Strings for softening spruce top Rosa Bella

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Ollie

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar. 16 2015

Strings for softening spruce top Ros...

I recently picked up a Kremona Rosa Bella. Has Spruce top and Ash back and sides. I put new Savarez Red Card strings on a few weeks ago.

Initially I thought my god they sound buzzy and twangy and metallic. Then I thought my god they are brilliant. Now again they sound overly buzzy at times though still very nice.

The Bella sounds harsh at times and not sure how much the strings are a factor, but anyone recommend strings to soften the sound some?

Thanks...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2015 0:36:25

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

I use LaBella 427s to soften the sound of mine.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2015 1:33:58

Guest

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

I use LaBella 427s to soften the sound of mine.

Mmm
Third reference to these in the last 12 or so hours - 2 on this foro
What's the deal?
Looking at an alternative to luthier 20's -
The universe seems to be throwing me labellas ...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2015 4:07:38

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

My guitar is very similar to yours, except for the silver oak back & sides and ebony fingerboard.

These guitars are pretty bright and for trebles I would recommend D'Addario Pro Arte HT. The basses I liked the most on this guitar were the dynacores normal tension, also from D'Addario.

The on and off buzzing might be a reaction to humidity, these models are very lightly and sparsely braced (4 "full sized" braces and a short treble one). Don't know if that's the reason but the fact is that humidity changes makes the top on mine go up and down a bit.

Hope this helped.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2015 10:36:43

Ollie

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar. 16 2015

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Thanks all, will check out the La Bella's, though on another forum some were saying they are cheap beginner's strings.

St Martins, so do you buy 2 different sets and just toss half the strings, to get the combo you like? I've never done that…

Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2015 3:17:43

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ollie
Thanks all, will check out the La Bella's, though on another forum some were saying they are cheap beginner's strings.

They are certainly very cheap and when I tried a set the windings of the basses started unravelling after a few weeks in my 'capo zone' which I don't get with my usual brands. Tone was fine.

They are also ultra low tension compared to most brands which will probably exacerbate your buzzing problem (I keep a little spreadsheet of string sets/tensions and 427s are the lowest tension string so far I have found). When buzzing gets annoying and its not a set up up issue you usually want to go up a little in tension to see if it helps.

So basically if I was in your position I'd be looking at the tension of your current set, and going for something slightly higher but in a warmer 'straight nylon' set.

Maybe D'Addario Pro Arte, Savarez Corum/Cristal, or Luthiers for example. You'd need to compare the tensions to see which set to go for.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2015 7:38:00

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

use La Bella sweetone, if the tension suits You, it will do the job.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2015 8:46:01

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

quote:

St Martins, so do you buy 2 different sets and just toss half the strings, to get the combo you like? I've never done that…

No, I don't. I just don't change trebles at the same time I change basses.

You could try D'Addario Flamenco with clear trebles, it has the HT trebles I've mentioned and also has normal tension basses.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2015 12:29:31

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

To be honest, I probably play more classical with those 427s now that you mention it (even though the guitar is a flamenco negra). Don't strum much on that guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 0:27:57

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

quote:

will check out the La Bella's, though on another forum some were saying they are cheap beginner's strings

Maybe it's cheap, but price is very subjective. I'd say it's reasonable. I really don't like most of the 'new' innovations string makers did in the recent years, for example D'addarios' new 'flamenco' set, or Hannabach's 'buleria' to name a few.....at higher prices of course, not rarely 2x the price.

In most cases these prices are based on snobs, that consider quality depends straight on the price. Also you can decide strings's consistency, and lifetime, but sound/playability are yet a very subjective thing based on the instrument, the player's technique etc etc.

I'd say La Bella and D'addario are the far most consistent producer of our time. I don't say there aren't better sounding/more playable etc strings out there, but these factory's strings are really well made IMHO.

