RE: Solera Flamenca Strings

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JasonM

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to AndresK)

Sounds great! And Nice scenery too. I can tell that the guitar is projecting. Of course, could be the recording, but I also take your word 😆.

Well, if Solera concert is high tension maybe that makes some sense from a business point of view? As in, they want all of their guitars to really project and sound bright in order to sell them on the internet, even if it means they are hard to play. Generally, Luthier 20 and La Bella 820 are about the maximum tension I can play comfortably on my two guitars.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 3 2021 16:40:05

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

Sounds quite right. This is also what I thought of this; good strings to sell the guitar with. Alhambra sell their guitars (at least the student models that my pupils buy) with D' Addario extra hard, and I have thought that same reason, they sound louder thus more attractive.

My highest tension is also the same. Anything above that make me tired and unwilling to play for longer periods. And Grisha uses hard Savarez to play that fast... wow. I only played hard Savarez on my diploma where I had to be heard above the piano playing concierto de Aranjuez. It worked as my adrenaline was off limits, so my hands could handle the tension for 1 hour and a half on an already hard to play classical!!! I never used hard tension since then for live performances, I mean since 2008.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 3 2021 17:54:51

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

I just bought a set of la Bella 820 this morning I was going to fix my car's air conditioning. Greece is getting warmer every day.

The solera is harder than the 820 too, but project louder in the trebles. You can achieve sweeter sound with the 820, the solera has more equal tension throughout. I also found a huge difference to the 820b. The 820b sounded muffled but the 820 reds sound very nice and bright, and sweeter than the 427 too.

Cheers.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 5 2021 18:49:18

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

Hello again. Here is a rough sound comparison of the solera concierto strings with the La Bella 820, in case it can be of any help to anyone.

here is the playlist:

0'00" Soleares - Sabicas
2'18" Tango - Jeronimo Maya
4'30" Guajiras de Lucia - Paco de Lucia
7'08" Callegon de la Luna - Vicente Amigo
8'49" Vivencias Imaginadas - Vicente Amigo
12'07" Bulerias - Well... you know..
15'00" Tango - Gerardo Núñez
17'05" Capricho Arabe - F. Tarrega

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 9 2021 16:25:20

agujetas

Posts: 60
Joined: Mar. 9 2021

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to AndresK)

The La Bellas sound more flamenco to me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 9 2021 18:40:58

JasonM

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to agujetas)

quote:

The La Bellas sound more flamenco to me.

I think I might have to agree! The solera does sound a little brighter and projects more, but it’ a little “glassy” sounding? Maybe it’s the bass stings of the solera?

I have never tried the Labella red strings. You think they are brighter than the blacks?

Grisha and hard tension... ever since he said that I can’t get it out of my mind. Hard tension AND 3mm action!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 10 2021 17:46:17

agujetas

Posts: 60
Joined: Mar. 9 2021

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

I haven’t tried the La Bella blacks. The reds are great but I prefer Knobloch. If La Bella were as cheap here in the U.K. as they are in the USA I would use them but for a few quid more I can buy Knobloch.

From the way he plays Grisha looks like the has a very strong right hand so I imagine that’s why he uses high tension. I prefer lower tension strings. No point making it harder than it already is!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2021 10:18:18

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

The La Bella sound more natural and sweet. And trying to play some classical too, the solera are hard to change to a more mellow tone. When first changed from the solera to the red 820, felt I was getting less from the guitar, mainly because of the thinner strings, and lighter tension. But when the days passed I appreciate the la Bellas in the guitar. Bright and natural.

The 820b were maybe one of the worst strings I have ever tried on this guitar. Completely muffled like they were trying to sing with their nose shut. I think that it might have to do with the more colour they add. I read somewhere on the foro Ricardo saying that you could see the reds in the blacks of you hold them in the sun. I tried that experiment but could not see anything else than the black, but the sound was really like I have painted them myself.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2021 10:49:29

LeTeutonOnGuitar

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 31 2021
From: Treviso (Home) /Zittau (working place)

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

On 31.03.2021 I put on my Soleá Especial 2020 Francisco Bros the Solera Flamenca CONCIERTO strings. At the beginning I was really disappointed because of the "sloppy" sound of the trebles. After one week, their sound was improving, now after 6 weeks it's not bad, but I prefer the crystal clear sound of the original Knobloch strings, probably the "SN Actives Double Silver Special Nylon 500 ADN - High Tension ''. The sound of the bass strings was OK right from the beginning and the playability of the whole set is excellent: it's got a good growl in the bass and you can easily bend the trebles to play some blues! On the other hand, I'm not convinced of the durability of these strings as after some days of playing the E-First and the B-string showed marks of my nails although the nails of my right hand are not long at all. I feel something like an obstacle on these 2 strings which is very unpleasant. In contrast, I never had these issues with the original Knobloch strings I have been playing for 3 months: I removed them when they were losing their sound, but even at the end the trebles were in perfect shape without any marks!
The overall sound of the solera strings is still good and powerful especially when I am playing some rasgueado:
For the moment being I will keep these strings, but when they are completely used, I will probably replace them by Knobloch or Aquila SUGAR strings with medium tension.

