Wound or plain G

[Jazz_175]

I think it's been said here and there, but I 'd like to have your comments in one thread.
So which one do you use and why?
I just put a new set of TI Bebop 012 and it has a plain G, the old set was the TI GB roundwound that have a wound G.
Do the two options are more indicated for a specific style of playing or is it just a matter of preference about the way you feel the string under your fingers?

[mr. beaumont]

Wound for me...if just for the intonation. Plus I have no need to do any woozy full step blooze bends.

[feral guitar]

I used to play a plain g in order to minimize nail wear.
You have to intonate the bridge quite a bit different for each type of string.
I had some ebony bridges built for the plain g and I'm stuck.
Plain g seems a little harder to keep in tune, IMO.

I switched back to wound g and I think it blends better.
But a wound g is the first string to 'die' and lose significant volume in a set of strings.

[Jazz_175]

!! The first thing I noticed after putting the plain G was that the intonation was completely gone !!

[bluemood]

I use a plain G with on problem intonation is fine I do set up my own guitars.
25 1/2 scale is better than 24 3/4 but still it's fine ,I like to be able to play jazz,blues,rock on 1 guitar,so I use pure nickel 11 to 50 gauge works for me.
Wound G is more stable

[Tom Karol]

My Tele and 335 - 11's with a plain G;
My Acoustic and Archtop - 12's with a wound G.

[PTChristopher]

>>> So which one do you use

Wound

>>> and why?

Because I do not need the bend response of a plain G and I use heavy enough strings that the core of a wound G is not silly-fragile.

>>> I just put a new set of TI Bebop 012 and it has a plain G,

Yeah. I wish they would not do that. I buy wound .021 T-I G's to use with that set.


Strings change pitch as they are fretted and bent due to the core being stretched. The windings also stretch, but to miniscule degree compared to the core.

A plain G is all core, so it reacts more than the core of a wound G. So a plain G needs more compensation at the bridge. It is also FAR more sensitive to mistakes in that compensation. It changes pitch more easily in bends.

Chris

[Section Player]

This thread has me thinking. I noticed, about a month ago, when I put the first ever set of T.I.s on my Ibanez GB10, which I had not played for about a year, the G (which is wound) seemed sort of "tinny" (or too "trebly") sounding most of the time, as if I have a fret problem or something.

I'm 99% sure the neck on this guitar is stable and straight since I've owned it for a long time. But, maybe I should have it checked out in detail by a tech.

This slightly different sound on this string is present with two different amps, by the way.

Could this be due to the way it may not fit properly on the ebony bridge? I'm using their .10 jazz strings. EVerything else sounds great and the strings feel great. I really like their sound except for the G. Strange.

[PTChristopher]

Exactly which set? JS-110?

If so, then a .018 wound string is really getting into a very light core with more flexibility than most strings, so more singing harmonics that are not killed by the stiff ends of the swinging string arc.

>>> Could this be due to the way it may not fit properly on the ebony bridge?

Very unlikely.

There is a fix, but in involves adding a small damper to the string back by the saddle. I have done this in-person for players then set them up with the way to do it themselves. But as a remote web-exercise, it is probably too much of a stretch.

If you are pretty handy we can walk through it sometime. It doth work for some players and some strings sets.

OR

A plain G may work better for you in this case. Or a .020 to .021 wound G. This will be heavier than the rest of the set, but it may feel just fine to you.

Chris

[aniss1001]

Currently using a wound G string, but I must say I really don't like it. One thing is doing bends of course, but mainly it just sounds and feels wrong to me. An unwound G string simply sounds better.. more alive. The wound one sounds somewhat dead to me. Also it seems to enhance the muting caused by the fret buzz problems I'm having.

There are 2 reasons I don't change to an unwound G string:

1) I have been warned a couple of times on this forum that an unwound G string of that gauge (I'm using .012-.052) is problematic (with a tele 3 saddle bridge).

2) The only roundwound string in my gauge available where I live with an unwound G string are the Ernie Balls and they just raised them $5 in the only shop that sells them. So now they cost close to $20.

