I’m lucky enough to own many electric guitars, but I’ve played one steel-string acoustic almost exclusively for many years — a small-bodied Lowden with a tone that a very famous manufacturer of acoustic pickups once described as “like a f%^$ing cannon!” Its sizzling-bright treble and modest low-end make it a great recording instrument. They are made of an alloy of 92% copper with 8% tin and some traces of phosphorus (around 0.2%). D'Addario Mandolin and Banjo Single Strings - D'Addario plain steel guitar strings are acclaimed worldwide for their superb, long-lasting tone. 5-string sets have plain steel strings with the fourth wound string either of nickel, phosphor bronze or stainless steel. Stainless Steel: Balanced tone and projection with smooth feel and corrosion resistance. Warranty Information. Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more. Nickel is a little harder than brass or bronze and therefore lasts a little longer under the attack of finger picks or flat picks. Currently, they are on a Martin D35(1970), a Gibson J-50(1965), and a recently purchased Regal resonator (year unknown). Thanks Roger. DJP0920. Much like the Martin Retro strings, D’Addario say that these let the true tone of your acoustic guitar shine through, rather than your natural tone being dominated by the sound of the strings themselves. YOu discuss the material but you don’t reference the gauge. Email Newsletter. Hence, these strings are more corrosion resistant compared to the 80/20 bronze strings and seem to last longer. For the past 15 years I have used D'Addario EJ-16 light gauge Phosphor Bronze on my J-45 Standard. GHS Banjo Strings are among the most played in the world. D'Addario Banjo Strings. Phosphor strings are the most popular ever since D’Addario first released them in 1974. Or did you “go retro” at some point? With stainless steel or phosphor bronze winding, GHS banjo strings will accommodate all playing styles. D'Addario EJ69 5-String Banjo Strings, Phosphor Bronze Wound, Loop End, 9-20 Light Made in the USA £5.29 £4.41 RRP £6.20 £5.17 | Save: £0.91 £0.76 Like Talos the Giant from Jason & the Argonauts, most modern acoustic strings are made from bronze. This is the rebroadcast of the 7th episode of our series Deering Tech Live. Strings can be made of different materials such as nickel plated steel, stainless steel, nylon, phosphor bronze (used only as the winding on wound strings). Description. D'Addario Mandolin and Banjo Strings are trusted by legends like David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, Mike Marshall, Adam Steffey, and more, for their natural acoustic tone and reliable performance. Clareen Banjos strings are made exclusively for us in Germany. This name does have industrial meaning because it denotes the alloy, temper, hardness, resilience, and tensile strength of the wire, as compared to electrical wire, copper wire, etc. Compared to the coated strings, they have a softer, less “metallic” feel on the fingers. Being an old-timer who is very much set in his ways, I use Regular Slinkys on my electrics, because they still sound good to me. The same is true for wound strings. (Some people actually collect things like oddball strings). DJP0920. String makers use wire from different manufacturers. Having said all of this, let’s dispel a few myths: Banjo strings are all made by the same company. The Highlander goes into an AER Compact 60, the De Armond into a Fender Blues Junior. Having spent a little over 45 years in music performance, teaching, retailing, and manufacturing, I’ve heard almost every kind of prejudice, rationalization, excuse, and opinion out there. Some lights have .014 third strings etc. "I genuinely love the Nickel Bronze strings! • John Pearse Mandolin Phosphor Bronze Medium, 011 - 040 • Deering Banjo Tenor Strings,010 -030, St-T • Elixir Banjo Medium Polyweb Coating • D'Addario Tenor Guitar 80/20 Bronze,010 -032, Ej66 • Thomastik-Infeld Mandolin Strings • Elixir Acoustic Guitar 80/20 Bronze Light Tops/Medium Bottom • Deering Banjo Julia Belle Banjo Strings They have a glistening, “modern” sound that I don’t especially love on this old, well-loved guitar. Needed by some players who play very hard and who need to be heard without amplification. It seems to amplify string noise, flubbed notes, and all other playing imperfections. I wanna hear the comparison… where are they? Both terms are referring to the wrap wire of the wound strings in the set. My original designs were two gauges...light & heavy - 15/56 and 16/59) Both types of strings are popular with players and both sound great. (It wasn’t a conscious decision to noodle around a lot more on the nickel performance — the strings made me do it!) Trust your ears and buy the brand that gives you the tone color you like. A complete range of mandolin-family strings is available, as well as various string lines for dulcimer, ukulele, tenor guitar, country fiddle, cuatro, oud, and bouzouki. Brass wound strings