I recently slapped a set of Martin Retro strings on my Taylor 314 acoustic. The set is Martin Retro acoustic, gauge 12-54. These “retro” Martin strings are named Retro because they are made of Monel, an alloy used in the past that is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity. I wanted to see what the fuss was about Monel, and if they would work with the Taylor sound, and the sound in my head.
What is Monel?
Monel acoustic guitar strings are made from Monel, which is an alloy of Nickel and Copper. It is a different alloy mix than the most popular strings of today, many of which are made of Bronze (aka 80/20) or Phosphor Bronze (aka PB), which contain a higher percentage of copper (92%). The general consensus is that phosphor bronze strings are a little warmer, and Bronze 80/20 are a little brighter and bassier. Monel, however, is of a different sort: it is mostly made of nickel (67%), and copper (32%), with the remaining being traces of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon. Monel can and has been used in many other applications besides strings. Martin monel strings use a proprietary alloy, but For more detail on the history of the alloy known as Monel, see this article.
Sound of Monel Guitar Strings
When I looked around the web for sound impressions of Monel, I read a lot to the effect that the appeal of Monel is more guitar specific than other string choices. Proponents of Monel often remark that when you find the “right” guitar match for Monel, it sounds awesome. People point to an enhanced fundamental tone with less coloring. People also report that the sound is less “zingy”, for lack of a better word. Others say they don’t understand the hype, quickly go back to a PB string, and try to forget their Monel misadventure. Armed with these biases, I tried to be as open-minded as possible.
Martin Retro Monel Strings on a Taylor
My test guitar was my 2018 Taylor 314, and my tonal impressions are based on purely acoustic playing.
I knew these strings were a different breed from the first chord I strummed. Initially, I was hearing excessive finger squeak, though this went away after a few minutes of playing. When I hit an open C chord with a G in the bass, the guitar rang out, jangly and rich. Putting my ear to the soundhole, I definitely heard a distinct quality: Rich, and direct.
In addition, there were some unusual overtones that seemed dissimilar from what I was accustomed to with PB strings. I had expected Monel to sound slightly muted or dull even, but that was not the case. One thing for sure: They sounded distinct from PB or 80/20 strings.
A Closer Look at the Monel Sound
The jangly sound is typical of all new strings, so I didn’t put a lot of weight on that. Like most strings, they calmed down as they were played in. And as I played, one word repeatedly came to mind: Clean. I have owned the Taylor for 3.5 years so I know what the guitar sounds like, and my early impression was that the guitar had gained clarity.
That’s when I realized what people talk about when they talk about Monel and its “focused” tone. The Taylor back and sides are solid Sapele, which have a tone similar to Mahogany. Both Sapele and Mahogany are known to be tonally drier and more “direct” than Rosewood. This translates into more focus on the fundamental note, and less on the overtones of the note. Monel strings highlight this tonal quality.
The middle strings (A and D) sounded particularly rich, and you get the feeling that you are hearing more of the guitar, and less of the string itself (I had heard that statement before and thought it sounded silly, but it turned out to be true). The low E string seemed to have slightly less “growl” but nonetheless was round and clear. The top strings are regular tin plated (not Monel), and I didn’t notice much of a difference, if any, from my regular strings. They may have been slightly softer, but if there was any difference, it was negligible.
Monel and Rosewood vs. Mahogany
As we explain in our article on Rosewood vs. Mahogany acoustic guitars, the tone of a Rosewood guitar can be quite different from a guitar made from Mahogany or Sapele.
I checked the guitar forums and saw multiple reports of people stating that they did not like Monels as much on Rosewood instruments. This isn’t a surprise, given that one of the benefits of Rosewood is the presence of colorful overtones. Monel strings don’t highlight overtones, and perhaps players of Rosewood guitars feel that Monels aren’t playing to Rosewood’s strengths.
Sapele, on the other hand, is known naturally for having a Mahogany-like sound. Therefore, Monel strings are a natural match. The Monels heightened the characteristic of the Taylor’s Sapele tonewood by further accentuating the fundamental note. This resulted in my perception of increased clarity.
Conclusion
The Martin Retro Monel strings really surprised me. I expected that the sound would be duller in some way, but that was not the case. The takeaway is that reduced overtones do not equal a dull sound!
Everyone’s ears, and guitars, are different, so it’s certainly worth trying Martin Retro Monel on all of your acoustics. You might be pleasantly surprised, as I was.
***6 Month Update (April 2023)***
This is an update to the original review to share my longer term impressions of Martin’s Monel strings. In short, I like these strings even more than the day I first strung them up. In fact, while I will eventually swap out for some Phosphor Bronze strings for comparison, I’m reluctant to take them off just yet. After six months of playing them, I feel as if my Taylor 314 sounds better than it ever has. The focused tone of Monel continues to appeal to me, and I can honestly say that I have not missed the added overtones that PB or 80/20 strings offer. I’ll follow-up again at my next string change! —Brian S.
