Knoblock Strings Database Entry

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JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

Knoblock Strings Database Entry

Strings: Knoblock Actives Nylon

Tension: medium high

Price: $18 freakin dollars

Subjective Impression of Sound: meh...

Luthier pop supreme replacement? (Y/N): N

Notes:
These are my initial impressions... They are pretty good quality strings, but I’m not blown away for the money. The intonation is good. The trebles have a very slight texture to them like Savarez Traditional but not to that same level. They are not as bright as Pop Supremes and they don’t sound as “flamenco” to me - whatever that means. . On my guitar they sound a bit dull, but they don’t have that lifeless/plastic sound either. Basses sound fine, pretty neutral sound quality but not dull. The tension of the “medium high” is less than Pop Supreme 20. It feels more or less similar to DAdario medium which surprised me. I might try a set of high tension at some point.

Notes 2:
The ends of the wound bass strings were all frayed like someone bit the ends off with their teeth. I had to cut them again to be able to pass them through the rollers. Also, the G string was really short and I almost didn’t have enough length to tie onto a 12 hole tie block. Maybe an inch and a half of slack sticking off the roller.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 5:06:33

beno

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

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

All strings behave different on each guitar. For example all Luthier set I've tried so far was on my guitar for a very short time before they went to the bin.
Knobloch SN was one of the best strings I've tried so far, and I've tried a lot.
sets that I like a lot:

D'Addario Dynacore
Oasis-Gpx carbon
Savarez rectfied (500PR)
Also Conde strings (the carbon set) are good too.

I think it's easier to find quality trebles than quality basses.

The best trebles also include Aquila alabastro, and LaBella 900 (the gold one) besides the ones I've mentioned.

I've also tried almost the whole RC strings lineup. Sonanta űTitanium, and the Serranito set worked best for me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 10:25:36

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

I second that, Knobloch strings are good, almost as good as Luthiers were, but more expensive.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 11:35:43

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to beno)

quote:

and LaBella 900 (the gold one)

The trebles are exact same as 820b.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 13:33:06

beno

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

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

The trebles are exact same as 820b.

May be just me, but I feel a slight difference between the 820 red and 820 black trebles also (the red one's better), and feel a bigger difference with the golden one

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 13:42:35

JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

quote:

I second that, Knobloch strings are good, almost as good as Luthiers were, but more expensive.

Yep, I’m just one man’s opinion. I pulled off an old set of Luthier 20’s and put on the Knoblocks. So the sound of Luthier was fresh in my mind.. to me, I thought the worn out Luthier trebles still sounded better, but the tension was also softer, so might not be a perfect comparison.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 16:51:35

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to beno)

quote:

All strings behave different on each guitar.

That's been my experience as well. I bought a bunch of Luthier trebles of different types once, and none of them sounded nice on my guitar compared to say Savarez carbon trebles. That same thing goes for some other strings, but not others. For example, La Bellas sound nice, D'Addarios meh; most others generally meh compared to La Bella or Savarez. I also recently got a set of Aquila squeakless Sugars but am afraid to try them lest my guitar goes into a continuous sustain loop

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Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 7 2020 19:22:12

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Thank you very much for that. I have ordered two sets of knobloch, sn and qz (Jose Maria Bandera plays the qz). I found a little better price at Mrs Enders (classical strings de) for Europe. 11,6 euros for the sn (about 14 dollars). I got both to test, record and compare. I will also post my results here. Thank you for the review JasonM !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 8 2020 15:19:26

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to beno)

quote:

ORIGINAL: beno

quote:

The trebles are exact same as 820b.

May be just me, but I feel a slight difference between the 820 red and 820 black trebles also (the red one's better), and feel a bigger difference with the golden one

The gold basses are specifically designed for recording...it seems they activate certain upper harmonics that perhaps end up complementing the trebles as everything rings out together sympathetically...however the nylon trebles are not different themselves. I also liked them briefly (gold basses) but after some experiments settled on the basic 820 set instead.

I am pretty sure the black trebles are just the red ones dipped into some coating. Hold a black string up to sun light you can see the red one in there (more a purplish red color).

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 8 2020 15:49:30

mt1007

Posts: 162
Joined: Jan. 19 2011

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Knobloch are expensive, I've never bought a full set. My fav g string no pun is this though:

https://www.stringsbymail.com/knobloch-actives-cx-3rd-g-medium-tension-single-string-6351.html

sounds great, not super fat and tubby sounding...