are bright with warmth. Description. Loops are a special shape to fit a variety of tailpieces. Couldn’t be happier. Deering Tech Live Episode 8 - Long Neck Banjos with Greg Deering, Deering Tech Live Episode 7 - Smile Bridge, Deering Tech Live Episode 6 - Banjo Bridges and More, Deering Tech Live Episode 5 - Banjo Head Talk, Ukulele Sizes – Soprano, Concert, Tenor & Baritone, Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 17 - Forward Roll and Playing Melody, Chord Building 5-String Banjo Lesson With Hank Smith, Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 16 - Basic Backup Rhythm, Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 15 - Scales, Arpeggios, and Tetrachords. Choose nickel for a traditional sound, phosphor bronze for warmer tone and stainless steel for more brightness and projection. So I ordered some alternatives and made a few test recordings to demonstrate how dramatic the differences are. Typical medium gauges are something like .011, .012, .015, .023, .011. Some “brands” of strings are made by string manufacturers and sold under names that have nothing to do with actually manufacturing. Use Code: DEAL15 - FREE U.S. You’ll get warmer tones from these strings with more bass and midrange response. They are single strands of wire of varying diameters and are smooth to the touch. As with all D’Addario strings, these banjo sets are made at their facility in New York. For added value GHS provides extra large loops for easy instalation and a 42" winding to fit nearly all banjos. Some say that the nickel are more vintage sounding, but my personal choice is always phosphor bronze as … They are bright, to be sure, but I can’t see ever switching back to phosphor-bronze. At the base of it all, it comes down to personal preference. So which do I like better? Currently, they are on a Martin D35 (1970), a Gibson J-50 (1965), and a recently purchased Regal resonator (year unknown). String gauge refers to the diameter of the strings. The most important quality of a string is consistent diameter over the length of the string. Each string brand is a recipe of alloys, diameters and winding techniques. Phosphor Bronze strings tend to have a warmer rich tone and are often recommend to be paired with a brighter sounding guitar, such as Taylor, Ibanez, Takamine and Alvarez. Learn how your comment data is processed. At Musician’s Friend you’ll find a wide selection of strings designed for 4-string Irish tenor and plectrum banjos as well as the 6-string models so p… https://tonefiend.com/acoustic/acoustic-strings-bronze-vs-nickel The only way to determine what the “best” tone is, is to try different brands of strings. For added value GHS provides extra large loops for easy installation and a 42" winding to fit nearly all banjos. I used Phosphor Bronze strings on my 6 string acoustic guitar for years and liked the sound. “This is a ‘tough love’ guitar,” muttered one singer/songwriter friend. Not many string makers actually manufacturer their own wire. Plain strings are music wire with a loop on one end to secure the string. https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/what-makes-a-good-banjo-string Likewise, some brands are actually made by companies that have string winding and wire making machines. Media Media. They feel sleek to the fingers, and they impart a great feeling of mass. We’ll specifically discuss everything about bronze strings, particularly, phosphor bronze vs. 80/20 bronze. • John Pearse Mandolin Phosphor Bronze Medium, 011 - 040 • Deering Banjo Tenor Strings,010 -030, St-T • Elixir Banjo Medium Polyweb Coating • D'Addario Tenor Guitar 80/20 Bronze,010 -032, Ej66 • Thomastik-Infeld Mandolin Strings • Elixir Acoustic Guitar 80/20 Bronze Light Tops/Medium Bottom • Deering Banjo Julia Belle Banjo Strings For example: Jens Kruger plays on string sets that would be considered in the medium category. Like him, they can be cruel and inflexible. I’m going to keep experimenting with various alternatives, and I’ll keep you posted. Being an old-timer, I use Regular Slinkys on my electrics, because they still sound good to me. They are bright, to be sure, but I can’t see ever switching back to phosphor-bronze. You should be aware that there are far more string brands than there are string manufacturers. In this week's episode,  something a little different. Phosphor Bronze vs 80/20 Bronze. They seem to over power the sound spectrum and make everything seem all mixed up. The day I bought it, I restrung it with treble strings to record my recent Nashville high-strung demo, then popped on a set of the phosphor-bronze strings I’ve been using for years on the Lowden. Thanks Nickel wound fourth strings are probably the most commonly used by five string banjoists. Five string banjo sets, usually have four plain steel string and one wound string. String choice is just that….. Plain strings are music wire with a loop on one end to secure the string. String gauges, like brands, must