String Suggestions...

I have been playing my Martin OM-1 quite a lot lately. I really like this little guitar. It fits me. Anyway, I noticed that it doesn't quite have the bass response of my dreadnought (duh). The mids and treble are the predominant sound. I had a set of Martin PB mediums, and a set of Martin PB lights, so I put them together and made a set of light-mediums (Medium E-A-D, Light G-B-E). This sounds pretty good actually.

I was just wondering if anyone could recommend some strings that would give me a more of a balanced sound (a little more bass to go with the mids and treble). Thanks!

OK, maybe I'm just excited as I am really digging the John Pearse phosphor bronze mediums that I have just put on my Martin D-1 (see my thread) , but do yourself a favor- try a set of Pearse PB lights on your guitar- just to see if they give you what you want- I am getting just great tone with these and the bass response is warm w/o being muffled or muddy - just right! And these strings are comfy players- easy to bend, low on string noise...

I'd love to know if you get similar results to what I'm hearing!

I'm assuming the strings you just put on are new? If so, I think if you just play it for a couple of days you'll find that you're getting the bass you need. My experience with Martin PB strings says they're ALL a little bright for the first couple of days.

I use Martin PB lights (MSP4100) all the time, but they're too bright for me for the first couple of days. After that.....I love 'em!

I'm assuming the strings you just put on are new? If so, I think if you just play it for a couple of days you'll find that you're getting the bass you need.

No, they've been on for a while. The guitar sounds fine through and amp, I just dial up the base a tad. I'm looking for strings that will give me the best acoustic tone. I'll probably just have to try some and see.

I was a John Pearce guy for years. Try the new Martin SP Lifespan SP (Martin/Cleartone) strings. I am amazed at the sound and the longevity of these strings. Nicer than Elixers by far!!!

Always put mediums on your acoustic - that is what they are made for. You guitar chokes for life with light strings!!!!

I was a John Pearce guy for years. Try the new Martin SP Lifespan SP (Martin/Cleartone) strings. I am amazed at the sound and the longevity of these strings. Nicer than Elixers by far!!!

Always put mediums on your acoustic - that is what they are made for. You guitar chokes for life with light strings!!!!

Question- I have never cared for Martin strings (though I play a Martin!) as I have always felt they were stiff/tight (even though gauged the same as any other med gauge string I have played) when it comes to string bending- are the Cleartones (assuming there is a PB type) any better in this respect? thanks

Always put mediums on your acoustic - that is what they are made for. You guitar chokes for life with light strings!!!!

Well, not ALL acoustics are braced to handle medium gauge strings. My Yamaha, for example, is spec'd for light gauge. My Martin DM, although spec'd for mediums, sings plenty loud enough with lights. And, since I also do a little string bending, that's what I use. I don't feel that there's a Martin guitar out there that really NEEDS medium gauge strings to sound good.

Both of my guitars are set-up with very low action, I use heavy picks, and I have a strong attack at times, and still no fret buzz. (or choking). I think I'll stay with light gauge strings.

^^ I agree about string gauge, it depends upon what the guitar can bear, the type of music played, and comfort level of the guitar player

I have 2 acoustics both Dreads, a Martin D-1 and a Washburn D-28 - I do like Mediums on the Martin and it just happens that maybe because of the setup/action I can play fingerstyle on the guitar, bend blues, or really slam it with bluegrass rhythm and aggressive leads...The Washburn even with its fat neck, scalloped bracing and actually a pretty damn good "Martin D-28" tone- sounds terrible (well not really terrible:wink:) IMO, with mediums, and comes to life with lights...go figure!

Strings are cheap enough to experiment with. I like D'addario Bluegrass guage, heavier on the bass strings, lighter on the higher ones.

Always put mediums on your acoustic - that is what they are made for. You guitar chokes for life with light strings!!!!


As others have rightly said - it depends on the bracing for each individual guitar model to determine what the heaviest permissible 6th string should be, especially for E standard tuning.

On some lightly braced guitars, there is a tradeoff of achieving a more ringing sound, due to having less bracing to dampen the soundboard, with the downside of it not being advisable to have the stronger low end that .56s give, since, at standard tuning tension, anyway, the larger 6th string will create more pull force than the board is designed to be stable for.

A lightly braced guitar can sound great, however, with a .56 on lower tension tunings such as open G, dropped D, DADGAD, etc.

