Bronze/Brass strings and the acoustic archtop

[RJVB]

Yes but if you take them out of the package they're not really half-rounds (aka semi-flats), they're true Phosphor Bronze Flatwounds. They have a brighter sound than normal Flatwound strings:

so they're great for recording.

The Magma Phosphor Bronze Flatwounds on the other hand are designed to sound more like Regular Strings but w/ the finger squeak.

Seems you misunderstood me.
1) You have to unwind a properly made half-round to see that it's that and not a flat-wound. Half-rounds and polished round-wounds are similar but not the same thing.
2) The whole point of half-rounds is that they sound more like regular (aka round-wound) strings but with minimalised finger noise.

Using lots of plastic packaging isn't exactly a selling argument these days!

[s11141827]

Seems you misunderstood me.
1) You have to unwind a properly made half-round to see that it's that and not a flat-wound. Half-rounds and polished round-wounds are similar but not the same thing.
2) The whole point of half-rounds is that they sound more like regular (aka round-wound) strings but with minimalised finger noise.

Using lots of plastic packaging isn't exactly a selling argument these days!

These Magma Phosphor Bronze Flatwound strings are actually True Flatwound strings, the wrap wire has been flattened before the wrapped it around the core. They're designed in a way to sound like Regular Roundwounds w/o any finger noise so they're great Recording strings.

[RJVB]

I hate to have to insist, but you are wrong:

Magma Acoustic Guitar Strings Light Gauge FLAT Phosphor Bronze Set, .0
– MAGMA STRINGS
Magma GA120PBF Flat Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings, Light 10-48

[s11141827]

These Magma Phosphor Bronze Flatwound Acoustic Strings are essentially Phosphor Bronze Versions of their Flatwound Stainless Steel Electric Strings

[RJVB]

Please read the description on the maker's website and then the one by a reputable vendor (SBM) before copying something from a generic vending platform (shopify).

I cannot and won't help you any further beyond that.

[s11141827]

I just got an update. Magma told me that they're True Flatwounds it's just that they're actually compound wound. There's the Flat Wrap Wire on the outside, but there's also a Round Wrap Wire on the inside beneath it to help keep the Flat Wrap Wire secure.

[s11141827]

BTW I use very light Gauge Strings (10s or thinner) on my Archtop Guitar because I've increased the break angle of the strings over the bridge by cranking that tailpiece down as low as it can go. Also I got really solid volume on my Jasmine S35 w/ Power Pins & Magma Phosphor Bronze Flatwound 10s by shaving down the back of the bridge to get a higher break angle.

[s11141827]

SPECIFICATIONS

• Phosphor bronze (or Stainless Steel for Electric Guitars) round wound, then polished and ground
• Soft and flattened playing surface
• Ideal for reduction of the unwanted finger noise
• Clear, deep and high volume sound
• Excellent intonation
• Ideal for live shows and recordings
• Long lasting
• Available in various gauges
• Anti-corrosive and recyclable packing

Hang on I figured it out. They're actually Super Ground Wound Strings that have the Outer wrap wire severely flattened to make them look & feel like true Flatwound strings. They're essentially a more refined version of the D'addario Flat Top Strings in which they completely Flatten the Wrap Wire to eliminate Finger Squeak. They're great strings.

[RJVB]

Which is what I have been saying since I saw the image, which clearly shows that the inner side of the winding is round.

[s11141827]

I just got another update from Magma Strings. They told me that their Phosphor Bronze Flats are an amazing fit for Acoustic Archtop Guitars (A good example that's still made today is this Eastman AR805) because you can get a nice slick Flatwound Jazz Feel without sacrificing the Brightness of Phosphor Bronze Roundwound Strings, so it should be the best of both worlds.I'm curious on what the Magma Phosphor Bronze Flat Strings would sound like on an Archtop Acoustic Guitar?

[s11141827]

The Magma Flat Strings (both Acoustic & Electric Guitar Versions) feel & play like True Flatwound Strings, but they're actually what I call "Super Ground wound Strings". They're a variation on the Ground wound string where the wrap wire has been flattened all the way to emulate the feel of a Flatwound string. But they do produce a Special Sound.

[s11141827]

We could also call them "Recording Strings" because they're great for recording.

[s11141827]

My name is Oscar Stern BTW. The Magma Phosphor Bronze Flatwounds are a good price & double as Recording strings.

