Strings to tame Taylor brightness?

[FrankB2]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

When did they change? Mine's a 2011, bought in 2012...definitely still had 80/20's on it when I bought it.

Interesting...learn something new every day.

Couple of years ago, so your guitar might have been one of the last to ship out with 80/20's.

[SOR]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Mythology!

80/20's will be brighter for the first few hours of play...but they'll relax much quicker than PB and settle in much darker.

Taylors come with 80/20's. So people fall in love, put on new strings (usually their favorite PB) and wonder how things got so bright

Although I haven't used either type for a long time, I agree with your assessment that you get a darker tone from 80/20's than PB after they settle in.

[inadu ridge]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Mythology!

80/20's will be brighter for the first few hours of play...but they'll relax much quicker than PB and settle in much darker

I tend to agree with this. 80/20s start out brighter than PB but lose their zing faster than PB.
On really bright sounding guitars, I like well played-in 80/20s.

[JamesStA]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

You're reading this thread, right?

Weird. I did a search for the word "retro" in this thread before I asked and nothing came back.

[s2y]

Originally Posted by Oldguy64

It dawns on me that I rarely see a x10 Taylor.
I know they are out there. But I'd wager that the x14 is the most popular of the full size guitars coming out of the Tsylor factory.

And those guitars have a certain voice. They were designed to complement Kathy Mattea's voice. Thankfully, she sings alto vs Soprano.

Haven't actually played a x10. I think the 618e was the first that wasn't a x12ce or x14ce at my shop. The Road Show had an assortment of custom stuff, but I didn't make note of all the bodies and the environment was a little too poor/noisy for good comparisons. I also rarely see them without cutaways.

I don't sing, so the large 618 sound is fine by me.

Originally Posted by JamesStA

Weird. I did a search for the word "retro" in this thread before I asked and nothing came back.

No worries. I put Retros on my Gibson to darken it up a bit -- worked like a charm (although I'm still a big fan of the Pyramid Western Folks).

The bigger epiphany, however, came when I put a set on my Martin 000-15M. Something about the mahogany top and monels is just magic. That guitar went from being my least-played to second-in-command overnight

[JamesStA]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

The bigger epiphany, however, came when I put a set on my Martin 000-15M. Something about the mahogany top and monels is just magic.

I've been considering that guitar. I'll have to keep those strings in mind if I get it.

[Kip Carter]

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

The bigger epiphany, however, came when I put a set on my Martin 000-15M. Something about the mahogany top and monels is just magic. That guitar went from being my least-played to second-in-command overnight

Hate when that happens... I love the sound of my 15 with the stock strings on it... now ya got me wondering if i'm missing something. eeeep! What's worse GAS or string envy???

[Play2PraiseHim]

Try DR Dragon Skins. They are my go to string for Taylors.

Originally Posted by JamesStA

I've been considering that guitar. I'll have to keep those strings in mind if I get it.

It's an awesome little guitar. Martin's 15-series gets a lot of love here on the forum, and I can certainly see why. You get very little bling with this model, but the tone is spectacular and habit-forming.

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

I love the sound of my 15 with the stock strings on it... now ya got me wondering if i'm missing something. eeeep!

Well, you can find out for about ten bucks! I liked the stock strings too, and I went through a few sets of EJ16s that sounded fine on it. But now that I've tried the Retros, this guitar will probably never see another string. I divide my playing time pretty evenly between my four guitars, but I find myself craving the mahogany/monel tone more every day.

[TaylorJoe]

I've switched to Elixir HD's on my 514ce, Taylor are recommending them for GA shapes, and I think they are very nice, my cedar/mahoagany is definitely a little louder and everyone I know who use Elixir strings on a range of guitars, Maton, Cole Clark, Taylors and Martins seems to agree they last an age and don't take long to settle in.

[rogthefrog]

FWIW I prefer John Pearse 80/20 over the other kind for my 810 because I find them less zingy. Elixirs don't strike me as a good choice to tame a bright guitar at all; quite the opposite. I've disliked every new Taylor I've played since they switched to Elixirs at the factory because they sound bright and thin to me. In fact, I love my 810, but between the bright factory strings and chunky new necks I don't even try out new Taylors anymore.

[fuman]

Originally Posted by Transylvania

They are not inexpensive, but Thomastic Infields are not bright at all. Have a very warm, rich sound. FWIW.

+1 on these. I just put a set on my Taylor and really like the feel and sound. I had Elixirs on before and liked the PB nonowebs very much also. Martin Lifespan/Cleartones and any 80/20s are way too bright for me.

[Guitarsan]

Originally Posted by GSMC Bob

I've become very attached to the sound of my short scale Taylor 814c (CV braced) with Curt Mangan Fusion Matched phosphor bronze coated strings in medium-light gauge (12-54). Adds a bit more low end thump and are much warmer than Elixir PB's. However, they last only about half as long, tonewise, as Elixirs. If you look around on eBay, you can find them for six sets delivered at around $7 per set ($39.99 + $2.99 shipping).

Ohhhh! You almost had it.

I wanted a bit more balance for my Taylor GA shape and Elixir ALSO actually sells a light-medium set in PB.

http://www.elixirstrings.com/guitar-...r-strings.html

Boost the low end - did it for me.

[beachbum205]

Get some Martin SP Phosphor Bronze strings, and put them on a D-28. Done!

But seriously, if I didn't like the modern bright, clear sparkle of the Taylor sound, I would never buy a Taylor and then try to "tame" it. There are plenty of other great guitars out there with playability that is just as good, but without the Taylor brightness.