Guitar string reviews

[hot ford coupe]

Alrighty then. I went to the music store and got myself a set of Elixer strings and strung up one of my guitars. It worked just as you said Riovine. the only difference is that I used phosfor bronze strings. Yes I know their not the right metal but I have an old De Armond pickup with a bronze compensator. I just have to boost the volume and treble a bit. The result is a really mellow tone without the squeak. Problem solved. Thanks Riovine for the tip.

[HotClubBrampton]

I got the Thomastik Infeld Swing .11s on my ES-175. The sound is fantastic and the low tension works fine for me. It is a new experience, but you can get that 'woody' sound out of it
Need to try the TI Bop and Swing on .12s next...

So I got the T.I. Bop on .12s and put them to the 175. While the TI Swing .11s were great on the guitar, these ones are incredible good! Not better, just different in a good way. Got a more 'acoustic' sound, and the guitar+amp (Roland Cube 60) reflect the results on a clear, singing voice.

Very Happy Thomastik Infeld convert here!

ps: The set was pricey though, CDN$ 17 bucks + taxes

[asedas]

TI Swing 0.12 are great strings! I've been using it on my archtop over 3 years [now I use LaBella Black Nylon Tape Wounds, but I use TI Swing .12 on my second guitar]. I've also used a TI GB113 but weren't as good as Swing. Swing series are much "hardy" and are long life strings [good for a long time].

[m78w]

I've been using D'Addario Chromes .11's for about a decade. A few years ago I bought every flatwound string I could find, about 10 or so different makes, and tried them all out. After all that I found I still preferred the Chromes.

Since I play with my fingers I find the Chromes are easy on my nails but still give a great consistantly warm tone. Maybe it's just what I'm used to but I'll probably always use Chromes.

MW

[mangotango]

On the subject of strings...I have a 335-type guitar, it has .10's on it but I have a set of Thomastik Be-Bop 12's which I'd like to try on there.

Is that kind of step-up likely to be OK, or am I going to need a set-up done, or am I just looking at a banana neck?

[pineapple]

On the subject of strings...I have a 335-type guitar, it has .10's on it but I have a set of Thomastik Be-Bop 12's which I'd like to try on there.

Is that kind of step-up likely to be OK, or am I going to need a set-up done, or am I just looking at a banana neck?

Hi Mangotango,
Thomastik 12 Bebop should be ok. It's a low tension set. The gauge of the wound strings (D/A/E) is 28/36/50, very similar to brite wire 10s! I use Bebop 12s without any banana effect.

[markf]

No idea what strings he used, but I would not describe Barney Kessels's sound as mellow.

I really like Barney's playing, very exciting and swinging, and his sound, but to me, his sound is "agressive", and his amp sounds like it's turned up and ready to grind.

that's partly why he's so good, his sound, not relying on the heavy bass, almost muffled sound that so many jazz players have.

I have a Barney Kessel guitar, which sounded best through an early sixties twin turned up.. .. best sound I have ever gotten , straight into the amp.

He was the Most swinging guitar player ever.

I tried d'addario flat wounds, too much bass, too dead sounding, I like d'addario round wounds, 10 to 56. Might try some of these others mentioned here.

[kawa]

Hi all,

I was used the discontinued "Gibson SEG-1040ML"
I liked this rich tone strings very much.
Please teach me the near close replace one.

[larry graves]

Hi. I'm a newbie to the forum' but not to guitar playing--[55years].
I've played most styles, but' like Charley Christian having heard the
voice of jazz I would hear no other!
Strings--If I could re-claim all of the money I've spent on guitar strings
I could probably buy a new house--along with a D'Angelico new yorker.
Strings--I'm using La Bella 15,s at present, truly the best jazz guitar string
ever, I went from TI's--13's ,but considering TI's GB 14's because I've
developed arthitis in my fretting hand thum. The low tension
worries me some, but I could exchange the 14 for a 15 and get used to
the rest.

[guido mattei]

I bought a nearly new epi emp reg at the pawn shop a few months ago. It came with round wounds and sounded fine. The local guitar shop had very few choices in strings long enough to fit. So after some research I ordered TI swings .13-.53 ( flatwounds) from just strings . If not for the price would have ordered the bepop and George Bensons to try also. They are not as loud nor as brite when played acousticly as i only play the epi thru the Roland cube 60 thats not an issue I am very happy with the feel and sound. However several posts mentioned they don't use them because of low tension something I noticed when I first tuned them. If someone could explain the basic issues involving tension level in strings it would be apreciated I have not a clue. Thanks in advance

[larry graves]

Hi. Guido.
I think most jazz guitar players when debating the pro's and cons of
what gauge strings are the most suitable for getting a great jazz
sound, they're usually refering to the top strings--12,13,14 or 15.
The heavier string the bigger the sound, no two ways about that!
Then along came TI. with their philosophy that lighter gauge strings in the
middle, equal's ease of playing without compromising the tone of the top
strings. Have they succeeded? I think with time and practice we may believe they probably have, I'm sure lady guitarists and people with
smaller hands would surely embrace TI's, George Benson doe's so doe's
Herb Ellis,he play's TI.swing 12's. So hang in there Guido,you may be
ona winner. LG..

