Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma)

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AndresK

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

Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma)

Hello. Just opening the discussion about the new Solera strings. Have not tried them yet but maybe will in the future. In the meantime here are a couple of videos solera posted in case you have missed them. Cheers!

edit: at 0:25 of the second video you can see the tension chart on the back of the package.

1st 0,71mm - 028"
2nd 0,81mm - 032"
3rd 1,02mm - 040"
4th 0,68mm - 027"
5th 0,85mm - 033"
6th 1,04mm - 041"

That means lighter 2nd and 3rd, and lighter basses compared to the solera concierto. Definitely going to try these at some point as the solera concierto felt a bit stiff to me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 10 2021 8:11:43

zendalex

Posts: 137
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

I just ordered a pack from stringsbymail. Luckily they are not as expensive as Knoblocks. Wondering if medium is all they are going to have going forward.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 15 2021 14:53:18

JLNims

Posts: 27
Joined: Mar. 9 2016

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

I just ordered a set of these from SBM too. Should be here this week sometime. As soon as I get them settled, I will post my humble opinion. I'm currently using Luthier Silver 50 HT's. They sound great; but the tension is just too high

.

Hasta pronto!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 12 2021 17:19:32

rombsix

Posts: 7808
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to JLNims)

What does coNfort mean?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 13 2021 13:50:31

zendalex

Posts: 137
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to rombsix)

quote:

What does coNfort mean?

Well google tells me its French. Question, why use French on the strings you are to sell internationally? Is it a statement of some kind (you know I did have issues when flying Air-France with a stop in Paris, you cant even buy water if you try to ask for it in English).

Now I did try those strings. And surprisingly, they are pretty good. Surprisingly, as I have settled with D'Addario hard tensions for some time now. What really popped into my eyes is that those Alma strings do not sound metallic when you just put them on. D'Addario requires a week of break-in period, Alma sounds good right away. And yes medium tension is rather coNfortable :). Now I have not yet figured if they are durable (e.g. I refuse to use Savarez, as the 4th tore down in 1 week with very little me playing). But so far I had Alma for a couple of weeks and they seem to be just fine. Fair to mention, I put them on one of the 4 guitars I have and not using it for everyday practice, but mostly just to enjoy the new sound.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 13 2021 15:03:39

Auda

Posts: 246
Joined: Sep. 28 2019

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to zendalex)

quote:

Surprisingly, as I have settled with D'Addario hard tensions for some time now.

What type? They seem have a lot of different letters/numbers. The last bunch I got seemed to be dead though after awhile I either got use to them or they settled in. When I had previously purchased them from music stores I never encountered the same problem. Maybe I should have paid more attention.

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 13 2021 19:09:34

zendalex

Posts: 137
Joined: Sep. 4 2010
From: New York area

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to Auda)

quote:

What type?

I am only changing basses usually and I have a stash of D'Addario Pro Arte hard tension basses (the blue label, Silver Plated Copper Wound Nylon Core. They are cheap, like $6 per basses pack). For the trebles I use various including D'Addario themselves, Luthiers or Savarez flamenco "Tomatito". I found very little effect from changing trebles. The exception is the La Bella reds which really made my other negra guitar sound more flamenco.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 14 2021 14:36:32

Auda

Posts: 246
Joined: Sep. 28 2019

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to zendalex)

quote:

I am only changing basses usually and I have a stash of D'Addario Pro Arte hard tension basses (the blue label, Silver Plated Copper Wound Nylon Core. They are cheap, like $6 per basses pack). For the trebles I use various including D'Addario themselves, Luthiers or Savarez flamenco "Tomatito". I found very little effect from changing trebles. The exception is the La Bella reds which really made my other negra guitar sound more flamenco.

Thanks. Ordered a couple of the EJ48 sets. Hopefully they are not as dull.

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 15 2021 18:20:49

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

I have the same strings habits of Zendalex. Mostly D’addario EJ46 or their HT version with fluorocarbon core.
I tried the concert Solera (not the salma yet) and found them ok for home use but a little too soft for performances or dance classes. I suspect these Alma are too soft for my habits…

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 17 2021 0:08:04

JLNims

Posts: 27
Joined: Mar. 9 2016

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

Well, the strings arrived; and I have put them on. But first things first:

On first observation, I was taken a bit back looking at the packaging of the strings. My Luthier's always came in a vacuum packed package with each string individually vacuum packed. The Alma's came in a hard paper box with each string individually placed in a paper envelope unsealed. This may not be a big deal at all if the strings go directly from manufacturer to guitar in a short period of time before oxidation and the elements begin their dastardly deeds to the strings. Especially the basses.

That's my first and only rant!

The strings came up and settled within one hour. I was pleasantly surprised!
They are way more easy on the left hand fingers and wrist grip than the 50HT's, but we all suspected that, so no surprise there. They play and sound wonderful I must say. They respond quickly and with very good voicing

.

Now as far as cost is concerned, these are approximately $8 US more than the Luthier Silver 20 or 30's, which would be close in specification comparison. Also, Solera appears to have some difficulty getting these manufactured and out to the dealers. I bought mine from SBM; and they had them back ordered. Fortunately, the strings arrived at SBM when I placed my order

so I got them reasonably quickly.

Luthier, on the other hand, now that they are back in production, appear to have no issues getting product out to the dealers (so far anyway).

I only compare the Alma's and Luthier's as these are the strings I am most familiar with. I would love to hear comments from players using strings from other manufacturers to compare with the Alma's for a baseline comparison for all of us!

