strings

[hackandtack]

hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks

[Cliff]

On 28 Nov, 13:21, "hackandtack"

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

I supect that the magnetic neck pickup will not work well with
phosphor bronze strings but you may like it. Have you tried flat wound
or silk and steel strings? What type of music are you playing? Are you
looking for a more mellow tone or something brighter? The above will
probably sound more mellow than standard round wounds. You could try
stainless steel if you want something brighter.

Cliff

[hackandtack]

hi cliff
I am learning blues, and I am looking for a more mellow tone.I have a mex
strat and want something that sounds different to this.

hackandtack

Post by Cliff
On 28 Nov, 13:21, "hackandtack"

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

I supect that the magnetic neck pickup will not work well with
phosphor bronze strings but you may like it. Have you tried flat wound
or silk and steel strings? What type of music are you playing? Are you
looking for a more mellow tone or something brighter? The above will
probably sound more mellow than standard round wounds. You could try
stainless steel if you want something brighter.
Cliff

[Cliff]

On 28 Nov, 15:07, "hackandtack"

Post by hackandtack
hi cliff
I am learning blues, and I am looking for a more mellow tone.I have a mex
strat and want something that sounds different to this.

Post by Cliff
On 28 Nov, 13:21, "hackandtack"

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

I supect that the magnetic neck pickup will not work well with
phosphor bronze strings but you may like it. Have you tried flat wound
or silk and steel strings? What type of music are you playing? Are you
looking for a more mellow tone or something brighter? The above will
probably sound more mellow than standard round wounds. You could try
stainless steel if you want something brighter.
Cliff- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If your looking for smooth and mellow try some flat wound strings like
a lot of jazz players use. I'd suggest a set of 11's to start with but
that's just my taste so feel free to ignore ;-)

Cliff

[David L. Martel]

Hack,

The reviews of this guitar mention various string choices that the
reviewers like.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Yamaha/AEX-500/10/1

I doubt that Silk n Steel strings would be a good choice if you use the
magnetic pickup much in the blend. If you have not achieved sufficient
mellowness with the strings mentioned in the reviews you may wish to have
the guitar set up for medium gauge strings.

Dave M.

[Derek]

The compromise to what Cliff is suggesting are 1/2 flatwound strings.
They are exactly what they say, 1/2 flat, 1/2 round. They are easier
to play, eliminate some of the brightness and finger squeak.

Experiementing with stuff like this helps develop your sound and style
imo. If you do, let us know what you think. Btw, I use flats only
for jazz, and rounds only for rock/pop.

[Cliff]

Post by David L. Martel
Hack,
The reviews of this guitar mention various string choices that the
reviewers like.http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Yamaha/AEX-...
I doubt that Silk n Steel strings would be a good choice if you use the
magnetic pickup much in the blend. If you have not achieved sufficient
mellowness with the strings mentioned in the reviews you may wish to have
the guitar set up for medium gauge strings.
Dave M.

I suggested silk and steel (i.e. steel core with steel wraps over
silk) because they were the choice of many folk acoustic players.
Before under-saddle pickups were common most folk players used a mike
or a magnetic pickup. As bronze strings don't suit standard magnetic
pickups, silk and steel were a common choice.

There's always wound and ground for another option.

Cliff

[Tony Done]

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

Just looking at a pic of the guitar, I can't tell whether it is balanced for
acoustic strings or not. Did it come with acoustic strings (ie were they
brass-copper coloured), or did it come with electric (silver coloured)
strings? Whichever it had is hopefully what it is designed for. Trying
different types is a good idea, but you have to stick with what the type was
designed for. If it was designed for electric strings, then pulling the
third string pole piece and adjusting the others will likely balance it for
acoustic strings, but I can't see much point in doing that on a guitar
designed primarily as an electric.

My experience is that hollow guitars of that type tend to sound "thin" with
skinny electric strings, and putting heavier strings on improves their tone.
If it is designed for electric strings, I would be experimenting with 11,
12s and even 13's, and sets that have a plain versus a wound third string,
and pure nickel versus nickel-plated steel or stainless steel windings. As
you can see, there are a lot of options.

