Mellow roundwound strings

[petermelton]

Lots of great strings mentioned here. GHS Burnished Nickel Rockers are also great and round core! Cheap too. That's what I get when I don't want to spend a ton on TI Bebop.

Edit: I should mention that you have to do a custom set to get heavier than 11's. Still less than half the price of TI.

[jazzimprov]

Newtone Archtop

Newtone Archtop Nickel Wound, .012 - .052, AM-ML

[EpiJazz]

The TI bebops don't have a wound G until the .13s, but the Benson rounds have a wound G at .12. You could try 'em. They're even MORE expensive, though...

[snoskier63]

It's simply trial and error. Each guitar has its own voice and will respond best to specific strings, be they round, half round or flat. If you are set on round wound strings then pick up several different brands and try each for a few weeks. Be sure to record something with each so that at the end you can objectively compare them all tonally. Perhaps if you have someone else cue up each sample randomly, or put them all in a playlist set to play randomly you will be able to select that which sounds best without injecting bias into it. I use both rounds and flats, depending on the guitar. For my Aristocrat and X-500 flats are much better, and for my Artist Award rounds are much better. For my Starfire VI it doesn't matter what I use, they all sound great. Good luck.

[jorgemg1984]

It's simply trial and error. Each guitar has its own voice and will respond best to specific strings, be they round, half round or flat. If you are set on round wound strings then pick up several different brands and try each for a few weeks. Be sure to record something with each so that at the end you can objectively compare them all tonally. Perhaps if you have someone else cue up each sample randomly, or put them all in a playlist set to play randomly you will be able to select that which sounds best without injecting bias into it. I use both rounds and flats, depending on the guitar. For my Aristocrat and X-500 flats are much better, and for my Artist Award rounds are much better. For my Starfire VI it doesn't matter what I use, they all sound great. Good luck.

It's also a matter of personal taste, I also have a X-500 and like rounds on it much more than flats.

[snoskier63]

It's also a matter of personal taste, I also have a X-500 and like rounds on it much more than flats.

True. But each guitar, even if the same model, will still exhibit differences. Also, our X-500's are possibly quite different. Mine is the newer AP model (see my avatar), which is in essence a 1950's model with the Franz single coils. The 1993 version I once had with HB-1's liked rounds better.

Ultimately, it's always a matter of personal taste, which is why there are dozens and dozens of different strings, and even more choices in guitars.

[rpguitar]

Got my D'Add EPN21 sets (12-51 nickel). Put a set on my L-5C to replace the Pearse. They have more tension despite the slimmer bass strings. They are warmer, a bit less lively and responsive for acoustic playing, but very nice for electric. Definitely in between the more traditional round and flatwound sounds. The extra tension is nice for electric playing, probably not as nice for acoustic. These would be good on an ES-175 or similar laminate where flats are just a bit too thuddy, but rounds a bit too zingy.

Trade-offs, always!

[Grez]

I just tried a set of Martin Retro Monel strings on my old beat up Gibson L-30 and was very happy. Haven't tried them on something with a pickup yet. They didn't have that overly zingy treble new strings tend to have.

[Greentone]

Gentlemen (and ladies), raise a glass to the now long defunct Gibson Sonomatic strings--the best strings for your archtop guitars. I sorely miss the Sonomatic string.

Gibson now considers .11 gauge strings to be "heavy," I guess. Oh, my.

I, too, am using John Pearse on my carved, acoustic Gibson archtop, but it's a compromise.

[snoskier63]

Ti Bebop 13's are the best so far for my carved archtop, but I am always trying new strings and will continue to do so.

[jorgemg1984]

Roger another idea - why not letting the strings stay there for some months and just replacing the first two from time to time? I do that. After 1 or 2 months of use they get VERY warm and still intonate perfectly.

[rpguitar]

Yes that totally works, Jorge. In fact the Pearses were on there a long time. They are excellent, nice feeling and sounding strings that really do handle electric and acoustic flavors, just like their packaging says. I just thought I'd explore a little bit and see if there were any worthy contenders.

[jorgemg1984]

Sure, I'll do that someday myself - I won't resist the TI Bebop temptation much longer

[neatomic]

Gentlemen (and ladies), raise a glass to the now long defunct Gibson Sonomatic strings--the best strings for your archtop guitars. I sorely miss the Sonomatic string.

try one of the new pyramid monels..round core...good info from don butler..ie toneman..top so-cal repair guy..vintage vox amp specialist

Vintage Gibson Sonomatic Strings

cheers

[rpguitar]

Not that anyone cares, but the nickel D'Adds are off my L-5C after one day. The John Pearse are back on... the same set I just took off, actually - nice and broken in. Those are some killer strings, actually.

[Tom Karol]

I like Elixir Nanoweb Electric 12-52's on my Eastman AR403ce.

[Jabbarn]

I like Elixir Nanoweb Electric 12-52's on my Eastman AR403ce.

+1 for the Elixir Nanoweb 12-52s on my Moffa Maryan, with 13 and 17 swapped in at the top. I also like the spread of Elixir gauges better than TI bebop 12 or 13s.

[Robertkoa]

big monel string fan here, but they are actually a bit brighter than pure nickel

cheers

And that Manganese and Carbon that Hammertone mentioned should really dirty up your Blues Playing...right ?


I gotta try some Manganese in my Strings....

[rpguitar]

Richard, I pretty much eschew flatwounds. However, Sister 1 has TI Swings on her. They sound and feel delicious on that guitar. It is my only guitar so equipped. I want to put rounds back on as a matter of principle, but each time I play her (doing it right now as it happens), the voice with nickel flats is just sooo right.

The D'Addario EPN21 set is now on my Slaman Sister #1, and my god, they are just perfect for this guitar! They sounded kinda blah on my L-5C. But on the smaller CC-pickup equipped box, they are heaven.

D'Addario Strings : XL Pure Nickel Round Wound : EPN21 Pure Nickel, Jazz Light, 12-51

[GMaj9#5]

Newtone, great strings I bought a set thinking they were Flatwound 14-58 , they were great, but only used for a week,

I had on my Ibanez JP20 did not want fret wear, they played like regular 12-13 gauge lighter tension round wound cores. They sung like a Bird. super lo action 14-58. But will wear frets.

[Eddie Lang]

Got my D'Add EPN21 sets (12-51 nickel). Put a set on my L-5C to replace the Pearse. They have more tension despite the slimmer bass strings. They are warmer, a bit less lively and responsive for acoustic playing, but very nice for electric. Definitely in between the more traditional round and flatwound sounds. The extra tension is nice for electric playing, probably not as nice for acoustic. These would be good on an ES-175 or similar laminate where flats are just a bit too thuddy, but rounds a bit too zingy.

Trade-offs, always!

On my Godin 5th Ave acoustic, I tried many sets and always was dissapointed. TI Swing, Bebop, Plectrum; Newtone Archtop, Master Class. All strings that I usually like. Not a fan of D'Addario's, but I also tried 80/20 Bronze and Chrome. Although I liked the build and playability of that guitar, I truly hated the sound and was determined to get rid of it until I finally tried the D'Addario EPN21. They are a perfect match IMHO. My daughter is learning to play guitar, and the 5th Ave is now in her custody.

[Eddie Lang]

Ordering strings from juststrings today. Based on recommendations in this thread, I will order a couple sets of Martin Retro Monel, Pearse acoustic/electric Nickel and GHS Rollerwound Pure Nickel.

[jazzimprov]

Newtone Archtops 12-52

great tone and feel to the touch!