Luthiers for the price are hard to beat, to bad none are available

I like RC strings but they are getting pricey now =: https://www.stringsbymail.com/rc-strings-cnl40-jg-carbon-and-nylon-ht-guitar-strings-full-set-15735.html

Never tried LaBella strings but should especially because of cost. They seem affordable.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 8 2020 16:59:29

beno

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

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

The gold basses are specifically designed for recording...it seems they activate certain upper harmonics that perhaps end up complementing the trebles as everything rings out together sympathetically...however the nylon trebles are not different themselves. I also liked them briefly (gold basses) but after some experiments settled on the basic 820 set instead.

I am pretty sure the black trebles are just the red ones dipped into some coating. Hold a black string up to sun light you can see the red one in there (more a purplish red color).

I've tried the gold basses, but didn't like them much. It was too soft, and lacked volume compared to the silverplated ones of 820. And the golden trebles? Do you think that is exactly similar to the red and black ones? Placebo?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 10 2020 10:53:01

beno

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

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

https://www.flamencoguitarsforsale.net/solera-flamenca-strings-la-cuerda-perfecta/?fbclid=IwAR3hCOu5LkamatHGMXBSQEmpAOFRcDhBKB99LM3qACeYRYb4s-1UvJx1_UY

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 10 2020 14:58:17

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Here is the first comparison (same old same old) with the EJ45. As Jason said not a Luthier sub. The SN nylon is not crystal like the luthier. I would say closer to Augustine classic (always talking for the trebles) but brighter.

Good quality overall. Basses crispier than the EJ45 but not as crisp as the LaBella fresh basses. Let's see for how long they last as many say they last longer than others.. I also confirm the weird loop end on the basses making it impossible to pass through the bridge or rollers. They are the same loops Augustine basses use but Augustine are only nylon; Knobloch also have a small metal loop along with the nylon than cannot be bent.

I got a bit better price, maybe because I live in Europe so I paid 11.60 euros for the 300ADN set (SN nylon) which is almost the same as the EJ45 for us here.
I will also try the Q.Z. in the next days and post another comparison and maybe a third one comparing the two Knoblochs (SN and QZ).

0’00” Recuerdos de la Alhambra (F. Tárrega)
2’23” Verano Porteño (A.Piazzolla)
3’24” Lagrima (F. Tárrega)
4’21” Adelita (F. Tárrega)
5’10” Prelude No.1 (H. Villa-Lobos)
6’42” Etude No.11 (H. Vila-Lobos)
8’04” Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz)
11’16” Vals No.3 (Agustín Barrios Mangoré)
12’57” Bronce Gitano (Sabicas)
15’22” Tango falseta (Jerónimo Maya)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 23 2020 18:57:24

JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to AndresK)

Thanks for the review Andres. Nice comparison as always.

The bass strings do last a looong time! Pretty impressive actually. They remind me of D’Adarrio EXP bass strings (or whatever they call them), the ones that have extra life. And those strings actually are not far off in price compared to the Knoblocks. Both have a sort of similar metallic sound to my ears.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2020 16:35:41

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Hello again here is the Knobloch QZ Nylon. This is much closer to what I am used to than the SN. Closer but again not Luthier. The Basses are the same as the SN. The 6th string feels a bit too thick and harder than medium tension to me. The trebles on the other side feel a bit weak both to SN and QZ sets. Maybe that is why Luciano uses high tension 2nd and 3rd string along with the low 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th. QZ is the clear kind of trebles.

To my ears Knobloch sound a bit more flamenco than the EJ45, especially in rasqueos, not that this is an advantage for everyone.

Overall a very good quality set. To me it costed 13,6 euros, almost the same as the Alliance cantiga, which is a bit more pricey (not that I ever buy those).

Guitar: Vassilis Lazarides flamenco blanca

0’00” Recuerdos de la Alhambra (F. Tárrega)
2’23” Verano Porteño (A.Piazzolla)
3’24” Lagrima (F. Tárrega)
4’21” Adelita (F. Tárrega)
5’10” Prelude No.1 (H. Villa-Lobos)
6’42” Etude No.11 (H. Vila-Lobos)
8’04” Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz)
11’18” Vals No.3 (Agustín Barrios Mangoré)
12’57” Bronce Gitano (Sabicas)
15’22” Tango falseta (Jerónimo Maya)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2020 11:55:45

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Which set sounds more "flamenco" in your opinion?

and some of the details of the youtube so you will not have to go there:

