Loar LH-650

[chasranney]

To clarify, I shone the light under the floating pickup - parallel with and toward the neck. This allowed me to see the width of the piece of wood to which the pickup is attached.

I was referring to this:


I can't really imagine how you could see they run the entire width other than that the light could pass between the extension and neck. Could be just along a very shallow groove where the 2 pieces don't align perfectly of course.

I do not get the impression that the entire neck extension is floating on these guitars, btw, the part holding the pickup might but the rest seems to sit really flush to the top.

[garybaldy]

i think it'd be interesting to hear a Loar vs. a 1930's L5. That's an actual comparison.

And all these years later I still haven't seen/ heard a direct comparison!!
It's a Loar 700 vs L5 that interests me in paticular.

[2bornot2bop]

An update to this thread. I was lucky to find a brand new Loar LH650. How this guitar was never sold from over 12 years ago when the company stopped making them is beyond my understanding.

But I’m grateful to have it. I finally decided to attempt to do a setup on it. I’ve adjusted the action on the guitar to my liking, and now the action is low, even with 0.14 Bebop Rounds. The neck doesn’t possess the dreaded issue of so many of these guitars. It’s absolutely perfect.

For a $1k investment, I’m as happy as a kid in a candy store.

[garybaldy]

An update to this thread. I was lucky to find a brand new Loar LH650. How this guitar was never sold from over 12 years ago when the company stopped making them is beyond my understanding.

But I’m grateful to have it. I finally decided to attempt to do a setup on it. I’ve adjusted the action on the guitar to my liking, and now the action is low, even with 0.14 Bebop Rounds. The neck doesn’t possess the dreaded issue of so many of these guitars. It’s absolutely perfect.

For a $1k investment, I’m as happy as a kid in a candy store.

Lovely guitar. You could try Martin Monels but they only go up to 13s. Nice strings nonetheless.

[2bornot2bop]

Lovely guitar. You could try Martin Monels but they only go up to 13s. Nice strings nonetheless.

Are those Bronze strings?

[garybaldy]

Are those Bronze strings?

No but they are supposedly a good compromise to use on a 'proper' acoustic archtop with a pickup. I think monel is the material used. Jonathan Stout has mentioned them as a good choice in his blogs.

[2bornot2bop]

No but they are supposedly a good compromise to use on a 'proper' acoustic archtop with a pickup. I think monel is the material used. Jonathan Stout has mentioned them as a good choice in his blogs.

Thx Gary, I’ll check into them immediately!

[RJVB]

I think monel is the material used.

Well, yes, Martin Monels are actually called Retros but Monel is indeed what they're wrapped with.

If retro-suitability is a real issue there are better choices that use a round core wire. They're an acquired taste; on my own LH650 I found they made the bass response nearly (inexistent after the initial attack) to the listener/microphone (while as a player I thought it was there).

[garybaldy]

Well, yes, Martin Monels are actually called Retros but Monel is indeed what they're wrapped with.

If retro-suitability is a real issue there are better choices that use a round core wire. They're an acquired taste; on my own LH650 I found they made the bass response nearly (inexistent after the initial attack) to the listener/microphone (while as a player I thought it was there).

They are so much better on my Loar 700 than the TI rounds that were on it when I got it. Of course there's scope for experimentation and possible improvement. What specifically of the round core options would you suggest at my next string change? I'd like to stick to the same string tensions achieved by the Monel 13s. ps I don't want the issues with string balance that can occur with some strings when going from acoustic to electric.

[RJVB]

I heard only good things about the Curt Mangan monel strings and to the best of my knowledge those are round-cores.

Personally I use brass-wounds for the lowest 2 strings and PB-wounds for the D and G, but I only play acoustic.

[garybaldy]

Personally I use brass-wounds for the lowest 2 strings and PB-wounds for the D and G, but I only play acoustic.

There's the rub if you also use the guitar plugged in.

[garybaldy]

I heard only good things about the Curt Mangan monel strings and to the best of my knowledge those are round-cores.

