Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
- Thread starter darnright
- Start date
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
Definately electric strings. Acoustic have that annoying screech when you slide your fingers across them.
Definately electric strings. Acoustic have that annoying screech when you slide your fingers across them.
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
I have "Silk and Steels" on it right now. The P-90 (Gibson), has adjustable polepieces, so I can balance the sound pretty well. I've only used it through a Fender Deluxe reverb (clean) and an old (US) Univox bass amp, both sound pretty good. It's actually an "Abilene" 3/4 I bought at a pawnshop for my grandson, but got him a little better one instead. Been a fun project while healing from the back surgery.
Thanks guys!!
Happy New Year!!
-dave
I have "Silk and Steels" on it right now. The P-90 (Gibson), has adjustable polepieces, so I can balance the sound pretty well. I've only used it through a Fender Deluxe reverb (clean) and an old (US) Univox bass amp, both sound pretty good. It's actually an "Abilene" 3/4 I bought at a pawnshop for my grandson, but got him a little better one instead. Been a fun project while healing from the back surgery.
Thanks guys!!
Happy New Year!!
-dave
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
I don't think anyone who knows what they're doing uses electric strings on their round hole acoustic guitar. I sure don't - and I do know what I'm doing when it comes to acoustic guitars. I used a Sunrise in my acoustic guitars for years and I always use Phospher Bronze strings.
I don't think anyone who knows what they're doing uses electric strings on their round hole acoustic guitar. I sure don't - and I do know what I'm doing when it comes to acoustic guitars. I used a Sunrise in my acoustic guitars for years and I always use Phospher Bronze strings.
Bludave
New member
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
Phosphor bronze strings are non magnetic, but the E & B are. So it will be hard to get a good balance using acoustic strings IMHO. They will work but I think nickle would sound a lot better when you plug the guitar in. Its a tough decision but I think it comes down to a few considerations.
#1 How often will you be playing this acoustically? If the amount of time is significant then the choice should be for a good acoustic tone & IMHO Phosphor bronze work better for this, but if you decide that the guitar will be used mostly plugged in then go with nickle. They will sound louder and you will get a better, more even balance.
#2. Why did you go with a P90 in an acoustic instrument? There are so many wonderful acoustic solutions that would have worked much better AND you would have been able to maintain a really good acoustic sound amplified. LR Baggs makes some wonderful acoustic pickups as well as Fishman and others.
I have three acoustic guitars that I can plug in. Two have the Fishman Eclipse system which has a Piezo crystal under the saddle & a volume a tone control mounted inside the soundhole. I can also add an internal microphone if I need to but so far I have not had any situations where I would need it. I have these in a Martin D15 & an Alvarez YB1 Baritone acoustic. I also have a Fishman Piezo pickup in my Martin (Sigma) D18. All three sound really nice through a good PA system or my Shenandoah acoustic amp. I just use my standard D'Adarrio J17's on these guitars & the Barritone also has Phosphor bronze on them(not sure of the model #).
Phosphor bronze strings are non magnetic, but the E & B are. So it will be hard to get a good balance using acoustic strings IMHO. They will work but I think nickle would sound a lot better when you plug the guitar in. Its a tough decision but I think it comes down to a few considerations.
#1 How often will you be playing this acoustically? If the amount of time is significant then the choice should be for a good acoustic tone & IMHO Phosphor bronze work better for this, but if you decide that the guitar will be used mostly plugged in then go with nickle. They will sound louder and you will get a better, more even balance.
#2. Why did you go with a P90 in an acoustic instrument? There are so many wonderful acoustic solutions that would have worked much better AND you would have been able to maintain a really good acoustic sound amplified. LR Baggs makes some wonderful acoustic pickups as well as Fishman and others.
I have three acoustic guitars that I can plug in. Two have the Fishman Eclipse system which has a Piezo crystal under the saddle & a volume a tone control mounted inside the soundhole. I can also add an internal microphone if I need to but so far I have not had any situations where I would need it. I have these in a Martin D15 & an Alvarez YB1 Baritone acoustic. I also have a Fishman Piezo pickup in my Martin (Sigma) D18. All three sound really nice through a good PA system or my Shenandoah acoustic amp. I just use my standard D'Adarrio J17's on these guitars & the Barritone also has Phosphor bronze on them(not sure of the model #).
