, or the 5th & 6th will boom like crazy! Sounds great,from the audience, though, apparently.

85/15s, aren't these known as "brass"?

 

[kitniyatran]

GHS calls them "Vintage Bronze", D'Addario used to call them "Great American". I've seen them listed by another string company, but I forget who & how.

From Wikipedia on "brass" : "Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc...In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin.[2] Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes...Rich low brass contains 85% copper 15% zinc "

 

[jgmaute]

I use D'Addario PBs on my 6-strings and D'Addario EXPs on my 12. I really like the sound but haven't tried 80/20s. As I've read over the posts in this thread I'm reminded how I've always said my D55 has such a bright and ringing sound, it's great for flat and finger picking. I just remembered a flat pick I used to use that boosted the brightness...they were called "hot licks", I know they were metal, copper colored but I'm not sure what the metal was...just googled them and see they're still around http://www.juststrings.com/hotlicksdunloppicksaccessories.html

Our Copper Picks are manufactured from aircraft grade Beryllium Copper. These picks accentuate bright tones in a percussive fashion.

I know they came in different thicknesses but of course I can't remember which I used so I'd have to find them in stock somewhere to try them again.

Has anyone else used them?

jgm