Martin "Clapton's Choice" strings?

[bluespckr]

I signed up for the Martin Owner's Club thingy, and Martin sent a box with a bunch of goodies, including a set of Light (.012-.054) and a set of Medium (.013-.056) Clapton's Choice strings. They're phosphor bronze, 92/8 mix.

Has any tried these, or is anyone using these? If so, what are your thoughts on them?

Yeah, I know, I could just slap 'em on and find out for myself ... and I will .... eventually. But I just changed out strings earlier in the week, and don't feel like ripping perfectly good and new strings with about an hour's playing time on them, off.

Muchas thanks.

[Rockabilly69]

I use those strings on the my Clapton, and although they feel great on that guitar for fingerpicking, they don't seem to hold up as well on my SP00016TR.
They seem spongy and thin for lack of a better description. And they surely don't have the mid range of the Martin SP strings I use on all the other Martins. I tried using them on the SP00016TR, 00015S, and the Clapton, and they came off the other guitars before my next gig, exactly two days later. You know I'm not a big fan of Clapton and I hate that his name is on my guitar (probably cause of the stuff he did with Phill Collins:XRE ). And as for his ear for tone, when he laid down the SG's 335's and Les Pauls and went to the Strat, I cringed. And don't think I'm Fender bashing, I play a Tele, Les Paul and an ES-125 on all of my electric gigs. Funny thing when I tried the Martin SP's on the Clapton they took from the basic tone of that guitar. I'd like to know what other people are using on their Claptons. Oh there you go, you got me RANTING:rol

Rockabilly69 (dan weldon)

[bluespckr]

I use those strings on the my Clapton, and although they feel great on that guitar for fingerpicking, they don't seem to hold up as well on my SP00016TR.
They seem spongy and thin for lack of a better description. And they surely don't have the mid range of the Martin SP strings I use on all the other Martins. I tried using them on the SP00016TR, 00015S, and the Clapton, and they came off the other guitars before my next gig, exactly two days later. You know I'm not a big fan of Clapton and I hate that his name is on my guitar (probably cause of the stuff he did with Phill Collins:XRE ). And as for his ear for tone, when he laid down the SG's 335's and Les Pauls and went to the Strat, I cringed. And don't think I'm Fender bashing, I play a Tele, Les Paul and an ES-125 on all of my electric gigs. Funny thing when I tried the Martin SP's on the Clapton they took from the basic tone of that guitar. I'd like to know what other people are using on their Claptons. Oh there you go, you got me RANTING:rol


Rockabilly69 (dan weldon)

Ranting? You were "Ranting"?

Well, I think ranting is a good thing. It inspires participation and conversation and debate ... which would be a good thing at the Cafe Wah!

Funny, but I threw the medium Claptons on my D-35 (yeah, I know --- and wasted a new set of strings I'd just put on it a couple days earlier) yesterday, and my initial response was that I think I like them on that guitar. I will be giving them more of a workout over the weekend, so we'll see if that changes, but the mediums seem to be okay on that guitar.

Clapton seems to be able to get his tone no matter what he's playing at the moment. Good guitarists can do that, I guess. I prefer to see him wail on a Gibson, but I'm okay with the Strat. I'm not so sure he plays with the same intensity as in his younger days, but that is probably left for a new rant on a different day.

Thanks for the feedback.

[sliding-tom]

I suspect that these artist signature strings are mostly a marketing thing. Do you think they make them different from their other strings? I don't. But they might put together a set of special gauges like the Gibson B.B.King set with the heavy bottom. A couple of days ago I had to take one of my amps to the shop for a speaker replacement and picked up a set of 11s for my Martin 000-2832, PB 92/8. I'm not really sure if I like them, had Gibson MB PB 12s on it before.:rolleyes:

[bluespckr]

I suspect that these artist signature strings are mostly a marketing thing. Do you think they make them different from their other strings? I don't. But they might put together a set of special gauges like the Gibson B.B.King set with the heavy bottom. A couple of days ago I had to take one of my amps to the shop for a speaker replacement and picked up a set of 11s for my Martin 000-2832, PB 92/8. I'm not really sure if I like them, had Gibson MB PB 12s on it before.:rolleyes:

I coudln't tell you what is the difference but I have played and quite like the Gibson Les Paul SIGNATURE strings. Don't confuse these with the "Gibson Les Paul" strings that come in various sizes. The Signatures are silk-wrapped at the ball ends, and come in one gauge -- a hybrid gauge of .009 - .011 - .016 - .026 - .036 - .046 (like a cross between a .009 and a .010 string gauge). I have played Hyrbid Slinkies and others of thos gauge, and mixed Gibson strings to get this gauge in the past. But, the Les Pal Sigs are different. Can't tell you why, but they are.

But I agree that the inclination is to think these are just marketing ploys, and they might be in some cases. From what I can hear, in a very limited trial, the Clapton mediums sound different than, say, the SP's of the same gauge and 92/8 phosphor bronze makeup.

[Rockabilly69]

Bluespckr,

I may have to try the .013 set on the Clapton, maybe that extra tension can get the Clapton's top moving a little more. But I'm convinced the light gauge isn't the gauge for me. When I bought the guitar, I bought about 10 sets of the strings (I change strings frequently), and I just put the last set of Clapton strings on. SO FINGER PICKERS, recommend a new brand that really rocks the high end auditorium models and I will gladly try them.

Has any one tried this gauge of Martin Sp's?http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/mamsstpephbr3.html

[Plankspanker]

I've tried a lot of different gauge strings on my acoustics, for awhile I liked the 80/20s in .12/.054 especially on the 000 and OM, Last month I received a beautiful 000-40S MK 12 fret slothead, this is the guitar designed by Mark Knopfler and Dick Boak , limited run of 150 instruments and known as the
"Ragpicker's Dream". Incredibly it sounds like a pre-war Martin, and as a result I've switched back to Phosphor Bronze SP4100, the strings that the guitar came with. Those half size strings may be the ticket for the next string change though.

[RnB]

Rumor has it that the "Clapton Strings' are a resurrection from the older Martin Marquis String Line. Indeed, a marketing ploy! The source leaked from someone who has a close allegiance w/ CFM...

If you play Fingerstyle, the new SP Fingerstyle strings are getting OK reviews. Supposedly, they are more flexible, therefore, you would play Mediums, and they feel like Lights!
http://www.martinguitar.com/strings/select_set.php?display=14
Review:
http://www.maurysmusic.com/martin_sp_fingerstyle_strings___todd_s_review

[bluespckr]

Rumor has it that the "Clapton Strings' are a resurrection from the older Martin Marquis String Line. Indeed, a marketing ploy! The source leaked from someone who has a close allegiance w/ CFM...

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That might be, but I like them pretty well. I haven't tried the Lights, but I'll give them a spin -- maybe -- on my next string change with the DC-16 GTE (on which Martin recommends lights). I've had good results with Earthwoods (Ernie Balls) on other acoustics in the past, so I might try a medium in those on the D-35, too, and see how they compare to the Clapton's ...