Vintage strings

Fritzjazz · #1 08-01-2011, 03:13 PM

Hi,

I have a 1938 Gibson L-12, sunburst, non-cut. It is all original and perfect other than a professionally repaired top crack.

The case is almost cooler than the guitar. There are stickers on the guitar case: "Welcome to Borneo Land of the Wild", "Worlds fair 193?" And airline stickers showing a bi-plane. The case pill box had a dozen or so tourtise picks, the original silk string guitar strap, a hand full of who knows how old strings in wax paper envelops (never used). And a set list and lyrics (hand written) with no song newer than the mid '40's on hotel stationary.

But what strings would come on a stock 1938 Gibson? Rounds? Flats? Steel? Bronze? Nickel? What gauge? .013's? .012's?

What exactly were they using?

I've used 80/20 & phosphur bronze and don't like them-too bright.
What did they use for real that made acoustic archtops of that era such a legend?

Fritzjazz

mtierney · #2 08-01-2011, 03:47 PM

I'm going to post on this not only to say what I'm using but because I'm curious about the more experienced players... I have a '37 Gibson L-50, and I just put on Daddario "Flat Tops" in 13 gauge. They're nice and mellow, bronze (my local luthier recommended bronze strings); I like them a lot. I might do a lighter gauge though just to keep the pressure from damaging the guitar (not that I'm worried, it's just old...)

kamlapati · #3 08-01-2011, 03:59 PM

I really like GHS Vintage Bronze for my old archtops, including my '46 L-5. They're an 85/15 bronze alloy, and are quite a bit mellower than the GHS 80/20 formula, while still maintaining all the zing you expect on an acoustic guitar.

I have always strung my old L-5's with .013s, and had no trouble with the neck or the top. In fact, my '46 is quite a heavy guitar, and .012s are much too light to wake it up.

IMO, no flatwound I have found does justice to an L-5 's acoustic sound, which is the priority for my playing style. Of course other folks expect something different... if you play with a PU and mostly rely on the amplified sound, YMMV.

jorgemg1984 · #4 08-01-2011, 04:03 PM

John Pearse Jazz Strings might be a good choice, love them on my archtop.

kamlapati · #5 08-01-2011, 04:12 PM

With regard to OP, from what I have heard 85/15 mediums is a fair representation of what was available in the 30's and 40's.

Eddie Lang · #6 08-01-2011, 08:17 PM

I've had 0.013-0.053 (Thomastiks) for three years now on my 1934 L-4 and everything is fine. Nothing to worry about. And rightly so: Back in the 1930's, a wound second string was common!

I don't know the exact gauge they were though. I know that that information was not on the boxes or packages of strings. I do have a few unopened boxes of strings from the 30's somewhere around. If I can find them, I'll measure them and post the results here.

I remember reading somewhere that Gibson marketed bronze strings in the 1930's, when virtually everything else was nickel wound.

mtierney · #7 08-01-2011, 08:21 PM

@Kamlapati, the Flat Tops aren't actually flat wounds. They're round wound, then smoothed by some sort of file. That's what I like about them, they're kind of like half rounds, but brighter and bronzed.

@jorgemg1984, which line do you use? They have a lot of options. And do you use bronze? I don't use a pickup in my L-50, so the pickup-ed sound isn't the concern.

jorgemg1984 · #8 08-02-2011, 05:33 AM

I am using these

John Pearse® Acoustic/Electric Six String Guitar Nickel Wound Jazz, .013 - .056, 2900

You can use these if you need the extra long D

John Pearse Acoustic/Electric Six String Guitar Nickel Wound Jazz Long D, .013 - .056, 2920

I play mainly electric, but in my apartment I play acoustic a lot. My archtop is laminated, 1965 Guild X-500, not a solid L-5. I have used Thomastiks and Chromes and the John Pearse are really my favorite! But I have no idea if that's what you want... anyway, do you live in the US? That site is great and if I were you I would just order 4 / 5 sets from different brands and see which one you liked the most. If you decide for John Pearse you can also order extra 1st and 2nd strings and ake your set last much longer

This ones are famous in Euorpe for archtops also, never tried them

Arch Top Nickel

mtierney · #9 08-02-2011, 11:15 AM

I live in Massachusetts, yes. I was going to try bronzed strings though, but I'll keep John Pearse in mind!

Vihar · #10 08-02-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritzjazz

I've used 80/20 & phosphur bronze and don't like them-too bright.

They're supposed to sound that way to be able to cut through a whole big band with no amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritzjazz

What did they use for real that made acoustic archtops of that era such a legend?

The kind you used, .013s or bigger.

Dennis D · #11 08-02-2011, 08:32 PM

..on this '30's L-7... I asked my luthier about maybe improving the action a little, and going with 12-52's. He said it'd be easier on the guitar, so I changed and really like the feel and sound. The more I thought about it, I figured, man, this guitar is eighty years old, I can go easy on it! Dennis