Anyhoo - there's my first comments on the Alma's. I need to play these in for a couple of weeks before I make any real judgments! As for now, I like them, but I don't know if the extra cost and lesser packaging controls are worth the fuss.

We'll see!

Thanks for reading!

¡Hasta Luego!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 17 2021 5:30:55

Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to JLNims)

quote:

Alma's came in a hard paper box with each string individually placed in a paper envelope unsealed. This may not be a big deal at all if the strings go directly from manufacturer to guitar in a short period of time before oxidation and the elements begin their dastardly deeds to the strings. Especially the basses.

I once had a student with a 40 year old guitar with original strings on. He never played it (beginner) and the strings were rusty. They sounded brilliant and bright like new strings despite their appearance. I think what kills strings from playing is the oils and acids in the fingers. As we age I notice my bass strings last much longer than when I was young, as the metabolism changes. So I would not worry about vacuum sealed or not bass sets.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2021 13:53:35

AndresK

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

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

After all this time I finally got my hands on some of these. The single package was always out of stock when I was trying to order strings but this time I went for it and bought the 2 sets plus 2 basses package for 50 euros including mail costs. The D'Addario EJ45 set now costs 14 euros for most of Europe shops, so 50 for basically 4 sets did not seem that much. First impression is very good if you are looking for an easy to play set. They have the same specs as the Labella 427. The nylon is the clear type but it has lots to give. I will have some sound samples in a few days. Settled in 20 minutes as much as to play a whole piece without the need to retune. The was with their other concierto set too.

And yes, they are coNfortable. Last but not least, as Vicente states in the back of the package when getting these strings you also buy his soul.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 17 2023 14:06:59

AndresK

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

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

Here it is. The comparison with the EJ45. I must admit I really like these Alma strings. The first time I tried the solera flamenca concierto strings I thought "they are great but I wish they could be a little lighter especially on the 3rd and 2nd strings". And my all time best these years, especially for their tension, is the La Bella 427. At first I thought telling the solera about this but who am I to ask for a lighter version of the 'perfect string' as they said. So I lived on..

But maybe someone heard me and Vicente asked them for a lighter version of their concierto set and thus the Alma was born, exactly in the diameters I like, the 427's!!!

So I had to try them eventually. I love them as I played many many hours these days (unfortunately not the pieces I recorded for the comparison

), and my hands thank the lighter tension of these Alma strings. And last but not least they sound to me very flamenco, especially the basses, and what a wonderful 1st string! They are the clear type nylon but with power like they are denser .

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)
10:18 Prelude No.5 (H. Villa-Lobos)
14:11 Prelude No.1 (H. Villa-Lobos)
17:49 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)
28:05 Solea (Sabicas)
30:40 Tango falseta (Jerónimo Maya)
32:47 Simple buleria compas
35:40 Guajiras de Lucia (Paco de Lucia)
37:55 Partita B.W.V. 1006 (J.S.Bach)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2023 12:12:45

AndresK

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

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

And.......... the basses are dead, in 9 days, but I will say 10 because the day is almost done here. But as long as they lasted they did have a very proper flamenco sound. The trebles, especially the first, have scratches too. I do not bother with scratches at all.

The same happened before with the solera concierto, and as I have mentioned on that thread, after contacting solera about the premature 'death' of the basses back then, they responded that they chose these basses for the feel and sound and not any coated or other long lasting basses because the sound and feel was not optional for them.

Well I get it for people that change their strings once a week but for me it is best to change them once a month.

It is good I have the 'pack profesional' set (as it is written on the box, in Spanish it is correct but again it is combined with the English word pack), so I have more bass sets, that I will save for special occasions maybe, as live performance or recording.

Again I must say that the intonation is on the D'Addario level with these solera strings. Every chord just sounds right with no fine tuning all the time. The sound is also very 'natural' to my ears, very immediate, and the rasgueados sound amazing too. If they also had the Knobloch basses long lasting life they could be one of the best on the market.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 25 2023 20:26:36

Stu

Posts: 2528
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

Andres, what do you mean when you say 'dead'?

After 10 days!!? Really?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 25 2023 20:50:46

AndresK

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

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to Stu)

Unfortunately yes. Dead meaning when hitting the basses the guitar sounds like a dead cardboard with strings and not a luthier well made instrument with fine wood selection

D'Addario pro arte basses have this dead feeling maybe after 20 days I think. But the death dive of the soleras is very steep and not gradual as most other brand basses. D'Addario xt basses can hold a month, not sounding bright, but tolerable, Knobloch too, but these sound like completely lifeless (dead). The actual note is there but there are no upper register harmonics, like you have no nail on your thumb, like playing rubber bands with plain flesh. The trebles still sound very nice though.

The tension is one of the best features of these alma strings, as it is with the labella 427; it makes you feel you own the guitar and not the opposite, as it happens with hard tension strings trying to make those lengthy flamenco legatos in a solea.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 26 2023 18:27:54

AndresK

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

RE: Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma) (in reply to AndresK)

And now... revived again.. back from the dead

Just by moving them a bit towards the bridge and tying them again. Next, I might reverse them completely, as it has worked wonderfully in the past. They are so nice I do not want to change them off the guitar, which is something I never hesitate to do with strings I do not like. But I really like these and they feel so easy. I have been playing at least 2-3 hours a day and some days even more and my left hand says 'oh really'

I can play even barred parts again and again with these strings without the risk of hurting my left hand.

So in conclusion, especially for the people who are more sensitive to tension as I am, these Alma make you play better

.

Of course if your guitar needs more tension to drive the top and handles tension feeling easier maybe these are not for you.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 29 2023 6:34:01