On the other hand there are very cheap strings like savarez's flamencita, that was hard to keep in tune, and had to retune every 2-3 song I played, but somehow my previous blanca liked them so much soundwise, that I used several sets...all depends on what your goal is.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 9:26:15

SephardRick

Posts: 358
Joined: Apr. 11 2014

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

quote:

Thanks all, will check out the La Bella's, though on another forum some were saying they are cheap beginner's strings

Maybe for another style of playing. But, for Flamenco style 427's are preferred by many guitarist, wanting clear (opposed to colored) trebles. Also, the G string is one of the most musical IMO. Sure, you can pay more for a string. But, you may not be getting a better string.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 12:44:48

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to SephardRick)

i find the combo of 427 trebles and 820 basses to be a good flamenco mix and would not characterized the trebles as softening. i find the trebles to be better than the 2001 and on par with daniel mari flamenco strings. i would not be surprized if the 427 trebles are the same as the mari trebles and the same, albeit uncolored, as the 820's trebles. stringsbymail has several string collection recommendations one being "warm" and that may be a good place to start.

https://www.stringsbymail.com/experiment-collections-851/?zenid=q5eabo1t4dk8isp81be02qfvv0

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 12:56:37

Blondie#2

Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to keith)

quote:

ORIGINAL: keith
i would not be surprized if the 427 trebles are the same as the mari trebles and the same, albeit uncolored, as the 820's trebles.

Yes 427s are identical in tension string for string, and diameter (down to 1000th of a millimeter) to 820s across the entire set, according to La bella's own figures.
If you are swapping out the basses for 820s I'd say you are replacing them with the same ones.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 14:39:24

Ollie

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar. 16 2015

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Blondie#2)

Thanks again all.

After thinking about it some more, I think the main thing bothering me is harshness and excessive volume, rather than buzzing.

I guess I will try the LaBella 427s next, then maybe one of the Pro Arte's. Unsure about tension at this point.

St Martins: interesting what you say about humidity. May be this does account for apparent subtle changes.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 18:48:07

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

quote:

After thinking about it some more, I think the main thing bothering me is harshness and excessive volume, rather than buzzing.

I guess I will try the LaBella 427s next, then maybe one of the Pro Arte's. Unsure about tension at this point.

I don't want to sound like a know it all but in this case I know exactly what you mean by harshness and I've given you a sure way of fixing that issue by using Pro Arte HT trebles (the basses should be fine too but I prefer normal tension, that's why I mentioned the Flamenco set which has normal basses and HT trebles).

IMO you should try that first and go from there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 18 2015 19:14:14

Ollie

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar. 16 2015

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

I don't want to sound like a know it all but in this case I know exactly what you mean by harshness and I've given you a sure way of fixing that issue by using Pro Arte HT trebles (the basses should be fine too but I prefer normal tension, that's why I mentioned the Flamenco set which has normal basses and HT trebles).

IMO you should try that first and go from there.

On D'Addario's site they have their classical strings arranged on a Bright-Mellow spectrum, and the Composites (which includes the Flamenco's) are quite far to the Bright side.

Since I am looking for mellow, I wonder if the following 2 half sets would be a good combo close to what you are describing:

Pro-Arté Nylon Core Silver Plated Copper Bass Half Sets -- normal tension
Pro-Arté Black Nylon Treble Half Sets -- high tension

Thanks...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 19 2015 17:31:30

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

I think you're not really paying attention to anything I've said.

Good luck

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 19 2015 18:10:49

Ollie

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar. 16 2015

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

I think you're not really paying attention to anything I've said.

Good luck

Wow that's strange you would say that.

I think you are right, that HT trebles and NT basses might be the answer. Was just trying to figure out which of the various Pro Arte sets might be best.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 19 2015 18:32:58

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Strings for softening spruce top... (in reply to Ollie)

I told you specifically to get the clear nylon ones. Black nylon on this guitar was making my ears bleed but if you want to go ahead and use D'Addario's rough guide as way of getting a specific solution, go for it.

Get the flamenco set with clear trebles and draw conclusions from there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 19 2015 18:54:58