Pure Nickel Strings on Acoustic Guitar

**jorgemg1984** · 02-04-2015, 02:18 PM

Well just a small update - I just tried John Pearse 80/20 strings and it seems like I finally found acoustic strings I like. Maybe I'm crazy but there's a big difference between 80/20 and Phosphor Bronze!

**Hammertone** · 02-04-2015, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bryan T

I've tried nickel strings on acoustic guitars in the past and have not cared for them. I'm sure some players like them (Tony Rice is the only person I can think of), but I didn't care for the sound or feel.

Tony Rice moved over to Monel roundwounds, made by Martin. Monel is not nickel - it is a compound patented in 1906 that is "primarily composed of nickel (up to 67%) and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and silicon" (wiki). I spent a couple of hours with a D-18 string with .13-.56 Monel strings (the Martin Tony Rice set), and it sounded pretty good - worth checking out.

I use them on use on acoustic archtops with floating pickups.

**Phil in London** · 02-04-2015, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Tony Rice moved over to Monel roundwounds, made by Martin. Monel is not nickel - it is a compound patented in 1906 that is "primarily composed of nickel (up to 67%) and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon and silicon" (wiki). I spent a couple of hours with a D-18 string with .13-.56 Monel strings (the Martin Tony Rice set), and it sounded pretty good - worth checking out.

I use them on use on acoustic archtops with floating pickups.

HT, I am interested in this. If one would use the Monel strings say on a ES175 with one humbucker, would that make her sound 'more acoustic'? (maybe silly question, but I hope you know what I mean)...

**Hammertone** · 02-04-2015, 05:28 PM

My answer is …. maybe.
I find them more "acoustic" compared to solid nickel roundwounds on my acoustic archtops. Maybe it's the @1/3 copper content in the wrap. I haven't bothered trying them on any laminated archtops, but why not?

The Retro "Tony Rice Bluegrass" set is .13-56, the other Retro sets are .12-.54 and .11-52. Just try a set. Hey, maybe they'll suck!

They have far less sizzle and zing compared to bronze, 80/20 or brass-wrapped strings. I specifically use the Martin strings with acoustic archtops that have magnetic pickups. I have tried the DR zebras - cool idea but they feel funny to me. They sound OK.

**nopedals** · 02-04-2015, 05:56 PM

A minority view, I am sure, but I have tried just about all of them, and come back to TI flats for all of my guitars, including my acoustic archtop. Heck, for my bass, too. I just don't look for a lot of overtones when I play jazz; just want to hear all the notes. Even tone from note to note. More comfortable and no finger noise.

**Hammertone** · 02-04-2015, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by nopedals

A minority view, I am sure, but I have tried just about all of them, and come back to TI flats for all of my guitars, including my acoustic archtop. Heck, for my bass, too. I just don't look for a lot of overtones when I play jazz; just want to hear all the notes. Even tone from note to note. More comfortable and no finger noise.

Hey, I like the TI Swing nickel-wrap flatwounds as well as their BeBop nickel-wrap roundwounds as well.
Monel is an entirely different animal to me.

**Petimar** · 02-04-2015, 08:16 PM

No pickup ever used. My favorites are the Tony Rice Monels on my 64 Epiphone Texan

**s11141827** · 11-22-2022, 02:09 PM

I restrung my new Acoustic Guitar w/ John Pearse #2600 Jazz Light Gauge Nickel Wound Acoustic/Electric Guitar strings. The sound of these ones isn't a compromise cause it's a full bodied sound that falls in between a Flat top Guitar & a Gypsy Jazz Guitar: