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  #31  
Old 02-06-2016, 07:46 AM
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Toby Walker Toby Walker is offline
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Originally Posted by bluetweed View Post
Got to love the Chemex/ Coffee guy myself. I just got the 10 cup for Christmas and a Hario Skerton Ceramic Coffee Mill burr grinder. I have a great organic coffee suppler for the public and restaurants in my area (hudson valley) and NYC that has amazing blends.

Oh! the strings
D'Addario PB, they got creamed by the other 2
the D'Addario NB sound pretty darn good. The think the Martin Retro by a horse head.
The Martin Retro on my CEO-7 take about 2 weeks to sound there best and stay that way for ever. I would love to hear the
D'Addario NB after some time, but after hearing them I will be purchasing a set to try.
The only PB's I like after the Martin retro are the John Pearse 600L. I also have a set of PB by the new Scalar company to try.
We are in a age when we have some amazing string choices compared to many years ago.

btw Loved the tunes and playing
Thanks Bluetweed.

By the way - I have that Hario burr grinder but only use it when I'm on the road. I personally like this one for home use. The Rancilio Rocky Grinder.

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  #32  
Old 02-06-2016, 07:52 AM
frank4001 frank4001 is offline
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Toby thanks very much for doing this....

While I could easily listen to all three I'm thinking I did like the smoothness and the body of the Monels in this comparison.

Great playing also.
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  #33  
Old 02-06-2016, 07:53 AM
martingitdave martingitdave is offline
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Originally Posted by Toby Walker View Post
Hi Dave,

Someone once handed Dizzy Gillespie a brand new horn to try out. After playing a few bars the guy said to Dizzy 'she plays real easy, don't she?'
To which Dizzy replied 'none of them play easy.'

I've never found any one brand of string that plays any easier than any other brand.

Ah... and you were the first one to remark on the coffee.
Great response and very true!

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  #34  
Old 02-06-2016, 05:35 PM
westman westman is offline
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Originally Posted by Toby Walker View Post
That's an interesting point. I didn't really think about my right hand placement as I just played the way I usually play.

I do think that because my right hand never moved from that position, I was able to demonstrate the difference between the strings themselves,

Being primarily a blues musician, I never heard of the 'bluegrass zone.'
Toby,
I'm with you bout consistent playing between the sets of strings.

Just something I’m v / conscious bout in my own playing / picking for tonal variation.
I’ve noticed bluegrass r/h position hardly ever moves from where it’s anchored though the occasionally vary the position when playing rhythm accompaniment (strumming).
This may have something to do with the individual players physique = the length of their forearm in relationship to where they position their elbow joint on the lower bout. They’re pick invariably meets the string just south of the sound hole. Then again it could be the ’SOUND’ that the want to use which ‘puts’ their pick / arm there ???.

bluegrass tone zone from two greats, TR brings us nicely back on topic - Monel strings



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  #35  
Old 02-06-2016, 07:50 PM
Long Jon Long Jon is offline
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Toby, perhaps if you ever bothered to put in a little practice time and learned to play properly they'd all sound a lot better.


You know I'm kidding right ? Fantastic mastery as ever. *(There needs to be a "we're not worthy" emoji )


I thought the PBs sounded best, closely followed by the monels with the nickels bring up the rear.


.



*(Ok, found one) . . .
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  #36  
Old 02-07-2016, 05:56 AM
westman westman is offline
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gotta love that English - John Oliver type sense of humor.
Personally I think it’s the actual shape of the dread that encourages that playing style.
Toby, you pick real fine - wherever.
I vaguely remember the somewhat metallic clunk of Gibson Monel's when they were the best you could get for acoustic - that was a fifty years ago.
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  #37  
Old 02-07-2016, 07:46 AM
radiomanjh radiomanjh is offline
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thanks much Toby, really enjoyed your playing! I have tried the PB and NB. between those two I'd choose the PB but now looking forward to trying the Monel's.
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  #38  
Old 02-07-2016, 08:02 AM
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Basalt Beach Basalt Beach is offline
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Toby,

your playing is an inspiration, so thanks! I am a fan of EJ 16's and they along with the Retros were my preferred choices. Perhaps switching back and forth every so often when it is time to change strings.
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  #39  
Old 02-07-2016, 09:19 AM
riverrummed riverrummed is offline
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That was great. Thanks for taking the time to do the comparison. To me all the strings sounded really good and no one set stood head and shoulders above the rest, so given that, I still find D'Addario Phosphor Bronze to be the best bargain price-wise. I also re-affirmed that rosewood guitars aren't my cup of tea. AND, I learned about a new type of coffee grinder. Spendy, but interesting. Thanks again for the time spent.
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  #40  
Old 03-19-2016, 08:03 AM
JasonS JasonS is offline
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Can anyone tell me what Toby starts playing at 1:45?
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  #41  
Old 03-19-2016, 08:31 AM
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Can anyone tell me what Toby starts playing at 1:45?
If you're referring to the strings then this was listed in the opening post Jason.

0:00 - 2:30 - D'Addario PB - .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
2:31 - 5:14 - D'Addario NB - .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
5:15 - End - Martin Retro - .012, .015, .025, .031, .041, .054
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  #42  
Old 03-19-2016, 08:53 AM
JasonS JasonS is offline
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Sorry, I was inquiring about the song. It has really stuck in my head. Is it original?
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  #43  
Old 03-19-2016, 09:10 AM
sbpark sbpark is offline
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I think the real take away from this example is it really doesn't maker what strings are on your guitar when you can actually play like the OP! They all sound great. What I took away from this video is I need to practice more and worry less about string choice.

I like the D'Addario's, and can't tell enough of a difference/justify the increased price of the Nickel Bronze over the PB's, which are my go-to string. They are super affordable, available everywhere and sound great, and cost at least half of what the NB's cost. I like Martin Retros on certain guitars, like my 000-15M, but never liked how they sounded on my J45. TO my ear Monels just don't work well with Gibsons.

Last edited by sbpark; 03-19-2016 at 09:16 AM.
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  #44  
Old 03-19-2016, 09:31 AM
PieterK PieterK is offline
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Originally Posted by sbpark View Post
I think the real take away from this example is it really doesn't maker what strings are on your guitar when you can actually play like the OP! They all sound great. What I took away from this video is I need to practice more and worry less about string choice.
Yep.

Toby, would you mind naming the songs you played?

Particularly, as JasonS enquired, the one at 1:45?
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  #45  
Old 03-19-2016, 09:43 AM
jbpoolsfla jbpoolsfla is offline
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Thanks Toby
Great comparison video
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