Vicente Amigo Solera strings (Alma)

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AndresK

Posts: 199
Joined: Jan. 4 2019

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: 133
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: 7666
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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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

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

zendalex

Posts: 133
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: 240
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: 133
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: 240
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: 1061
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: 13959
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