Which strings for an ES-175

[bjdeluxe]

I'm going to pick up my ES-175 on Friday and was wondering what kind of strings would be right for this guitar. I mostly use .10 - .46 on my guitars but those guitars are much different, '63 ES-335, '63 ES-345, '59 Les Paul Jr., and a'72 Tele. Not to mention what is being played on them. I'm thinking a wound G string would be correct. Any thoughts........flat wound or not, etc, would be very helpful.

Thanks,

bj

[hot ford coupe]

I put .013 gauge flatwounds on mine when I had it. I think you can put .012's on it and still keep a fairly good tone. Unless you're really blasting the volume, the heavier strings have sufficient mass to be able to vibrate the top and give you some of that woody tone. The .010's just don't have the bulk for the job. This of course is only my opinion.

[Flat]

Just my opinion too, but absolutely flatwounds.

I like .012-.050 sets from Thomastik-Infeld best. Not cheap, but long lasting, great sounding.

[kawa]

current shipping ; Gibson Brite Wires SEG - 700L .010 Strings
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec.../Features.aspx

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Division...Brite%20Wires/

before ; Gibson SEG - 900M

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Division...%20Series/L-5/

I using my stock of Gibson Flat Wires SEG - 1040ML(discontinued) , very nice sounds

http://www.gibson.com/jp-jp/Division.../Flat%20Wires/

[bjdeluxe]

Thanks guys. As usual, very helpful. My only problem is $20. for a set of TI strings is kind of up there. I'm sure they're amazing. Anything out there that is good but reasonably priced?

bj

[Bill C]

Sadowsky flatwounds are very nice, and a lot of guys use D'Addario Chromes. If you find the flats too dull or slippery you could try half-round or polished round in a similar guage.

[va3ux]

Originally Posted by bjdeluxe

Thanks guys. As usual, very helpful. My only problem is $20. for a set of TI strings is kind of up there. I'm sure they're amazing. Anything out there that is good but reasonably priced?

bj

You're going to pay - for either TI's or the Pyramid flats (excellent strings). But, you won't be changing them very often like you probably would with run-of-the-mill round wound strings. 3 sets of rounds cost about the same as a set of good flats and you could easily have the flats on longer that 3 sets of rounds. So in the longer run, the flats end up being the same cost or less. The D'Addario half-rounds are a nice in-between choice but they still cost more than regular rounds.

Like others have said, if you're after that classic tone, a set of 10's have no place on this guitar. I'd use something like 12 - 50/52 or heavier, definitely with a wound 3rd.

[msr13]

Originally Posted by Bill C

Sadowsky flatwounds are very nice, and a lot of guys use D'Addario Chromes. If you find the flats too dull or slippery you could try half-round or polished round in a similar guage.

I have mostly converted from TIs to Sadowsky's. I really like them 12s work and sound very good. Both last a while.

[jeffroi]

Thomastik JS113' for me (flat)
sound sample here :
YouTube - Kanaal van blondin2fr

Good playing
JF

[hot ford coupe]

Really nice, smooth sound as well as good playing. That's worth trying a set.

[bjdeluxe]

Great. Thanks again. So based on what you guys are saying I have no problem going for a good set of flats, at least .012 gauge since they'll be on the guitar for a while.

So which is the best:

Thomastik-Infeld
Pyramid
Sadowsky

bj

[ESCC]

I had D'Addario Chromes on my 175CC and just changed to a set of D'Addario Half Round Wound 12s. I kept alternating between round wound and flat wound on my 175 seeking the right tone without compromising clarity (my 175 has the CC single coil pick-up, not a very bright/articulate pick-up), the half round are the perfect solution, very pleased with them.
Can't say that they've made me a better player, I'm still looking for that set of strings!

[va3ux]

Originally Posted by bjdeluxe

Great. Thanks again. So based on what you guys are saying I have no problem going for a good set of flats, at least .012 gauge since they'll be on the guitar for a while.

So which is the best:

Thomastik-Infeld
Pyramid
Sadowsky

bj

The TI's and Pyramids, I would say, are on equal footing. I actually prefer the Pyramids over the TIs slightly but I'm not sure why. There is a difference but they're both at the top of the class. They are constructed differently and I think the alloys may be different too. You could go either way; perhaps choose based on the string guages in the various sets and availability.

I've never used the Sadowsky strings so I can't comment but I'm sure they're good if the Sadowsky name is on them.

Labella also have flats. And of course there are always the D'Addario Chromes.

[NiAg]

The only practical difference I have noticed between T-I and Pyramid is that Pyramids sometimes have a remarkable amount of nickel grinding dust left on the surface. You can wipe quite a bit of nickel off the wound strings before they stop giving off the grey dust.

(I have not tried to save the dust an forge my own coins.)

I have not noticed any particular downside to this aspect of Pyramids, but it is slightly messy I suppose.

The comments on the economics of flatwounds make sense to me. In terms of notes-per-dollar, both Pyramids and the increased price of T-I's still stand up well against even the cheapest of strings.

I get T-I's because I like the gauge/tension/sound mix of the .012 to .050 and because I once had a really good (albeit, a little complicated) time in Vienna.

[wizard3739]

I have been using Sadowsky flatwounds (12-52) for about 3 years. I also substitute a .14 and a .17 for the two top strings to get the tone I prefer. The strings usually last me about 3-4 months and seem to be very consistent in terms of tone. I use the (.12 - .52) on my Tele (my back-up guitar). I have never tried the TI's. I used a GHS set (.12 - .52) polished half-rounds for many, many years before changing to the sadowsky flatwound strings.

wiz

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Originally Posted by va3ux

Labella also have flats. And of course there are always the D'Addario Chromes.

I used to be a big fan of La Bella's black nylon tape wound strings. Expensive, but they last a long time. Dark sounding, if you like that.

Now I'm using D'Addario 13s, because they are easier to find, but that's just me being too lazy to order online.