So being monel as well it's round vs hex. I've never heard of Curt Mangan so I'll check him out. Sounds expensive and not available in the UK. Just guessing though! Thanks for the recommendation. Edit. I see they are available in UK! Slightly more expensive here than the martins but I'll give them a try. Cheers.

[RJVB]

There's the rub if you also use the guitar plugged in.

Only to a tuner ^^

Sounds expensive and not available in the UK.

Well, if you're in the UK (I didn't realise that!) you can also check out Newtone strings of course!

[2bornot2bop]

I’ve been exclusively using Thomastik Infeld strings for over 10 years. But I’ve an open mind. I’m giving these Martin Monel Retros a try.

[garybaldy]

I’ve been exclusively using Thomastik Infeld strings for over 10 years. But I’ve an open mind. I’m giving these Martin Monel Retros a try.

I have the TIs on my L5CES. They're great for that. I treat that guitar as more of an electric.

[garybaldy]

Well, if you're in the UK (I didn't realise that!) you can also check out Newtone strings of course!

As quickly as I could I edited my post having found them in the UK. I followed that up with saying I'd try them at my next string change regardless of the higher price than the Martins.

[garybaldy]

Well, if you're in the UK (I didn't realise that!) you can also check out Newtone strings of course!

Checking out the Mangans round core monels, they are about twice the price of Martins monels.
The Newtone round core monels are just slightly more than the Martin's so I might give them a try first.
BTW I see Mangan do a hex monel as well. How do they compare to the others?

[RJVB]

BTW I see Mangan do a hex monel as well. How do they compare to the others?

If you're asking me, I really can't tell as I've never tried either. I'd guess that the usual differences between hex and round core wires apply; there must be comparison videos on YT.

I forgot to mention that Pyramid also make monel-wounds, and they must be round-cores. Both they and Newtone will do custom sets and strings if you fancy that, and don't even charge (much) for it.

[olejason]

I've had the Martin Monels on my L-5 copy for awhile now. To be honest I don't love the way they feel but I'd guess they're period correct in terms of feel and tension. They do sound good though, especially if you're running into a tube amp and have it loud enough to get a little hair on the tone.

I'm going to put TI flats on next string change just because I've never had them on this guitar.

[garybaldy]

I've had the Martin Monels on my L-5 copy for awhile now. To be honest I don't love the way they feel but I'd guess they're period correct in terms of feel and tension. They do sound good though, especially if you're running into a tube amp and have it loud enough to get a little hair on the tone.

I'm going to put TI flats on next string change just because I've never had them on this guitar.

What brand L5 copy is it?
I use MMs on a fully carved Loar which has a neck mount pickup

[2bornot2bop]

What brand L5 copy is it?
I use MMs on a fully carved Loar which has a neck mount pickup

Which Loar, an LH600?

[garybaldy]

Which Loar, an LH600?

My Loar is the LH700.
Which brand is your L5 copy to which you refer please?

[2bornot2bop]

My Loar is the LH700.Which brand is your L5 copy to which you refer please?

olejason has the L5 copy.

So, I installed the Martin Monel’s today. I’m using the 13 medium lights. Surprisingly there’s a bit more volume than I had with the TI Bebop 14’s.

I’m very used to the wind on the Bebop rounds, so the wind on the MM’s are so similar that it takes no effort getting used to them.

And they’re the 3rd of the price for the Bebop Rounds so there’s that!

It’s a great string for an acoustic archtop. Thanks for the recommendation!!!

[garybaldy]

olejason has the L5 copy.

So, I installed the Martin Monel’s today. I’m using the 13 medium lights. Surprisingly there’s a bit more volume than I had with the TI Bebop 14’s.

I’m very used to the wind on the Bebop rounds, so the wind on the MM’s are so similar that it takes no effort getting used to them.

And they’re the 3rd of the price for the Bebop Rounds so there’s that!

It’s a great string for an acoustic archtop. Thanks for the recommendation!!!

Sorry, I'm loosing it (or already lost it).
I'm probably going to try Newtone round cores next, but I'm really happy with the MM13s.

[olejason]

What brand L5 copy is it?
I use MMs on a fully carved Loar which has a neck mount pickup

It's a Stringphonic Lang w/ a CC