Gibson Monel Strings

**Jon Hall** · Jan-22-2004, 12:17am

I have always order Gibson monels from Elderly but they no longer list them in their web catalog. Does anyone know if they are discontinued by Gibson?

Does anyone else make a similar string?

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-22-2004, 7:46am

..yep..gone..The Sam Bush set is the same thing...with an extra E string....

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-22-2004, 7:49am

..D'Addario makes a set now JS74's....they are just coming out with them and introduced at NAMM...I guess they are comparable to the Gibson Monels only with a .16 for the A's

**mando-in-kingwood** · Jan-22-2004, 10:56pm

Are the Sam Bush sets still made and available, or were they discontinued also?

**BigJoe** · Jan-23-2004, 12:00am

The Sam Bush strings are still being made.

**rcoolz** · Jan-25-2004, 9:37am

Do you mean they are gone from elderly or out of production. My local dealer has 5 sets and that is all I use . If they are out of production I better go get them

thanks for any reply. ---rcoolz

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-25-2004, 9:49am

..they are no longer being produced..so you better grab them up....from what I understand....The Bush set is the same thing...I just ordered 6 sets of the Bush's so I will soon find out..

**mandoJeremy** · Jan-25-2004, 9:52am

Scotti, you are exactly right because I used the Bush set over a year ago and they are the same as the monels. Just different packaging and that extra first string are the only differences.

**Jon Hall** · Jan-25-2004, 10:16am

It sounds like a marketing decision to me. Gibson increased their sales of monel strings(Sam Bush package not included) by 12.5%.

I'm sure I'll buy the Sam Bush set even though I've never broken an E string. The A's are the ones that die first.

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-25-2004, 12:52pm

Originally Posted by (Jon @ Jan. 25 2004,10:16)

It sounds like a marketing decision to me. Gibson increased their sales of monel strings(Sam Bush package not included) by 12.5%.

I'm sure I'll buy the Sam Bush set even though I've never broken an E string. The A's are the ones that die first.

..exactly...Add Bush's mug and just raise the price of the regular Monels....

**mandoJeremy** · Jan-25-2004, 5:00pm

Okay Scotti, here is our latest disagreement!!! I have broken a s&*tload more E strings in my 12 years of playing than A's. As far as marketing is concerned, if your A strings wear out first, then it wouldn't help you to buy the Bush set since there's only that extra (1) E string! Since they wear out so quickly, you should hope they would put in an extra (1) A string but what would you do then because you would still be wanting (1) A string? Better buy two (2) Bush sets to compensate for the loss of the A string on the first set!

They are still as great as ever, as long as you can get over the marketing craze (your words, not mine!) and throw away an extra string that you will never need or utilize.

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-25-2004, 5:41pm

Jeremy...the only part I agree on Jons post was the marketing issue..I dont know how to edit the quotes...I dont necessarly agree on the A & E string issue......To be truthful I dont break too many strings let alone one more than the other...

# the Monels are the best string in my opinion..no matter what they call them

**mandoJeremy** · Jan-26-2004, 12:44pm

I do agree that they are the best strings Scotti and I must confess that I don't break many strings anymore myself. #I used to play a lot harder than I do now and I guess that's why I broke so many E's. #Of course, I did leave "Picking On The Green" in Asheville one night with only one G string and two D strings left on my mando! #I had only been playing about two years then and didn't know not to hit the strings too hard! My mando just didn't quite have the same tone with only three strings left on it!

**Mando4Life** · Jan-26-2004, 1:38pm

FYI....Big City Strings still has some Monels...I just received 2 packs today. They are the Gibcon Monels notthe Sammy B's. I'm curious to see how they sound.

WBL

**Scotti Adams** · Jan-26-2004, 8:44pm

back before Christmas First Quality had 36 sets of the plain ol Monels..I got them for $3.00 a set....bought a dozen...makes me wish I would have bought them all at the time....

**Crowder** · Jan-26-2004, 9:07pm

Originally Posted by (Jon @ Jan. 25 2004,10:16)

It sounds like a marketing decision to me. Gibson increased their sales of monel strings(Sam Bush package not included) by 12.5%.

I'm sure I'll buy the Sam Bush set even though I've never broken an E string. The A's are the ones that die first.

There was a news release this week about the owners (actually the article said "founders") trying to take the company public as soon as possible. I'd expect more of this kind of thing, not less. When you're owned by shareholders, you have to be more creative to make your numbers. Look for more Korean mandolins with Epiphone and even Gibson across the headstock in a store near you

**BigJoe** · Jan-27-2004, 12:14am

Hey Crowder!
There have been rumors of Gibson going public for at least ten years I remember. It could happen, but it has not yet. Even if it does, that is not likely to change anything visible. All Epiphone mandolins are pac-rim in our own factory there. The Gibson is hand made in America and that is not going to change in our lifetime...if ever. Believe me on this, no board of stockholders could be more fierce on making numbers than our current owners. In spite of this, he demands the finest instruments that can be built.

Now back to the issue at hand. Monel strings. We just got a good shipment of Sam Bush strings in stock. They have a new packaging and that is likely what took so long to get them. Same product, just different package. I'm glad to have them back. Great strings. They should be available in your area soon.

**mandoJeremy** · Jan-27-2004, 8:17am

BigJoe, that explains why my Bush came back with phosphor bronze strings! You all were out of the monels I guess. I wondered when I got it back because I shipped to you all with monels.

**KevinM** · Jan-27-2004, 5:30pm

I just got two sets of the Sam Bush Monels from FQMS, along withn the pricey TorTis pick, to chase after that Monroe sound on my Flatiron Festival F. They have a softer feel than my prior J74s, not as "brassy", more woody I suppose. They sound good, and I am still evaluating them. The extra strings are nice but did not affect my purchase decision. Just looking for that perfect Monroe sound.

**Mando4Life** · Feb-02-2004, 10:34pm

They're finally on and I like 'em....a lot. Two more sets are on the way. I pondered for a long time and glad I finally tried them out. They are much less "bright-sounding" than the 74s.

**doanepoole** · Feb-02-2004, 11:45pm

I like the Sam Bush's, but they are overpriced comparitive to the market, and in my experience nickels-alloy strings go dead faster than phosphor bronzes.

D'Addario also makes nickel string (J67s) that are considerably less expensive. Anyone tried these and care to compare them to the Bush's?

**Scotti Adams** · Feb-03-2004, 7:33am

..Im fixin to put on a set of Bushs before I leave for SPBGMA...Im not anticipating any differences compared to my Monels I have used for years...I like the dry, woody, "dead" sound they produce...but I have determined that they arent for every mando..and Ive been lucky to get them for a drop dead price....

**Scotti Adams** · Feb-03-2004, 4:08pm

..I put the Bush's on today..first off..I didnt realize they came with an extra E and A string...thats good..I was only expecting an extra E..I like them...theres something a little different about them compared to the regular Monels..I cant quite put my finger on it yet....but so far I love them and I dont think that will change...

**mandoJeremy** · Feb-03-2004, 6:04pm

You're right Scotti, I had forgotten that came with an extra E and A. I guess that explains why I have about 30 extra E and A strings lying on my bookshelf. I never used the extras.

**Scotti Adams** · Feb-03-2004, 8:07pm

Originally Posted by (mandoJeremy @ Feb. 03 2004, 18:04)

You're right Scotti, I had forgotten that came with an extra E and A. #I guess that explains why I have about 30 extra E and A strings lying on my bookshelf. #I never used the extras.

..Ive got a stock pile of g's and d's.....kinda makes me wish I would break some once in a while...