Archtop acoustic strings

[jaymen]

When playing acoustically, I use the Martin Marquis 80/20s 12 gauge on my Gibson 1954 L-50. They give a very full sound that is rich in overtones and yet very tight as the notes have clear definition, even when playing chords. Downside is like all acoustic strings, the tone and volume falls off after the 1st week of playing. I tried coated strings, like Elixers, and they do retain their tone much longer but do not have the initial brightness and rich tone as the un-coated Martin strings. When the music shop is out of stock on the Martins, I have had very good luck using the Ernie Ball Earthwoods of the same material (80/20) and gauge .012. . They are actually much better than I expected and certainly a great value, I am hard pressed to hear any difference between them and the Martins. For you guys with ebony or rosewood tail pieces, the Marquis have silked ball ends that prevent damage to the wood tailpiece, a nice touch.

One thing I learned the hard way in evaluating string sounds on acoustic archtops is you have to have somebody else play the guitar and stand about 10 feet in front of them to hear the full sound being projected. It is a much fuller and rounder sound than what you hear while playing, try it and you will be amazed.

BTW, the Martin Retro Monel strings are definitely more mellow than their bronze wounds. They sound good for playing jazz as they have a smooth tonal response. I have not tried them on my archtops with pick-ups.

[L50EF15]

I use Chromes on my 1960 L50. Love the sound; balanced.

[RJVB]

I have had very good luck using the Ernie Ball Earthwoods of the same material (80/20) and gauge .012. . They are actually much better than I expected and certainly a great value

The Earthwood Silk & Steel are definitely among the best strings I've tried, comparable to TI Plectrums.

[Cunamara]

I use the Martin Monels on my 17 inch arch top for both acoustic and electric playing with good results. That guitar has a pretty strong bass response through an amp, and the Monel strings do cut down on that some which is helpful.

[RJVB]

BTW, the Martin Retro Monel strings are definitely more mellow than their bronze wounds.

Not exactly my experience.

I think I saw another post where brass-wounds were said to be less bright than (phosphor) bronze wounds. I definitely agree that the former do mellow out to an extent that the latter never do, but this is a bit at odds with the theory.

According to the only person I know of who does actual, scientific R&D on string (development; Aquila's Mimmo Perrufo) the sound of wound strings tends more towards the fundamental the harder the winding alloy is. Just like what happens when you use a tighter winding to make the string stiffer. I've listened with new ears to the difference of copper-wound and brass-wound (classical) strings after reading that, and it is indeed true that the former have overtones/harmonics you do not get with the latter. It also explains when I usually prefer the livelier sound of a brass low E over a PB one.
But I do agree there is something not fundamental at all in the sound of PB strings, for which I have yet to find an explanation.