String gauge on your archtop?

[bozobreak]

Ibanez JSM100: Thomastik Bebop 11-47
Eastman AR805CE: Thomastik Bebop 12-50

[RyanM]

Thomastik 12s are too light, and plinky on the E and B. Put on a Daddario 13 and 17 and it sounds much better, although hard to bend. I’m going to try Chrome 12s next, then Thomastik 13s (Epiphone Broadway).

[RJVB]

The plain wire trebles from "germanic" brands (Thomastik, Pyramid, Optima) are made using metric gauges which are then converted and rounded to imperial units (which means they're usually just a bit lighter) but more importantly they're made of the softer German steel. My very objective (ahem) impression is that they're a bit more comfortable to play and sound more mellow.

[raylinds]

I always thought that fat strings= fatter sound until I read that, after talking to BB King who used very thin strings, Billy Gibbons switched to 7s!! You can't get a fatter tone than Billy Gibbons. Admittedly Gibbons uses distortion which helps, but still... Also BB had a pretty solid tone. I began noticing that a lot of my guitar heroes used pretty light strings (except SRV).

All of my rock and blues guitars have .009s, but my Epi Broadway that I use for jazz has TI Swing .012s. I am still getting used to the difference, but I love the tone I am getting, so it's worth it. Also, I don't want to risk incurring the wrath of the jazz police!

[RealDavidW]

[Oscar67]

I used to think that thicker means less plinky but it’s not always true. It depends on the player, the guitar and string height (higher action definitely means less fret splat and spiky transients). The treble strings on my 594HB-II sounded harsh with 11s or 12s, especially when played with a pick. Going down to 10s was too light, not necessarily trebly but not enough girth. So I went up to 10.5’s, raised the action a bit and the guitar lit up like a candle. Then I started experimenting with my other guitars and determined which brand and gauge they loved best.

Eastman Romeo: TI 012 RW
Ibby GB10: TI 012 FW
PRS JA-15: D’Ad 011 RW
PRS DGT: D’Ad 011 RW
PRS 594 HB-II: EB 010.5 RW
Everything else: 010 RW

[RJVB]

I used to think that thicker means less plinky but it’s not always true. It depends on the player, the guitar and string height (higher action definitely means less fret splat and spiky transients).

I think it does, all else (player included) being equal.

[jim777]

Campellone 17" - D'Addario 12s, round wound
Campellone 18" - Benson 12s
VDA NYL-2 - Benson 12s
Ibanez FA100 (175 copy) - Thomastic Jazz Swing 12s

Thanks to the all the good folks here, I tried the Jazz Swing sets and I honestly can't tell the difference between their cost and the Bensons', so the Benson strung boxes will get the Jazz Swing sets going forward.

[JazzPadd]

Over the past year or so I settled on 11s for archtops and flattops, and 9s for the solids and semis.

For archtops, I use TI Swing or Bebop 11s, dependent upon the tone. Both sets have round cores, which I prefer overall, but some archtops sound better with flats, others with round wound. For the one flattop I have, I’m happy so far with hybrid TI Plectrums 11s.

For solids, I’m now using Elixir 09s, the set with the thinnest coating. I recently sold the only semi, but used that set on it, too.

As an amateur/hobbyist with 30 guitars, longevity is a key factor, and I’ve been satisfied on that with those choices.

[213Cobra]

I settled on 12s and 13s for archtops, and 11s for Telecasters. -Phil

[Llewlyn]

13 on archtops, 11 or 12 on solid.

On arch top these days I like dogal expressive flat.

to my ears thicker strings produce fatter sound - it is very noticeable but I can achieve fattness by adding effect such as boost or compression with lighter strings.

i just don’t do it on archtops

also, I like the feel of thicker strings on my right hand and left hand is fine so long as setup is properly done

Ll.

[L50EF15]

On my 1960 L-50 and my L-75, D’A Chromes .013-.056. On my L Jr., D’A Chromes .012-.053. On my 1933 L-50 (just got it yesterday; one of many new guitar day posts I am behind on…), it’s got D’A PBs. Feels like .012-.053. On my Harmony H1310, D’A Chromes .013-.056.

As for the electrics: All wear Chromes .012-.053. I really dislike the feeling of anything thinner than that on any guitar.


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[lammie200]

I used to think that thicker means less plinky but it’s not always true. It depends on the player, the guitar and string height (higher action definitely means less fret splat and spiky transients).RW

You can also move your picking hand closer to the butt end of the neck.

[Woodstove]

Trenier 16 “ D’Adarrio Chrome 11s The livelier tone suits this guitar. Also use round 12s when I play it acoustically.(Bebops)
Campellone 16” Dogal Expression 11s Took a lot of testing and this is the one. Softer “Gibson” tone incredibly nice feel snd playability
Collings I-35 TI Bebops 11s
Tele thinline partcaster various 10s including Elixir and currently Newtone Jazz Rounds with a wound G. Excellent, glad I got a few before you know who did you know what.
Having just tested many offerings I have a set of Benson 12s and La Bella 14 tapes Ill be selling at good prices on the forum.

[GuyBoden]

I'm testing Phosphor Bronze strings (12's) for my 18 inch Acoustic Archtop with no pickup.

[NewNewcastleBud]

I've been using these on both my arch top and semi hollow

[Aiq]

10 - 46 Newtone Electric Jazz, round wound, round core, wound .18.

Lighter due to older hands, made in Derbyshire, England.