ultimately be determined by YOU, as an individual. Phosphor Bronze: Used on wound 4th strings, it produces a warmer tone. Can anyone give me a clue? However, a friend recently gave me a De Armond soundhole magnetic pickup. Below is a review of the top banjos strings of the 21st century. The nickel bronze at the same gauge as the phosphor bronze feels lighter and they bend more as well. In this week's episode, Chad Kopotic, the VP of Operations at Deering talks about. Most of the larger facilities actually make string for other companies under other names.). Man, sweet playing. The world of 4-string banjos has been enjoying a revival thanks to their featured role in bands like Mumford and Sons and The Dropkick Murphys. I like their more humble sound, and I sure don’t miss that pumped-up treble (a quality perfectly described in the forum thread by Bear as “a weird zing that rides shotgun on the wound strings”). This is caused by your fingers “rippling” over the ribs of string windings. For added value GHS provides extra large loops for easy installation and a 42" winding to fit nearly all banjos. The Nickel Bronze sets are wound with a nickel plated phosphor bronze wrap wire. I have been using these strings for 30yrs at this time(16/06/16) with great effect. String makers use wire from different manufacturers. Strings at stewmac.com, your #1 source for luthier tools and supplies, guitar parts, and instrument hardware. Loops are a special shape to fit a variety of tailpieces. String gauges, like brands, must ultimately be determined by YOU, as an individual. It is true that consistent wire diameter is a matter of quality manufacturing. Phosphor bronze strings are almost as bright but have a “cooler” tone that is not as warm as brass. Despite my bitching, it’s easy to understand why they’re so popular! Clareen Tenor Banjo strings will give you a great tone on all makes of tenor banjo. GHS PHOSPHOR BRONZE 5-STRING Banjo Strings Medium 11-13-16-26-10 GHS Banjo Strings are among the most played in the world. But there are many other professionals who don’t care what brand they use as long as they have the gauges they want. Gauges: 9, 10, 13, 20, 9 Banjo - Nickel - Light - 5-String Set These nickel wound banjo strings are warm, punchy, and perfect with pickups for a full, balanced sound. They are of the highest quality and are used by us on all our banjos. you just can’t whack those low notes they way you can with bronze-based strings — they just sort of crap out when played aggressively. My main acoustic right not is a Martin OMC with cherry back/sides and a sitka top. Think of alloy choice like choosing a pecan pie vs. a cherry pie vs. a coconut cream pie etc. I've been reading a lot of positive reviews of both the Martin Retro Monels & D'Addario Nickel Bronze--especially on spruce top/mahogany back & sides guitars--like the J-45. For the past 15 years I have used D'Addario EJ-16 light gauge Phosphor Bronze on my J-45 Standard.
. I’m not going to mention the brand names, because both are respected brands, and to be honest, the differences I detect have everything to do with their composition, and little do with who fabricated them. I’ve got a Yamaha APX500III with under saddle piezo pickup/ system 66 preamp, with an oval shaped sound hole to emphasize the low-mid/ low end. On banjos the winding is almost always roundwound. "D'Addario's banjo sets are available in light and medium gauges, with a nickel-plated wound 4 th string. Our bluegrass set is offered with a phosphor bronze-wound 4 th string for extra brilliance and sustain. In the meantime: Here is a great Guitar Player article by my pal Barry Cleveland. And I realized in a flash that a lot of the qualities I’d attributed to the Lowden were, in fact, a result of the modern, coated phosphor bronze string I’d been using. Some “brands” of strings are made by string manufacturers and sold under names that have nothing to do with actually manufacturing  strings or wire. From capos to tuners, cables to picks, we have every conceivable tool you need to find the sound you’re looking for. This 5-string set of loop end phosphor bronze banjo strings are extra long (42" winding) to fit any banjo. It’s been recorded by Ian & Sylvia, Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, John Denver, and many other artists, but I like Steve’s version best. Use Code: DEAL15 - FREE U.S. The nickel bronze at the same gauge as the phosphor bronze feels lighter and they bend more as well. A string that is completely uniform in diameter over its length makes a clear, very well defined tone. Both terms are referring to the wrap wire of the wound strings in the set. COMPLETELY FALSE! GHS PHOSPHOR BRONZE 5-STRING Banjo Strings Medium 11-13-16-26-10 GHS Banjo Strings are among the most played in the world. Wound strings are wrapped with a variety of metals: brass, bronze, nickel, nickel plated steel, stainless steel, etc. Nothing to do about it – Bronze sounds better. Nickel