Long-term scientific "blind" acoustic string test

[dwasifar]

Polling the readers: If I get to the point where I've already decided I don't like a set of strings, how would you feel (as readers) if I aborted the test before reaching the two week mark? Would you prefer me to stick with it, or just move along?

 

[geoguy]

I would vote for moving on . . . they aren't likely to become more to your liking after that point.

 

[GGJaguar]

Nah, just scrub the mission and call them "duds".

 

[walrus]

Yes, move along. Why suffer needlessly?

walrus

 

[dwasifar]

Guys, I've edited the table in the first post of this thread to add links to the starting post of each string set's evaluation period. This is for convenience, so that as the thread gets longer, readers can jump directly to the beginning of each completed evaluation.

 

[dwasifar]

Okay. Not a lot of votes in my poll, but all were in favor of moving on, so that's what I'm going to do. Here's the final evaluation of String Set D.

Tone and playability:
As described earlier, I just do not like how they sound on chords and when played energetically. It's not horrible, but it's not as good as I'm accustomed to this instrument sounding. And they remain significantly stiff. Barres up the neck are difficult.

Final grades:

• Construction B
• Volume B+
• Playability C
• Tone B-

Would not buy again. They'll come off the instrument this evening.

Now comes the part where I try to guess what they are before actually going and looking. Based on the length, I'm going to guess these are the Magma strings. It's the only non-US brand in the test, and I'm thinking that may account for them being shorter. Let's go look. I see you shiver with antici...
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...pation.

Well, here's quite the unexpected development. I am literally shocked that these are Martin SP. I have had excellent results with Martin SP on this guitar before, and these do not sound like I remember. I also do not remember Martin SP being especially short, as these were. These came from Amazon, and I actually suspect they may be counterfeit, unless Martin has changed their manufacturing somehow. The package looks genuine.

I really don't know what to make of this. Are they counterfeit? Did I get a bad set? Did Martin change the product? Or is my judgment just that unreliable? If it's the last thing, then this whole process is worthless. Not sure how to proceed.

 

[geoguy]

Maybe have another set of those strings added to the remaining inventory-to-be-tested, but purchase them from Just Strings, or a similar vendor?

 

[dwasifar]

Maybe have another set of those strings added to the remaining inventory-to-be-tested, but purchase them from Just Strings, or a similar vendor?

I think I will. That's a good idea.

 

[dwasifar]

I save my strings and trimmings for recycling, so it occurred to me that I probably still had the trimmings from the last set of Martin SP that was on the guitar, for comparison. I dug through the box and pulled out all the .053/.054 trimmings, and this is the closest match:



The one on the bottom is the current set. I colored the end of it with blue marker to keep from getting mixed up.

So the previous Martin set was also wound a little shorter than the others, and I didn't remember it; but there was more exposed core and less winding on this set than on the previous:

Sorry that's a little blurry. Camera didn't want to focus. The difference in exposed core length is about 1/2", with more exposed core on the current testing set. However, the crimp where the string was chucked into the winding machine is about the same distance from the end in each sample.

In the initial notes I said this: "The wrap wire is a tiny bit uneven. In directional light, I can see highlights, little sparkles, where the wrap wire is not completely smooth, and those areas are faintly tactile under the fingers." This photo shows that:


Again, the top one is the older sample, and the wrap looks much more even, whereas the current testing sample is less even, showing several bright highlights, which are tactile as well as visible.

I no longer doubt these are genuine Martin, but I think it's clear they came from two different production machines, or different production runs.

So: there are three possibilities. 1) Production variations can matter enough to make samples test differently. In that case, the test is of limited value where Martin is concerned, and any other manufacturer that allows this much variation. 2) The production variations here are not the cause of the variation in results; rather, it's due to the inherent subjectivity of this test, in which case the test is of limited value generally. 3) An unknown third factor is at work, perhaps environmental, like humidity. It's worth noting that I fixed a problem with my whole-house humidifiers after this test was underway, and the hygrometer inside the case reads higher as a result.

This is discouraging. I wanted this test to be more repeatable.

 

[dwasifar]

I've thought about this a while, and although I might be able to partly ascribe this outcome to variables like manufacturing and humidity, I've realized that this unexpected result does not invalidate the test; rather, it reinforces the value of testing blind.

Consider this. When I put the prior set of Martin SP on the guitar, I knew what they were, and I decided I liked them; but I already had a mostly positive opinion of Martin strings at that time. Whereas, playing them blind, I did not like them so much. I was worried that this revealed inconsistent judgement, but what made it inconsistent? Most likely the fact that I knew some biasing information with the first set, but not with the second. And that same bias is now creeping out again to influence me. I haven't taken Set D off yet (I will tomorrow), and as I play them now, my subconscious is making excuses to try to bring the results into alignment. "Oh, these aren't so bad after all," says my inner voice, now that I know what they are. Compare that to my experiences with Dunlop in a prior test and this current test. Testing that brand blind both times, my judgement was more consistent.

This experience seems to be revealing as much about the psychology of brand preference as it does about the strings themselves. It opens up some questions that are almost metaphysical. If a bias like knowing the brand name makes you like the product more, independent of the product's actual attributes, who's to say that the bias shouldn't be considered as one of the attributes? Or, in other words, even if you know a groundless bias makes you like a product better, does liking it better still make it a better choice for you? In light of these questions, it's not surprising that string manufacturers conceal their relationships. Wouldn't want to damage people's biases if they lead to brand loyalty and better sales.

