Help Selecting Strings for Archtop

**beeswax** · 03-01-2019, 11:58 AM

Hey all.
I just came into a 1955 Gibson ES-150. My first archtop. I absolutely love it. The strings on it are ten years old (per the owner, who never played it), and so they have to go. I used calipers to discover it's .10-.46 standard steel strings on it.

Strings I have:

D'Addario 10-46 steel roundwounds
GHS Burnished Nickle Rockers .10-46
GHS Brite Flats 10-46
GHS Nickle Rockers 10-46
GHS Cryogenic Phospher Bronze 12-54

Which would be best?
The top seems like it has not collapsed, and I like the tone of the strings he has on it, so I'm thinking 10s might be fine for me and keep the guitar from collapsing. If I put the acoustic strings on, what can I expect? I wanted to play the guitar out as my main acoustic guitar (read the pickup does not detect acoustic strings well?), but also be able to plug it into an amp. If possible. If that's not possible, I was hoping for the best tone, and was thinking the bright flats would be the best option there.

Thanks!

**mr. beaumont** · 03-01-2019, 12:04 PM

I'd be ALL ABOUT getting some Monels on there.

.010s...sounds pretty light to me if you want it to function as an acoustic. I'd want at least .012's. I'd also avoid flats for an acoustic...but hey, it worked for the Beatles

Bronze strings don't work well with electric guitar type pickups (I'm assuming you've got a P-90 on there?) but the Monels will, and they have good volume and a pleasing acoustic tone.

Congrats on a very cool guitar.

**beeswax** · 03-01-2019, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I'd be ALL ABOUT getting some Monels on there.

.010s...sounds pretty light to me if you want it to function as an acoustic. I'd want at least .012's. I'd also avoid flats for an acoustic...but hey, it worked for the Beatles

Bronze strings don't work well with electric guitar type pickups (I'm assuming you've got a P-90 on there?) but the Monels will, and they have good volume and a pleasing acoustic tone.

Congrats on a very cool guitar.

Thanks for the info!

I want to restring it today since the ones on there are ten years old, and I don't have those strings you mention. Out of the ones I have, which do you think would be the best?

I have a show in a few weeks and want to use the guitar for that. I'm willing to plug in, but it would be nice if I diidn't have to. Will any of these strings accomplish the later? If not, which would give the best tone plugged in? Thanks!

**omphalopsychos** · 03-01-2019, 12:12 PM

Jeff's suggestion of Monels could work, but you might have to bring up the pole pieces pretty high on that Gibson p90. Every pickup is different. Some pickups are happy with monels without needing adjustment. Give it a shot.

If it were me I'd do either

a) John Pearse Electric Jazz Nickel
or
b) Newtone Archtop

I'd buy a set of 12's and replace the top 2 strings with 13 and 17. Both of those have a very mellow acoustic tone compared to other electric strings.

**beeswax** · 03-01-2019, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by omphalopsychos

I'd buy a set of 12's and replace the top 2 strings with 13 and 17. Both of those have a very mellow acoustic tone compared to other electric strings.

Thanks. I'll look into those other strings.

Would 13s and 17s provide a lot more tension relative to the rest of the set?
I do want to keep the age of the instrument in mind and not collapse the top.

**omphalopsychos** · 03-01-2019, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by beeswax

Thanks for the info!

I want to restring it today since the ones on there are ten years old, and I don't have those strings you mention. Out of the ones I have, which do you think would be the best?

I have a show in a few weeks and want to use the guitar for that. I'm willing to plug in, but it would be nice if I diidn't have to. Will any of these strings accomplish the later? If not, which would give the best tone plugged in? Thanks!

In that case, put on the nickel rockers (not burnished) but use the top 2 strings from your phosphor bronze set.

I wouldn't put phosphor bronze on this guitar.

**cmajor9** · 03-01-2019, 12:16 PM

The problem with using acoustic (bronze) strings with the pickup is that the volume will likely be uneven between the wound and unwound strings. The best compromise if you want to play both acoustic and electric would probably be (of the strings you mention) the nickel roundwounds, or (as Jeff suggests) monel strings. Any 1955 Gibson would have an adjustable truss rod, so if there's no obvious sign of the top collapsing now, I doubt the different of 10s or 12s will be cause for worry.

And I know I speak for more than just myself when I say we'd love to see some photos of your new treasure. You're definitely starting at the top of the food chain if this is your first archtop!

**omphalopsychos** · 03-01-2019, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by beeswax

Thanks. I'll look into those other strings.

Would 13s and 17s provide a lot more tension relative to the rest of the set?
I do want to keep the age of the instrument in mind and not collapse the top.

Your guitar will be fine. It’s built for this and even with age it is strong enough to support it. And no the 13 and 17 will feel very comfy with the others.

**beeswax** · 03-01-2019, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by cmajor9

The problem with using acoustic (bronze) strings with the pickup is that the volume will likely be uneven between the wound and unwound strings. The best compromise if you want to play both acoustic and electric would probably be (of the strings you mention) the nickel roundwounds, or (as Jeff suggests) monel strings. Any 1955 Gibson would have an adjustable truss rod, so if there's no obvious sign of the top collapsing now, I doubt the different of 10s or 12s will be cause for worry.

And I know I speak for more than just myself when I say we'd love to see some photos of your new treasure. You're definitely starting at the top of the food chain if this is your first archtop!