are not as bright as brass and maybe a little warmer than phosphor bronze. They are made from the highest quality plain steel, stainless steel, nickel plated steel and phosphor bronze and available in a wide variety of gauges. I've never string up an acoustic with heavy-enough electric strings, so who knows how it'd sound, but as for the two major types of bronze strings, 80/20 bronze is probably the more "normal" acoustic sound, whereas phosphor bronze is a bit twangier in the bass and brighter. Having met quite a few world famous banjoists has shown me first hand that there is a huge variety of styles and ALL of them are beautiful in their own way. Plus a smoother feel. The late Earl Scruggs played on light gauge for many years and then moved to heavier strings in his later years. The focus is on electric guitar strings, but it’s a fascinating story about the rise and fall of nickel strings. I was wondering what the Bronze Strings sound like on a 5 string Banjo w / resonator. Definitely mostly midrange. As with all D’Addario strings, these banjo sets are made at their facility in New York. SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $30! As buyers of banjo strings, we don’t usually care about the metallurgical content of our strings so we’ll talk about strings from a musical perspective. I have been using these strings for 30yrs at this time(16/06/16) with great effect. YOUR choice. I was wondering what the Bronze Strings sound like on a 5 string Banjo w / resonator. I’m not a fan of heavy gauge strings on small bodied guitars. Medium Gauge strings:  Known for strong mid range and clean bass. D’Addario NB1253 @ your gauge. Nickel wound fourth strings are probably the most commonly used by five string banjoists. When someone tells you that brand X is the best and only the best players use his brand, just remember that he might as well tell you that pecan pie is the only pie eaten by the most discerning professionals! Choose nickel for a traditional sound, phosphor bronze for warmer tone and stainless steel for more brightness and projection. Wound strings make a squeaky sound when you drag your finger over its length. The most important quality of a string is consistent diameter over the length of the string. Even though the gauges are comparable, they seem lighter — there seems to be less tension, and it’s much easier to bend them. For example: Jens Kruger plays on string sets that would be considered in the medium category. Stainless steel is an alternative to nickel because it’s resistant to corrosion and it produces a balanced tone. You can’t “hear” the note. The Nickel Bronze sets are wound with a nickel plated phosphor bronze wrap wire. Find a Teacher. Much like the Martin Retro strings, D’Addario say that these let the true tone of your acoustic guitar shine through, rather than your natural tone being dominated by the sound of the strings themselves. Meanwhile, I’d be most appreciative if anyone who’s navigated these waters can share what they’ve learned. I highly recommend em no matter what gauge you prefer. COMPLETELY FALSE! And I was seriously bummed out by the tone, as I lamented over at the forum. Banjo string brands are EXACTLY like pies…. I’m not so sure if the material of string makes as much difference as the gauge of string. It has a smooth feel and it produces a bright tone with strong projection. hi JOE! With stainless steel or phosphor bronze winding, GHS banjo strings will accommodate all playing styles. The wound string is made from a core of plain steel, and then wrapped with wire. Curt Mangan makes high end USA made guitar strings with the best quality nickelwound, pure nickel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, and 80/20 bronze wire… Take 15% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER! Plus a smoother feel. For added value GHS provides extra large loops for easy instalation and a 42" winding to fit nearly all banjos. Loopend construction for universal fit. Our bluegrass set is offered with a phosphor bronze-wound 4 th string for extra brilliance and sustain. D'Addario Nickel Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings. Phosphor Bronze—popular with 4th strings banjos, and produces a warmer tone. There are many variations like using .010 instead of .009 or .0095. Wound strings make a squeaky sound when you drag your finger over its length. All steel strings are the same and brand makes no difference. But it’s not an easy guitar to play. The thin core keeps the string flexible and the tension on the string low, but increases the low frequency response of the string and that’s why the wound strings are always used for bass (lower pitched) strings. (Engineers often boost highs and roll off lows when processing acoustic guitar, but this model is practically “pre-EQ’ed.”). Strings and accessories at stewmac.com, your #1 source for luthier tools and supplies, guitar parts, and instrument hardware. Weekly newsletter includes free