I'm pretty sure Martin recommends Lights for the OM-1. I made it over to guitar center and picked up a set of DR med/lites, a set of Martin Marquis lites, and some GHS lights. I went with the DR's first. They actually sound pretty good. The highs aren't too overpowering, and there are some nice lows in there as well. These strings seem to produce a balanced sound, one that I could probably get used to. I'll have to wait to try the others, these are staying on for a while.

A friend of mine just bought the Martin OM-1 and he really likes the Martin SPs on it. I've been doing a string test on my Larivee D-03 since last July and, though there are some great strings out there, I'm beginning to think that the SPs are probably what I'm going to end up with for the very same reasons you mentioned in your first post. But I still have a few sets left before making that final decision

FWIW - the Cleartone [11's] were the best and the surprise set was Dunlop [12's]. They just didn't last very long. I like the Martin Flex-core strings but they mush out when you dig in. Dean Markley [Helix & Blue Steels] really didn't sound good at all. I have a set of D'Addario Flatops to try but I haven't been too impressed with their strings on my other guitars and am not sure what to expect.

I was a John Pearce guy for years. Try the new Martin SP Lifespan SP (Martin/Cleartone) strings. I am amazed at the sound and the longevity of these strings. Nicer than Elixers by far!!!

Always put mediums on your acoustic - that is what they are made for. You guitar chokes for life with light strings!!!!

I love the elixers... I put a new set on my BigBaby Taylor and it sounds like a new $$$$ gtr.! and I use 10s

I kind of like the Martin SPs on my OM. They come stock on newer Martins. PB's were always a little bright for me too - great on the right guitar, but not so much for my style of playing.

I can see how lighter gauge strings could be less effective on a heavy braced bigger acoustic, and certainly how they'd give you less volume.
12's are "light gauge" in the SPs, and they work nicely on the OM's I've played.

If I had a Martin OM-1, it would get a set of Dean Markley strings. I'm not biased about many things, but I definitely have a bias for Dean Markley strings. I've used them with total satisfaction for going on three decades now. Great tone, fantastic lifespan, and ultra reliability. I'm sure I will, someday, but from my first use of them until now, I have yet to break a Markley string in performance or playing of any kind.

T-C

If I had a Martin OM-1, it would get a set of Dean Markley strings. I'm not biased about many things, but I definitely have a bias for Dean Markley strings. I've used them with total satisfaction for going on three decades now. Great tone, fantastic lifespan, and ultra reliability. I'm sure I will, someday, but from my first use of them until now, I have yet to break a Markley string in performance or playing of any kind.

T-C

Do you use (or does Dean Markley make) a phosphor bronze? I only use PB strings, but I'd try out the DM's of they are good and last...

Do you use (or does Dean Markley make) a phosphor bronze? I only use PB strings, but I'd try out the DM's of they are good and last...

Dean Markley make phosphor bronze, bronze, and what they now call a "formula 82 R" which I believe is brass wound.

You can get them with the traditional winding.

The sets with the "Helix" winding come in bronze or phosphor bronze. The Helix winding "benefit" is more wraps per inch on the wound strings. This, in theory, gives them more mass than the same gauge of traditionally wound string. The result of that should be more volume, sustain, and "punch" to drive the top, for lack of a better way to express it.

If I wanted to accentuate the bass response of a small-bodied guitar, I'd be tempted to string it with the Helix PB's and give 'em a whirl. On a dreadnaught that already has a booming bass, I probably wouldn't be as happy with the tone of the Helix sets as I am with the traditionally wound ones.

YMMV, and all of that....

T-C

I find the gain I get in bending sucks tone for the thicker string - for me. I deserve to be schooled on that one. I humbly assume the position for paddling....

I understand the difference between light and medium and it is not that dramatic in general. I've seen some singer-songwriter types BLOW IT on guitar tone with these $1K+ beautiful guitars with SH%$TY strings... it is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Dean Markley make phosphor bronze, bronze, and what they now call a "formula 82 R" which I believe is brass wound.

You can get them with the traditional winding.

The sets with the "Helix" winding come in bronze or phosphor bronze. The Helix winding "benefit" is more wraps per inch on the wound strings. This, in theory, gives them more mass than the same gauge of traditionally wound string. The result of that should be more volume, sustain, and "punch" to drive the top, for lack of a better way to express it.

