Magma Amalgam Strings

[edwardofhuncote]

Anybody tried these yet? 

https://magmastoreusa.com/collections/amalgam-electric-bass-strings-phosphor-bronze-stainless-steel-flat-wound

I read about them and it sounds interesting. I can't remember anyone trying this before. I'm not even sure if it's a good idea, but they are [SOLD OUT] of every set. Somebody must like them. 

[jazzyvee]

Double post. See following

[jazzyvee]

I wondered about the Galvanic corrosion between these two metals, similar to what we sometimes on our brass bridges with steel adjustment bolts.
Did a web search and found this.


"Electrolytic Discharge Between Phosphor Bronze and Stainless Steel.
Galvanic Corrosion Risk
Pressing phosphor bronze and stainless steel together can indeed lead to electrolytic discharge, especially when moisture is present. This situation creates a galvanic couple, where the two metals have different corrosion potentials.

Corrosion Dynamics
Less Noble Metal: Phosphor bronze is considered less noble compared to stainless steel.
Corrosion Rate: In the presence of an electrolyte (like water), phosphor bronze may corrode at a faster rate than stainless steel.
Preventive Measures
To mitigate the risk of galvanic corrosion when using these metals together, consider the following:
Use non-conductive materials to separate the two metals.
Protective Coatings:
Apply coatings to one or both metals to prevent direct contact.

Choose metals that are closer together in the galvanic series to minimize potential differences.

By taking these precautions, the risk of electrolytic discharge and subsequent corrosion can be significantly reduced."

I guess time will tell especially as bass players typically keep flats on their basses longer than rounds.
That said, they might be an interesting thing to try on my main reggae bass and on DB or EUB.

[edwardofhuncote]

I had generally the same thought regarding galvanic interaction between dissimilar metals. Had some personal experience with this at work. (in water treatment) We would actually use a sacrificial anode in extreme cases. Not only that, but at risk of overstating an obvious thing; the bronze is simply a much more malleable metal than stainless steel. I'm curious about how braiding them works. 

I figure they had to have done some R&D before going to market with them. 🤔

[cozmik_cowboy]

In the immortal words of Artie Johnson, "Veddy interesting".
I use D'Addario phosphor/bronze on my acoustics, and they last a good long time - but their cores are high-carbon, not stainless.  I'd be interested in how these sound, as well as how they last.

Peter