Use Thomastik BeBop 13's - Need Cheaper Strings !!!

[Marko47]

Just like I said. I play a Yamaha Martin Taylor (AEX-1500), small-ish archtop with a neck-hanger humbucker and a piezo under the bridge. On board mixer with eq, plus output volume/tone on the front.

Sometimes I use the 12's because I'm a G-bender, so the unwound G lasts longer. I haven't find a really decent plain-string replacement for the .21 wound G on the 13's. The Be-Bop 13s (.13, .17, .21, .30, .38, .53) are flabby in the G and A. Now that Thomastik-Infeld distributes through Guitar-Center/Musicians-Friend, the price stabilized at $23. But, since I wear out a set a month, that's too much.

Anyway, I prefer my top-two (B4 & E4) to be more prominent than most folks do. My backup arrangements tend to attempt the sounds of gospel piano and Eddie Palmieri's horn section. And when I hit that low E I want a 'boom'! I've attached an MP3 segment so you can hear what I do...

When Stay-In-Tune was starting up, a store owner had me audition a set of "Mid-Heavy" (.13 - .56) that had a plain G, were pretty good, and lasted a while. But those got replaced by a wound G set for $12 (and that store passed on being a distributor)...

Currently, I order single DR Tite-Fit or GHS Big-Core Nickle strings (because they have sizes .32, .42, .56); Ernie Ball seems way too bright for my piezo pickup. Then I order plain steel (.14 (.135 - if available), .18, .24) usually as bulk packages of a dozen. I could back-off a few pounds, but these weights make me happy.

Still - it would be good to find a set I could order and just replace. The Newtone Archtop 1356 set is OK absent the wound G. Who knows any others?

[blille]

TI sets are top heavy so what I personally do to reproduce the gauges is to buy a lighter set (in your case 12s) and replace the top two strings with heavier ones (in your case 13 and 17 instead of 12 and 16). The top strings are really cheap and IME the brand (of those two) rarely makes a difference.

I personally use D'Addario. Their non-jazz sets (like the EXL145) have a plain 3rd.


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[sgosnell]

I don't know of any .013 sets with an unwound G. It just gets too thick. I like D'Addario pure nickel strings, but you'll need to buy a plain G separately.
'

[rio]

Check out the newtone double nickel wrapped strings. They are very similar to the Bebops and they are cheaper. I don't know of any other double wrapped nickel strings.


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[Jabberwocky]

Stringjoy | Custom Guitar Strings, Handmade in the USA ? Roll your own.

Sounds promising and I mean to try them.

[rio]

Stringjoy | Custom Guitar Strings, Handmade in the USA ? Roll your own.

Sounds promising and I mean to try them.

I might just be missing it but what are these strings wrapped with? I see the info about them being balanced, which does sound interesting...kind of. A 13 set has a pretty hefty low e string and I don't know if I would like it and it would mean widening the nut slots for what would ultimately be an experiment.


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[jads57]

While Thomastik Strings last a long time are excellent I went back to using D'Addario Jazz 12-53 Roundwounds XL's. I prefer changing strings after a month or so. Too expensive with the Thomastiks to change that often,LOL!

[hotpepper01]

What I do on all my archtops is having DAddario flatwounds ECG24 combined with single Elixir strings. The three flatwounds are 30/40/50 and the three single strings are 12/14/18. The G strings is unwound. The lifetime of the lower strings is exceeding the lifetime of the plain strings and I can change a single plain string if needed. Most they run about 1 in 2, meaning I change more plain strings than flatwounds.
For me the benefits are changing the EAD strings only when needed instead of when the GBE strings are getting dull.
Standardizing the gauge on all archtops makes life simple as well. I keep a little stock of about 2 of those sets.
O yeah, I disregard the GBE strings that come with the DAddario chromes.