Stay safe

Kind regards

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LeTeutonOnGuitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 14 2021 18:57:22

LeTeutonOnGuitar

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 31 2021
From: Treviso (Home) /Zittau (working place)

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

Hi, the sound of the Solera Flamenca Concierto strings is still OK after 7 weeks of playing as you can hear in the video I have just uploaded on youtube:

What do you think? Even the sound of the trebles is not too bad in the "Arpeggio Falseta" and the "Escobilla", right?

Anyway, as these strings are a bit expensive - I have paid 55 € for 2 complete sets and 2 additional bass sets including standard shipping to the EU -, guess, I will perhaps only change the bass strings next month trying to put the trebles the other way round to get rid of the marks of my nails on the E-First and B-strings at least for some time.

According to your experience, how long do these strings last? During the week I'm playing Flamenco guitar less than 1 hour per day and only the weekend 2 or 3 hours per day.

Stay safe! Cheers

_____________________________

LeTeutonOnGuitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2021 17:30:50

LeTeutonOnGuitar

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 31 2021
From: Treviso (Home) /Zittau (working place)

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to LeTeutonOnGuitar)

Hi, First of all Happy Pentecoste and now just a short update. Concerning my Soleá Especial Francisco Bros, 2 days ago I wanted to change just the bass strings and put the trebles the other way round to get rid of the signs of wear. Starting with the E-First-string I was almost done, but when I put it under tension, it broke. Thus I said to myself "Basta" and replaced the Solera strings with Knobloch "SN Actives Double Silver Special Nylon 400 ADN - Medium High Tension". I am really satisfied with my choice and will let you know my experience with these strings in a "Knobloch strings topic" on this forum as soon as manage to upload my First Soleá Solo on youtube.
Stay safe! Cheers

_____________________________

LeTeutonOnGuitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 24 2021 17:56:14

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

Well, hello again from this post. Some more things on these strings.

What I have concluded until now is this. Solera flamenca concierto, has lowish tension 1st string and basses with hard tension 2nd and 3rd strings. (You can see this if you compare their diameter to other brands like RC strings.) Similar to what Luciano was describing about his favourite tension on strings. This is supposed to give more of an equal tension through the strings.

It is true that you can cross the trebles strings easier on the solera set and are amongst the fastest strings to my opinion, and surely the easier to do the fast picado on two strings as you can hear for example on Vicente's callejon intro. The basses are very flexible too (maybe because they are lowish tension), so legato on the basses works very easily, let's say for Granaina or taranta.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 3 2021 17:01:30

mt1007

Posts: 162
Joined: Jan. 19 2011

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

what up guys....

so i too have updates on the solera concert tension strings. in my previous posts i state that i do like them and still do.

though, now that public performances are allowed again in cali, i have noticed in my tablao gigs that these strings go out of tune quickly. some of the venues are outdoors and some indoors, temp and humidity are factors for sure.

this has always been the case for all strings i've used live but the solera strings i notice really go out of tune to higher degree than other strings, especially the trebles. i assume this has to do with them being flexible so before i play a number with quadro, the strings are tuned then after number with quadro the pitch on trebles are almost dropped by half step. on other strings i've used sometimes pitch will change in cents but not a half step. so, after a quadro number i got to start tuning guitar up quickly for next number, whereas other strings i can almost leave without tuning the whole guitar maybe just a couple of tugs here in there to sound in tune.

i still like the strings, but they are a little high maintenance in live performances just thought you guys would like to know…

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 20 2021 18:07:58

Ricardo

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to mt1007)

quote:

i still like the strings, but they are a little high maintenance in live performances just thought you guys would like to know…

Thanks for the nice review.

(And by nice review I mean what a horrible nightmare, avoid at all costs!!

)

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 21 2021 16:06:02

mt1007

Posts: 162
Joined: Jan. 19 2011

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to Ricardo)

hahaha... yeah man i cant recommend for working guitarists

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 21 2021 16:44:12

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

Hello again. I played the Solera concierto in a live performance some weeks ago, on a 70 people outside live in a book-store's cafe patio like back yard, and they were quite stable on the tuning. I installed them 6 days before the concert and experienced no issues whatsoever.

If I had to say a negative thing about them I would say that the basses died in 10 days after instalment. I did play many hours because of the upcoming live, but it seemed a bit fast, la bella like quick death. I managed to revive them for another 10 days using "fast fret" everyday, but I would prefer it if they lasted a little longer, but you cannot have anything forever, at least as far as it has to do with strings.

Peace.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2021 11:33:53

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to Piwin)

quote:

Even if it evens out somewhat, does the on-guitar tension profile keep the same overall shape as the graph you posted for pre-guitar tension profile?

Someone on the classical guitar site started posting a few measurements they've done, so we can begin to look at the question. He did an Alliance trebles set (fluorocarbon; PVDF) at Savarez 'normal' tension, and a set of Aquila Alchemia (mixture of sugar polymer and their nylgut) - normal and 1e treble of 'superior' tension.

