80/20's that are NOT coated but last?

[dazco]

I recently spent some time with 80/20's on my acoustic and began to really like them. I feel they capture the tones i love from the 60's and 70'd like JT, Neil, Cat, etc much better than phosphor. Makes sense i suppose since back them 80/20 was what most people used before phosphor became popular. anyways, i want to keep using them but my experience has always been that they tend to sound real good after about an hour or 2 of playing, then sound great for a very short time before they go dead to a point they are no longer satisfying. So i would like to hear from anyone who experiences the same thing with most 80/20 brands but has found one that lasts much longer. (and NOT coated)

[mrpinter]

Thomastik-Infeld Spectrum Bronze. Sound great and last a long time.

[dazco]

Just looked them up...$16-18, ouch ! Thats not gonna happen. Anything in the normal pricing range? Not looking for abnormally long life, just something that doesn't go dead to a unacceptable degree after 4 or 5 hours of play like most 80/20's.

[mrpinter]

Yes they're expensive. They do last a LONG time though. I can recommend another company I've had a good experience with - you might try Newtone 80/20's. They also cost more than other strings, but are less than T-Is (less than $12 at Juststrings.com).

[throbert]

I've always thought the John Pearse 80/20's was the best one out there and I don't really care for his phosphor bronze string.

[dazco]

Originally Posted by throbert

I've always thought the John Pearse 80/20's was the best one out there and I don't really care for his phosphor bronze string.

Thanks, thats kinda what i was leaning towards, but because i DO like his phosphors. But i never tried his 80/20's, or at least not that i recall. Are you saying they outlast Daddarios and such?

[throbert]

Well, it kind of depends on your body chemistry and habits but I've always had good luck with the Pearse 80/20 sets. Another guy I used to play with in an acoustic duo setting has used them for years also and they're fine for that particular instrument. They definitely worth trying once and they definitely sound good. Martin Marquis always sounded great for about a minute and then the tone slowly starts to disappear almost immediately. These will be decent for a reasonable amount of time. I've never used D'Addario 80/20s so I can't make that comparison.

[frquent flyer]

I have recently been using Curt Mangan on electrics . Just got a new santa cruz that came with elexirs. I 'll probably start using D'addarios,j16. I used Martin SP strings for years. They are not coated and 80/20 bronze.

[RockinB23]

Martin SP Lifespans are great, they aren't coated but they are treated. I can get about 3-4 weeks of heavy use with great tone out of them.

[Jim Moulton]

Thought the Martin Lifespans were muddy

[LReese]

I just keep them wiped down (under and over the string) after playing - they sound good for months.

Right now, using D'Addarios.

[Bluedano1]

Originally Posted by throbert

Well, it kind of depends on your body chemistry and habits but I've always had good luck with the Pearse 80/20 sets. Another guy I used to play with in an acoustic duo setting has used them for years also and they're fine for that particular instrument. They definitely worth trying once and they definitely sound good. Martin Marquis always sounded great for about a minute and then the tone slowly starts to disappear almost immediately. These will be decent for a reasonable amount of time. I've never used D'Addario 80/20s so I can't make that comparison.

I always used PB strings as I consider 80/20's to be very bright, then go dead in 2 hours....BUT I do like John Pearse PB's but they go dead after a while as well- I'd like to try the Pearse 80/20's as I do like Pearse strings- do they sound very metallic?I'm trying to avoid that- just want a good mix of warm and bright. Maybe I'm wrong about 80/20s in general....

[janschfan]

D'Addarios last three or four weeks for me, as far as tone and intonation go..I fingerpick hard, but have very dry hands, so I work 'em but I don't gunk 'em. I love their 80/20's (EJ-14)....

[dazco]

Originally Posted by Bluedano1

I always used PB strings as I consider 80/20's to be very bright, then go dead in 2 hours....BUT I do like John Pearse PB's but they go dead after a while as well- I'd like to try the Pearse 80/20's as I do like Pearse strings- do they sound very metallic?I'm trying to avoid that- just want a good mix of warm and bright. Maybe I'm wrong about 80/20s in general....

I put earthwoods on till i get some pearse. Surprisingly i've got about 3-4 hours on them now and they sound great still. I had some daddarios on it and they were indeed very bright at first. the earthwoods surprisingly were just right as soon as i put them on. Not too bright at all, and because of that i figured they'd be dead in 2 hours but at 3 or 4 they sound just as they did when i put them on. If pearse sound good also and last 10 hours i'll be good, as i don't play that much anyways. i only played it a lot after the earthwoods because i'm still in the honeymoon stage with 80/20's. (and with ex lite) I must say, they deliver the sound i always liked most in acoustic tone. That 60's 70's sound. I find theres something in there that PB's just miss. Took a while with the daddarios to really start to fully get it. Those came off quick not because they died but because i wanted to go to a extra light set. My old F'd up hands can barely manage on acoustic any more.

[Bluedano1]

Originally Posted by dazco

I put earthwoods on till i get some pearse. Surprisingly i've got about 3-4 hours on them now and they sound great still. I had some daddarios on it and they were indeed very bright at first. the earthwoods surprisingly were just right as soon as i put them on. Not too bright at all, and because of that i figured they'd be dead in 2 hours but at 3 or 4 they sound just as they did when i put them on. If pearse sound good also and last 10 hours i'll be good, as i don't play that much anyways. i only played it a lot after the earthwoods because i'm still in the honeymoon stage with 80/20's. (and with ex lite) I must say, they deliver the sound i always liked most in acoustic tone. That 60's 70's sound. I find theres something in there that PB's just miss. Took a while with the daddarios to really start to fully get it. Those came off quick not because they died but because i wanted to go to a extra light set. My old F'd up hands can barely manage on acoustic any more.

Just for kicks, after 35+ years of playing only Phosphor Bronze strings ( the last 18 years with D'Adds, Elixir, and Pearse medium gauge, on a 1993 Martin D-1- lot's of gigs!) I asked myself "What strings does Neil Young play?" as I have always loved his tone (vintage Martins don't hurt, either!) and according to his tech, Neil plays D'Angelico 80/20's- So for kicks (cheap strings, too) I ordered some from juststrings.com and I think they are coming today! A string adventure on the horizon.