Thomastik Infeld or Pyramid Strings?

**jmstritt** · 10-08-2011, 02:28 PM

Hey guys, I have always used roundwounds (13-52 ). I had tried Chromes before and just didn't really dig it, but I heard folks talking about how, "Oh you should really give Thomastiks a try, it is sooo different!"

My question is this... for $20 a set I want to be really sure before I throw down the coin.

Are there any folks here that use Thomastik or Pyramid strings? What kind of feedback would you have for me, is the price really justified?

**cjm** · 10-08-2011, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by jmstritt

What kind of feedback would you have for me, is the price really justified?

Only if you like them.

Seriously.

People ask these sort of questions all the time, but it comes down to you, your hands, your particular guitar, and what your ears want to hear.

Most of the jazz guitar you have heard, either in live performance or through recordings, and performed over the past 75 years since Gibson introduced the ES-150, was NOT played using either of these brands of strings.

That tells you they aren't essential to GREAT art.

But as to whether or not they will help you achieve new heights, and whether they're worth the premium price, no one's answer here can be worth a bucket of warm spit...only your answer matters and you'll have to try them.

Having said that, I personally don't think these expensive strings represent much improvement over something cheap like Ernie Ball nickle round wounds.

**marcwhy** · 10-08-2011, 06:19 PM

I've used and like them both; they're expensive, but last longer than other strings.

I'm actually using Benedetto strings right now; a bit less than TI/Pyr, and still great sounding.

**burchyk** · 10-08-2011, 08:49 PM

Thomastiks are worth a try. The price of the answer is only several bucks

**bluewaterpig** · 10-08-2011, 11:50 PM

CJM, I'm sure you aren't doing it intentionally, but your posts do come off as kind of harsh.

I was about to start a thread on TI strings for the same reason.

I'm curious because I've seen several people say that they are indeed "different". To those who have tried them, what would you say is the main difference, if you think that there is any at all? At $23-28 a pack, they must have something good about them to still be in business.

**merritt stone** · 10-09-2011, 12:37 AM

Just give them a shot. If they turn out to be awesome, then $20 is a pretty inexpensive way to improve your tone, and it's not like you go through tons on strings playing jazz. If you don't like them, oh well, just use them for as long as they're good for and then try something else.

Of course, I'm always happy with Daddario's lol.

**Kuz** · 10-09-2011, 02:01 AM

I love Thomastic George Benson Flatwounds.

I think they are a huge improvement over Chromes (in my humble opinion).

**Scolohofo** · 10-09-2011, 03:37 AM

the thomastiek are great,if you want a more acoustic tone try the bebop

**jazzbow** · 10-09-2011, 05:39 AM

This thread comes from a while back, alot of people left remarks.

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/every...se-prefer.html

**cjm** · 10-09-2011, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by bluewaterpig

CJM, I'm sure you aren't doing it intentionally, but your posts do come off as kind of harsh.

The OP, jmstritt, explained that he uses plain ol' round wound strings, and that he wasn't impressed with DA Chromes.

I could have ignored that to recommend he spend a premium price for strings that are more similar to the Chromes he didn't like than they are to the round wounds he is apparently reasonably satisfied with.

In fact I could have told him that premium flat wounds on a custom built carved guitar is the only way to achieve the "smoky" (?) 1950's sound of a plywood guitar with round wound strings.

Of course, there is no real need for me to make that suggestion, because some one else will inevitably suggest just that.

**Flyin' Brian** · 10-09-2011, 09:53 AM

I kind of agree with cjm. There's ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that you're going to know if you'll like anything about guitar, from the strings to a pick to the amp to the guitar itself without trying it yourself. Strings are a pretty cheap thing to experiment with, but if your budget won't allow that, you're better off staying with what you have.

**SamBooka** · 10-09-2011, 10:09 AM

never tried pyramids... LOVE the sound of Thomastiks but I kill them after a month.. (I can live with chromes, which I get a month out of as well and are half the price)

That said, it is all subjective so I will give you this to chew on: Does it make sense to spend 1800$ on a guitar and 100$ on a new pickup and NOT spend an extra 7$ to try a different set of strings? (comparing the price of TIs and Chromes)

EDIT: and while you are at it spend another 7$ trying a bunch of different picks!!!!

**cjm** · 10-09-2011, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

That said, it is all subjective so I will give you this to chew on: Does it make sense to spend 1800$ on a guitar and 100$ on a new pickup and NOT spend an extra 7$ to try a different set of strings? (comparing the price of TIs and Chromes)

Yes, actually I think it DOES make sense NOT to spend $20~$25 to experiment with premium flatwounds if, as jmstritt has, you already tried DA Chromes and found them inferior for your purposes to ordinary nickle round wound strings.

