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I am a beginner and making good progress. However, I would appreciate some advice (brand name if possible) on purchasing a new set of strings. I am presently using S.L.T. Silencers Light GL1252. I want the lightest and most easy to finger strings I can get. I want them to work with my De Armond pickup that I use on my Epi Arch Top Axe. I understand that flat wound strings are one consideration for ease of fingering. I will appreciate all comments and advice. (Thanks Mr. Beaumont, for your previous comments on this subject.) I now have more information about what I am using presently and copied the jacket (see photo.) Thanks to all, for your help. That big rope E string is killing me, as I don't have the strength in my fingers that I had years ago (85). P.S.: I thought that I could insert a Jpeg of the jacket. I don't have a URL of my page and am not too computer savy, sorry!. I believe that the strings are 1.32mm. Email me and I will forward a picture of the jacket. Again, many thanks!
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08-11-2007 01:47 AM
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I'm using Chromes now and REALLY like them.
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to me the best i can get in town are d'adario .013 chromes,i like the way they feel,and also is a good workout for the finger,whenever i pick my second guitar that has .010's in it i feel that i am faster.but since you want something easy at firts i think d addario .010 woul be a good start,then go for the .011 and so on.
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Thanks, Pete and Fernando. Are the Chromes you are both referring to "flat type" strings? I live close to a "Guitar Center" store and will be going there soon. I"ll keep you posted. Jazz Classic
Originally Posted by pete
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D'Addario Guitar Strings
those are what ive been purchasing lately
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OK, thank you. I took a look and see that they are indeed "flat wound". I will go and see what I can get at Guitar Center--hope they have the 10's you mentioned. Originally Posted by FernandoCM
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i thought that maybe they dont do 10s flat wound style,but they do Originally Posted by Jazz Classic
D'Addario Guitar Strings
good luck.
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13-53 flatwounds, the best for jazz, I've found, at least for me. I use others for other guitars, and other styles but most of my jazz guitars (exclusively) are strung with these.
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I started with 0.11 flatwounds, then 0.12 and finally 0.13. I have got a good and progressive adaptation to jazz strings.
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I took this advice from a great and experienced player and tried a set of "Thomastik" 11 to 47 flat wound "Jazz Swing". Great for ease of playing and has a nice bite to it. However is a bit exaggerately priced at $16.00 before tax. I used the D'addario Crome 12s before.
The best thing about it is that the bass strings dont boom as they are thinner than most brands for 11s. I will try the 12s next. Hope this helps.
Jazztogo
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I play .12 flats also. I too started out with D'Addario Chromes, and now use Thomastik Infeld strings exclusively. They are much pricier, but I get 3-6 months out of a set of flat wound strings as opposed to 3-4 weeks out of a set of roundwounds.
I am playing approximately 2 hours per day on the flats and more on weekends.
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Thanks for the thread. I am using D'Addario 11.0's right now. The B and E strings are a bit thin for the fingers! But I am just a new player and will try 12's and then 13's. $16 bucks is a lot to pay for strings, but since I don't that many hours a week, maybe I shopuld give them a try. My lower E and A strings sound pretty nice. Maybe it is because I am using a Fender Blues Jr., a really nice little practice Amp. Originally Posted by jazztogo
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Thomastik flatwounds 13-53
you'll never go back.
rdr
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I just bought my first flatwounds a few weeks ago. i really like the feel but i think next time i want them even thicker(i got d'addario chrome 10's). but i really like the feel and smoothness of flats.
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12-01-2007, 04:30 PM #15Jazzarian Guest Originally Posted by Jazz Classic
I've tried just about all, including Tomas-Infeld.
I always keep coming back to my flatwound (aka "ribbon wound") D'Addario 12 guages. They sound GREAT, and sound that way for up to 6 months, easily. Best of all, NO SQUEAK SQUEAK. I use them on my GB10, ES175 and Super V CES.
A friend once gave me a set of some expensive Tomas-Infeld strings. They lasted about a month on my ES175. They started to sound bad after 3 weeks. Sounded good for the first 2 weeks.
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thumbs-up on the Thomastik Infelds. Have no issues...
Tempted to inrease guage to 13s...but don't want to worry about truss rod adjustments...
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Thomastik - Infelds flats, swing or George Bensons ...... outstanding strings as good as strings get and then some.
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02-08-2009, 06:58 PM #18CC323 Guest
I'm interested in checking out the Benson's, but are 14's too much for the average in between 50's and 60's Gibson sized neck? That set looks really interesting as well because the tension is almost equal across the strings, which is undoubtedly a good thing.