Anyway. Final grades have already been posted on Set D. Set E goes on tomorrow with a renewed sense of purpose.

 

[dwasifar]

Well, String Set E is on the guitar now.

Measurements and observations:

• Actual gauge measurements: 1st .012, 2nd .016, 3rd .0245, 4th .032, 5th .0425, 6th .053.
• These strings are varying lengths, with varying amounts of core wire protruding:
  • 1st: 40"
  • 2nd: 40"
  • 3rd: 39-5/8" with 3/8" of core wire showing
  • 4th: 39-3/8" with 3/16" of core wire showing
  • 5th: 39-1/8" with 3/8" of core wire showing
  • 6th: 41" with 2" of core wire showing
• Deflection of the sample 6th string on the testing jig is 47mm.
• Ball ends are plain brass. Ball end windings are very long, to the point that the 6th string's windings almost reach the saddle. The 6th string has a looser loop at the ball end than the others. The windings are a bit bulky and the plain strings have little finger-poking points at the end of the windings.
• The wrapped strings look very good. No irregularities, no marks or spots or flat areas. Color is a little bit more gold than typical phosphor bronze.
• Plain strings are completely smooth end to end, no detectable faults.

Tone and playability:
This set seems determined to punish me for being too picky about the previous set (Martin SP). Right now they sound terrible. Super bright, harsh, hard-edged sound. The overtones are pronounced and dissonant. Stiff and a bit hard to fret. Tuning is iffy; they drift on and off pitch, but to be fair, a lot of new strings will do that. Right now about the only good thing I have to say about them is that volume is no problem; they are easily the loudest set I've tested so far.

Initial grades:

• Construction B (because of the ball end windings and the varying lengths)
• Volume A
• Playability C+
• Tone D

I have played and examined enough different strings to be almost 100% confident that these are the Black Diamond. They check all the boxes for that brand. If that's so, then the tone might improve somewhat as they break in, but it will take more than two days to happen.

This shows the variance in length. All the ball ends are even on the other end of the strings:



And here are the ball ends, fanned out to make the long windings and long loop on the 6th visible:


Camera did not want to focus.

 

[dwasifar]

String Set E doesn't really sound any better today. This might turn out to be another short-timer.

Can I get a show of hands of people who are still following this thread? Starting to feel like I've lost most of my audience. You can reply here or in PM.

 

[fronobulax]

String Set E doesn't really sound any better today. This might turn out to be another short-timer.

Can I get a show of hands of people who are still following this thread? Starting to feel like I've lost most of my audience. You can reply here or in PM.

I read or skim every post. It's what Mods do. But I don't have a strong personal interest in threads, here and elsewhere, about string choices for a 6 string acoustic. On a scale of 1-10 where most string threads are a 1 for me, this is a 1.1 because you are trying to define and adhere to a methodology. Take this with a shaker of salt since I was never in your target audience to begin with

 

[geoguy]

I'm following your reviews, and enjoying them.

 

[geoguy]

Also, I just looked at the forum list, & noticed that this thread has received at least 3,000 views!

So your readers may be persistent, but quiet.

 

[dwasifar]

On a scale of 1-10 where most string threads are a 1 for me, this is a 1.1 because you are trying to define and adhere to a methodology. Take this with a shaker of salt since I was never in your target audience to begin with

Fair enough. I'm grateful for the .1 at least.

 

[GGJaguar]

Still following.

 

[GSFV]

Also, I just looked at the forum list, & noticed that this thread has received at least 3,000 views!

So your readers may be persistent, but quiet.

Indeed! Persistent but quiet reader here. I think it’s cool. I’m also all for tossing a set once you’ve decided they’re not good for you. I don’t see that as anything other than self preservation.

 

[Rickenmaxer]

Likewise, still following and enjoying very much.

Over the past few years, I've been through at least a dozen different brands between my two 6-string acoustics (one maple and one mahogany) to find the "right ones" for each. Will I like the medium gauge more than light? Will one brand be more "bell-like" or more "piano-like" ? Will this one warm up the maple body or do I even want to warm up the maple body? There've definitely been ones I've come back to (DR Sunbeams) and types of strings to find out if the latest buzzwords, metals, and technologies: balanced tension, monel retro, aluminum bronze, nickel bronze, round-wound, ground wound, flat wound, round core, hex core, and on and on we go!

And, of course, by the next or third set, I've got only a vague recollection of the earlier ones, what I did or didn't like about them and how they felt to play, bend, and barre. So I'm truly enjoying the level of detailed record keeping and careful attention to the sonic and tactile variables. I'm sure to be enticed to try a few of these sets myself. Who knows? Maybe I'll find the right ones after all.

 

[dwasifar]

String Set E second day observations. Actually today is day 3, but I just didn't have time yesterday to write this up.

Tone and playability:
I have never experienced strings that changed so much over the first couple of days. They still are not outstanding, but they do sound a fair bit better than they did when they were first installed. The dissonant overtones are mostly gone, and the general tone is no longer so hard and bright. Chords sound like chords now, and not like I have a fuzz box. Flatpicking runs are acceptable. String to string balance is acceptable. And they're still loud.

That said, they could never be called sweet or warm, and they've developed a tiny bit of a thuddy, thunky character, almost like there's a bit of banjo to them. Bending and playability in general is still below what I'd want.

Second day grades:

• Construction B
• Volume A
• Playability C+
• Tone B-

I am still pretty sure these are Black Diamond, but I haven't checked yet.