Guitar: Vassilis Lazarides flamenco blanca

0'00'' Guajiras de Lucia - Paco de Lucia
2'15'' Callejón de la Luna - Vicente Amigo
3'38'' Vivencias Imaginadas - Vicente Amigo
6'16'' Some rasgueados por buleria - ok you all know
9'33'' Tango - Gerardo Núñez
11'13'' Capricho árabe - Francisco Tárrega

Q.Z. is a bit more like savarez new crystal to the touch and the SN is something like between D'Addario EJ45 and Augustine classic to my poor experience.
This video was made having foroflamenco in mind. So the rest of the discussion will continue there.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 12 2021 10:48:47

JasonM

Posts: 2054
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to AndresK)

quote:

Which set sounds more "flamenco" in your opinion?

It’s hard to tell. They both sounded good, but I think the SN sounded a little brighter to me. I most noticed the brighter sound on Gaujiras. So I would say the SN. But based on your description of the QZ above with the clear trebles , i expected to like these more. Not sure if you notice this in person or if it’s lost in the recording. Nice playing by the way!

I’m still playing on the same set of SN’s since I first posted. Really impressed by how long they lasted. I think the bass strings mellowed out and sounded better after a little time. I’m also appreciative of the accuracy of intonation that the trebles have. I just got in a set of RC strings yesterday so they will be next.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 12 2021 15:02:33

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Yes, the SN are brighter and much better for Bach, if that makes sense (although I forgot to record the difference as I intended in the beginning). The SN are a bit harder to play too but with a bit more penetrating sound. The QZ always make a rounder sound effortlessly. To me the rasgueados sound more flamenco on the QZ.

It is true the intonation is very good on both even from the first day on and the guitar sound tuned very well in all the register.

None has the "body" of the luthier 20's. Savarez new cristal has the body but not the brightness or playability of the luthier.

Anyway, please let us know when you try the RC (they are even cheaper at Mrs Enders from Europe). Again not in a hurry, I still haven't used the 2nd bass set of the Knobloch because the first sounds just fine after 3 weeks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 12 2021 16:40:33

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Hello. I just wanted to share this for archive purposes and to be fair in the Knobloch company. Some days ago I installed these strings from my video above, the Knobloch SN from 2020, the same set after being used back then and kept for future use. Followed Leo Brouwer's advice on a video that he said he washes his Knobloch basses with soap and puts them back on.

They just sound very ok to my ears and eyes. No unwinding, no intonation issues, and the brightness of the basses is still there. Pretty amazing to my opinion, so wanted to share.

Have a fine and creatine year!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 6 2023 22:16:18

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Knoblock Strings Database Entry (in reply to JasonM)

Hello. Again, for archive purposes, I put this here in case it can be of help. It is the comparison of EJ45 with Knobloch Erithacus EDQ 33.0 (Q.Z. trebles) These Erithacus feel better for flamenco in my opinion than their Double Silver ones, sound wise and playability wise.

This is not a competition between strings video. It is just a very well known set (D'Addario EJ45) compared to a not so well known set (Knobloch Erithacus) so you can hear differences in timbre to help you decide if you want to try it yourself.

Guitar: Vassilis Lazarides flamenco blanca

0:00 Recuerdos de la Alhambra (F. Tárrega)
3:01 Lagrima (F. Tárrega)
4:19 Adelita (F. Tárrega)
5:16 Verano Porteño (A.Piazzolla)
6:48 Asturias (Leyenda) (Isaac Albéniz)
10:23 Prelude No.5 (H. Villa-Lobos)
14:29 Prelude No.1 (H. Villa-Lobos)
17:48 Etude No.11 (H. Vila-Lobos)
20:54 Variations on a theme by Mozart (Fernando Sor)
24:10 Gnossienne No.1 (Erik Satie)
25:44 Capricho Arabe (F. Tárrega)
28:08 Solea (Sabicas)
30:40 Tango falseta (Jerónimo Maya)
32:47 Simple buleria compas
35:35 Guajiras de Lucia (Paco de Lucia)
37:55 Partita B.W.V. 1006 (J.S.Bach)

Knobloch EDQ 33.0 is marked as a medium-low tension set. It is as easy as the D'Addario EJ45 as far as I felt it on my hands. The Erithacus basses seem to have more balance in volume than the Double silver without overpowering the trebles, which is something I usually got from Knobloch sets (I have never played their CX though that are fluorocarbon and presumably louder).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 9 2023 8:07:16