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Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
I will use it probably 50/50. I went with the P-90 cause I had it. I still can't drive after the surgery, so no way to get anywhere. I'm kinda digging the sound, I tried it a little dirty and it barks pretty good.
I appreciate all the help.
-dave
I will use it probably 50/50. I went with the P-90 cause I had it. I still can't drive after the surgery, so no way to get anywhere. I'm kinda digging the sound, I tried it a little dirty and it barks pretty good.
I appreciate all the help.
-dave
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
If you also mic the guitar, or use it as an acoustic often, I'd use acoustic strings. If you will only be using the output from the pickup, I'd use electric strings. You can use a wound G to give it more of an acoustic guitar feel and sound.
I have a Sunrise, and I go back and forth depending on what I am doing at the time.
The Silk and Steels are probably not the best choice, though they are great strings. They are very similar to wound nylon strings on the 4-6th strings. I use them on my '27 Martin to keep the top together, but I wouldn't think to use them for a magnetic pickup.
If you also mic the guitar, or use it as an acoustic often, I'd use acoustic strings. If you will only be using the output from the pickup, I'd use electric strings. You can use a wound G to give it more of an acoustic guitar feel and sound.
I have a Sunrise, and I go back and forth depending on what I am doing at the time.
The Silk and Steels are probably not the best choice, though they are great strings. They are very similar to wound nylon strings on the 4-6th strings. I use them on my '27 Martin to keep the top together, but I wouldn't think to use them for a magnetic pickup.
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T
tonello
Guest
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
Yeah even Seymour has some decent cheap acoustic pickups. I would have gone and put an SD woody in there, and been done with it, very cheap ($40 for a single coil), and it can get put in in about 3 seconds.
Yeah even Seymour has some decent cheap acoustic pickups. I would have gone and put an SD woody in there, and been done with it, very cheap ($40 for a single coil), and it can get put in in about 3 seconds.
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
I agree , if it were a quality guitar and if I were able to go places and pick up stuff. I had all this stuff at my house, guitar, pickup, wiring, pots, jack and all the other stuff. Just a fun project to see what a P-90 would sound like in a small bodied acoustic. It's been fun and enjoyable...great for recuperating. Thanks again guys!
-dave
I agree , if it were a quality guitar and if I were able to go places and pick up stuff. I had all this stuff at my house, guitar, pickup, wiring, pots, jack and all the other stuff. Just a fun project to see what a P-90 would sound like in a small bodied acoustic. It's been fun and enjoyable...great for recuperating. Thanks again guys!
-dave
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
Never had any trouble whatsoever using bronze strings with my acoustic guitars with my Sunrise pickups. Zero. Always got a great tone.
Try them both and see for yourself. I would not want to lose the "bounce" of bronze strings.
The bronze wrapping around the E,A,D and G strings is wrapped around a steel core, BTW.
If I were you, I'd ask this question on the Acoustic Guitar Forum...not here.
Never had any trouble whatsoever using bronze strings with my acoustic guitars with my Sunrise pickups. Zero. Always got a great tone.
Try them both and see for yourself. I would not want to lose the "bounce" of bronze strings.
The bronze wrapping around the E,A,D and G strings is wrapped around a steel core, BTW.
If I were you, I'd ask this question on the Acoustic Guitar Forum...not here.
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telekaster78
New member
Re: Strings for an acoustic with a P-90
You could try DR Strings Zebras. They are wrapped with alternating coils of nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze. They're designed to gi, ve a good sound when used with piezos, soundhole pickups and with no pickups at all. I tried a set and found them to work as advertised.
You could try DR Strings Zebras. They are wrapped with alternating coils of nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze. They're designed to gi, ve a good sound when used with piezos, soundhole pickups and with no pickups at all. I tried a set and found them to work as advertised.
