Strings land - Birds take off

[E-minor7 222]

Managed to fly in 2 sets of the new Gibson steel.

Admit I fell for the amber-Bird, which was presented here some weeks ago and as I'm almost sure it either had coated Phosphor B or ditto 80/20 after talking with presenter, Mr Ravita, I went hunting for these strings. Only ones within reach were the ph. b. - and they arrived today. 

Here the better and better Birds, May and April - also known as Black-ring and White-ring - await the comin' aventure. 

Normally not a coated flier at all, but I intend to keep them on till they begin to fade and then revive this thread for a report. It may be months ahead, , , perhaps mid-summer, so stand by. 

P.S. - a very intriguing thing is that the package-surface feels like a mix between rubber and velour. Sure starts good. . 

[Lars68 122]

Good luck with your string experiment. I have tried coated strings three times, and they did not work for me. To me, they sounded dull, and kind of lifeless. This was a few years back and they weren't Gibson strings. Also technology has most likely made advances since then.

Please,report your findings!

Lars

[Mime 1]

I bought some of the new Gibson pb coated strings at Christmas time. I put them on my j45 and the guitar never sounded better.  The strings have held up pretty well until now although it’s getting about time to change them.  I am going to put another set of these on. I had been using the uncoated strings that Gibson phazed out, but I actually like these better.  I think they are louder and sound better.  They are not cheap but are definitely worth a try. 

[E-minor7 222]

50 minutes ago, Mime said:

I bought some of the new Gibson pb coated strings at Christmas time. I put them on my j45 and the guitar never sounded better.  The strings have held up pretty well until now although it’s getting about time to change them.  I am going to put another set of these on. I had been using the uncoated strings that Gibson phazed out, but I actually like these better.  I think they are louder and sound better.  They are not cheap but are definitely worth a try. 

Thanks - I can't say anything at all right now, , , and by the way prefer old (and un-coated) strings. The idea is to make them fade till they merge with the Birds 1:1 - well, we'll see.

Did you notice that the end-balls shift between gold and silver/bronze and nickel. G-S-G-S-G-S from low to high E. Never seen that before.  

[Jinder 166]

Always interested in seeing how these experiments pan out...at the moment I'm in love with Newtone Masterclass round core 12s. Very much an old-school string but just enormous sounding, especially on my Maple AJ. Great wires!

[E-minor7 222]

Newtones are fine. Been using them here and there the last decade. Got Master Class Custom Ph. B. 12-16-24-34-44-54 on the HD-28V and they do good. 

The fresh Gibson sets still sounded like a synthesizer programmed as a c o u s t i c  g u i t a r  this afternoon, but I'm sure they will change. I keep faith in these strings.  Would have liked 80/20s though. 

[E-minor7 222]

Second update - 

As always the 2 sets were put on within the same hour and tuned up 1-2 just afterwards. Then a strrrange thing happened :

While getting the second high E up to D#, the ball-end unwinded and fell to the bottom of the box with a double-sound = snap-tick. Never experienced this before and blame it on 1 in a 100.000-bad luck. Immediately tied the ball back on with a scout-knot and continued. It holds up fine, , , so far. 

Soon I also contacted seller, who apparently is willing to replace the pack. Well, , , nothing serious, but as said, a rare peculiarity.  Ever seen anything like it ?

[62burst 144]

43 minutes ago, E-minor7 said:

Ever seen anything like it ?

On an electric, yes. And it was the high E.

So. . .  will both sets be the same age, going forward into your experiment? 😬

[E-minor7 222]

3 hours ago, 62burst said:

On an electric, yes. And it was the high E.

So. . .  will both sets be the same age, going forward into your experiment? 😬

Choice is between replacing it with the new-set-high-E or keeping the tied original.  Guess #2 -  they're are already played a bit in and the knot doesn't make a big difference.

[E-minor7 222]

First update 

So now over a month in, the Gibson Coated Phosphor Bronze lights are beginning to calm down. Mind that I don't fly the 2 Birds as often as possible simply because there are other tempting acoustics around. At this stage however the strings have fallen to a level where they don't sound overwhelmingly artificial. Yet there continue to be way to much new-sting-force in them (which some would admire) to say anything final. Their nature keep reducing the fine guitars to carriers of extrovert bronze-power and I don't want my hog squares hidden behind a nickel-tin fountain. 

All that said, I haven't lost faith in these strings. For the aim is something different, far from reached at this point. As mentioned in post 1, the plan is to wear them to a state (almost under) normal. Then sense if vision bares fruit :

A faded set - which suits the Hummingbird so well - with the coating close to gone, still barely present, all adding to the ideal symbiosis between wood and steel.

We'll see, , , and hear, , , s t a n d   b y

[QuestionMark 133]

Thanks for the update.  Down the road let us know another update...

I use uncoated Martin Authentic Acoustic strings (formerly SP’s).  They seem to last and last without being coated.  But, looking forward to continuing to learn of your experience.

QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

[E-minor7 222]

30 minutes ago, QuestionMark said:

I use uncoated Martin Authentic Acoustic strings (formerly SP’s).  They seem to last and last without being coated.  

O yes, know them - like them too.  Good longevity. .