View Full Version : Gibson Sam Bush Strings
psann
Jun-22-2004, 10:08am
I stopped in a little music store a while back to pick up some strings for my Morgan Monron MCM-CB. I normally use elixer lights but the owner suggested I also try a set of these. I just put them on and found a couple surprises. The package included 3 e's and 3 a's. No mention of this on the package.
The elixers have a .034 G String The Sam Bush is .041 (the Morgan strings which I removed when I bought the mando a year ago are .32) All the other strings are comparably gauged to the elixers but the G strings won't sit properly. I know I could have the nut grooved a bit to fit them but am afraid this would leave too much slop for playing othe light gauges strings. I really like the mellow sound of these strings but perhaps they are just too heavy for my Pac-rim .
For the present I am going to replace the G strings with some elixer polywebs I have in a partial set leftover from a broken string change many moons ago on another mando. It may sound awful but I am going to find out. I can't quite bring myself to remove and discard a complete brand new set of strings.
Pat
daveb
Jun-22-2004, 10:15am
I have not used the Bush's, I tried the Bill Monroe's and did not like them on my MMS-3.
I never had a problem going to a larger size though.
I finally setteled on the SIT lights and love them.
Good tone and they last almost as long as TIs'.
Dave
Michael H Geimer
Jun-22-2004, 11:12am
I switched over from J-74's to the Sam Bush strings. I am sold. I find the Sam's are pulling a 'dryer', 'woodier' tone out my Weber.
Dru Lee Parsec
Jun-22-2004, 11:27am
I like em. The Sam Bush strings are the same as the old Gibson "Monel" strings. The sound great and seem to last forever. AND you get an extra E and A string in the set.
psann
Jun-22-2004, 12:09pm
I have been playing them all morning. At first I was finding just the opposite - they sounded quite metallic. After playing them a while, they are settling down and sounding more mellow. I guess it proves the point that you have to find the right strings for you particular mando. I can see that I am on a new quest to try a lot of different strings. I went with the elixers when I first started playing as they were easier on the fingers. Not really an issue now. Since at the moment I have elixers on the G and the Sam Bush on the others, it is interesting to compare. The slides are much easier on the elixers. However, I find the monels easier to pick clean. I had not realized how much the pick slid off of the elixers. (I use a Wegan pick which I love)
Scotti Adams
Jun-22-2004, 12:12pm
..hmmm....I didnt know there were any other kind of strings...Ive used them and Gibson Monels since 1985. For my money there isnt a better string....as mentioned before..they produce a much dryer, woodier tone...do your mando good and get some if you havent already..
c3hammer
Jun-22-2004, 3:53pm
I played the Sam Bush strings for a year or so. They sounded great with the exception of the A course.
I hated those smaller diameter wire A's. They were very difficult to keep in tune and once they started to die they would never go in tune.
I wish they would make a set just like the Sam Bush set but with a flat wound A like in the Thomastic Starks. That would be the perfect combo, IMHO.
Cheers,
Pete
Scotti Adams
Jun-22-2004, 5:21pm
..Ive never had the problem you speak about concerning the A strings....they stay in tune for me...always have...
GTison
Jun-23-2004, 7:09am
jessie mcrenolds was using them on his new gibson fern last friday at beanblossom fest. he said that they sustained better than the bronze strings.
MandyLynn
Jun-25-2004, 6:25pm
I'm so glad to hear those are still around! After my Guitar Center stopped carrying them (and Old Town School never carried them at all, as far as I know) I thought they were goners.
I love having the extra A and E strings, and I just really like the way they sound on my mando. I'm going to have to find me a new source.
earthsave
Jun-26-2004, 8:42am
Best strings I have used. Great tone and they hold up better than phosphor bronzes.
Pete Martin
Jun-28-2004, 5:22pm
I love em, but wish heavier gauges were available. Gibson, R U listening??
Jon Hall
Jun-28-2004, 6:30pm
I've used the Gibson monels/S.Bush on my Weber for a couple of years. The 3rd and 4th sound great but the A's really die soon and the E's lack volume.
As an experiment I tried some GHS silk & bronze. They gave me the treble I was looking for but lost that great lower end. What to do?
getting a setup on my mando, and trying the monels. do others find the a and e volume issues?
mmukav
Jul-01-2004, 8:41pm
Just put a set on my A9 today! Too soon to tell though, they still sounded bright right out of the package, but I'm sure they'll settle in after a little playing time. I'll let you know how they're workin' out. (I also put new strings on my zouk so I wound up playing that all day 'cause I just got it recently) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Yonkle
Jul-01-2004, 8:54pm
I like the way they "G" and "D" string sound but the "A" seems a bit wimpy and the "E" is OK, on the Sam Bush Strings.
