7-String Strings

[Zigracer]

I’m enjoying my new Eastman Jazz Elite 7, but have not yet settled on strings. I first installed Newtone (Guitars n Jazz house brand) round wound 12s. I liked them okay, but they weren’t exactly what I was looking for.

I next tried LaBella Jazz Tape 12s. I knew they’d be a bit floppy as I had read that they have lower tension. I didn’t want to try the 14s, because I didn’t want to file the nut slots that big in the event I wanted to stick with 12s in the long run. Well yes, they were a bit floppy, but I did kinda like them. Just not completely sure.

I’m now on LaBella flats 12s as well. Kinda okay. May have liked the tapes better. Just not sure yet. Stuck with the same Newtone .072 low A throughout.

To compare notes, what do you 7 string players prefer?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I use TI JS 6 string sets with a John Pearse RW 7th.

My Eastman 810CE7 carries JS113s with a 0.072 7th because the stock tuner won’t take a bigger one. I’m trying to get the oversized Ibanez 7th tuner that came on my AF207 for it, but so far Hoshino has ignored my requests for a spare. If I can’t get that, I’ll order a gold Sperzel with an oversized shaft and an 0.085 hole. Intonation is quite fine with the 72, but I like a stiff 7 because I sometimes pop bass notes, and I like as low an action as I can get without any buzz at all. So I’ll go for a 0.076 when I get a tuner for it. If that’s still not ideal, it’ll be an 0.080 in the 7th slot. I had to drill the stock tuner shaft just to get a 0.072 through it.

My AF207 and my Forshage/Raines Tele 7 carry JS112s with a 0.076 7th. And my ESP has 10-52 Stringjoy Signature nickel RWs over a 0.070 7th.

My Epi LP 7 has a set of light Chrome 7s on it. They came with a 0.065 7th, and I haven’t changed them in quite a while.

[Jimmy blue note]

I use Ernie Ball rolled wound 6 string set and a single round wound 7th string from D'Addario. I play fingerstyle and my guitar is a custom 15" so I'm going for the clarity of voices and balance in the mid ranges. I do prefer mixing 6 string sets with a separate 7th string because it doesn't limit me to the 7sets out there. Greater diversity for my needs.

[floatingpickup]

Like others have said, I just use my favourite six string set (either TI Jazz Swings or D’Addario Chromes in my case) and I add a single 7th string. My choice for the low A is a D’Addario Nickel Wound string, either a .074 or .080, depending on the gauge of the six string set that I am using. Although I use flatwounds for the main set, I go with the roundwound for the low A so it has a little more sustain. It feels fine to have the two string types. You can get the single low A strings here Electric Guitar XL Nickel Wound Single Strings
Keith

[marcwhy]

I like Stringjoy in general, and a buddy uses them, too, on his 7-string.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I like Stringjoy in general, and a buddy uses them, too, on his 7-string.

They've been developing a line of flatwounds for some time now. Per their website FAQs, "Our tentative hope is to have something to show you by the end of 2022". I'm excited to try them, as I love their strings, their philosophy, and their service. But I prefer flats except on my acoustics and my ESP 7 (my first 7, bought in the early '90s), which I set up for blues when I got my Tele 7 last year.

I didn't know I could get 80s from D'A, Keith! I've used John Pearse strings for many years and have been very happy with the strings and service from Breezy Ridge , which is the business he started when he arrived in the US back in the '70s. His story is truly inspiring - he had some kind of medical misadventure that left him paralyzed, and he managed to fight back from it and regain mobility and dexterity. He was a seriously great studio musician as well as a famous folksinger and guitarist, and he was quite a character! I always enjoyed talking with him when we ran into each other at guitar shows. Sadly, he's been gone for about 15 years now, but the business soldiers on.

The JP 80s are currently $6.60 each, which is a bit more than the D'As - but I'll stick with JPs because I'm nostalgic and I don't want Breezy Ridge to fold. Every time a favorite local business of ours shuts down, my wife and I feel a bit guilty that perhaps if we'd eaten there more often or bought more stuff from them , they'd still be here.