Mellow Jazz Guitar Strings

**ankolistoflower** · 08-27-2009, 03:03 PM

To keep things short. I'm sick of plain steels. What I would love is an entire wound set, but that doesnt seem as easy. Well I get this slight metalic sound on my plain steels looking for someone who makes a string that might be more mellow.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2009, 03:12 PM

Heavier gauge would be less twangy. Do you have a wound G?

**ankolistoflower** · 08-27-2009, 04:24 PM

yes. im using thomastik jazz 12's the nickle wraps are fine. more than even. its just the plain steels they are way to bright. i was thinking maybe switching to pyramids bc of the silver coating. silver having a lower melting point that steel should calm things down a bit but im not sure. i just wanna get some suggestions b4 i start going ape shit and ordering strings from everywhere. you know?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2009, 04:57 PM

That bit about silver melting sounds like something you heard from an alchemist!

I used to think all plain strings were the same. I have noticed (go to the Thomastik-InFeld website) that they are now offering some of their Jazz sets with tin plated steel strings. I still haven't discovered what that means, though...

**JohnW400** · 08-27-2009, 05:05 PM

D'Addario has a .17w string that you may be able to use for the B

D'Addario Electric XL Nickel Wound Guitar Single Strings

**ankolistoflower** · 08-27-2009, 05:12 PM

it was just a guess on why it is. like gold, silver is around half the melting point of steel, its about 100c less than gold and steel is like 1700 or something like that. i know silver wound strings are more mellow i dont know exactly why. and to how much more on the same core that i couldnt even begin to guess. tin strings are really bright like strings with zinc in them (thats the 20 in the 80/20 acoustic strings). more classical strings (modern ones) are copper windings plated in silver, and in preference the core can be rope, nylon, steel, or different syntheic materials. which is where classicals usualy get their more mellow tone from. its not all in the nylon strings. the nylon is actualy brighter than where the strings that were first used on it, sheep gut. my logic was that the lower melting point of silver though would be like knocking on a chuck of cement and then a rubber, in the case where the size were equal the pitch of the rubber would be lower, but it might be molecular arrangement instead of melting point. like i said im not sure. meh

**bluemood** · 08-27-2009, 05:41 PM

Here are some strings that the high E,B silver plated PYRAMID GOLD Strings for Guitar, Bass, & Mandolin ... also you might try lowering your pickup and or raising you strings ... Guitar with all wound strings is called a bass...lol

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2009, 05:48 PM

Dang those are pretty expensive.

**ankolistoflower** · 08-27-2009, 06:32 PM

thanks, i know of the pyramids though. violins have all wound strings, not all the time but some do. ive been looking around all day, ive found a couple of ppl who do custom winds i might as well just go ahead and use those guys. maybe even possibly go a little nuts with it. thanks for all youre help though.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2009, 06:46 PM

Let us know what happens. We can call you the guy with the wound E string!

**rio** · 08-27-2009, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by ankolistoflower

thanks, i know of the pyramids though. violins have all wound strings, not all the time but some do. ive been looking around all day, ive found a couple of ppl who do custom winds i might as well just go ahead and use those guys. maybe even possibly go a little nuts with it. thanks for all youre help though.

Violins have plain E strings, at least all of the ones I have seen.

I do know what you mean about the metal sound, though it is usually the E and the B tends to do fine by itself. I haven't tried them so maybe someone who has can clarify - are black tapewound strings all wound or do they use a plain E and B too?

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-27-2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by rio

Violins have plain E strings, at least all of the ones I have seen.

I do know what you mean about the metal sound, though it is usually the E and the B tends to do fine by itself. I haven't tried them so maybe someone who has can clarify - are black tapewound strings all wound or do they use a plain E and B too?

They are the usual plain steel.

**Peter C** · 08-28-2009, 10:22 AM

Take up bass? :

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-28-2009, 10:32 AM

That does suggest a compromise: baritone guitar. It's tuned a fourth lower, so your top string will be B. One less unwound string? A quick search shows baritone archtops exist:

-- or you could just go for a 7-string and use the top E string less :-)

The baritone archtop in that video also has cool slanted frets for a mixed scale length.

**rabbit** · 08-28-2009, 11:24 AM

Check out Thomastik Enfeld "Rope Cores."
Trebles flat wound w/nylon. Not really intended
for your use but it can be done.

I wrote more about them sometime earlier
but I don't have time to link. Search should be easy.
Good luck.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 08-28-2009, 11:31 AM

Are you thinking of the TI John Pearse? Aren't they meant for folk guitar? Would they even work with a pickup?

**rabbit** · 08-28-2009, 11:46 AM

Will work with mag. p'ups.
One of a kind deal.
Ball ends, intended for classical guitar
or fragile instruments, approx. 90 lb.s
total pressure.

I like them better amped than acoustic,
'cause of the string noise.
Be careful to seek the "Rope Cores" and not the
"Precisions."

Thomastik-Infeld Classical Guitar Nylon/Silverplated Copper Flat Wound Light Rope Core, .016 - .039, KR116

**rabbit** · 09-04-2009, 05:16 AM

BigDaddyLoveHandles,

I am a blockhead; but you knew that.

I just discovered the 'John Pearse' strings you mentioned.

Looking at the TI site data & comparing to 'Rope Cores'
my guess is that the treble strings are the same. Thank
you for leading me to this.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-04-2009, 11:06 AM

If you think I'm smart then I just fooled you! I just took a shot in the dark based on what I saw on the TI web site.

As for me, my luthier talked me into going from 14 flat wounds to 13s. I've left the ranks of burly men who string their git-boxes with bridge cable.

**bird.land** · 09-05-2009, 05:10 AM

Maybe try lowering the high string side of the pickups?/ Possibly they are too close to the E & B?

**Gabor** · 11-28-2018, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by rabbit

BigDaddyLoveHandles,

...I just discovered the 'John Pearse' strings you mentioned.

Looking at the TI site data & comparing to 'Rope Cores'
my guess is that the treble strings are the same. Thank
you for leading me to this.

Almost a decade past, maybe TI changed, but currently the treble strings are different in those two sets (John Pearse vs KR 116 (Classic S Rope Core):

PJ16 (E) and PJ24 (B) vs KN16 and KN24 and the description respectively "nylon flat wound on rope core" "nylon tape wound on rope core"

Dont ask what is this means, must try, now I am ordering a KR 116

Btw if anyone has recommendation for other mellow E and H alternative (sets or singles what are not plain steel E H) please share. Singles preferred, as I am completely satisfied with my G,D,A,E