I put the Gibson Bill Monroe strings on my new mandolin and changed the 14A out to a 16A and it sounds very loud and clean. They are kinda like J74's with more punch.
well, picking up today, and playing out with them tonight, so i'll give my review tom. thanks,
ira
duuuude
Jul-02-2004, 10:30am
Put a set on the F-9 last night, extremely well-balanced over all courses and great punch to the G. They do seem a bit brighter but that may mellow as they're played-in. Overall I'm very satisfied with them so far.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
Has anyone tried the SJ74 strings from D'Addario?
tried out the bush strings tonight. at first had prob staying in tune, but i hadn't really played em more than a few strums, and that seems common with all strings i try. once we got going they stayed in tune. a tad brighter than i expected, but definitely different. one of our regulars who is a gutarist, asked what was different about my mandolin. the sound was really powerful. the big diff were the strings. they really ring out. we played a few songs with me and 2 guitarists just jammin chords and playing leads around and around (knockin on heavens door), and the 2 finger chords were so strong, and during the leads there was a little more soul to the sound. definitely different sound and feel, and i need to get used to em more, but so far, so good.:) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
day 2- still a little tinny in the a and e course. hoping it gets better cause i love the beefy sound from the g.
duuuude
Jul-06-2004, 8:09am
Been bangin' on mine for the weekend and they've settled in a little in tone but still retain some of that nickel-type brightness, though overall much deeper than most non-bronze strings, IMWO. Will see how they hold up at the monthly NNBA jam tonight. I like 'em well enough, just wish there was a tad more woof to the bass end.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
m,
interesting. mine are settling a bit as well, but i am finding that the bass end is the highlight of these strings for me. they add an extra thump. whereas the e and a courses are a tad weak. all in the ear of the listner
duuuude
Jul-07-2004, 6:54am
Don't get me wrong, the bass is still there, just with a little different tone to my ear, and on my mando, got some good bark outa 'em at times last night. I've always been kinda annoyed by piercing A & E tones so maybe my ear just likes 'em mellower, mine seem to blend nicely with the G & D and don't jump out like some strings. As you say, all in the ear, and the mando, and the attack, just as long as it puts a grin on yer face.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
mmukav
Jul-07-2004, 8:17am
I'm with Ira, I like the bass strings, but find the A and E too light and thin sounding. I'd like the heavier A and E like on the Gibson Bill Monroes. I do like the strings though.
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 8:45am
The Sam Bush E strings are the exact same string as in the Monroe set! #The A is the only one that is different!.014 vs. .015!
Scotti Adams
Jul-07-2004, 9:01am
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
are the monroes nickel as well?
Scotti Adams
Jul-07-2004, 1:55pm
...no..just the same size....at least any Monroe sets Ive ever seen havent been nickel...
mmukav
Jul-07-2004, 2:10pm
Duh! You're right, the E and A are the same in both sets. Wierd, they seem a little lighter. Guess it's just me!
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 2:13pm
No, the Monroe set has a .015 for the A string! The E string is the same.
mmukav
Jul-07-2004, 3:03pm
Aha! I knew they were different!
Scotti Adams
Jul-07-2004, 3:30pm
..well..I didnt have both sets laid out here in front of me here at work....give me that one http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 3:56pm
Don't worry Scotti, I actually originally posted that the Monroe's had a .016 A string because I had always known it was heavier and that's what I thought it was. I had to go look at Gibson's website to find out it was a .015. Oh well.
Scotti Adams
Jul-07-2004, 5:41pm
..has anybody tried the D'Adarrio J64's?...they are nickle and First Quality has them on sale for $3.89 a set...thats cheap. How do they compare to the Bush's?
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 5:48pm
I tried them years ago Scott and did not like them at all. The main reason was because of the lighter G string and I just couldn't get used to it. Plus, they sounded much brighter than the Gibsons to me. I am still waiting to try a set of the D'addario JS74's.
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 5:51pm
Did you mean the J67's Scotti? Those are the one's I tried.
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 5:53pm
Also, I think the Monels are basically just stainless steel wound and the nickel has a different sound to my ears. I did try a set of Fender's SS wound mando strings and I could tolerate them if I couldn't get the Monels. They weren't bad at all, especially for the price.
