[Steadfastly]

Martin now has Titanium strings and there may be another mfr. or two making or selling them. Has anyone tried them or using them on a consistent basis in their acoustics?

 

[knight_yyz]

they must be bright as hell

 

[vadsy]

they last forever, last set you'll ever need to buy

 

[cboutilier]

they last forever, last set you'll ever need to buy

I'd be willing to try them if they sound good and last for years. My acoustic only gets played a dozen times a year or so.

 

[vadsy]

I'd be willing to try them if they sound good and last for years. My acoustic only gets played a dozen times a year or so.

I have no idea if the titanium is any good, probably just another marketing play by Steadly. I do know that Elixir strings last a long time, sometimes I like the sound and sometimes I don't but you can't argue with the longevity of them.

 

[BMW-KTM]

I found myself changing regular strings long before the metal weakened so I'm not very hopeful there would be a longevity related benefit arising from the use of Ti in the alloy.
I say alloy because I think we all know true Ti strings would cost a small fortune.
The windings fill up with finger crud and they lose their snap and sparkle so I change them.
That's why I switched to coated strings on my acoustics about 15 years ago or so.

 

[KapnKrunch]

Titanium is not magnetic (basically).

Acoustic only, like bronze, I guess. The correct alloy of bronze sounds good. Titanium? Dunno.

My welding lessons told me titanium's super power is sustaining vibration without fatigue. On a helicopter blade, sure. On a guitar string? Brings out the skeptic in me.

Do they still make stainless steel strings?

 

[jbealsmusic]

Wonder how quickly titanium strings wear down frets...

 

[BMW-KTM]

Do they still make stainless steel strings?

I do believe so, yes but I'm pretty sure they employ a 400 series. I suspect the austinetic and therefore non-magnetic 200 & 300 series would be too pricy. The 400s are what kitchen appliance makers use, which is why you can still usually hold papers up on your fridge door with magnets, even though it may be brushed stainless.

 

[KapnKrunch]

I do believe so, yes but I'm pretty sure they employ a 400 series. I suspect the austinetic and therefore non-magnetic 200 & 300 series would be too pricy. The 400s are what kitchen appliance makers use, which is why you can still usually hold papers up on your fridge door with magnets, even though it may be brushed stainless.

Great info. Metallurgy is fascinating stuff. Wish that I had spent more time on it in university (instead of drugs, booze, girls. Sigh...)

 

[knight_yyz]

I'm a tool maker with heat treat experience so I know that Titanium is characterized by its high strength to weight ratio. It is quite ductile in an oxygen free environment and has a low density. It's also paramagnetic which means it is affected very slightly by a magnetic field. I don't think it will wear out frets as it is considered a ductile metal. If you try to make a knife with titanium it will never hold an edge. Obviously stainless steel can hold an edge. I just think they will be super bright strings.

 

[BMW-KTM]

Back when I was a kid, when you were shopping for a pocket knife you were looking for 440 Stainless.

 

[knight_yyz]

Today it's all fancy tool steels, A2, D2, CRV etc...

 

[butterknucket]

Will they destroy your frets?

 

[greco]

Will they destroy your frets?

I don't think it will wear out frets as it is considered a ductile metal. If you try to make a knife with titanium it will never hold an edge.

 

[Wardo]

NASA used titanium strings and gravity picks for the guitars that they sent to the moon.

 

[Ronbeast]

Sorry for being lazy and not researching myself, but what does a set of titanium strings go for? I'd be interested in a set for my acoustic if they're reasonably priced.

 

[Granny Gremlin]

Will they destroy your frets?

Strong <> hard. Steel is hard(er than nickel which is what most frets are made of) so it will kill your frets faster. That's why folks around here are always hyping up using stainless steel frets if you ever refret; longer life. Titanium is light and strong, but not hard, which is the lay translation of what @knight_yyz (as quoted by @greco ) said above.

Titanium is kinda tinny sounding though. For that reason (as well as non-magnetic) I suspect the string isn't all ti, but just coated, or maybe even the entire wrap, but with a steel core wire. That would take the edge off the brightness and make it work with normal magnetic pickups.

 

[butterknucket]

Strong <> hard. Steel is hard(er than nickel which is what most frets are made of) so it will kill your frets faster. That's why folks around here are always hyping up using stainless steel frets if you ever refret; longer life. Titanium is light and strong, but not hard, which is the lay translation of what @knight_yyz (as quoted by @greco ) said above.

Titanium is kinda tinny sounding though. For that reason (as well as non-magnetic) I suspect the string isn't all ti, but just coated, or maybe even the entire wrap, but with a steel core wire. That would take the edge off the brightness and make it work with normal magnetic pickups.

So to clarify, titanium strings will work with magnetic soundhole pickups, such as LR Baggs M1?

 

[Steadfastly]

Sorry for being lazy and not researching myself, but what does a set of titanium strings go for? I'd be interested in a set for my acoustic if they're reasonably priced.

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