Tony D

[hackandtack]

hi Tony
it came with silver strings, electric.
it does sound a bit thin.
cheers
hackandtack

Post by Tony Done

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

Just looking at a pic of the guitar, I can't tell whether it is balanced
for acoustic strings or not. Did it come with acoustic strings (ie were
they brass-copper coloured), or did it come with electric (silver
coloured) strings? Whichever it had is hopefully what it is designed for.
Trying different types is a good idea, but you have to stick with what the
type was designed for. If it was designed for electric strings, then
pulling the third string pole piece and adjusting the others will likely
balance it for acoustic strings, but I can't see much point in doing that
on a guitar designed primarily as an electric.
My experience is that hollow guitars of that type tend to sound "thin"
with skinny electric strings, and putting heavier strings on improves
their tone. If it is designed for electric strings, I would be
experimenting with 11, 12s and even 13's, and sets that have a plain
versus a wound third string, and pure nickel versus nickel-plated steel or
stainless steel windings. As you can see, there are a lot of options.
Tony D

[hackandtack]

hi
thanks for advice I have ordered these "strings/set jazz flatwound 11s".
made from chromlux apparently, sounds good at least.
I will let you know how I get on in a couple of weeks.
thanks again
hackandtack

Post by hackandtack
hi
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some different
strings on it just to experiment, the guy in the shop where I bought it
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--
hackandtack
remove both "yourteeth" to reply

[Lumpy]

Post by hackandtack
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some
different strings on it just to experiment...

I don't think I'd consider an AEX500 to be an
"electro acoustic". I think it's meant to be
amplified, like any typical archtop guitar.
The piezo in the bridge likely adds a bit
of "air" to the amplified signal. But unamplified,
it's probably going to sound thin and quiet, no
matter what strings you put on it.


Lumpy

You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.

www.LumpyGuitar.net

[hackandtack]

hi lumpy
what's the difference between an electro acoustic and archtop? I thought
archtop referred to the shape of the guitar (mines flat).
it sound a bit flat at the piezo through the amp, I am only learning and
have not got much for comparison so want to try different setups amps etc
just for fun.
thanks for reply, all info welcome
hackandtack

Post by Lumpy

Post by hackandtack
I have a Yamaha AEX500 electro acoustic and want to try some
different strings on it just to experiment...

I don't think I'd consider an AEX500 to be an
"electro acoustic". I think it's meant to be
amplified, like any typical archtop guitar.
The piezo in the bridge likely adds a bit
of "air" to the amplified signal. But unamplified,
it's probably going to sound thin and quiet, no
matter what strings you put on it.
Lumpy
You Played on Lawrence Welk?
Yes but no blue notes. Just blue hairs.
www.LumpyGuitar.net

[Lumpy]

Post by hackandtack
what's the difference between an
electro acoustic and archtop?...

I don't know that "electro acoustic" is really any
kind of valid designator. Typically that means
it's an acoustic guitar with a pickup. To me
that's an acoustic guitar. There's nothing different
in it's design from an acoustic guitar that does NOT
have a pickup.

Your guitar, even though the top is flat, is not really
an acoustic guitar. It's an electric guitar that has
a hollow or semi hollow body. It's like a typical jazz
box ES-175 or ES-335 or similar. And particularly because
yours is a very thin body it's simply not meant to
have the same acoustic tone as you might with a more
traditional acoustic guitar.

Lumpy

In Your Ears for 40 Years
www.LumpyMusic.com

[hackandtack]

hi
now I know.
thanks lumpy and others for replies.
I will see what it sounds like with the flatwounds on and post again.
thanks all

"hackandtack"

Post by Lumpy

Post by hackandtack
what's the difference between an
electro acoustic and archtop?...

I don't know that "electro acoustic" is really any
kind of valid designator. Typically that means
it's an acoustic guitar with a pickup. To me
that's an acoustic guitar. There's nothing different
in it's design from an acoustic guitar that does NOT
have a pickup.
Your guitar, even though the top is flat, is not really
an acoustic guitar. It's an electric guitar that has
a hollow or semi hollow body. It's like a typical jazz
box ES-175 or ES-335 or similar. And particularly because
yours is a very thin body it's simply not meant to
have the same acoustic tone as you might with a more
traditional acoustic guitar.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www.LumpyMusic.com

[David L. Martel]

Hack,

I've never seen or played this guitar but the review clearly states that
it is a hollow-bodied archtop guitar made out of laminates.
http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/WNAMM98/Yamaha/AEX500.html
Is this the guitar that you have?

Dave M.

[Cliff]

Post by David L. Martel
Hack,
I've never seen or played this guitar but the review clearly states that
it is a hollow-bodied archtop guitar made out of laminates.http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/WNAMM98/Yamaha/AEX500.html
Is this the guitar that you have?
Dave M.

That advert is wrong. Here's what they say on the Yamaha site:

"Taking its cue from the full-bodied archtop AEX1500, the flat-top
AEX500 features a neck-mounted mini-humbucker and a bridge-loaded
piezo system supported by three-band EQ and a mix control that enables
the two signals to be blended together."

Cliff

P.S. Still can't believe everything you read on the net :-)

[EF in FLA]

Post by hackandtack
suggested some phosphor bronze ones for a change. is this a good idea? or
could someone recommend some for me to try?
thanks
--

Strings are cheap and only you'll know the sound you want when you
hear it. The answer is to buy several different kinds and try them.
It's as simple as that.

ef