Voss iron has a mysterious coating with a dark grey color. This coating must be removed before it can be used. If it is not removed, the coating will pool around bridge and nut pins, effectively cutting off the contact between strings and pins, resulting in the muted sound you describe. I talk from experience. You can test this yourself. Lower the tension on one of the strings, and polish the string and the pins with a soft cloth or a bit of cotton around the pin. Then bring the string back up to pitch. You will hear the difference.


If Voss wire has been polished, it is in fact a very good wire, though not as good as Birkett--not by a long shot.


Greg


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