His preference isn't too surprizing, either. Most of the jazz guitar "greats" played ordinary round wound strings for most of their careers.

**Kuz** · 10-09-2011, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by cjm

Yes, actually I think it DOES make sense NOT to spend $20~$25 to experiment with premium flatwounds if, as jmstritt has, you already tried DA Chromes and found them inferior for your purposes to ordinary nickle round wound strings.

His preference isn't too surprizing, either. Most of the jazz guitar "greats" played ordinary round wound strings for most of their careers.

So if someone like myself, that compared DA Chromes vs Thomastics and found a very big difference, and would have taken your advice to not try the Thomastics...... I guess I never would have found out for myself.

You have your opinion, I have mine, and I think the OP should try and found out for himself.

But I disagree that it is a waste of money & time to try different types & brand of strings.

Just my opinion.

**Patrick2** · 10-09-2011, 01:33 PM

I tried TIs on two of my arch tops. A Golden Eagle and a Super Eagle. They seem to be great strings . . . but, I'll stick with my D'Ad Chrome flat wounds. I didn't like the feel of the TIs. They felt a little lighter in guage than a comparable set of D'Ads . . . particularly the wound G. (I will refrain from using the unfair term . . . slinky.)

I use .012s and I find that the playability, the touch/feel, the sound and the life span of the D'Ads give me all I want and all I could ask for. Acoustically, both strings sound great. But, through a tube amp, I find that the TIs seemed a little brighter to me. I don't want bright. I want even and consistent articulation. As for round wounds . . . I would never use them on an arch top. Just my personal preference.

I will say this to the OP . . . if you didn't like the D'Ad chrome flat wounds, then don't even waste your time and money on the TIs. They a far more similar to the D'Ads than they are dissimilar to them.

**SamBooka** · 10-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Homer Simpson: “You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.”

**jorgemg1984** · 10-09-2011, 01:46 PM

Used Chromes e Thomastik in the past - always felt Thomastik were overpriced. And they are thin but more acoustic than Chromes. If you have the money try it, its a cheap way to get new sounds (picks are the other).

But if you prefer rounds (as I do now), try some good round strings like John Pearse (cheap) or Thomastik Bebops (expensive). Newtone might be a good option also. Flats will always be flats.

**Peter C** · 10-09-2011, 01:47 PM

You didn't say what you didn't dig about the Chromes. A lot of people do not get on with flatwounds, period.

If you've always used roundwounds (presumably of the nickel plated variety) and you want a more mellow tone, try some "pure nickel" roundwounds. Pyramid make them, and so do D'Addario and Fender (150s), etc.

**jzucker** · 10-09-2011, 02:19 PM

i heard that benson doesn't really use the TI strings. According to my source he actually uses the daddario chromes.

**Bebop Tom** · 10-09-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by cjm

Yes, actually I think it DOES make sense NOT to spend $20~$25 to experiment with premium flatwounds if, as jmstritt has, you already tried DA Chromes and found them inferior for your purposes to ordinary nickle round wound strings.

His preference isn't too surprizing, either. Most of the jazz guitar "greats" played ordinary round wound strings for most of their careers.

Actually, I believe that most jazz guitar greats used ordinary flatwound strings.

**jorgemg1984** · 10-09-2011, 03:37 PM

When I did my research on strings got really surprised - a lot of jazzers use rounds. Much more than I assumed!

**Bebop Tom** · 10-09-2011, 04:51 PM

New players do, old classic guys not so much. Wes, Benson, Burrell, Farlow, Ellis, Grant Green, Jim Hall, and many more used flats.

**SamBooka** · 10-09-2011, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Bebop Tom

New players do, old classic guys not so much. Wes, Benson, Burrell, Farlow, Ellis, Grant Green, Jim Hall, and many more used flats.

Thought that before the late 60s the most commonly available strings were nickle flats..

**jmstritt** · 10-10-2011, 10:06 AM

I think this has given me enough positive feedback to at least try a set.

What I didn't like about the Chromes was that I found them to be kind of dead sounding, although I did like the feel. From what I've read, the Thomastik strings are brighter than the Chromes but still warm. If that's the case, I think I would be really happy with them.

I will probably also try a pure nickel roundwound string as well and see if I like that. I really want to go to flats though for the lack of finger noise and the feel.