We can see that the high-e treble dips the most in tension compared to the listed tension, so the on-guitar tension profile when first stabilized is a lot more 'flat' than the original tension profile as listed on the package.

Looks like the shape is not necessarily kept, though, depending on how 2b and 3g trebles dip in tension (see carbon NT 2b vs. 3g - the on-guitar tension of 2b dipped below that of 3g) - however these are single string measurements, and not necessarily at the same level of stabilization - some may be from months after (vs. say 1 or 2 weeks after) being put on the guitar.

Nylon trebles would have the same tendencies, but a smaller percentage change in tension from listed to stabilized on-guitar.

And I forgot to look for that paper that I seem to recall had measurements of how string tension on-guitar at pitch decreases with time - will try to find it.

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Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 21 2022 23:59:04

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to AndresK)

Hello. I am just replying to myself from several posts above about the la bella 820b. Just needed to restore their reputation

So back in 2021 I bought some 820b from a Europe retailer and tried them and felt that those were the worst strings I have ever tried. I also emailed labella last year sharing my experience with them and asking some questions about what nylon they use on their elite sets. For the 820b bad experience that I had, they said that I might got a bad batch or defective set.

I kept that "bad" set in mind for many months and gave them another try from stringsbymail and they arrived today.

They are amazing! Meaning they sound like normal nylon strings, similar to the 427 that I like, but as expected from their tension chart, a bit firmer. Perfect intonation and loudness and are quite fast too. So I take it all back. These strings are now back to one of my favourites.

Of course posting here is a bit irrelevant to the thread, as it is solera flamenca strings, so I will post again maybe in a few days on the product review 820b thread acknowledging the 820b as still in 2023, a fine set of strings.

Now since I make this post and this thread is about solera strings I have to say that even though the soleras are very good and powerful strings the basses died on me more than once in just a few hours of playing. In just one week, every time I tried them, the basses got completely dead sounding unfortunately, making it to the top of the short leaving basses I have ever tried, and this is not something I would like from the strings I regularly use, so....

Intonation wise the soleras are among the best I have ever tried. Just to finish this post in a positive way

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2023 22:14:32

JasonM

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to AndresK)

Andres,

Have you tried Felipe Conde flamenco strings? I’d be curious to see what you think. I like them. They are pretty bright sounding on my guitars, similar to Luthier but a little brighter. Unfortunately I think there is a bit of Conde name markup no surprise

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2023 20:51:27

Cervantes

Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

I have not been playing much over the past few years but started again recently.
My strings were very old, probably more than a year so I ordered these Solera Flamenca strings to try them out. Well new strings really make a difference. My wife commented that my guitar sounded good which is something I rarely hear from her.
At first the trebles had a lot of attack and not much sustain but after a day it seems better.
They are loud and clear and G string sounds good. I usually use a carbon G string but I am going leave this one on. The bass strings also sound good. The tension to me feels between normal and high. I like the feel and response of these strings. If they keep sounding good for awhile I will probably order more. I also got some LaBella 820 that I plan to try in a few weeks.

_____________________________

Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco
very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2023 20:53:54

Cervantes

Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to Cervantes)

After playing the Solera Strings for a few weeks, I switched over to LaBella 820.
At first I liked them, I felt like they had more character and complexity of sound.
But after a few days they started to feel real flabby and sound soft.
Today I put the Soleras back on and definitely like them better, more punch and crisp sound although its more of a primary sound. They also feel higher tension which seems to work better for me. The basses sounded great when i first put them on but like most strings after a few weeks they lost a lot their appeal.

_____________________________

Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco
very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 24 2023 23:16:11

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to Cervantes)

Hello. Are you using the solera concierto, alma or acompanamiento? They have an aggressiveness and immediate response that I have not found anywhere else, that is for sure. But the basses lasted only a week for for me

(On all the five or six sets that I tried, all concierto tension)

The La Bella 820b were used for 1 and a half months with no problem, and the basses got dead gradually and not over-night like the soleras. That's too bad.

I also emailed Jordi about that and he replied immediately (he is a very nice guy indeed). Among other things he also said " I'm very glad you notice the qualities of our strings, we're very happy, the only problem is that unfortunately to get that pulsation and tension you need to use a flexible and sensitive material to oxidation... ... the strings have gone up a lot in recent years and it's not something fair because it's certainly something that should be changed every week or every two weeks at most depending on the use that each guitarist play. But you should never use another material because the guitar is a wooden instrument and needs a natural sound besides a balanced and flexible tension so that the mast doesn't break. But we will continue to investigate why we do not lose hope of finding a good solution to this. A very strong hug and thank you so much for trusting us and for your messages of spirit"

So they know that their basses do not last long but they feel it the right material to have the sound and flexibility they want.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 25 2023 9:32:13

AndresK

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

RE: Solera Flamenca Strings (in reply to JasonM)

New addition to the Solera strings,

I am not going to try them though as they are
even harder than the other sets they have.

The Alma I am playing these days are very good indeed if you
leave out the fact that the basses become dead and
you need to turn them around every week.