[oldane]

For those who plays traditional archtops with a wood bridge, the Sadowsky web shop has two versions of ebony bridge tops (saddles) compensated for a wound G and a plain G respectively. Both with "standard" Gibson post spacing (2 29/32").

True-Tone Bridge - Shopping Cart Software & Ecommerce Software Solutions by CS-Cart

One can also have a bridge top custom made by, say, John Moriarty in Ireland:

Archtop.ie - Luthier John Moriarty - Customisable Compensated Bridge for Archtop Guitar

Those who like a little woodworking can make one themselves. An ebony blank for making a flattop bridge has a suitable thickness (likely needs a little slimming, but it's OK). It can be had from suppliers of guitar parts/tools.

[Jazz_175]

>>>

>>> I just put a new set of TI Bebop 012 and it has a plain G,

Yeah. I wish they would not do that. I buy wound .021 T-I G's to use with that set.

Chris

That's exactly what I was planning to do.

By the way did you notice any difference in sound between the little E and B strings brass (golden?) plated and the little E and B tin plated?

[Jazz_175]

For those who plays traditional archtops with a wood bridge, the Sadowsky web shop has two versions of ebony bridge tops (saddles) compensated for a wound G and a plain G respectively. Both with "standard" Gibson post spacing (2 29/32").

True-Tone Bridge - Shopping Cart Software & Ecommerce Software Solutions by CS-Cart

One can also have a bridge top custom made by, say, John Moriarty in Ireland:

Archtop.ie - Luthier John Moriarty - Customisable Compensated Bridge for Archtop Guitar

Those who like a little woodworking can make one themselves. An ebony blank for making a flattop bridge has a suitable thickness (likely needs a little slimming, but it's OK). It can be had from suppliers of guitar parts/tools.

Thanks for the information, those are useful links

[PTChristopher]

>>> did you notice any difference in sound between the little E and B strings brass (golden?) plated and the little E and B tin plated?

I notice no difference whatsoever between T-I brass plated plain strings tin plated plain strings.

[Evan]

I recently got high tension saverez strings (pink/red pack) with a wound g for my nylon string acoustic. They made it a new instrument! I'd like to think that it's partly due to me getting just a tad better, but the strings probably deserve most of the credit. Regardless, it sounds much better now.

I'd like to try a wound g on my tele. I currently have .10 d'addario chrome flatwounds. Can you guys recommend a set of strings in the same gauge with a wound g? ...or a single string that would mix/match well with my current set?

Who's a good source for buying single strings and what would be a good string to mix/match with?

Are wound g strings available as flat and round wound? If both, please share your thoughts on both for comparison.

[Section Player]

Exactly which set? JS-110?

If so, then a .018 wound string is really getting into a very light core with more flexibility than most strings, so more singing harmonics that are not killed by the stiff ends of the swinging string arc.

>>> Could this be due to the way it may not fit properly on the ebony bridge?

Very unlikely.

There is a fix, but in involves adding a small damper to the string back by the saddle. I have done this in-person for players then set them up with the way to do it themselves. But as a remote web-exercise, it is probably too much of a stretch.

If you are pretty handy we can walk through it sometime. It doth work for some players and some strings sets.

OR

A plain G may work better for you in this case. Or a .020 to .021 wound G. This will be heavier than the rest of the set, but it may feel just fine to you.

Chris

Yes, the JS110 set. The G is 0.18, I believe. I have an unopened JS111 set which says the G is 0.19 but I don't know if it is wound or not. (I like really light gauges and a low action, and compensate with the neck pickup pole pieces.)

Your explanation makes sense. If I had a 0.10 set with an unwound G, do you think the "singing harmonics" might be less obvious?

[PTChristopher]

>>> Your explanation makes sense.

Thanks, it happens sometimes, but not always.

>>>If I had a 0.10 set with an unwound G, do you think the "singing harmonics" might be less obvious?

Short answer: Yes, and this is a more common configuration for a few reasons.

Cheap and easy to buy a few plain G's and test.

>>> I have an unopened JS111 set which says the G is 0.19 but I don't know if it is wound or not.

JS-111 has a wound .019 G.

