Bronze vs. Nickel, part 4

 

I've spoken about my perceived differences in bronze-wound and nickel-wound strings in previous blog posts:

Bronze vs. Nickel, part. 1 

Bronze vs. Nickel, part 2  

Bronze vs. Nickel, part 3

Over the past month or so, the 30-string Contra-Alto guitar has been undergoing some evolutionary changes, discussed in these blog posts:

30-string Contra-Alto update, part 1

30-string Contra-Alto update, part 2

30-string Contra-Alto update, part 3

I went to an all-nickel string set on the Contra side back in October.  I consider it to be a vast improvement over the previous phosphor bronze set.  At least, for the voice I want in this instrument; as well as the feel and response.

Today on the alto side, now in baritone tuning, I moved from a phosphor bronze set to an all-nickel set.  Much like the Contra side on this instrument, I'm surprised to discover that the nickel set is once again an improvement over the phosphor bronze sets I'd been using on the alto side of the instrument.  By improvement, I mean that I prefer the nickel voicing over the phosphor bronze voicing; I'm getting more clarity, more definition, added sustain, and increased resonance in the bass and mid registers.  

I'm also finding that the nickel sets are better suited for legato, touch-style, and tapping techniques.  After playing bronze string sets my entire life, this feels like quite a discovery, and a sea change in string preferences.  And all rather unexpected.

It's pretty exciting.

-kk