All in the mind?

[Toondog]

Ok! So all string sets ( with some exeptions) come with plain steel top E and B strings right? But I swear that they sound mellower with phospher bronze making up the rest. Can that be true? I'm convinced they're less shrill when fingerpicking with pb's as opposed to 80/20's. Is it all in the mind or do you have your own theory's. I'd be intrigued to find out!

Cheers
Chris

[Scriptor]

I believe there is some difference with the unwound strings in the PB sets.   Not in composition but I think the high E & B strings are slightly "thicker" than the 80/20's of the same gauge.  Don't take this as truth w/o confirmation ... perhaps others can cite an official reference to refute or confirm ...

[Edward]

Well I've never done an A/B comparo, but I'd be willing to bet that all plain steel strings are identical, at least in practical terms of normal hearing.  All nickel strings (lots of electic guys dig these) are a different story, though.

Edward

[michaelw]

Ok! So all string sets ( with some exeptions) come with plain steel top E and B strings right? But I swear that they sound mellower with phospher bronze making up the rest. Can that be true? I'm convinced they're less shrill when fingerpicking with pb's as opposed to 80/20's. Is it all in the mind or do you have your own theory's. I'd be intrigued to find out!

Cheers
Chris

hi chris,
some sets have the same B & e within the same brand of string
i.e. Elixir 80/20 PolyWeb or NanoWeb (PB also) - anti-rust &
d'addario EXP 80/20s or PB - also coated

others have plated B & e (ghs infinity bronze), along with martin marquis,
with the marquis also having a silk wrap above the ball ends to reduce
or slow bridge plate wear, which may also act as a 'dampener' of sorts

i would figure that the shimmer of the B & e might  be brought out more on
a PB set than 80/20s, but i believe it would be more dependent on the person
playing, their playing style, the guitar being played &, imho, what the player hears

[S MS Picker]

Just measured plain strings from D"Addario EJ14  vs EJ19.      .012 & .016 on both sets. Run-out <.0002 on all 4 strings.
Outside micrometer  0-1" on top   Digital  inside/outside calipers  0-4"

[dangrunloh]

The tone of the solids is affected by the other strings on the guitar even if you are not picking them. The guitar vibrates and resonates and so does the unplucked strings, unless they are damped.

Not all in the mind.