>>> (I like really light gauges and a low action,

OK. It is as good an ideal as any.

>>> and compensate with the neck pickup pole pieces.)

I would not describe this as a direct compensation. But I understand that you are able to get the sound you want with an unusual setup for many Jazz players (low and light).

I am 100% sure that you make this setup sound great.

I suggest (not that anyone asked):

- Try a plain G in .018.

- Adjust bridge compensation for the longer distance needed for the plain G.

- If you are happy, then play away. If not let us know and we can walk through why all strings in a set are not usually wound (or unwound), and why we pick the crossover point that we pick, and why these choices have downsides, and what you can sometimes to about the downsides.

- But you may be happy with the plain G. I do not suggest going up to a .020 plain G, the inharmonicity troubles (from string stiffness) get really significant by .020" if you play well up the neck a great deal of the time.

Chris

[Jazz_175]

Who's a good source for buying single strings and what would be a good string to mix/match with?

You might buy single strings at juststrings.com, which has rather expensive shipping rates (for international orders)
or stringbusters.com (UK based) or SchneiderMusik.de

[Jazz_175]

After playing my acoustic archtop with the new TI Bebop 012 including a plain G string, I've come to the conclusion that I prefer a wound G for this type of guitar.
Maybe a plain G string is more suitable for an electrically oriented jazz guitar.

[Section Player]

PTChris......I'll buy a couple of plain 0.18 G strings and give it a shot. It's a small expense that might take care of the issue. Thanks for the advice.

[jazzbow]

I recently got a Squier JM Jazzmaster for a sort of 'Jack of all trades' guitar without having to take/swap guitars at jam & beer sessions, it's kitted out with Fender nickel plated 11's with a low action and low pickup pole piece for the G. Switching on the 'rhythm circuit' and playing with thumb & fingers the plain G tone thickens up well enough to sound ok.

[Section Player]

I went through nearly all the flatwound light gauge offerings on JustStrings, looking at specs, and almost none.....maybe none.....come with a plain G. Surprising. Repeat: flatwound.

Am I missing something?

I'll order a couple of plain G individual strings to try out.

[PTChristopher]

>>> I went through nearly all the flatwound light gauge offerings on JustStrings, looking at specs, and almost none.....maybe none.....come with a plain G.

This is partly fashion.

>>> Surprising.

Yeah like those ascots with metal sliders people wore in the late 60's. But it happened. I was 10 or something, so I did not have to participate.

>>>Repeat: flatwound.

Uh-huh.

>>> Am I missing something?

Nope. Just an emperor or two with somewhat diaphanous clothing.

>>> I'll order a couple of plain G individual strings to try out.

It is hard to make the crossover from wound to plain when you are using such light strings and flats. So the G will be tricky. A really thin wound G will sing, whine, or even clang (if you hit it right). A plain G will be a little unusual sounding for some jazz chord shapes. I do not like how you can sometimes hear the pitch change noticeably as the string settles down from a hard attack. A wound G is far more forgiving in this regard.

But this is not a lost cause. Get the plain G's. Stay to .018, and avoid heavier plan G's if you can.

See what you think, then come back with your reaction.

In my opinion.

Chris

[Section Player]

>>>
But this is not a lost cause. Get the plain G's. Stay to .018, and avoid heavier plan G's if you can.

See what you think, then come back with your reaction.

In my opinion.

Chris

I ordered three plain .018s, T.I.s from JustStrings. I'll come back with a reaction. This could be interesting and I hope it turns out well.

Yes, I saw the guy ride by, and he didn't have a stitch on! Fashion---I never would have thought...............

Many thanks.

[PTChristopher]

I do not always keep track of what guitar a given poster may have in mind, but if you have a GB-10, then going back to my first post on the thread:

>>> So a plain G needs more compensation at the bridge. It is also FAR more sensitive to mistakes in that compensation.

So a plain G will not be compensated enough with the stock GB-10 bridge. You can try it for sound, but the saddle area near the G will need to go back roughly 3/32" (2.5mm) or slightly more.

In practice, this means a saddle made for a plain G.

No big deal, but something you'll need to take care of if you plan to use a plain G.

Chris