Scotti Adams
Jul-07-2004, 6:00pm
yea....J67's....a typo...its been a long day.....thanks for the feedback......I'll just stick with the Sammy's.
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 6:04pm
Me too until I can try a set of the JS74's. I have always loved D'addario strings back when I played PB strings but they never made one that could compete with the Monels. I will let you know as soon as I try a set out Scotti.
mandoJeremy
Jul-07-2004, 6:08pm
Of course, the thing I don't get about this whole metal thing is the fact that D'addario lists the J67's as nickel plated stainless steel and they list the JS74's as the same thing. But, they call the 67's Nickel Plated and the 74's Stainless Steel! Oh well, if you do get a set of the 67's you can see how much brighter in appearance they are compared to the Monels. Anyways..............:)
JD Cowles
Jul-08-2004, 4:46pm
just got my first few sets from fqms. my davis is throaty as hell but the high end is a bit too punchy. maybe these are the strings for me. full report to come tomorrow.
jd
ok, my partner dropped off the tape from last friday's show, and wow did my axe sound different. real thick sounding, deep and strong. couldn't really tell while playing, but sooooooooooooooooooooooooo different from other strings i've played. though i like to accent the lows, i will need to bring up the treble on my preamp and bring down the bass. will take getting used to, but pretty sweeet!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif
mmukav
Jul-09-2004, 8:33am
Practiced with the band yesterday and my mando just didn't have it's usual punch. I play an A9 and the Gibson Bill Monroes just had more volume, clarity. The Sam Bush strings are nice, I really liked the low end, but not enough on top for my taste. Now I do play hard, and I noticed when I backed off they sounded much better. For those who play with a lighter touch I think these would be great strings, but I think I'll go back to the Monroes for now. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
JD Cowles
Jul-09-2004, 8:59am
i'm sold. my wife just about killed me at 1am "will you please do something besides chop a d chord?!?"
then i realized that she said "chop a d chord" and i quickly dropped the mando
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
seriously, they are dry and woody and everything i've heard so far. how long do they last compared to others?
jd
Scotti Adams
Jul-09-2004, 1:38pm
...depending on how much you play.....I usually get 2-3 months out of them...one thing I noticed is sometimes they may sound dead after a month or two but after playing a few minutes they come out of it......hey...Ive also been known to boil strings to clean them....losens the grit in the wound strings...believe me it works.....
hey scotti- interested in your take on diffs b/w monroes and bush strings if you have used em both (i know you said you've seen em but have you played the monroes?)
Scotti Adams
Jul-09-2004, 1:47pm
...sorry Ira...cant relate....I havent used any of the Monroes...Ive got a set in my dresser that has been there for years....I just dont like bronze strings anymore...havnet since 1985.....the last set of strings I used besides the Monels were a set of GHS silk and steel...about 3 yrs ago...I put them on before show we did at Beanblossom....couldnt wait for the set to end so I could get some Monels back on.....the only reason I switched was because I could of had an endless supply of them...but...yukky.....nothing but Monels....if it aint broke dont fix it..
JD Cowles
Jul-09-2004, 3:02pm
thanks for the info scotti. when it comes to string life for me, it really doesn't matter as i go about 2-3 months regardless. haven't boiled and strings yet, but never say never. oddly, i tried the monels on an old mando and they sounded dead right from the get-go. on my current and most favorite to date, they sound great. i have a tendency to play hard and the bronze were a bit too bright esp the high end. i've been beating the heck outta these monels for about 12 hours and can't stop smiling. my chop sounds like a perfectly placed swing of a splittin maul through a piece of well seasoned firewood. gotta go pick more.
jd
Scotti Adams
Jul-09-2004, 4:02pm
..no problem JD...now if you decide to boil your strings its important to dry them off asap...using a paper towel or something....you will be able to see the crud on the towel...you will be amazed http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Scotti Adams
Jul-10-2004, 10:15am
..anybody got a dozen sets of Sammys that they want to sell?
Kevin K
Jul-10-2004, 4:31pm
There was word some time back on a new set of Bush strings with a 16 A, has that been released yet?
mandoJeremy
Jul-10-2004, 5:01pm
I never heard that word!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
Kevin K
Jul-12-2004, 6:23am
I think Big Joe had said something about that but could be mistaken.
back to the bush- a few weeks later, and i love em. still wish the a and e were a little stronger, but my mando sounds better than ever. tapes really show the difference. one orig song we do has a slow pickin intro on mando and man did it sound fine, and its not like i've suddenly developed incredible talent (though that would be nice). the sound is so deep and resonant. quite happy right now.