[iim7V7IM7]

Rob, they are very fine strings, but in the United States, they are quite expensive relative to others. I suspect in the EU and UK they are more reasonably priced. I was just looking at Stringsbymail tonight and see:

$29.99 - Thomastik Infeld Spectrum Bronze
$13.29 - Dogal 80/20 Bronze
$12.99 - Philippe Bosset 80/20 Bronze
$9.63 - Curt Mangan 80/20 Bronze
$8.99 - Newtone Masterclass 80/20 Bronze
$7.99 - LaBella Golden Alloy 80/20 Bronze
$7.75 - John Pearse 80/20 Bronze
$7.69 - Galli Rainbow 80/20 Bronze
$7.49 - Martin Authentic Acoustic 80/20 Bronze
$7.39 - GHS Bright Bronze 80/20 Bronze
$6.99 - Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 Bronze
$6.75 - DR High Beam 80/20 Bronze
$5.99 - Dunlop 80/20 Bronze
$5.99 - Savarez Acoustic 80/20 Bronze
$5.79 - D’Addario 80/20 Bronze

For me, I prefer 80/20s to PB on a number of my guitars. There is less overtone content, clarity in the bass and a subdued midrange compared to PB strings. The B and the E strings or identical to those used on PB so the “bright” perception is due to the Wound strings being more fundamental and a bit scooped EQ wise. For me, they take a day or so to settle in and I get 2 weeks at the most before they begin to degrade. PB strings last a bit longer for me maybe 3-4 weeks before degrading. My favorite 80/20 strings are John Pearse 80/20s. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive per set. They just don’t sound great very long.

There are a number of extended life 80/20 strings that are worth trying. They may not sound quite as good, but honestly good enough. If you have a bunch of guitars, it does spread out the need to change them. Give them a try:

$19.99 - D’Addario XS 80/20 Bronze
$17.99 - Cleartone 80/20 Bronze
$15.99 - Elixir Nanoweb
$14.99 - D’Addario XT 80/20 Bronze
$14.99 - Ernie Ball Paradigm
$14.49 - Martin Authentic Lifespan 2.0

They range from $14.50 to $20 a set. They last between 6-8 weeks for Cleatone, D’Addario XT and Martin Lifespan 2.0. The D’Addario XS, Ernie Ball Paradigm and Elixir Nanoweb last up to 12 weeks for me. Most are > 2x the cost but I get 3-6x the use depending on the set so the value proposition is there. The Elixir and D’Addario XS are slick felling and the others are not.

Philippe Bosset strings for me. Best I’ve tried, and not expensive.

[RJVB]

$29.99 - Thomastik Infeld Spectrum Bronze
...
$6.99 - Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 Bronze
...
For me, I prefer 80/20s to PB on a number of my guitars.

The former are actually some kind of (phosphor?) bronze; the 80/20 (i.ie. brass) variant is called Plectrum.

The latter also exists as silk-and-steel and are almost as good as the Thomastik Plectrum to my ears. They're relatively expensive here but I've never had one wear through, contrary to the flat-wound G in the Plectrums.

[iim7V7IM7]

Right (thanks)…Plectrum are only $28.50 a set . I love TI BeBops (which are now $32.50 a set!), but I cannot see buying their acoustic strings at 4x John Pearse in the USA.

The former are actually some kind of (phosphor?) bronze; the 80/20 (i.ie. brass) variant is called Plectrum.

The latter also exists as silk-and-steel and are almost as good as the Thomastik Plectrum to my ears. They're relatively expensive here but I've never had one wear through, contrary to the flat-wound G in the Plectrums.

[RJVB]

TI strings are expensive enough in Europe that I too have been looking at alternatives. I've got some custom-made Pyramid strings with the same tensions as the hand-picked Spectrum (sic) strings. Sadly one of the traits that make the TI strings so nice is that they use a finer winding wire...

[iim7V7IM7]

Right, like on the BeBops which I like...

TI strings are expensive enough in Europe that I too have been looking at alternatives. I've got some custom-made Pyramid strings with the same tensions as the hand-picked Spectrum (sic) strings. Sadly one of the traits that make the TI strings so nice is that they use a finer winding wire...

[Woody Sound]

I may have posted about these before, but I like them. White bronze.

white bronze - Google Search

[s11141827]

The Magma Flatwound Phosphor Bronze Strings are more like "Super Ground Wounds" where they've completely Flattened the Windings to make them look & feel like Flatwounds.

[s11141827]

The Magma Flatwound Phosphor Bronze Strings are basically a more refined version of the D'addario Flattops where they go a step further & completely flatten the winding which eliminates the squeak. Maybe we should call them "super ground wounds" or recording strings.

[s11141827]

I may have posted about these before, but I like them. White bronze.

white bronze - Google Search

That's good but I like the Magma Flat Phosphor Bronze Strings (Super Ground Wounds as what they really should be called) a bit better because they make great Recording strings & they have a bit less tension than the Thomastik Flatwounds.