Great, thanks. I will probably go with the nickel rounds. If I scrap the acoustic idea entirely, would the brite flats be the better option?

I have to clean her up and restring, but after that I will take some photos. It's a really nice one from what I can tell (but what do I know about archtops?). Got a good price on it, too, from a local guy who retired and wanted to sell it because he never played it.

**cmajor9** · 03-01-2019, 12:26 PM

I'm not a big fan of the Brite Flats personally, but YMMV. I really like Thomastik strings, both the flatwound Jazz Swings and roundwound Bebops. They're on the mellow side, feel great, last a long time and have slightly less tension than some other brands. Pricey, but IMO worth it.

**beeswax** · 03-01-2019, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by cmajor9

I'm not a big fan of the Brite Flats personally, but YMMV. I really like Thomastik strings, both the flatwound Jazz Swings and roundwound Bebops. They're on the mellow side, feel great, last a long time and have slightly less tension than some other brands. Pricey, but IMO worth it.

Nice. I have some Thomastik strings on my bass and love them. I'll look into those for the future.

What didn't you like about the GHS brite flats? I'm watching this

and think they sound pretty excellent given that's through his camera's microphone. Curious to hear your review of them.

I might just try both the flats and the nickles and see which I like. At least I have it narrowed down now! Thanks.

**JaxJaxon** · 03-01-2019, 02:07 PM

all strings have a steel E and B. a burnished string will have less finger noise. and a wound G will give more of a even tone across the string transition from the D to the B. the different types of string Bronze, steel, nickel will have a different tone in them selves.

**cmajor9** · 03-02-2019, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by beeswax

What didn't you like about the GHS brite flats? I'm watching this

and think they sound pretty excellent given that's through his camera's microphone. Curious to hear your review of them.

Not going by a video, but when I actually tried them out I wasn't thrilled about either the sound or feel. YMMV, and of course it can depend on the guitar as well.

**oldane** · 03-02-2019, 08:34 AM

For that kind of guitar, I'd not go lighter than 12-52. Go for nickel or stainless steel. As others have said, bronze won't work well with the P90 pickup. For that classic 1950s jazz sound you should give flatwounds a try. Thomastik Infeld Swing (or George Benson) or D'Addario Chromes are the most common and both are good. TI are nickel while Chromes are stainless steel. Chromes are a bit brighter than TI. What to chose is a matter of personal taste.

A mid 1950s ES150 is a laminated guitar and while it is lightly built and may provide a pretty decent acoustic volume, the quality of the acoustic tone doesn't quite compare to a an acoustic archtop with a carved spruce top. But then, it was primarily intended as an electric guitar and for jazz it's among the best you can get tone wise. You may check out DBs recent thread about his newly aquired ES300 which is pretty much the same guitar as yours apart from cosmetic differences.

**beeswax** · 03-02-2019, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by oldane

A mid 1950s ES150 is a laminated guitar .

Hey oldane, where are you getting that info?
I don't see laminate mentioned in the specs: 1955 Gibson ES-150

Thank you,
BW

**Geechnyc** · 03-02-2019, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by beeswax

I don't see laminate mentioned in the specs: 1955 Gibson ES-150
BW

Carter, Gruhn ...

Help Selecting Strings for Archtop-2b9b23b8-9006-4f82-a8fe-66ec23fe577b-jpeg

Help Selecting Strings for Archtop-66f674ff-9323-4676-b88e-1606fd5fe45a-jpg

**radiofm74** · 03-07-2019, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by omphalopsychos

Jeff's suggestion of Monels could work, but you might have to bring up the pole pieces pretty high on that Gibson p90. Every pickup is different. Some pickups are happy with monels without needing adjustment. Give it a shot.

If it were me I'd do either

a) John Pearse Electric Jazz Nickel
or
b) Newtone Archtop

I'd buy a set of 12's and replace the top 2 strings with 13 and 17. Both of those have a very mellow acoustic tone compared to other electric strings.

Sorry to derail the thread a bit but it’s the occasion to say “thank you” to omphalopsychos. A while back he suggested that GHS Vintage Bronze would work well with my Rhythm Chief. They do, and they have improved the acoustic sound of my Höfner very markedly. It had monels on (which I still keep on my Loar) but they sounded a bit too clangy and metallic. With the bronzes on, and no string balance problem, it’s win-win.

Thanks a lot omphalopsychos!!

**omphalopsychos** · 03-07-2019, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by radiofm74

Sorry to derail the thread a bit but it’s the occasion to say “thank you” to omphalopsychos. A while back he suggested that GHS Vintage Bronze would work well with my Rhythm Chief. They do, and they have improved the acoustic sound of my Höfner very markedly. It had monels on (which I still keep on my Loar) but they sounded a bit too clangy and metallic. With the bronzes on, and no string balance problem, it’s win-win.

Thanks a lot omphalopsychos!!

A lot of research went into that discovery! I'm very happy it's working out for you. All the best.

**omphalopsychos** · 03-07-2019, 10:46 PM

FYI beeswax. "Laminated" in this case does not mean inferior in any way. It was a production decision by Gibson for their electrics beginning in the 40s to fight feedback and the source of many legendary guitar tones.

**beeswax** · 08-10-2019, 09:06 PM

Does anyone have experience with D'Addario Nickle Bronze strings?

Acoustic Strings | Nickel Bronze Wound | D'Addario

Would these work on an archtop?