Alvarez RD20S Sounding Great

[guit30]

What a difference a set of strings can make.Put on a set of Martin SP Phos Bronze strings and it sounds incredible. Really sounds rich and boomy like a dread should. Going to put a set of Gibson Rosewood Bridge strings(meant pins) when they come in mostly for aesthetics.

Unfortunately, unless these settle down a bit, I am going back to Elixors. The SPs are very stiff and it is hard to play fast runs and to get good bends on them, also the Elixor high B and E seemed to have more tone to them. Will play them a bit, I know these strings take a bit to really warm up. One thing about them, they really stay in tune well, not bad for 4.99.

[Fstpicker]

Glad to hear that it is sounding better. Have you tried the new PB Elixirs yet? Or the D'Addario PB EJ-17 or EJ-16's? Just curious.

 

Jeff

 

P.S. My Alvarez RD-20S 12-string sounds wonderful. It has such a nice full sound that is very rich. I may try some different bridge pins other than the original plastic ones some day.

[Cldplytkmn]

 

Originally posted by guit30 Going to put a set of Gibson Rosewood Bridge strings when they come in mostly for aesthetics.

 

 

i believe you mean pins, sir. Hope those SPs loosen up for you... i'm a fan.

[guit30]

Have played Daddarios alot, my favorite uncoated strings are Adamas Phos bronze which I can always fall back on, The Elixor Polywebs really feel great on my fingers(nerve damage).

Love the sound of the Martin Sp PBs though, probably would like the Elixor PBs

Jim

:idea: :wave:

[JasmineTea]

 

Originally posted by guit30 Put on a set of Martin SP Phos Bronze strings and it sounds incredible.

What guage? I use 12-54 on my dread and swap the .016 B for a .017 B. Give that a try.

 

Or, if you go with the light guage SP ph/br, up the B and E string in that set by one size. (I forget the guages of the lights)

 

It's the B strings in the 12-54 set that are too flimsy, B and E are both too flimsy in the light set, IMO.

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by guit30 What a difference a set of strings can make.Put on a set of Martin SP Phos Bronze strings and it sounds incredible. Really sounds rich and boomy like a dread should. Going to put a set of Gibson Rosewood Bridge strings(meant pins) when they come in mostly for aesthetics. Unfortunately, unless these settle down a bit, I am going back to Elixors. The SPs are very stiff and it is hard to play fast runs and to get good bends on them, also the Elixor high B and E seemed to have more tone to them. Will play them a bit, I know these strings take a bit to really warm up. One thing about them, they really stay in tune well, not bad for 4.99.

 

Try the Fingerstyle Martin SP PBs (light gauge: .012-.054). They seem to be less stiff than the regular Martin SPs. My only beef is that they're still prone to a lot of incidental squeaks, especially on the wound strings.

[The Armadillo of leprosy]

hmm i might have to try out these strings or maybe the finger style versions

 

daddarios sound good on my guitar but it doesn't make it amazing you know?

 

 

you'll love the bridge pins they match my bridge surprisingly well

[dboy420]

I think my RD20 is due for a new set of strings also--I still have the originals on them after 1 year but it still sounds OK

[The Armadillo of leprosy]

holy mother of god

 

someone set up a paypal fund for this man to get new strings!

[dboy420]

I really am starting to enjoy my Alvarez more now than ever-it plays well and feels good but I think I can get a slightly better sound ( alot better as my playing improves) I have not caved into selling it for another as I have gone thru a few guitars in the past. Has anyone had any luck upgrading the nut and saddle to bone or ivory. I called Alvarez in Saint Louis and was told that the saddle and nut are made of synthetic bone- which sounds to me like a fancy name for plastic. Anyway the LGS will replace the saddle and nut with bone and set it up for about $100-- anyone have good results or is the 100 better used towards something else.

[Dave W.]

 

Originally posted by dboy420 I really am starting to enjoy my Alvarez more now than ever-it plays well and feels good but I think I can get a slightly better sound ( alot better as my playing improves) I have not caved into selling it for another as I have gone thru a few guitars in the past. Has anyone had any luck upgrading the nut and saddle to bone or ivory. I called Alvarez in Saint Louis and was told that the saddle and nut are made of synthetic bone- which sounds to me like a fancy name for plastic. Anyway the LGS will replace the saddle and nut with bone and set it up for about $100-- anyone have good results or is the 100 better used towards something else.

 

 

First of all, changing your strings every month or two, depending on how much you play, will do more for your sound than everything else combined. Dollar wise, skip the nut and go for a good saddle and setup. The nut will make very little difference in the sound for the $$ invested. If the nut is worn out and giving you problems, that is a different story.

[Hudman]

 

Originally posted by dboy420 I really am starting to enjoy my Alvarez more now than ever-it plays well and feels good but I think I can get a slightly better sound ( alot better as my playing improves) I have not caved into selling it for another as I have gone thru a few guitars in the past. Has anyone had any luck upgrading the nut and saddle to bone or ivory. I called Alvarez in Saint Louis and was told that the saddle and nut are made of synthetic bone- which sounds to me like a fancy name for plastic. Anyway the LGS will replace the saddle and nut with bone and set it up for about $100-- anyone have good results or is the 100 better used towards something else.

 

 

I just got an Alvarez RD20SSB a couple days ago. I'm really enjoying it.

 

The saddle and nut on mine look and feel like they are tusq (synthetic ivory).

 

Don't worry about upgrading the nut and saddle. You need new strings (bad). Strings sound dead if left on for long periods of time. You should change them often. Slap a new set on it. You will be shocked how much better it will sound.

[guit30]

I'm almost postive that Alvarez uses Tusq, or something very similar, I was comparing my guitar To a Taylor 110e and the saddle and nut looked exactly the same on both guitars.

Wouldn't waste the money on getting a bone setup for $100, for a $200 guitar, not going to change things that much, now string changes I have found can make radical tonal changes

Jim

[dboy420]

thanks for the advice-- i did swap out the strings a while back. Sound great. It looks like if anything I should get a pro setup and possibly a saddle change.