[Jabberwocky]

I might just be missing it but what are these strings wrapped with? I see the info about them being balanced, which does sound interesting...kind of. A 13 set has a pretty hefty low e string and I don't know if I would like it and it would mean widening the nut slots for what would ultimately be an experiment.


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Stringjoy says nickel wound hexcore. I don't know if that means pure nickel wraps or nickel-plated steel wraps. They do allow you to make up your own sets though.

Wound on the West Coast in a small shop on machines originally used by Jimmy D'Aquisto...whatever that means.

The sound sample sounded really nice, warm and sweet which is why I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Not cheap at $11.90 per set.

I like it that they have half gauge plain steel strings. Sounds like a GHS thing.

Let's see how it goes.

[Jabberwocky]

Marko47, you are aware of the T-I BB114 set? Sounds like what you need: 14, 18p, 22w, 32, 40, 55.

Throw out the 22w for any plain G of your liking.

Staying within the T-I family, we have the Blues Sliders, SL109, 9, 12, 15p, 25w, 33, 43. You may order the T-I strings as singles. Let's say you throw out the 9 and you keep the 12, 15p, 25W , 33W , 43W and substitute a Bebop BB53 or Bebop BB55 string for the low E2 string.

That could work, no?

Plain steel strings from any maker work just as well. You could get the T-I SL33, SL43, BB53 as single strings and make up your own sets with GHS e,b,g plain steels, for example.

[Lobomov]

Why not just buy a set with a wound G and swap it for a plain one of your preference?

[Marko47]

I was looking for made-up 13 or 14 roundwound sets with a plain G. Some good responses.

hotpepper - Flats sound too muffled for my ear and setup. Like you, though, I presently buy singles. I do like the TI sound, but (like Jads57) find them too pricey for a 70-year-old dude...

And, rio, I have used and like Newtone - but still the G issue.

Jabberwock - TI's are even more expensive as singles. Will look into Stringjoy. There used to be a company in SoCal selling mostly to players of Latin instruments (bandurria, bajo sexto, &c.); they went to an all brass (acoustic) line around 2009, but I can check again.

The entire "balance" issue hasn't been addressed. My 'custom' set above runs 29-31 pounds of pull across the neck - important for me because I frequently play 2 and 3 note blocks at a time and need 'em even in both pull and signal (check out the sound sample). TI BeBop 13's ran from 24 (the 'flabby' G) to 30.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Aren't all plain strings more-or-less the same? I mean, would a T-I plain G be any different from an Ernie Ball?

[DanielleOM]

There's one thing that I have learned. You can spend a lot of money experimenting and trying cheaper strings to find an alternative to expensive strings you are happy with. However, I do understand the allure. Good luck with the journey.

[Papawooly]

Here is a link for single unwound TI strings... 19 and 20 look available ~$2.20/ea

Thomastik-Infeld P19 Plain Steel Guitar 3rd string (g) .019 Single

BTW... Love the sound/vibe of your group... Outstanding Singer!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

The entire "balance" issue hasn't been addressed. My 'custom' set above runs 29-31 pounds of pull across the neck - important for me because I frequently play 2 and 3 note blocks at a time and need 'em even in both pull and signal (check out the sound sample). TI BeBop 13's ran from 24 (the 'flabby' G) to 30.

Where are you getting your tension numbers? This page has the G string of the BeBop13s as the string with the highest tension:

Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Steel/Nickel Round Wound Medium Light, .013 - .053, BB113 (look on the description tab)

[rio]

I can make strings last a while so I don't mind 12 bucks a set. And after using TI strings for so long that is a bargain. Their customer support is great - I talked to them and the guy the responded is a jazz guy which is cool so I am going to try a set with gauges he recommended which ended up pretty close to what I currently use. I'll post back when they arrive when I have tried them on a few guitars.

Stringjoy says nickel wound hexcore. I don't know if that means pure nickel wraps or nickel-plated steel wraps. They do allow you to make up your own sets though.

Wound on the West Coast in a small shop on machines originally used by Jimmy D'Aquisto...whatever that means.