Thanks,
Chris
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On my Les Paul, I use the Gibson Vintage strings...gives a mellower and slightly darker tone. Originally Posted by EpiLesPaulJazzer
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Look at one of the strings places like "just strings" I think they make others though I am not positive if they make them for solid bodies. They make them for acoustics, I use them on my Martins. Here's the link: http://www.juststrings.com/thomastik...ricguitar.html Originally Posted by EpiLesPaulJazzer
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I just switched to D'Addario Chrome flatwounds (.013 to .056) from GHS precision flatwounds. I definitely made a good decision. The GHS strings are great strings and last quite well but they're a bit deader than the Chromes. The sustain is better balanced and longer. I was able to tweak out the perfect jazz sound for me. It sounded like melted chocolate, smooth and sweet.
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D'Addario CHROMES are the best strings I have come across so far. I'm not saying there aren't better strings, but they are far better than anything in my experience. I go from 12s to 13s and back again. But even the .11s sound good compared to the nickel wounds. I just recently realized this when my local store, the only one within 20 miles or so, ran out of Chromes and I got stuck with the flatwound nickels. It's just not the same. They don't even FEEL right anymore. The .12s are outstanding as far as I'm concerned, though a little bit challenging. The 13s I use occasionally just to exercise and then go back to the 12s.
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"Thomastik - Infelds flats, swing or George Bensons ...... outstanding strings as good as strings get and then some."
Yes, I've heard a lot about these. But I'm not about to get a hold of them easily where I am currently located. I will try asking if they can be specially shipped or something, though.
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My biggest problem is finding a store in my area that carries the right strings in the first place. I use .013's but usually the highest flatwounds I can find where I am are .011's. The one place I did find is out of them and hasn't ordered them yet. All the good music stores are geared to rock, metal and blues but not to jazz. Looks like I'll have to go online.
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You might find some info in this thread - https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...egathread.html
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I followed that thread, having used D'Addario 13's for years (because that was the most commonly available string) I tried the Thomastics George Benson 14's.
How can a set of 14's feel so easy to play???
They are also lower tension than the D'Addario chromes 13's - had to tweak the truss rod.
Sound like heaven - I'd never swap back - even if I was offered Chromes for free
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So now I have my opinion on strings.
For my hollows Thomastik Infeld Jazz swing (11),
my solids Dean Markley signature series 10, the semi solids Dean Markley ss 11 and my nylon string will have D`Addario Pro Arte normal tension.
Those are what I like best on my guitars.
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My jazz instructor turned me on to the Thomastik's early on and I love them. Initially, I started with the 11's. Since I've been playing a bit more, I wanted a thicker set so I tried the La Bellas in the 15's. I love the newer size. I'm about due for a new set and now I'm thinking I may go back to the Thomastiks in the George Benson's. It's a 14 instead of a 15 and this is my only delema, I like the thicker string. I am also looking at the Pat Martino GHS's but I'm a little partial to the Thomastiks. I'll most likely try the Thomastik George Benson's and make a decision to either stick with the George's or go back to the thicker La Bellas... I get all my strings at juststrings.com, it's just a click away and I can get it sent to me in a snap. Instead of trying to deal with traffic, I'd rather be playing...
Last edited by Scotto; 06-02-2009 at 02:23 AM.
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I'll tell you what: stay away from these Ernie Ball(s) stainless steel strings that I am stuck with for the next several months because I am not allowed to make financial transactions on-line by the mom. (Yes, I am 41 years old and the moms still handles the finances. Sorry folks. (0
Ok, anyway, these strings are awful. He tried to pass them off as flat-wounds!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTT!!
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+1 on Thomastik Swing 12's, the change to my sound with these strings was as big as changing my guitar! Also, the OP asked for something easy to play - I find that the lower string tension makes these strings much easier to get my fingers round, which thus makes handling a heavier gauge of string more feasible if that gives you the tone that you want.
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They say the same thing about their BeBops but I use those on my American Vintage Hot Rod '52 (more versatile than flatwounds... not sure if that is what you want) and HIGHLY reccomend Thomastik Infeld strings. Originally Posted by EpiLesPaulJazzer
I don't think there would be a problem using the "Swing" strings on a solidbody.
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A wound 3rd (G) string is great... a million times better than the unwound. Originally Posted by mangotango
The only "downside" to the BeBops is that to get a wound-3rd you have to get .13s (which I am actually fine with.)
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06-02-2009, 01:56 PM #33Jazzarian Guest Originally Posted by Scotto
Good strings that don't last very long. After about 6 weeks they sound like crap.
I'm quite happy with D'Addario ribbonwounds, 12 guage. They last forever and sound great for many months.
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Yes, this is all very interesting, but I'm looking for the strings that will make you PLAY like Pat Martino. (;
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+1 Originally Posted by bodidR
thats right. I'm using them on all my guitars and I own one fender usa strat, one fender mexiko tele, one fender japan mustang, one epiphone es 335 and an ibanez artcore jazzbox.