[soundknight]

I just ebaybought 12 sets of Daddario half round jazz lights 12-52, Im a classical convert and am not aserious about jazz, i just love the melodies and moody feelings.
I have a new jazz box with Tomastics on it, I dont find the guage that annoying - but im not a fully blow jazz guitarist in fact i find them heavy enough for me I can comp and make a standout solo on the trebles too. The tomastics fell really good and the tone is woody as previously mentioned. Will let you know how the first set of Daddarios go, they should be fine, but they are alsoalmost $20AUD cheaper! and i should be able to used them on my telecaster as well for some nice blues.

[Drifter]

Just changed from D'Addario Chromes 11 to Sadowsky Flatwounds 11 on my Ibanez AK105 and I love it! Although the Chromes play a little smoother, the Sadowskys sound much clearer and at least as warm and mellow. Lovely tone! The biggest difference is with the wound G string - while the D'Addario sounded too dampened and muffled, the Sadowsky gives a loud, clear and beautiful tone. Just the way it should be. I can happily announce that I've found my strings.

[rio]

Just out of curiousity, how long did you have the chromes on there?

[Drifter]

Approx. 60 hours of playing time. I would have played them longer if I hadn't been so curious about the Sadowskys that have been laying around for weeks.

[coolvinny]

This thread is a few years old but still seems pretty relevant - can't play guitar without strings!

On my acoustic archtop, I've been using D'Addarrio 12 - 52 nickel electric strings but with a 13/17 for the top strings. I'm still very happy with this configuration. I get a great sound out of my carved acoustic archtop with these strings. Perhaps a bit bright at first, but they settled down quite quickly. I've had these on the guitar for at least 6 months averaging about 45 minutes a day on this particular instrument, and they have lots of life left.

On my laminate archtop (and solid body), I used TI Swing 12's for a few years, usually changing the top strings to 13/17 after a little while...sometimes even 14/18 or 15/18. That was on a laminate guitar that I only played amplified. These strings gave me great amplified sound, but were dead acoustically.

A few weeks ago I tried a 17 x 3 carved archtop with a floater - it was strung with D'Addario 12-52's which I didn't like too much, so I immediately switched them to TI Bebop 13's and that made a noticeable improvement in the amplified tone. Ultimately I did not keep this guitar but I did suggest to the vendor that it sounded much better with the TI Bebop's.

However I've recently acquired a new 16 x 3 laminate archtop which I'm keeping (as a replacement to my previous laminate - no sense having 2 of them around), and it has a very healthy acoustic sound despite being a laminate. It came strung with D'Addario 12-52's and sounded pretty good, if perhaps a bit bright. The strings were very new though. I changed them to TI Bebop 13's hoping to get the same immediate improvement I obtained on the carved guitar, but actually I'm not entirely happy with these TI's on this guitar. I think this is because the 17 x 3 with floater had a 25.4 scale, whereas this laminate is 24.9 scale and therefore the thinner E, D and G strings are more fully revealed.

So I think I'm going to go back to D'Addario 12 - 52's with a 13/17 on the top strings or perhaps trying the Bebop 14's.

[pubylakeg]

Great to see the return of a very important thread. We all use strings, right?
Some random thoughts.
D'addario chromes, ok tone, medium tension, average lifespan, get a bit squeaky once broken in.
Thomastic swing F/W, good tone, low tension, very short life span.
Rotosound Top Tape monel flatwound, CHEAP, unique dead sound, medium/high tension, life span ???? depends on how dead you like your strings. Fits epiphone frequensator.
And my current preference,
Galli, stainless steel jazz flatwound, high tension, great tone, incredible life span. Highly Recommended if you can find them.
All the best
Puby.

[casa2301]

I've played :

-D'addario Chromes 012 flats, dark sound and not durability

- TI bebop 012 too much thin sound for the bass strings. Good durability

- TI swing 012 idem to bebop set

- Newtone jazz 012 , good strings but not feeling. Not durability.Disappointed

- Pyramid flats 012, don't like, few durability, not feeling nor in tune. Very disappointed

All strings 012 gauge in my ES-175 guitar.


Today, I carry on looking for a jazz sound feeling strings set...

Next time I'll come back to D'addario Chromes 012 , and try TI swing 013

[edh]

Try GB TI Flatwound Jazz 12's. very nice tone and durable.