The sound sample sounded really nice, warm and sweet which is why I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Not cheap at $11.90 per set.

I like it that they have half gauge plain steel strings. Sounds like a GHS thing.

Let's see how it goes.

[deacon Mark]

I am not particularly hard on strings but TI are way too expensive for my taste and I cannot hear any real difference. I use Dddario 12-52 and I also like the GHS set 1810, This is a compound wound string they are bit more money but give the feel of flatwounds and they ring of roundwounds. This particular set was use they the late great guitarist Johnny Gray.

I also like buying strings in bulk because they are not wrapped and have plastic seal. They are a must for the shop due to usage and frankly they are fine. I favor .13-.16 .24 .32 .42 52 54. I know one thing is I have to have at least a .24 for the 3rd. A .22 comes with many sets that size and they do not ring as well an sometimes buzz a bit if you want really low action. The .24 will give the needed tension to make it work.

[Marko47]

BigDad... I got my tension from the calculator I use (Shelquist - which says it's are based on www.daddario.com). Comparing the TI and Daddario I see some differences:
^{NOTE DIA T/I DAD}
E4 .013 26.0 27.4
B3 .017 25.2 26.3
G3 .021 26.7 23.3
D3 .030 26.0 26.7
A2 .038 24.7 24.0
E2 .053 25.4 26.2

Jab, rio.. I've ordered some Stringjoys, so will update when I try (I just suited-up with Newtones, and I'm off to Honolulu where I'll rent or borrow an instrument - it may be a while).

deacon... I'm definitely with you on using .024 for the G - and have perforce been a bulk-string customer. Just wanted sets, I'm a player not a shop!

[neatomic]

as per thomastik vs d'addario tension specs..the differences in materials used & string design all contribute to percieved tension, regardless of tech spec

thom swings are thin round core with double wrap of pure nickel...chromes are hex core & stainless steel wrap...big difference!!!


cheers

[arnie65]

The best strings I've ever used bar none were the "Vinci" strings. All the Guild archtops used to come from the factory with them back in the 70's, 80's and somewhat into the 90's. An older gentleman I used to study jazz with back in the late 80's introduced me to them, I was overjoyed this past weekend when I found 2 sets of them brand new while cleaning out my closet. I looked them up on Google but it looks like they're a smaller company now and don't have many choices on the gauges. They're probably not the same management and probably the strings have changed..


Cheers,
Arnie...

[docbop]

I'm mainly a D'Addario fan and long time user, but for awhile I was using TI Bebop's on my archie. With the TI's I had to go up a gauge to get the same tension as the DA's. TI's prices kept going up and issues with their plain strings I gave up on them. I've using DA Half-Rounds 12's and to me they are very close to the TI Bebops. They have a similar feel, but a touch brighter. Give a try most other brands of strings the tensions seems lighter to me, except for LaBella's they are similar to DA's and even less expensive.

[Greentone]

Wow, wearing out TIs in a month! That's some kind of record. Most people get closer to a year out of TIs.

I'd drop a gauge and use D'Addario Chromes in that case.

[blille]

I'm mainly a D'Addario fan and long time user, but for awhile I was using TI Bebop's on my archie. With the TI's I had to go up a gauge to get the same tension as the DA's. TI's prices kept going up and issues with their plain strings I gave up on them. I've using DA Half-Rounds 12's and to me they are very close to the TI Bebops. They have a similar feel, but a touch brighter. Give a try most other brands of strings the tensions seems lighter to me, except for LaBella's they are similar to DA's and even less expensive.

How do you like LaBellas? I've always been tempted but never tried them.


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[docbop]

How do you like LaBellas? I've always been tempted but never tried them.


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I've only used there round wounds but like them a lot like DA round wounds but cheaper and you get an extra E and B string. Only drawback from me no one around me carried them so I have to order online which adds time. I got into LaBella's when I got my Victor Baker guitar that's what he strings his guitars with.