Reducing "brightness" with strings?

[walt33]

I have a Kentucky KM162 that sounds rather "bright". Using a heavier pick (1.5 mm) has helped reduce that, but I wonder if a different string composition would help take more of the "edge" off? Right now it has Martin SP 80/20 bronze mediums.

The ultimate solution will be a different instrument, but that's not gonna happen any time soon.

TIA,
Walt

[Philphool]

Try G.H.S. Silk & Bronze. I think you'll like.
HERE

TI flatwounds also less bright but different animal & increased cost.

[Paul Kotapish]

I think pick thickness probably has more impact than choice of strings, and most strings will lose their bright edge after an hour or two of playing.

A lot of folks find that some version of Silk and Steel or the Silk and Bronze that Phil suggested help for an instantly mellow sound, and I've heard a lot of folks get great tone with them. One friend swears by the Thomstik silk and steel. I think they require a much more gentle touch than my ham-fisted attack can manage. I tried them with great expectations and took them off again after an hour of playing. To me, they just sounded dead right out of the box--and a very expensive box it was, too.

Some folks claim that Gibson Monel strings are warmer right from the start. I find the D'Addario J-75s sound warm and mellow after an hour or two of playing. That's what I prefer.

[walt33]

Thank you for the suggestions, gentlemen.

[pops1]

Phosphor bronze are not as bright as 80/20 I like them much better. Silk and bronze are also very good and not so mellow as you might think, they are not like silk and steel which are much more mellow. Try some different strings and see what you like.

[Chris Biorkman]

What pick shape do you use?

[walt33]

Originally Posted by Chris Biorkman

What pick shape do you use?

The rounded "corner" of a 1.5mm guitar pick, and occasionally the point.

[Chris Biorkman]

Hmm, there goes that theory.

[John Ely]

Thomastik's mandolin strings are very warm sounding, but a bit pricey.

[Caleb]

I'd try installing some rubber grommets between the bridge and tailpiece (there's another thread going on right now regarding the grommets); that might take some of the shrill edge off. I'd also recommend you look at the
JM11 strings from JazzMando. They're a less expensive alternative to the TI's, and they produce a very warm tone. And for what it's worth, and in my expereince, John Pearse strings sounded very dull on my mandolin, which I didn't like, but in your case it might actually be what you're looking for.

[pops1]

Also if the fit of the bridge foot isn't a good fit it can make the mandolin bright and thin sounding

[Pete Martin]

Originally Posted by Paul Kotapish

Some folks claim that Gibson Monel strings are warmer right from the start.

I am one of the folks who fall into this camp. The Monels don't sound good on every instrument, however. Try them and see if you like them. As with any string, you need to evaluate them over a lot of playing hours.

[bonny]

Originally Posted by John Ely

Thomastik's mandolin strings are very warm sounding, but a bit pricey.

The fact they last longer than bronze round wounds offsets the higher price somewhat....

[Rob Gerety]

Originally Posted by bonny

The fact they last longer than bronze round wounds offsets the higher price somewhat....

That is true - and even more so with the jazzmando.com flatwound strings which are significantly less expensive than the TIs.

[Sean Greer]

Originally Posted by Paul Kotapish

Some folks claim that Gibson Monel strings are warmer right from the start.

I'm in that group of folks. They're the best sounding strings I have yet to try on my Fern. Just ordered 4 sets, as they became available again after having been on backorder for a while.

[lenf12]

I've tried many brands and guages of strings over the years and settled on D'Addario Flat Tops FT-74s or FT-75s for all of my mandolins. The windings are ground down after wrapping the string to provide a smoother feel with less string "zing" when you slide. The A strings are wound rather than plain so the transition from the D string to the A string is easier on the ears and they produce a warmer, broken in sound within a couple of hours of re-stringing your mandolin. They last a long time and are much less expensive than TIs (around $11/set). Give 'em a try.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[250sc]

Try picking between the 14th fret and the end of the fret board. That will create about the warmest sound your instrument will make. Cheaper than strings or picks.

[Matt DeBlass]

I've generally found the Martin strings to be a bit too bright, in general, and like the J74s when I can get them. My local shop only stocks the Martins, but I'm going to stock up on my next trip to Giant Corporate Chain Music Store.

[StevenS]

Try the Golden Gate MP-12 mandolin pick. Artificial tortoise with rounded edges that really create a warm classic sound, I feel.
Steve

[EdSherry]

Different string compositions have different tones. According to the GHS website:

"Bright Bronze gives brightest tone. Phosphor bronze sets are bright with longer tone life. Silk and Steel and Silk and Bronze give drier tone: Silk and Bronze has longer life. Stainless Steel is a must for use with magnetic pickups"

In my experience, phosphor bronze is "darker" and less "bright" than brass or 80/20. I haven't experimented a lot with Monel, but what experience I have had supports the earlier comments that monel is "darker" than either brass or phosphor bronze.

[OldDirtyTurtle]

At the risk of smearing snake oil here...

I remember an old interview with Eddie Van Halen where he said his tech boiled his guitar strings before putting them on to reduce brightness...

I know of bass players that boil their strings to clean them and get more life of them.

[walt33]

Originally Posted by 250sc

Try picking between the 14th fret and the end of the fret board. That will create about the warmest sound your instrument will make. Cheaper than strings or picks.

Wow, that does make a difference! In the beginning I was picking about halfway between the end of the fb and the bridge. Then about a year ago I started picking at the end of the fb and noticed the sound was, mmm what, thicker, fatter? Certainly much less bright. Now, picking where you suggested makes it sound even more fat. Thanks!

I'll also try some of the strings you other guys suggested. I also noticed that those wheat guitar picks mentioned on the front page come in 2.0 mm. Speaking of picks, would blunting the edge help, too?

Maybe I'll end up liking this thing's sound, after all!

Walt