Acoustic strings on archtop?

[Marty Grass]

What would phos-bronze strings sound like on a full sized archtop? I've never done that before and have used steel flatwounds for the most part.

How would the acoustic strings sound without amplification compared to an average flattop? How well will a humbucking pickup work with those strings?

Thanks.

[mr. beaumont]

Sounds great...best on a solid wood archtop with some size to it.

It will never sound like a flattop. It's not supposed to.

It's a comprimise though...they won't pick up the same through a pickup...problems range from just low output to imbalanced volume.

What guitar are you considering it on.

[kamlapati]

Nothing but acoustic strings, either PB or 85/15 on my archtops, but that's what they were designed for. Might be different on an L-5CES or 175 or some such.

So, Jeff's question: what kind of guitar?

[kris]

I tried and do not like...

[Marty Grass]

17" spruce top, maple sides and back, 3" depth, maple neck, ebony board.

[Marty Grass]

Originally Posted by kris

I tried and do not like...

What didn't you like?

What sounds best acoustically to you?

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

What didn't you like?

What sounds best acoustically to you?

I thought you sold that?? It sure sounded like a cannon when I played it with flat wounds on it. I'm sure it will sound fantastic with ANY round wounds on it . . . if you can tolerate the string squeak from them. That's a really pretty guitar man. The pictures do not tell the true story of just how pretty it is in person! I'm glad you still have it.

[mr. beaumont]

I dunno much about that pickup, but acoustically, that guitar would smoke with some bronze strings.

Maybe consider ghs "white bronze"?

[Marty Grass]

Originally Posted by Patrick2

I thought you sold that?? It sure sounded like a cannon when I played it with flat wounds on it. I'm sure it will sound fantastic with ANY round wounds on it . . . if you can tolerate the string squeak from them. That's a really pretty guitar man. The pictures do not tell the true story of just how pretty it is in person! I'm glad you still have it.

It's the same old story. I was going to sell it, then a trade emerged. That morphed into me buying another guitar and keeping the first one, too.

[Patrick2]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I dunno much about that pickup, but acoustically, that guitar would smoke with some bronze strings.

Maybe consider ghs "white bronze"?

Mr. B . . as you might expect, I've played MANY Heritage X braced arch tops. Marty Grass' was the first non-cut away I've ever played. It was amazing! And, while Heritage's arch tops in general are well known for their acoustical properties and projection, I really didn't expect what I heard.

[Marty Grass]

I ordered a set of GHS White Bronze 12-54s. These are noteworthy strings being made of alloy 52. I have been using GHS Brite Flats on it, which are made of the same substance.

The pickups do well with alloy 52 because it is completely ferromagnetic. It is roughly 50% nickel and 50% iron. I don't know why they call these strings White Bronze. Bronze is copper and tin!!!!

Anyway, the round wound 12-54 alloy 52 strings should amplify superbly. I'll report how they sound acoustically.

[mr. beaumont]

Report back, will ya? I've heard good things about the White Bronze strings but haven't tried them out yet...

I'm hoping you're in for a treat.

[hot ford coupe]

I used to use the GHS white bronze strings. They're designed for players who like to get the acoustic sound that bronze provides but still be able to use a pickup when you're not playing acoustically which the ferro magnetic character provide. That way you don't need one guitar for acoustic use and one for electric use. It's more of a descriptive thing like white lightning. There's no lightning in it but when you drink it, it makes you feel like you've been hit by lightning.

[Marty Grass]

Yeah, and the strings aren't white either. And really they aren't exactly strings even, more like cables.

Anyhoo, I'll report back.

[kamlapati]

I have GHS WHite Bronze on my L-5CN and they are still an acoustic compromise. I prefer the acoustic sound of Vintage Bronze (85/15), but the White Bronze have better balanced volume through the PU (no weak G string).