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I thought I'd try these TI Plectrum strings on my D'Aquisto NYE, to perhaps explore a more acoustic sound, after having TI flats on for a year.
I was surprised to see that, when tuned up to pitch, the winding was still on the fretboard. The string length between bridge and nut is 66cms. Surely this shouldn't happen? I've stopped after putting the 4th and 5th on.
Rob
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10-15-2016 09:36 AM
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I'm now wondering if their Spectrum bronze strings will have the same problem...
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They must have been designed for flattops and not for archtops with their greater length of string between tailpiece and bridge.
Sendt fra min SM-T810 med Tapatalk
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That's obvious, now that you've said it. Doh! I should have realised. So, I'm on the hunt for good-quality acoustic archtop strings...
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660 mm? That is a 26" scale length. I associate those lengths with gypsy guitars and perhaps multi-scale acoustic guitars designed for drop D tunings. Did you put many wraps around the A and D strings? It could be a manufacturing defect.
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Just a couple. But I think oldane hit it on the head - the additional distance between bridge and tailpiece.
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yes that's what did it..the extra distance from bridge to tailpiece..thomastik is very specific with their string lengths
i'd try what d'angelico developed with d'addario all those years ago..a d'addario 80/20 with hex core
D'Addario Strings : Acoustic Strings : 80/20 Bronze Wound
just know that you'll be reducing the pickup balance and volume as the bronze type strings have less magnetic output
cheers
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Had the same problem. Annoyed me big time ... not usable for archtops
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Is that the only alternative? Do they have the extra length?
Originally Posted by neatomic
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Rob - I've used Plectrums with a variety of archtops and liked the results. Its not difficult to cut the silk winding off just above the nut slot. I've actually used them with the silk still in the slot (if the slot is wide enough) with no ill effects. Often its only the E and A (or only the E) where the winding extends past the nut slot. I suggest you not give up on them - the sound and feel are worth a bit of extra labor.
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Rob,
You might consider sending your picture to Thomas-Infeld and ask why they don't make the string so that it can be used on an flat top acoustic OR an archtop acoustic. Give them something to think about. Suggest that there's a market that they might want to tap into. If they don't respond, then as cmajor9 suggested, it's no big deal to remove the silk winding at the nut.
Regards,
Jerome
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Cheers, guys. I'll send them the photo. You never know...
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the pic shows there's not enough wrap under the silk to clear the nut on the A string..and I'm sure the E string will be worse...looks like a no go...as i wrote ^, thomastik is very particular about things...i'd doubt you'd have a similar problem with most other makers acoustic strings
you might want to look into martin retro monels as well..d'addario also has a new nickel plated bronze string..so its a little bit of both..bronze acoustic but with nickel for pickup magnetism...lots of choices
cheers
ps- the thomastiks are a prescribed length because they don't want you to wrap the full diameter string around the tuning pegs..just the silk wrap...as thomastik uses a round core inner wire, the outter wrap can unwind easily if bent or twisted..so what works for an arch wouldnt work for a flatop and vice versaLast edited by neatomic; 10-15-2016 at 04:39 PM. Reason: ps-
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I have played both Martin Retro (Monels) and D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings on my acoustic archtop that has a 641 mm scale length and they both have adequate length.
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Thanks, gentlemen. I'll get a set of each, see which I like best.
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Hi Rob,
For the acoustic sound that I like on my acoustic archtops, I use D'Addario, either 80/20 Bronze, or Phosphor Bronze, mediums, or Elixir 80/20 Bronze. As already stated above, don't expect great plugged-in sound if depending on a magnetic pickup. Acoustic pickup or mic, no problemo. It's a bit of a dilemma, owning an exceptional acoustic archtop, and wanting to plug it in. I own several with floaters that I play acoustically most of the time, with the above mentioned strings. When I get the urge to plug them in, I seem to want to grab a different guitar with a set-in PUP and TI rounds, like my 175, or heritage eagle. I'm not sure how others on the forum grapple with this.
S
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Thanks, S. I'll be playing mostly acoustic around the house. No desire to go public.
The D'Aquisto is a fine guitar, with a Bartolini 5J floater, and I've always had it set up with flats. But recently I've been getting bored with it, as you do, and even thought of selling it. But it struck me I hadn't heard it with roundwounds, so haven't truly heard its acoustic voice. Hence the string change. It warrants good-quality strings.
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They just fit my old Hofner Committee with 25.5" scale and 3.5" bridge to tailpiece.
Doesn't help you Rob, but I really do like them. With 12's set, the flatwound A, D and G feel right. Overall I find that they don't have the metallic clang that I hear with D'addario etc. acoustic strings, particularly when brand new.
Just strung the Hofner with Martin Monels to try and first impressions is that I really like them.
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That does help, old tube. You know, even though the silk reaches onto the fretboard, it doesn't seem to adversely affect the sound - not muffled at all. Of course, after a year of playing flats, these sound loud and bright. I'll see how they settle in a few days' time.
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If I had something to say to Thomastik-Infeld, it would be, "More string. Less silk, please." I don't see the function of the silk wrapping. Decorative? Damping? Minimal at best. Nice touch but most of it is cut off anyway.
Put the savings on giving users more string.
Sorry to hear of your running out of string, Rob. Perhaps with some ingenuity, you could make a pigtail of sorts out of the old string, tie it to the ball-end of the T-I Plectrum and extend it that way? The speaking length is between bridge and nut. As long as the pigtail and knots hold, it might not affect the tone much, if at all.
Just another free Jabberwhackov-ed idea.
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Call Thomastik-Infeld, they (and their distributors) probably don't want an accomplished customer
publicly unhappy with their premium product.
More to the point:
I'm using T-I Plectrum AC110's on an old, small bodied arch top with a 25" scale and
3" (full) free string length between the bridge and tailpiece.
The end of the (purple) silk wrap between the nut & the machines is about 1", 1&1/2" and 2"
on the E, A & D strings respectively. Sounds wrong, but is correct.
I think you may have gotten a bum set. I like T-I's, by the way.
All the best.Last edited by rabbit; 10-16-2016 at 05:34 AM.
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I am using TI Plectrum 012 on my Loar LH700 archtop without any problem. Distance from tailpiece to nut is 73cm.
Last edited by rgiaccio; 10-17-2016 at 03:53 AM.
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On my 1940 L7 with AC111s only the E string overlaps, and just barely. On the first set I cut the wrap away, but did not bother with the current set. Why? It really does not seem to make a big difference, especially since I almost never play an open E for jazz. I also like to Travis pick a bit (great fun), but I am palm damping the bass strings for that. Remember that the plectrum strings are radically different sets depending which gauge you order; I use the 11s because it is the heaviest set with three flatwound strings (the 12s are crazy; read the package).
Why put up with it? They are by far the most comfortable, best sounding, acoustic strings I have ever played. Just speaking for the elevens; like I said each gauge is a totally different collection of strings.
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73??? Originally Posted by rgiaccio
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What is crazy about them? Originally Posted by nopedals
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