They're just perfect and thats the right gauge, I even don't care about the different scale lengh of that guitars.
all the best, Tobias
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The strings you are using is more for an acoustic folk type of guitar. Originally Posted by Jazz Classic
They are what they (SIT) calls Inverse wound, whatever that is. 80/20 Copper Bronze Guages 12 to 52
Why don't you start out with D'Addario Chromes. They are flatwound 12 to 52 guage. If you find them too hard for you to finger well than go down a guage to where the 1st string is an 11 guage. I think they may make 10's but that pretty light for a Jazz Box.
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Interesting subject! I have found the light Chrome Flats to my liking. I have been using D'Addario ECG24 High Finish Ribbon Wound Jazz Light Gauge .011 - .050. I bought a set for my Les Paul and will report on these when I try them out. Generally, I find the light flats easier on the fingers and the sound satisfactory. Originally Posted by Scotto
My jazz instructor turned me on to the Thomastik's early on and I love them. Initially, I started with the 11's. Since I've been playing a bit more, I wanted a thicker set so I tried the La Bellas in the 15's. I love the newer size. I'm about due for a new set and now I'm thinking I may go back to the Thomastiks in the George Benson's. It's a 14 instead of a 15 and this is my only delema, I like the thicker string. I am also looking at the Pat Martino GHS's but I'm a little partial to the Thomastiks. I'll most likely try the Thomastik George Benson's and make a decision to either stick with the George's or go back to the thicker La Bellas... I get all my strings at juststrings.com, it's just a click away and I can get it sent to me in a snap. Instead of trying to deal with traffic, I'd rather be playing...
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That's a good thought, Jazzarian! I should probably advance to 12 gauge on my next string change. Originally Posted by Jazzarian
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06-02-2009, 09:04 PM #39CC323 GuestI've never tried the ribbonwounds, but my Thomastik .12 flat bensons have been on there for... 2-3 months? Only a little darker sounding, which works for me as I use P-90's, which are maybe a tad bright/harsh on new strings. Originally Posted by Jazzarian
Take care,
Chris
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D'addario Chromes Flatwounds .12 or .13
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Didnt he use 17s???? I thought for a while he switched to an L5S because he kept collapsing the tops on his archtops. Originally Posted by franco6719
I still love my Labella 14s black nylon tapewounds.. but I play mostly acoustic on an Epi EmpReg (with all the electronics removed)
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Well nothing can make you play like Pat Martino you have to practice and practice and practice etc. Strings are just the material they may make you sound better but they are not going to make you sound like Pat Martino, you can get a similar tone to Pat Martino, then you have to get every thing he owned, Just make your own sound , what sounds good to you tweak your sound by yourself, don't copy somebody else's sound
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Yes, I was afraid that this problem might arise. Originally Posted by Sphereacidburn
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There's always a fly in the ointment, isn't there? Originally Posted by Sphereacidburn
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Any archtop, acoustic or amplified, Thomastik Swing 13-53 or Bensons 12-53.
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I've been using the Thomastik "jazz swing" .12 gauge strings now for about 10 years. I've found they sound pretty good for at least a couple of months, whereas all of the others I've used only seem to last me a week. Mind you, I've never seen or tried the D'addario Chrome's.
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Was using Thomastic Jazz Swing 13-53 and was reasonably happy, Just put on a set of George Benson's 14's (after waiting 3 weeks to get them delivered) and wow beautiful sound, really brings my Super 400 alive. at $58.00 per set here in Geelong not cheap.. will pick up a few sets whilst in New York next month (at less than half that price). appreciate the recommendations from those above.
Last edited by MikeJ; 06-16-2009 at 08:42 PM.
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Does anyone have an opinion on D'Addario Half Rounds? I tried some when they first came out, but I was getting into heavier gauges at the same time. Their lighter sets were okay but the heavier one (0.013 -- 0.056) was more round than flat. I seem to prefer a 14.
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MikeJ.... go to juststrings.com and you can find a set of the Benson's for under $20 bucks and they'll send them to your pad in less than a week. I have La Bellas (.015 - .056) currently and have been thinking about trying the George Benson just for a change... Originally Posted by MikeJ
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Thanks Scotto I will try them but we usually have issues ($$) shipping to Australia.. perhaps I will order them for delivery to where I am staying in the USA and bring them back with me. Just checked the site $19 USD for strings $40 USD shipping = $59 USD vs $58 AUD ($46 USD) plus we may get hit with duties and taxes on reciept into the country.. You guys have it pretty good on that side of the pacific. HAvent seen the La Bellas would be interested in your comments as to comparison.
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