Martin Retro "Monel" strings?

[Django Johnson]

The music shop has these Martin Retro Monel strings on sale. They are a solid nickel/copper alloy wrapped around a tin hex core. People use them on their acoustic guitars but I wonder if they could also be used on an electric archtop with humbucking pickups. I mean will the string sound be picked up by the humbucker like any other nickel wrapped string? I am curious if anyone has tried them on their electrics? I know that the traditional bronze wrapped acoustic guitar strings don't work well with electric guitar pickups.

[andrew]

Yes, I use them on my archtops with floating pickups. They work just fine with traditional magnetic pickups. I think they make such an archtop work well as both an acoustic and an electric.

[Django Johnson]

Yes, I use them on my archtops with floating pickups. They work just fine with traditional magnetic pickups. I think they make such an archtop work well as both an acoustic and an electric.

Thanks for the reply! I may just try a set on my Samick L5-CES clone.

[sgosnell]

Those are great strings, both for acoustic and electric playing. Bronze strings work with magnetic pickups, it's just that the wound strings aren't quite as strong. The core is still steel. Pickups with adjustable polepieces can be adjusted to work well enough, but I'm not a fan of the sound of brass/bronze strings. Monel smooths the sound and sounds better to me.

[omphalopsychos]

They are weaker (less ferromagnetic) than pure nickel strings and stronger than many brass strings. I’ve found that many brands of brass strings are stronger than these monels (and sound way better). Not because of the 80/20 wrap because of larger inner core and possible different composition of that core.

[olejason]

I use them on my L-5 clone w/ a CC pickup. They work well and sound good when played acoustically. The plain strings tend to be a little louder, which is expected, but I haven't found it to be an issue in the context of a mix.

I found them to be a little rough when new, similar to Roto 66's if you've played those, but feel better once broken in.

[Wolfie175]

I’ve been happy using them with a Lollar Imperial, and actually prefer them to bronze on my acoustic archtop which has a Benedetto floater. Only ever tried the 13 gauge set though.

[Cunamara]

I have liked them on my 17" carvetop with a floater, which has included a CC style floater and a PAF at different times. That particular guitar doesn't do so well if there's a lot of bass frequencies coming out of the amp and is prone to feeding back in those circumstances. The Monel strings reduced that and it was very helpful. The tone was nice. With the CC pickup, it put me in mind of Charlie Christian (if only I had that musical ability).

They are my favorite string on my flattop.

[garybaldy]

I find them perfect on this Loar with added floater. I use 13s.

[Skip Ellis]

They're all I use on my 000-18 Martin

[58flame]

Retros are fantastic strings. On the subject of monel strings, I also like the roto-sound top tape monel flatwound. Both monel strings sound absolutely wonderful with the RC 1000 floater.

[Django Johnson]

Some interesting opinions. Thanks. I picked up a set of the Retros in .011-.052 to put on my acoustic dread style guitar. I'll be putting them on today or tomorrow. The old Martin 80/20 strings have been on it for going on 2 years now.

[Hammertone]

Retros are fantastic strings. On the subject of monel strings, I also like the roto-sound top tape monel flatwound. Both monel strings sound absolutely wonderful with the RC 1000 floater.

Last time I checked, Rotosound was using a steel wrap on their so-call "Monel" Top Tape strings. I have no idea why they do this. This has been previously discussed here.

[Skip Ellis]

Some interesting opinions. Thanks. I picked up a set of the Retros in .011-.052 to put on my acoustic dread style guitar. I'll be putting them on today or tomorrow. The old Martin 80/20 strings have been on it for going on 2 years now.

I've tried a bunch of things on my 2014 Martin 000-18 as well the late 90's D18V that it replaced, and the Retros and John Pearse are the only two I always keep on hand.

[58flame]

Last time I checked, Rotosound was using a steel wrap on their so-call "Monel" Top Tape strings. I have no idea why they do this. This has been previously discussed here.

Package says Monel. Website says monel. I'm not sure what you're talking about. But hey, I don't spend lot of time on here.

I'll defer to your obvious expertise and just keep playing them.

[Hammertone]

Package says Monel. Website says monel. I'm not sure what you're talking about. But hey, I don't spend lot of time on here. I'll defer to your obvious expertise and just keep playing them.

From a post I wrote in an old thread:
"...according to emails I received directly from Rotosound when their Top Tapes were being discussed on the forum a few years back (around here somewhere), the Top Tape guitar string wrap was switched to stainless steel from Monel, despite what they say on their packaging and website, which continue to say that it is Monel. Figure that one out!"

At the time, their emails claimed it was about their concern for folks with nickel allergies (plenty of nickel in Monel), yet they continued to make Monel-wrapped electric bass strings. They also claimed that they were using their inventory of old packaging and that they would stop labeling the steel-wrapped Top Tape guitar strings as Monel-wrapped strings once they needed new packaging. I don't think they have done that, but I think I figured it out - they just don't care if they knowingly mislead consumers regarding the composition of their Top Tape guitar strings. Hey, maybe they switched back to a Monel winding and are no longer lying to their customers.

[charleyrich99]

I use them on all my guitars. I use the 013 variant called LJ's Choice, with LJ referring to Laurence Juber. They sound warm and don't have the over bright sound of Phosphor Bronze.

[garybaldy]

I use them on all my guitars. I use the 013 variant called LJ's Choice, with LJ referring to Laurence Juber. They sound warm and don't have the over bright sound of Phosphor Bronze.

How do the slightly lighter gauge A, D and G strings than on a regular set of 13s change the tone and playing experience? Thanks

[charleyrich99]

How do the slightly lighter gauge A, D and G strings than on a regular set of 13s change the tone and playing experience? Thanks

I was first recommended these by the luthier who made my OM acoustic guitar. However, using them on my archtops I feel like I get the sound of 13's with the comfort of 12's. I don't hear any loss in sound. Try them and see.

[garybaldy]

I was first recommended these by the luthier who made my OM acoustic guitar. However, using them on my archtops I feel like I get the sound of 13's with the comfort of 12's. I don't hear any loss in sound. Try them and see.

Thanks. I use the regular 13s on a fully carved Loar and play early style jazz strumming quite hard. I like a reasonably low action and my concern is extra rattle with lighter strings. That's what I had with TIs.

[Woodstove]

Thanks for the thread everyone. just picked up a set of 12s for my Martin OOO-C. Looking forward to checking them out.