lessons, favorite member content, banjo news and more. I think the same could be said for plectrum and tenor players too. Some tenor and plectrum string sets have two plain strings and two wound strings. These strings are great for music genres that requir… Pretty much always used bronze on acoustics, nickel on electrics.Friend used to use these weird copper strings wasn’t much difference really.Finding new strings is a pita and expensive. Anyone that TELLS you what you should use might be well intentioned but is working from their own preference… not yours. With stainless steel or phosphor bronze winding, GHS banjo strings will accommodate all playing styles. https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/how-to-choose-the-right-banjo-strings D'Addario Mandolin and Banjo Strings are trusted by legends like David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie McCoury, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, Mike Marshall, Adam Steffey, and more, for their natural acoustic tone and reliable performance. Here are the characteristics of the most popular alloys used in banjo strings: Nickel-plated Steel: Bright tone with strong projection and smooth feel. GHS Lock Twist helps keep you in tune. Light gauge strings:   Known for pronounced brightness and bass and soft mid-range response. Works best for players who play with a hard attack. I used Phosphor Bronze strings on my 6 string acoustic guitar for years and liked the sound. All of these master players used what THEY liked. D'Addario EJ69 5-String Banjo Strings, Phosphor Bronze Wound, Loop End, 9-20 Light Made in the USA £5.29 £4.41 RRP £6.20 £5.17 | Save: £0.91 £0.76 Never really did anything retro ever but I have used random strings that showed up to try out.Seems like all strings have good and bad points to them and you just have to pick your poison.Have been using Cleartones for a couple years now but for the most part used D’Addarios because they are cheap.And yeah , all strings are made at the same 3 or 4 plants.I will be going down to the weird studio soon so I will check out some different strings there. The Banjo Challenge; Find a Teacher. Alloys from each wire manufacturer have their own unique sound. There are a ton of questions and misconceptions that come up when people are debating pure nickel vs nickel wound guitar strings, so we wanted to set the record straight by answering some common questions, and comparing the features of both here.. What does Pure Nickel or Nickel Wound even mean? 5-string sets have plain steel strings with the fourth wound string either of nickel, phosphor bronze or stainless steel. Did you always use nickel on electrics? They all taste different but all taste great to the people who like them. The alloy of the wire in a plain steel string can affect the “color” of the sound or the basic tone of the string. PHOSPHOR BRONZE BANJO STRINGS 09-20 | 5-STRING. My main stage guitar is Brook Taw (similar size to a 000 and made in Devon UK). A complete range of mandolin-family strings is available, as well as various string lines for dulcimer, ukulele, tenor guitar, country fiddle, cuatro, oud, and bouzouki. The “wire” for instruments is called music wire. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The De Armond will only respond to nickel wound strings, which I don’t particularly like, having been used to D’Addario 12-53 phosphor bronze. D'Addario Nickel Wound Loop End 5 String Banjo Strings EJ60+ Light Plus 9.5-20 - D'Addario Nickel Wound Loop End 5 String Banjo Strings D'Addario's best selling 5-string banjo sets, offers light playing tension for comfortable playing feel and brilliant tone. Loopocalypse Day 17 (of 17): “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.”, Loopocalypse Day 14 (of 17): “Space Shrine”, Loopocalypse Day 13 (of 17): “In Like Flint”. They are clear and powerful, but without as many overtones as 80/20 or Phosphor Bronze. DR Zebra strings – https://www.drstrings.com/#!zebra/c1dry. If the string wraps are pulled tighter, or not pulled as tight, this has a profound effect on the strings sound character. I've been reading a lot of positive reviews of both the Martin Retro Monels & D'Addario Nickel Bronze--especially on spruce top/mahogany back & sides guitars--like the J-45. I currently have Steel strings on, maybe Nickel wound, I am not sure. The wound string is made from a core of plain steel, and then wrapped with wire. If the string has “thick spots” or “thin spots”, it doesn’t vibrate as uniformly and the clarity of the string’s tone and pitch become hard to hear. Email Newsletter. PHOSPHOR BRONZE BANJO STRINGS 09-20 | 5-STRING. It is hard to tune strings that have too much variation in diameter…. Neither! Strings at stewmac.com, your #1 source for luthier tools and supplies, guitar parts, and instrument hardware. As you probably know, aside from the standard 5-string banjos beloved by bluegrass players, banjos come in several other configurations.