Problem with Thomastik Strings

**jzucker** · 07-03-2015, 10:19 PM

i've been using thomastik or daddario chrome .012s for several years. I have 5 archtops, 3 strung with Thomastik JS112 strings and 2 setup with d'addario chromes. I like the chromes but they've had an off and on problem with the G strings not being ground completely flat. I have been dealing with their tech support guy who acknowledged the problem and they fixed it but it seems it recently started happening again. He sent me 12 replacement G strings and they are all properly ground. However, it made me want to switch completely to the thomastiks.
However, today I installed a set of Thomastik JS112 strings and the G is not ground flat. I have recently had some quality control problems with other thomastik strings. For example, a recent set of benson round wounds were defective. This shouldn't happen on a $25 string set...

**DanielleOM** · 07-04-2015, 10:07 AM

The JS113 sets that I got from Strings and Beyond a few weeks ago feel OK to me. The 3rd string is a JS21 in that set.

Danielle

**Nabil B** · 07-04-2015, 11:01 AM

I wonder if Thomastik can send us replacements when there are QC issues on their products... I hope they do, considering the price of one pack. I think I've only had one set from them that had a bad string, so either I'm lucky or you are not

.

**jzucker** · 07-04-2015, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Nabil B

I wonder if Thomastik can send us replacements when there are QC issues on their products... I hope they do, considering the price of one pack. I think I've only had one set from them that had a bad string, so either I'm lucky or you are not

.

they have before with me. D'Addario and Thomastik are both pretty good with customer service though thomastik is a bit slow to respond sometimes.

**vernon** · 07-04-2015, 12:25 PM

c'est la vie

**Para** · 07-04-2015, 04:25 PM

I've used TI strings Jazz Swing flats 12 & 13's, bebop 12 & 13's & Bensons 12's for years not had a bad set yet.

**Max405** · 07-04-2015, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Para

I've used TI strings Jazz Swing flats 12 & 13's, bebop 12 & 13's & Bensons 12's for years not had a bad set yet.

Para, me too. And after over 100 sets of strings, they are allowed to make a mistake every now and again. Hand made strings, made by humans. The best strings I've ever used.

**Stringswinger** · 07-04-2015, 05:16 PM

Me three....

**floatingpickup** · 07-04-2015, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Para

I've used TI strings Jazz Swing flats 12 & 13's, bebop 12 & 13's & Bensons 12's for years not had a bad set yet.

I have used Thomastik JS 12's and 13's for years. I have only had one bad string in all those sets. It had strange overtones and just sounded weird, so I took it off and replaced it. I think the QC is great.
Keith

**Patrick2** · 07-04-2015, 11:24 PM

Got Tomastiks on several guitars. Never had an issue. Great quality. Easily worth the price.

**cosmic gumbo** · 07-04-2015, 11:59 PM

With those high prices some bootleg strings make it to the marketplace, it's just too tempting.

**silverfoxx** · 07-05-2015, 04:09 AM

Me Four, buy 'em in bulk lot cheaper.

**LtKojak** · 07-05-2015, 04:19 AM

I guess I'm the only one around here that after a fair trial of 6 sets over an one-year period thinks TI strings are not worth the $$$?

Also, I've never had that D'Addario Chromes 3rd string "issue".

Anal-retentive much...?

**jzucker** · 07-05-2015, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

I guess I'm the only one around here that after a fair trial of 6 sets over an one-year period thinks TI strings are not worth the $$$?

Also, I've never had that D'Addario Chromes 3rd string "issue".

Anal-retentive much...?

You're lucky on the d'addario. I know a bunch of folks that had the issue and the rep corroborated a manufacturing issue which has occurred several times but they recently sent me 10 replacements and they were all good. Wish d'addario would make a nickel version of the chromes though.

