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I got 3 sets for the price of 2 so I'll see how the maple J200 likes them.
Let 'em settle, get past any initial brightness, and see what you think.
Put a set on my Dove earlier today (maple b/s, sitka spruce) and I love how they sound.
They're 80/20 but still have good bass, and the highs are not harsh
New today (via edits) Stringjoy Naturals (very nice strings but expensive), my favourite Galli LS again. I had low hopes for Adamas Composites (Adamas is an Ovation brand) which were dashed when they turned out to be rather nice!
Tried Martin Custom Lights. These are the familiar standard Martin phosphor bronze string but in 11 gauge. (I wanted .12s and bought them by mistake). I needed to put fresh strings on the upside-down Maton leftie ready to sell it and thought that was a good way to get rid of the unwanted 11s. But they actually work very well: they are fairly stiff as 11s go and very playable.
Finally, I have a better picture of the Rotosound Super Bronze contact core set, having replaced them with the Martins. The odd-ball Rotosounds doubtless have a useful niche somewhere but I can't think what it might be. The Martins are much better and I might ask an extra $100 now that the 225 sounds so nice.
Or you could go to Strings by Mail, another excellent dealer - https://www.stringsbymail.com/dr-strings-vta-12-veritas-phosphor-bronze-round-core-light-12-54-16212.html Typically, SBM are 50c or $1 (US) more than SAB, but they charge less for postage. Swings and roundabouts.
Both companies are similar in that they have huge ranges and fast, friendly service. I'd like to recommend Strings Direct in the UK, and they do have a great range and good service, but they are just too dear.
I've bought John Pearse from other sources and found them dead straight out of the packet. But I've ordered two sets from these guys and I'll update you later
But then, what's that "never" mean? A set of standard PB 12, a bluegrass set, and half a dozen of my regular JP brass light baritone strings for the Thunderhawk. Hardly a statistically valid random sample.
I suspect that's been the problem. Small town, not many guitarists, and strings gather dust on the shelves
I could look up where I've bought all mine, but even without looking I can tell you they were all from Strings by Mail, Strings and Beyond, or Strings Direct - all big dealers with plenty of turnover.
I don't think JPs are anything magical, BTW. There is nothing especially different about them, they are just very good ordinary strings. I'd say the same about, for example, Martin.
PS: I've been told that the common nickel alloy strings, ordered from brightest to darkest, are
1: Martin Monel
2: D'Addario Nickel Bronze
3: John Pierce Pure Nickel (darkest of all)
If so, that leaves SIT American Roots Monei to discover, and if I remember correctly Newtone also do a nickel alloy.
Over time, I'll try all five out on my Guild CO-2 (which absolutely loves nickel strings) but the damn things last practically forever so don't hold your breath!
Nickel strings I've never used...well tell a lie, I tried Monels if they count but didn't like 'em
Nickels (Martin Monels) on my cedar dreadnought were OK. Just OK. I won't fit them to it again.
Nickels on my Angel would be awful. On the rosewood Messiah, probably worse. And I doubt they'd suit the Blackwood WA May, though it just might work.
But nickels on the CO-2 ... wow! Instantly I knew that these were the right strings for this guitar. I can't see them on a Dove. They'd be silly on an SJ-200. But on a J-45, or maybe an L-00, they just might be the very thing.
Newtone Heritage 11's - my Spanish-heeled folk guitar needs low tension to stay out of trouble but at 115 lbs, these are just too floppy. Huge volume drop compared to the usual JP Silk & Steel 11's (129.8 lbs) and tone has really suffered. Will try their 12's (131 lbs) next before going back to the JP.
Excellent service ordering direct from Newtone though - website said 2 weeks wait but they arrived the next morning!
If you have a guitar with those woods, give a set a try
They're coated and you can feel it on the plain strings.
But bear in mind the guitar I used 'em on because other guitars, other woods, different results maybe
I was thinking of Dragonskin but said Rare
I can kill even coated in the same time as uncoated, so why spend more on the former?
That's why you'll mostly find me playing uncoated. I've learned that I get no lomgevity benefit from Elixir, say