String Choice for Gibson ES-335

**Sparrow** · 06-11-2013, 03:30 PM

I tried flat wounds on my hollow body jazz box once. While I agree with BigDaddy (below) about hating finger/string squeak, I didn't like the tone, but it was so long ago I don't remember why, but it was probably because I like the bold sound of round wound strings. Similarly, I tried half-flats once on a solid body electric and didn't like them much either.
My two cents, nothing more :~)

**vernon** · 03-31-2014, 12:38 PM

I had TI 10's on as I was making the transition from rock/blues to jazz, but just put on 11's and was surprised at the improvement. What do use on your 335 for jazz applications? Thanks!

**mongrel** · 03-31-2014, 02:07 PM

I have Chrome .12's on my '62 ES 355.

**Nabil B** · 03-31-2014, 02:16 PM

Thomastik swing 12s.

**vernon** · 03-31-2014, 02:21 PM

Thanks for your input. 3 more questions: Are chromes brighter or what's the advantage? What are the + or - about going to 12s or 13s... or even 14s? Any neck issues with higher numbers?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-31-2014, 02:34 PM

I like the tension of heavier gauge strings, but that's a personal thing. With 14s, I adjusted the truss rod and later had the nut slots widened. The neck can handle any gauge you put on it.

**jazzrat** · 03-31-2014, 02:50 PM

I have TI Bebop 111's on my 335 "Fat Neck" I like a little more versatility than flatwounds offer as I still use it for
rock and fusion kinds of things.

**Frank67** · 03-31-2014, 04:40 PM

Mmh, never had flatwounds on any semihollow. I basically use d'Addario roundwound 11s on all solid body and semihollow guitars and I am very happy with them. If I would dedicate them to jazz I'll probably put chrome 12s on.

**Phil in London** · 03-31-2014, 07:28 PM

I am with Frank. I have a Gibson 335 '61 reissue and find she sounds best with roundwounds (Elixir 012).

**vernon** · 03-31-2014, 08:08 PM

Thanks folks! You've given me lots of food for thought. I'm going for a deeper archtop sound so I may live with the Thomastik Swing 11s for now... maybe try 12s too. But I think I'll try the round wound 12s eventually... cheers!

**vinlander** · 03-31-2014, 08:19 PM

I am also considering using my semi (Sheraton II with classic 57s) for some jazz and fusion but I am not sure about going flat or not.
I use d'Addario Chromes 13-56 flats on my Archtops but they are strictly for clean jazz playing...
Their neck needed to have their truss rod adjusted a bit and their saddles and nut filed; mostly for the 5th and 6th strings. I would expect the same kind of adjustment for the semi if I would go from 10 to 13...
Right now on the Sherry, I am using d'Addario 10-46 like on my Les Paul, but I guess it could definitely benefit from higher gauge.
12-52 Chromes could be a good compromise and seems popular based on the answers, but will they respond well to light overdrive/distortion or should I stick with roundwound, or maybe half round (no experience with them so far) ?

**zigzag** · 03-31-2014, 11:20 PM

T-I Swing 11s. Pickups set low. Jazztone 204 pick.

**Patrick2** · 03-31-2014, 11:34 PM

I had a Heritage 535. . . which is their version of Gibson's 335. It was one of 5 semi hollows that I had at the time. The finish on this particular guitar was one that you'd expect to see on a vintage Gibson full hollow body jazz box. So, I decided to set it up for jazz. Put Daddario .012 chrome flat wounds on it. Hated it! Ripped them off immediately and went with .011 round wounds. I now have only 2 semis .. a 1963 Custom Shop Reissue ES 335 . . (wasn't aware they ever made a '61 reissue?) . . and I have a Heritage 535. Both have Daddario .011 round wounds. I can't play a 335 type guitar without a great deal of ornamentation . . . whole step bends, trills, slurs . . etc.. I also never play my semis unamplified. So, with the volume cranked (somewhat) . . the finger squeaks on the round wounds are a non issue.

**Frank67** · 04-01-2014, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by vinlander

12-52 Chromes could be a good compromise and seems popular based on the answers, but will they respond well to light overdrive/distortion or should I stick with roundwound, or maybe half round (no experience with them so far) ?

Many people, certainly including myself, hate the sound of flats with overdrive ... Sounds like a broken radio. It is also why I prefer roundwounds on the semis.

**Phil in London** · 04-01-2014, 12:18 AM

another comment - if you want an archtop sound on your 335, you might look into TI George B. Those offer, impov, more warmth than the swing. The swing's weakness on a 335 is especially the 2 unwound strings, which are a bit hard (like wire, if you know what I mean). A semiaccoustic might bark with those, rather than sing. This effect can be mitigated with the GB, they are simply 'softer' (for the lack of a better word). You could also try to replace the e and b string with a 'normal' string-type, also helps. Thats where I ended up until I switched to roundwounds altogether. Just my 2c... .

**ESCC** · 04-01-2014, 11:11 AM

I'm in Patrick's camp. After many trials finally decided on TI Bebop 11s on my Heritage 535, I prefer the versatility over flatwounds for rock, blues and jazz. If I cut back the tone on the guitar the Bebops give me a very nice jazz tone.

**Al_F** · 04-01-2014, 01:00 PM

Chrome 12's I like.

**Patriots2006** · 04-01-2014, 01:35 PM

I am using Benedetto 12s, (pure nickel round wounds), and they give the guitar a more acoustic jazz box sound to my ear. I tried Daddarrio and they were very bright when I first put them on. Did not care for it. Can anyone describe how the flat wounds sound on a 335. I would very much like to know.
Thanks Rich

**vernon** · 04-01-2014, 02:17 PM

Flat wounds on an ES-335... the words that first come to my mind are mellower and deeper. Pick up one of Johnny A's CDs and take a listen. He plays flat wounds on his signature Gibson 335ish guitar and gets amazing full-bodied tone clean to slightly overdriven. His semi hollow is not a classic 335, but I think he should be mentioned in this discussion. Not really jazz though...

**GodinFan** · 04-01-2014, 02:52 PM

I find that my Sheraton has enough brightness that I need the flats; that, and I really dislike finger noise.

I did try out some distortion with the flats, and didn't really have a problem with how it sounds.

**ronjazz** · 09-25-2015, 08:57 AM

One of the important parts of the journey towards self-expression (creating our own sound and style) is finding your string type. Many of the top players have created their own custom sets by trial and error, many others are perfectly served by an off-the-shelf set. I have found that, in my case, different guitars will respond to different strings, thus complicating the task even more. You, however, have a rig that is perfectly adequate for pro-level playing, so you should try different gauges and types until something feels and sounds right to you. This applies to picks as well.

**TOMMO** · 09-25-2015, 10:43 AM

Be careful with the nut if you're going up in gauge - the slots may need to be widened a tad. Probably no problem with going to .011s but as soon as you get to .012....

**Jazzman35** · 09-26-2015, 10:17 PM

I use Ernie Ball Slinkies, works for me.

**Peter Alton** · 10-07-2015, 04:34 AM

String Choice for Gibson ES-335-img_1397-es335-1982-jpg

I used Ernie Ball gauge .012",with a wound third on my 1982 Blond ES335.Great for jazz, will still bend a semitone for pop, nicely balanced in their volume. I've found that if you used the gauge of string the guitar was probably designed for, you get the best results. When I started playing in the U.K. in the 1950's,string choice was very limited. All strings were much heavier than today, and usually came with a wound third. It's only when James Burton revealed he used a banjo string first, and moved everything else across the board to get his light ,bendable set , that things started to change. ( My set : Ernie Ball #2206 )