If I wanted to accentuate the bass response of a small-bodied guitar, I'd be tempted to string it with the Helix PB's and give 'em a whirl. On a dreadnaught that already has a booming bass, I probably wouldn't be as happy with the tone of the Helix sets as I am with the traditionally wound ones.

YMMV, and all of that....

T-C

Thanks!, I play an "aging" Martin D-1, and either me or this(particular) guitar are pretty picky about strings anymore, and we really have our faves (its just finding the right strings that hits on : tone I want to hear, longevity, feel, string noise, tension,intonation) , but I have never used a Dean Markley string- will try the regular wrap/PB the next time around.

To the OP, you'll get as many different suggestions about types and brands of strings as there are posts. As someone mentioned earlier, strings are relatively cheap and are great to experiment with. In the end, you may love a string that someone else just hates, or vice versa, gotta go with what you like, using some of the great suggestions that others post.

you can try different brands, but stick to the gauges recommended by the maker ... as others have stated above, they designed the guitar to handle a certain tension ... too little tension, and the tone suffers ... too much tension can literally pull the guitar apart ...

why would we put strings on a guitar recommended by the maker ? Players decide which strings THEY like and gauges...of course they will all recommend a heavier gauge, it's the nature of the beast...

The brightness is probably more related to the wood , construction and design of the guitar, than it is the strings...

Yes lighter strings give less " tonality and volume" , heavier strings give more volume and tonality but the tradeoff is playability to your style....which is what it is all about...

As many have said here..you really need to try probably 3 different gauges to understand the differences..2 or 3 gauges, the same brand....

I don't use the hi dollar strings, I have been very pleased with Ernie Ball Earthwood...11's..I sometimes put 10's on the guitars but I KNOW why....

My smaller body Taylor 312CE plays exceptional with the 10's but I can tell in a NY minute that I am missing some tonality and volume while the bigger body Breedlove can deal with 10's , the two offer totally different , and not to be compared , tones.... I have also used lower priced Martin strings with no issues, personally I change strings very often , 3 to 4 weeks...it keeps the guitars references exactly the same each time you pick it up....and yeah I buy them in set lots of 12..(Amazon etc) ...for the best pricing....

Well, its been a couple of weeks now. I have to say, I really like the DR strings. They stay in tune very well and they sound great. The OM-1 has a very balanced sound with these strings. There is definitely a little more bass to it with the DR's than with the Martin SP's.

Now, should I stock up on these, or try out the others that I bought? (Martin Marquis lights, and GHS pro bronze lights) I still have yet to try out Dean Markley strings as well. I should probably stick with what sounds good, but you never know until you try.

You should seriously try out a set of John Pearse Phosphor Bronze. I've tried almost everything and these really make me go WOW.

Look no further.
Elixers.
That is all.

^^^ Funny my two favorite strings are the ones just mentioned- John Pearse and Elixir (for me Nanoweb) phosphor bronze strings- both (IMO) have different, but great tones.

The Pearse strings have a warmer tone (still some brilliance on the high strings)- the low strings have this great mix of a mellower tone but incredible sustain and feel great on the fingers too. After a few gigs they 'deaden' abit tonally, but the sustain stays! very cool!

The Elixirs to me have a more percussive snap, but still a great mix of strong bass and brightness, and volume (w/o being metallic) aand these strings just hold a great tone forever(almost:wink:) A great all- purpose string.

^^^ Funny my two favorite strings are the ones just mentioned- John Pearse and Elixir (for me Nanoweb) phosphor bronze strings- both (IMO) have different, but great tones.

The Pearse strings have a warmer tone (still some brilliance on the high strings)- the low strings have this great mix of a mellower tone but incredible sustain and feel great on the fingers too. After a few gigs they 'deaden' abit tonally, but the sustain stays! very cool!

The Elixirs to me have a more pecussive snap, but still a great mix of strong bass and brightness, and volume (w/o being metallic) aand these strings just hold a great tone forever(almost:wink:) A great all- purpose string.

I can't agree more. I use Elixir strings on all my guitars because they sound very good and they last forever. However, if I started gigging again with my J45 I would put Pearse Phosphor Bronze strings on immediately. On that guitar they are a world of difference. I also have a mid 90's Taylor 710 that the Elixir's sound so good with that I would have no problems gigging with that setup.

I never have liked Martin strings. I suggest D'Addario or Elixr in the heaviest gauge your guitar is made to handle, (refer to owner's manual). Besides that, use the heaviest gauge pick you are comfortable with, and play HARD! Haha.