Bronze Strings That Work with a Magnetic Pickup?

[Paul in Colorado]

Dear Abby,

Are there any bronze strings that work with a magnetic pickup? I have two acoustic guitars that I use for slide and both have magnetic pickups. The balance is out of wack when I use bronze strings, but the unplugged tone is wonderful. I switched to electric strings and it's more balanced through the pickup, but loses that sweet acoustic tone. Is there any compromize out there or do I need to add a different pickup? Are there any soundhole pickups that work with bronze strings?

Signed: Frustrated in Colorado

 

[INFANT]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dr-strings-zebra-medium-acoustic-electric-guitar-strings

Never tried them myself but I remember hearing about them when I was looking at a Godin LGX.

 

[thinling]

I use DR Zebras, they are a combination of bronze and nickel windings, for both acoustic and soundhole pickup sound. I don't know any other like this. Haven't found them in stores, but buy them online.

 

[FMA]

Martin makes nickel-wound acoustic strings. The Tony Rice signature set is nickel wound. The regular ones are called Retro Series, I think. Should do the job.

 

[jonrpick]

I strung up my Danelectro U2 with acoustic strings years ago. I think they were some sort of "phosphor bronze". Probably the only time I've ever bought acoustic strings and they went on an electric!

I don't recall that the lipstick tube pickups cared one way or another, but it's been years...

 

[Paul in Colorado]

Mixed reviews on the DR Zebras. I might try a set.

 

[yDcwpdNlaz]

I thought all strings, even acoustics, had steel cores.

 

[John Thigpen]

You may want to try the Martin Tony Rice Monel strings. Apparently the alloy is nickel based.

(link removed)

 

[soulman969]

I've got a set of Thomastik-Infeld Plectrums on my Breedove that sound great with both the piezo and my sound hole pickup. Nice low tension feel too.

 

[Paul in Colorado]

I thought all strings, even acoustics, had steel cores.

Yes, they do, but the windings on the wound strings aren't magnetic so they sound muffled compared to the unwound strings.

 

[Wally]

Magnetic pickups demand magnetic alloy strings. The only 'remedy' for the problem that any type of bronze string presents with magnetic soundhole pickup is adjustability of the polepieces...if the pickup has them. Without that, one has to run a magnetic alloy string. GHS sells the 'White Bronze' strings...nothing bronze about them...they are the B-52 alloy that is normally used on 'electric' guitars with magnetic pickups.

boomhauer wrote: "I thought all strings, even acoustics, had steel cores."

The wound strings are generally farther away from the pickup...if the guitar is properly set up. Therefor, the small cores in the wound strings cannot induce as much current as do the plain strings....and the wound strings are not in balance with the plain strings...and therefore sound 'muffled'.

 

[Bongocaster]

Only ever used sound hole pickups in acoustics and have never had any problems with standard bronze acoustic strings.:neutral:

 

[Paul in Colorado]

Only ever used sound hole pickups in acoustics and have never had any problems with standard bronze acoustic strings.:neutral:

What kind of pickup do you use? What strings?

 

[nogin007]

I use a soundhole pickup, and it just sounds like regular. only louder. It's a Lace Bronze acoustic pickup, so it might be made for bronze strings.

 

[rokdog49]

GHS makes strings for your application

 

[Bongocaster]

What kind of pickup do you use? What strings?

LR Baggs M1 these days.

The one that saw the most use was an old Seymour Duncan. It was black, a humbucker, had a volume control on it. Not through the board. Ran it through a Yamaha G100 II with the parametric eq which definitely helped to dial things in. Sounded fine for an acoustic guitar in a full band setting. Strings, golly I can't remember but nothing out of the ordinary. Just your standard phosphor bronze.

With the M1, the last time I used it was with D'Addario phosphor bronze. I made some slight adjustments to the individual pole pieces for balance but it worked just fine.

 

[Jethro]

LR Baggs M1 these days.

The one that saw the most use was an old Seymour Duncan. It was black, a humbucker, had a volume control on it. Not through the board. Ran it through a Yamaha G100 II with the parametric eq which definitely helped to dial things in. Sounded fine for an acoustic guitar in a full band setting. Strings, golly I can't remember but nothing out of the ordinary. Just your standard phosphor bronze.

With the M1, the last time I used it was with D'Addario phosphor bronze. I made some slight adjustments to the individual pole pieces for balance but it worked just fine.

Agreed....I use a variety of Phos Bronze strings (John Pearse, Martin Lifespan, Daddario etc) with my M1 Baggs pickup. Sounds great all of the time....no issues at all