80/20 Bronze Strings v D'Addario XL Pro steels

[swingtoneman]

I have never tried 80/20 bronze strings. Those of you who use them can you answer the following questions. I am looking for a set which are very bright--to liven up an acoustic guitar---sometimes with a pickup---which is not the brightest of guitars acoustically. (I do know that bronze strings are not as good sounding--with a pickup--as steel strings but bronze does work).

a) Which make of 80/20 bronze do you prefer for their tone?
b) Do you prefer 80/20 'coated'--or 'uncoated' ? If 'coated' does the coating have any effect on the tone of the strings?
c) Anybody use D'Addario 'XL Prosteels' on an acoustic/electric guitar--how does a set of 'XL Prosteels' sound acoustically?--not as loud as bronze?

Many thanks.

[sgosnell]

I haven't tried the "pro steels", but I do use the XL steel wound strings. On my carved archtop, I like them. They're not as bright as bronze, but they're about as loud, I can't really tell much difference in volume. They work far better than bronze for amplified playing, unsurprisingly. But if you're really looking for brightness, nothing beats bronze AFAIK. The coating tends to muffle the sound slightly, but not a lot. I've tried the Elixir coated strings in the past, and didn't like them much. But then I'm not a fan of bronze strings in any case, except on flat-tops. But that's just my taste, not anyone else's.

[cosmic gumbo]

I tried them all, these are the ones I've used for over 20 years. Sound great on my acoustic, and also when using a magnetic soundhole pup, ala Gabor Szabo. Should sound lively on an archtop also.

[swingtoneman]

Many thanks for your replies. I will give those Martin 80/20 bronze a try. Never used Martin strings--always D'Addario in the past as I have found them to be of good quality & sound.

I have been around guitars many years and never heard of AFAIK strings. I did a google search and nothing seems to come up. Who makes them--anybody know?

[sgosnell]

AFAIK is an internet acronym for "As Far As I Know". It's not a string brand. I was just referencing bronze strings in general, as opposed to nickel, steel, etc.

[neatomic]

80/20's are the oldest and brightest (most bell like toned) of the bronze/brass string family

d'addario invented the 80/20 on hex core string in combination with john d'angelico...not a bad pedigree

as for coated strings..here's very informative article from roger sadowsky on the subject..

(i wouldn't use them!!) for what??

https://www.sadowsky.com/wp-content/...-Strings-1.pdf


cheers

[swingtoneman]

Many thanks guys for your useful info.

Here's me thinking that AFAIK was a string brand! Thanks for putting me right.

Thanks for the link regarding coated strings---didn't know that. 'Never to old to learn'.

swingtoneman.