**vinlander** · 07-05-2015, 08:06 AM

I had the d'Addario G string problem on Chrome 13 on more than 1 set...
Regarding Thomastik, I got 4 x JS113 lately, one on my Regent and 3 spares. So far so good, they sound great.
I also wish d'Addario would have full nickel version but I would need to go lower gauge...
One of the reason that made switch to Thomastik is the lower tension for the 13 size that is way less than the Chrome.

**jzucker** · 07-05-2015, 08:11 AM

i wonder if you took the .011 d'addario set and added the heavier top strings whether they'd have the tension of the thomastiks?

**Franz 1997** · 07-05-2015, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

i wonder if you took the .011 d'addario set and added the heavier top strings whether they'd have the tension of the thomastiks?

Yes, I've been doing that for years - chrome 11s still slightly heavier-feeling on the G, D and A, than TI 12s. Have decided to go back to TI 12s, and just ordered in bulk from Thomann ( £9 something a set..) so hoping the TI Gs are ok.

I originally switched to chromes after a bad batch of TI A strings a few years ago, ironically..

**Peter C** · 07-05-2015, 08:30 AM

The D'Addario 11s would have a skinnier 6th string. They offer all kinds of strings as singles, so maybe that would be the best route. D'Addario pure nickel flats? Hmmm...

**Franz 1997** · 07-05-2015, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Peter C

The D'Addario 11s would have a skinnier 6th string. They offer all kinds of strings as singles, so maybe that would be the best route. D'Addario pure nickel flats? Hmmm...

The TI 12 and chrome 11 sets both have 50 low E's. The chrome string gives a lot more volume, being steel not nickel.

**mr. beaumont** · 07-05-2015, 11:21 AM

Buting locally and through Amazon, i haven't had the "weird G string" with Chromes in over a year. But i've definitely come across it, and it's quite weird.

For rounds, I'm really hooked on the John Pearse nickel wound "acoustic" set. Use 'em on my acoustic archtop and my Taylor, and they're downright CHEAP.

regarding TI's being "handmade"...to what extent?

**Max405** · 07-05-2015, 12:28 PM

I just checked. The video suggests winding and polishing, wrapping and qc.

**Peter C** · 07-05-2015, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Franz 1997

The TI 12 and chrome 11 sets both have 50 low E's. The chrome string gives a lot more volume, being steel not nickel.

I have no experience of the 11s but IIRC, the Chrome 12s have a 52 6th and the 13s, a 56. I've just taken off a set of TI13 Swings, which had a 53 6th. This is all relative, of course, because I invariably replace the plains in the D'Addario 12-52 set. In fact, I'd prefer something like a 54 there but AFAIK, they don't make'em. Never had the "weirdo 3rd string" issue.

**barrymclark** · 07-06-2015, 08:24 AM

So far... I have been very happy with the TI's. To the point where I am going to give them a go on all of my guitars.

**jzucker** · 07-06-2015, 09:13 AM

I'm still sticking with the Thomastiks for the most part though I have chromes on a couple guitars too. The chromes sound great on my GB10 and I'll be using them initially on my '57 175 when I get it.

My thoughts on "handmade" strings...I don't want handmade strings. Some things in life should be hand-made. Fine furniture and carved things like archtops and guitars should be hand made as much as possible. Things like guitar strings and other machined parts should be CNC made IMO. As I am in the industrial automation business in my day gig, I can emphatically state that the accuracy that can be obtained with CNC machines by far exceeds anything that can be done by hand when it comes to metal working, strings, etc. The numerical control is much more precise. If quality control problems exist it is because the QC tolerances are too great or steps are being skipped in the process. i.e. it's not the computer's fault.

**Patrick2** · 07-06-2015, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

i wonder if you took the .011 d'addario set and added the heavier top strings whether they'd have the tension of the thomastiks?

For about 2 years I went with a custom set; .013, .017, .022, .030, .040, .050. I later switched to straight .013s on TIs . . . . and .012s on D'ad Chromes. I find the Chromes to be more alive unplugged/acoustically. But, amplified . . I love the TIs . . just a tad more than the Chromes.