#1
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Strings to tame Taylor brightness?
Hi. I picked up two Taylors this year and I really like them. They are the most playable acoustics I have ever owned.
I am looking for recommendations for strings that will tame a little of the brightness out of these guitars. I am currently using Martin Lifespan SP's 7200 13-56 and I like how long they last, but they are brighter than I would like and have a 'quack' that I am not enjoying. What would you recommend?
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Science doesn't care what you believe. Doerr/Taylor |
#2
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Try 80/20 instead of phospher, see if that helps.
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Taylor 2010 414ce, Carvin 1993 Bolt body/Warmoth neck and a pair of happy hands |
#3
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If you like coated strings, go with Elixir Polyweb. They have a more mellow sound. I put DiAddario Flat Tops on my Blueridge BR163 to mellow it out and I like them very much. They are also louder than the Elixirs for some reason. The ultimate mellowing strings are Silk and Steel. Martin makes some and GHS also. I am using the GHS on my 1889 Washburn and they sound great.
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Warren My website: http://draudio56.wix.com/warren-bendler "It's hard...calming the Beatle inside of me." Last edited by YamaYairi; 10-14-2014 at 08:37 AM. |
#4
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John Pearse Pure Nickel Mediums on our GS Sitka/Maple sound great.
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JoePa and Son Some wonderful guitars |
#5
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Quote:
Comparison of Martin Lifespan with D'Addario non-coated PBs If you want warmth over brightness stay away from Martin and John Pearse strings, look at D'Addario's.... I really like Elixir strings on Taylor guitars. Elixir's are what Taylor puts on their guitars at the factory. They have a good balance between warmth and brightness and since they are coated they last a long time.
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Wayne J-45 song of the day archive https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis..._Zmxz51NAwG1UJ My music https://soundcloud.com/waynedeats76 https://www.facebook.com/waynedeatsmusic My guitars Gibson, Martin, Blueridge, Alvarez, Takamine |
#6
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The Martin Monels do a pretty good job (they are nickel strings, also). I am currently using DR Rares on my bright guitar, and they are better than other PB strings at taming the brightness, but not as good as nickel strings. The trebles (b and e) are harder to deal with because they are wire. I found the bronzed wires from Martin SP's were the least bright and you can get them in bulk for JustStrings.com. I use lights and I found using plain .17 and .13 for the b and e strings helped. I am going to try J Pearse New Mediums (PB) next because of that.
Good luck in your search. |
#7
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Isn't it the other way around? My 814 came with the 80/20, but I switched to PB for a warmer tone, love it.
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Erik M. http://InnerPortalStudio.com Professional Mastering & Mixdowns - Luxembourg |
#8
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I don't think Taylors are too bright. Rather they are thin sounding and. Weak on the lower tones. With the clarity they possess it makes for an overemphasis on the high tones. I don't think strings alone can bring it into balance.
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Chris Larrivee's '07 L-09 (40th Commemorative); '09 00-03 S.E; '08 P-09 Eastman '07 AC 650-12 Jumbo (NAMM) Martin '11 D Mahogany (FSC) Golden Era type Voyage-Air '10 VAOM-06 -the nylon string- Goya (Levin) '58 G-30 Yamaha '72 G-170A (Japanese solid top) Garcia '67 Model 3 -dulcimer- '11 McSpadden |
#9
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You might want to try the PB Elixir Nanos. A lot of people seem to like them on their Taylors.
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#10
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To me ears, a lot of that brightness comes from overtones of the lower strings as much as the higher strings. Try D'Addario Flattops or GHS Vintage Bronze.
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#11
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I had the same problem with my Taylor 814 ce 2010 short scale a few years ago. The treble E just did not go with the rest of the marvelous tone to my ears. I tried every kind of string and nothing tamed it.Changing strings that often in search of tone did make me a great string changer of slotted headstock guitars! The cure for me was trading-in my guitar for a Taylor GC6.The maple back and sides tamed the treble tone for me. The problem was fixed! The tone was in balance for me across the strings. The other guitar that worked for me was a GS5, however it was not available at the store when I traded for my GC6. I have not had this problem with other brands that I own. You might try drop tuning 1/2 step and see if this helps you. Good luck!
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Bob Millner 2012 Taylor GC-6 2015 Collings 000-2H 12 Fret 2011 Martin OM 15 Custom-Shadeburst 2013 Eastman E10P 2011 Kenny Hill Nylon Crossover |
#12
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I think this thread really does show that there's no substitute for experimenting. We have conflicting opinions about whether 80/20s are brighter than phosphors, and now someone has suggested that maple will tame the trebles, when this tonewood is traditionally thought to accentuate them. Various strings will sound different on a range of guitars, and tonewoods will vary in their response to them.
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#13
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80/20 vs PB: I've seen so many conflicting opinions about which is brighter. My own experience is that 80/20's made a spruce/rosewood parlor guitar have much clearer basses.
I use EXP16's on my European spruce/Mahogany Taylor 514e, and they sound very balanced, clear, and have a nice bass response compared to a 414ce with Elixir PB's. |
#14
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I second Monel's. Have them on a Maple backed guitar.
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I agree 100% with the next poster directly below me on this particular subject. |
#15
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They are not inexpensive, but Thomastic Infields are not bright at all. Have a very warm, rich sound. FWIW.
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Santa Cruz D12-12 string, Ger. Maple/Ger. Spruce Froggy Bottom SJ12 Custom Spalted Maple/ Adirondack Petros GC Cocobolo/ German Spruce Emerald X-20 Custom SS Life's been good to me so far.... |