Sigh...Thomastik JS112 strings back to rough finished G string

[Jabberwocky]

Sorry to digress from jzucker's dissatisfaction with the TI JS112. I guess Martin Nickel Wounds Strings with Titanium Core does not have the same sexy ring as MARTIN TITANIUM Core in bold. When these came out, Martin and acolytes were quick to seize on the Titanium part of the branding. We don't call Nickel Wound or Phosphor Bronze or 80/20 Bronze STEEL strings because they have steel cores. So, why are Nickel Wounds strings called Titanium strings because of their titanium cores?

Titanium core nickel wound strings last 2.7X longer than steel core nickel wound strings but cost 8X as much. And people gush over them. You cannot make these things up.

So, why aren't there Titanium core Phosphor Bronze strings yet for the impressionable acoustic guitar crowd? That's because the lustre of phosphor bronze wraps do not last longer than the titanium core. The lustre of phosphor bronze wears off faster than the longevity of the steel cores. Thus, no titanium core bronze strings. That is a longwinded way of saying that the titanium core contributes little if anything at all to the tone. Nickel wraps are however hardwearing and lasts longer than the steel core. So, let's use expensive titanium cores to make cheap nickel-wraps last longer. A Wagyu beef hamburger patty or a Wagyu beef meatloaf. Yes, it can be done but why?

OK, there is the softer feel of titanium core nickel-wrap strings thingy but at $40 per set, that is just being the princess and the pea.

Let's just called them Martin nickel-wraps with titanium cores. It is honest that way.

[Jabberwocky]

I once had a rough G-string. It gave me a rash and I was made by my then girlfriend to promise never to wear them again.

I'll show meself out...

[339 in june]

Has anyone tried the flatwounds made by Harley Benton? Only €8,90 a set here in Germany.

First time I hear about these.
For that price, I'll try them at my next order.

[Jabberwocky]

RJVB, I see what you did there at AGF. People read what they want to read. This is Martin's own blurb for their product:

Quote.

Attributes
Core Wire: Round Titanium
Wrap Wire: Nickel
Plain Strings: Cryogenically Treated Stainless Steel


The Core
The name says it all! Martin’s Titanium Core strings use true Titanium for the core wire of this new breed of strings. And you can only get them from Martin! The Titanium core wire is round, not hex, and Titanium is more flexible than steel, providing a very comfortable playing experience while remaining strong and durable.


The plain strings are also unique to this product, as they are cryogenically treated stainless steel. The cryogenic treatment protects the string and brings out more brilliance in the stainless steel, while the stainless steel itself provides enhanced flexibility and comfort.


The Wrap
Martin uses Nickel to wrap the Titanium strings. Nickel is naturally corrosion resistant and holds its tone for a very long time. The Nickel and Titanium work together to provide the ultimate corrosion-free string.

Unquote.

Nowhere does Martin ascribe any tonal value to the Titanium Core. Martin ascribes tonal value to the Nickel Wrap. Funny thing is, people like to fool themselves that they are playing titanium strings when the titanium is chosen for strength, durability, and being core wire has no tone as it is not directly struck. OK, I grant that it might damp the nickel-wraps in a different manner to steel cores but still these are nickel-wraps and nickel-wraps can be found for under $6 a pack. But be my guest if they feel that $40 is a good price to pay for the sake of 3 skinny inert titanium cores.

[sgosnell]

All the tone in nickel-wrapped titanium core strings comes from the nickel. Titanium is not ferro-magnetic. Bronze-wrapped strings would not make any sound through a magnetic pickup. The core, though, almost certainly is an alloy of some sort. Pure titanium does not make suitable wire. It does work well in jet engines, though.

[jzucker]

Got my GHS 900 flatwounds.
G string is worse than on the thomastics in terms of not being ground smooth.

I ended up putting a set of chromes on there. Ground perfectly smooth. Not my favorite strings but the best I can do atm...

[jzucker]

a lot of folks rave about the labella flats. I may try them next but at least on my barrington archtop, i like the chromes.

[RJVB]

Got my GHS 900 flatwounds.
G string is worse than on the thomastics in terms of not being ground smooth.

Reminds me that the string that showed the most binding in the Plectrum sets I've used to date was always the flat-wound G (the others are round-wounds in that set). I ended up replacing it (because of fatal fretwear) with an Earthwood silk&steel G of almost identical gauge, and actually preferred the slightly brighter sound.

It never made much sense to me anyway to increase the difference in tonal brightness between the wound strings and the plain trebles; even with flat-wound E, A & D you should get a smoother transition to the trebles with a G that's round-wound with the same alloy.