What might be the best strings for an all mahogany guitar?

Smellyfingers

I mean a reasonably high end instrument, similar to a Guild M20 or a Martin D15.

I ask, because the special tonal characteristics of all hog acoustics could mean that, despite their certain good points, they may be given to sounding less ‘colourful’ or even one dimensional compared with other combination wood guitars.

Therefore the particular choice of type and brand of strings may be especially important to all hogs.

Any opinions would be gratefully received.

Thanks!!

bertie

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder  

Tannin

Do you want your all-hog guitar to sound like a second-rate imitation of a conventional spruce-top instrument?  Then something bright, probably brass. Martin MA140 or D'Angellico Prohibition Bronze 85/15 or SIT Golden Bronze.

Or do you want tour guitar to sound like what it is - a different instrument with a different sound? D'Addario Nickel Bronze (might be a bit too dark), or Martin Retros.

Smellyfingers

bertie said:

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder  

agreed, but all hogs may be similar to Meryl Streep in some ways.

Mellish

Yep, what @bertie there said.

No-one can tell you. Just pick up as many brands as you can. Phosphor bronze, 80/20, hex and roundcore, and see which sound best to you.

 

Mellish

@Tannin ;; Martin MA140. Happy days with those on the HD-28 I had. Put them on this Martin OM-28 Re-imagined and meh.

bertie

Smellyfingers said:

bertie said:

tonal beauty is in the ear of the beholder  

agreed, but all hogs may be similar to Meryl Streep in some ways.

what one considers "dark and dull"  and recommend a bright zingy string to counter,  others might enjoy and go for a more neutral palleted string

personally I don't like all hog, all a bit "underwhelming"  and no dynamic response, bit like stringing up a dinner plate 

Kilgore

I like bog standard D'addario 80/20s.

To my ears they add a bit of zing to the trebles. I'm easily pleased though and not much of a string connoisseur.

Smellyfingers

Tannin said:

Do you want your all-hog guitar to sound like a second-rate imitation of a conventional spruce-top instrument?  Then something bright, probably brass. Martin MA140 or D'Angellico Prohibition Bronze 85/15 or SIT Golden Bronze.

Or do you want tour guitar to sound like what it is - a different instrument with a different sound? D'Addario Nickel Bronze (might be a bit too dark), or Martin Retros.

That’s a really good point. My instinct was to go with brighter sounding strings, but if I wanted a bright sound why did I purchase an all hog guitar in the first place?

Mellish

So what were you looking for that you thought an all hog would give you?

 

thomasross20

I use D'addario XT on everything. 
I also use one gauge lower than recommended (so 11s instead of 12s on OM) and find that it is not only easier to play but sounds noticeably better. NOTICEABLY !!

bertie

Smellyfingers said:

My instinct was to go with brighter sounding strings, but if I wanted a bright sound why did I purchase an all hog guitar in the first place?

same reason you're asking us about strings ?

Mellish

@thomasross20 ; try their XS.



 I tried XT and XS and (to MY ear) the XS had more zing. 





 

thomasross20

Say whaaaat - now you mention, I recall seeing those but shied away due to price. Another thing I'll have to checknout : )

Gandalph

Always worth trying a set of monel's on an all mahogany. 

thermionic

Gandalph said:

Always worth trying a set of monel's on an all mahogany. 

Yes.

Smellyfingers

Mellish said:

So what were you looking for that you thought an all hog would give you?

 

Thank you for asking - the thing is my favourite bit of pure guitar music is the intro to ‘Gimme Shelter’ which is obviously quite dark, so I thought it would suit all mahogany. Also there is something about the unembellished tonal purity of mahagony  which I thought would give my own little chord arrangements more definitive clarity.

But the question for any psychiatrists out there might well be - why was I so mental, as to trade in all my other guitars and max out on my credit card, for one used 3.5k all hog special? Given that wood’s obvious limitations.

And could any please recommend what the very best strings might be for it, please?

mgaw

GTS from LA talk to them

Mellish

@Smellyfingers ; the reason I asked is that your answer may give us more idea of the sound you're after.

So the darker the better? 

 

Tannin

One tip: if you try the Martin Retros, do not take them off for at least 10 days no matter how they sound! Retros can and often do sound awful when you first fit them and they take a good while to settle down. Don't make a judgement until you have heard them at their best. 

I don't think we can nominate a "best" string for this guitar until we have some more data. In particular, I reckon you need to try one set each of the main string families - phosphor bronze, brass, and nickel alloy. There is lots of variation within each of these three too - for example the D'Addario Nickels are quite different to the Martin Retros - but first things first.

Mellish

If after dark, you can rule out D'Addario EJ16, XT, XS, DR Sunbeams, Elixir, 80/20 brass.....

I'd say Monels are your best bet.