even stepped into this role. We do a lot of it. But I would also experiment with our Retro the guitars you have, and go out there and
A/B comparisons, and again, Martin strings strings, because Retro strings will definitely experiment. Sometimes folks will find that set
aren’t just for Martin guitars. We feel that this mellow out a bright sounding instrument. To me of strings that speaks to them and they’re
product, whether it’s the Authentic Acoustic, I don’t like real bright, I have a Koa custom here comfortable with, and when they go into the
or Retro strings, or Flex Core, that it’s going in my office at Martin, and I constantly change store they know what they need.
to compliment that instrument. The preference out the strings because I like to find the right part of it becomes a trial and error type thing string for that instrument, and I found that the [WM] In my experience, there are three
where you get a new guitar, say it’s a D28, Retro’s compliment that the most. primary types of string wear: general wear
chances are that new Authentic Acoustic string
and tear from extended playing, finger-based
treated in Phosphor Bronze will compliment [WM] There are lots of players out there corrosion, and that which comes when a guitar
that instrument the most. I’ve put our string whose collections run pretty deep. What are sits in a case un-played. Which strings would
on competitor’s guitars, and I’d say in most your thoughts about using the same strings you suggest players start with, based solely on
cases it’s enhanced not only the tonality of that on every instrument for a consistent playing playing habits and chemistry?
instrument, but it’s also improved the overall experience versus find the perfect string for playing experience. each guitar?
[Mike] I would say definitely our Lifespan 2.0,
which is MA550T and MA550T, so that’s a light/
[WM] If you owned a brighter instrument like a [Mike] We try to pair the best, and obviously medium gauge both in Phosphor Bronze. If you
Taylor guitar, which strings would you suggest we have a sound room here and we do lots have a twelve string it would be MA500T SKU.
checking out first? of extensive testing through our Research and Development team. But some strings may not [WM] As a string manufacturer, you have the
[Mike] They’re bright without a doubt, but I be better, and this may sound a little weird, unique task of engineering strings that will be
would say any, whether it’s our light gauge or but they may just be different. They may not played acoustically, with piezo transducers,
medium gauge, any three of the products we hinder the overall sound of the instrument, but magnetic transducers, or some combination of
offer. If you want a long-life string and you don’t it comes down sometimes to preference. the above. How do you fine-tune all of this for
mind spending $12.99 on a set of strings that’s
going to last, I would put our Treated version on
102
consistency in tone and volume?
Really, in a nutshell I would say have fun with
December 2018
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