High-end string recommendation

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

I think each guitar needs to find the strings that work best for it and your personal taste.
I’ve found different brands work best for certain instruments and not so much on others. Mainly has to do with tension and what gages they offer.

Some examples:

I like Ernie Ball as a default but prefer Pyramid Nickel standard on my Kiesel Holdsworth headless guitar.
But on my Kiesel Zeus 7 string I like Ernie Ball Mondo Slinky with a 66 low B Ernie Ball

For my Benedetto Bambino I like Curt Mangan .11 to .52 Rounds

For my Martin OM 21 Special I like John Pearce Bronze 80/20

For my Carved Archtop Elferink I like Thomastik George Benson Rounds but way too expensive in USA! I just use D’Addairo XL 12 to 53 Round Wounds or similar gage from others like La Bella etc.

Its fun to experiment Ad some times your taste will change as well. Try Strings and Beyond for really good prices, especially when they have various sales!

No doubt. Perhaps the OP should specify guitar type or at least narrow it down. Or I will - 17 inch, carved top archtop. Reset.

[John A.]

Do you consider sound and feel to be quality characteristics when we're talking about strings for a musical instrument that is played by the fingers, and when "touch" is a critical aspect of how the instrument is played? I do.

Do you consider Nickel to be a characteristic of grade, where guitar strings are concerned. I do.

No and no. I consider those to be subjective matters of taste.

[DawgBone]

If you aren't using LaBellas you're just playing on a bunch of junk.

[jim777]

I just remembered that 20 years ago when I took the picture that became my avatar (my son Seamus with an Ibby 7), I had just put a new set of strings on the guitar that gave me a laugh. See if you can spot the issue

https://jim777.com/images/endorsed.jpg

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

No and no. I consider those to be subjective matters of taste.

OK, well I think that's missing the point.

What is the mission of a musical instrument string if not to sound and feel good? Those are job one, IMO. Without them, there is no point to how long a string lasts, etc.

[John A.]

OK, well I think that's missing the point.

What is the mission of a musical instrument string if not to sound and feel good? Those are job one, IMO. Without them, there is no point to how long a string lasts, etc.

Set A: nickel alloy flatwound, round core; a set; 0.013, 0.017, 0.021, 0.028, 0.039, 0.053; $30 US, $20 Europe

Set B: stainless steel flatwound, hex core; 0.013, 0.017, 0.024, 0.033, 0.042, 0.052; $20 US, $30 Europe (cost factors in swapping in a heavier high E in a 12-guage set)

They're both consistently manufactured. Both last similar amounts of time. Depending on how the player uses tone controls, they can be made to sound the same over some range of settings, or different. String B is subjectively stiffer feeling than Set A because of the core and because most of the strings are heavier.

Which is a higher grade (in the sense of offering functional enhancements or materials that are superior in some objective, functional sense)? Neither. One costs more in some places and the other costs more in other places, so price is not a reliable indicator of grade.

Which feels better? Neither. Stiffness is a matter of subjective preference. For me personally, I go back and forth, sometimes preferring a slinkier feel, sometimes preferring a stiffer feel, sometimes changing things just for the sake of change.

Which sounds better? Neither. To the extent they sound different, sound is a matter of subjective preference, not objective quality. For me personally, I don't think they sound different once you get past the initial period before the stainless strings' tone dulls down a bit, but even in that week-or-so's time either sound fine to me.

Which is better overall? Neither. They're just subtly different in ways that play to subjective preference (or possibility compatibility with a particular instrument), not objective quality.

Got it? Still think I'm missing your point?

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Set A: nickel alloy flatwound, round core; a set; 0.013, 0.017, 0.021, 0.028, 0.039, 0.053; $30 US, $20 Europe

Set B: stainless steel flatwound, hex core; 0.013, 0.017, 0.024, 0.033, 0.042, 0.052; $20 US, $30 Europe (cost factors in swapping in a heavier high E in a 12-guage set)

They're both consistently manufactured. Both last similar amounts of time. Depending on how the player uses tone controls, they can be made to sound the same over some range of settings, or different. String B is subjectively stiffer feeling than Set A because of the core and because most of the strings are heavier.

Which is a higher grade (in the sense of offering functional enhancements or materials that are superior in some objective, functional sense)? Neither. One costs more in some places and the other costs more in other places, so price is not a reliable indicator of grade.

Which feels better? Neither. Stiffness is a matter of subjective preference. For me personally, I go back and forth, sometimes preferring a slinkier feel, sometimes preferring a stiffer feel, sometimes changing things just for the sake of change.

Which sounds better? Neither. To the extent they sound different, sound is a matter of subjective preference, not objective quality. For me personally, I don't think they sound different once you get past the initial period before the stainless strings' tone dulls down a bit, but even in that week-or-so's time either sound fine to me.

Which is better overall? Neither. They're just subtly different in ways that play to subjective preference (or possibility compatibility with a particular instrument), not objective quality.

Got it? Still think I'm missing your point?

I get that we disagree. What if I play acoustically, what if I play at low volume? They don't sound the same atall.

Actions speak louder than words, and archtop players get hooked on expensive TI's for a reason, and it's not because they don't value their hard earned money..

Later.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

archtop players get hooked on expensive TI's for a reason, and it's not because they don't value their hard earned money.

Indeed! I was too cheap to try them for years, back when they were only available at list price and Chromes were less than half their cost. But I tried a set of JS112s when one of the online string sellers had a decent sale maybe 3 years ago. They sounded and felt wonderful on my 16" laminated Ibanez archtop, and they remained consistent for a year. I was so happy with them that I bought a few more sets the next time they went on sale, putting JS113s on all of my archtops and 110s on 2 of my solid bodies. I now have 110s on my flat top too, since I use it on solo jazz gigs and to back vocalists. The action is as low as it is on my LP, and they sound both big and truly alive on it.

I love the slightly softer, sleeker feel of the TIs compared to the Chromes. I think they respond better to the right hand than Chromes, in that they bring out the subtle differences in picking position, force, style etc a bit better than Chromes do for me. And oh my do they last! At one year, I decided to put a fresh set on the Ibanez and recorded before-and-after clips that I posted as a "blindfold test" to demonstrate how well they'd held up. Half of those who guessed which were the old ones and which were the new ones guessed wrong. I didn't waste money even though I changed them before they needed it, because the education was worth it - and I still carry the used ones as spares in one gig bag, although I've never broken a string on an archtop.

FWIW, TIs are not much more expensive than Chromes these days. Strings and Beyond sell Chromes for $20, TI JSs for $25, and Pyramid Golds for $19.45 - with frequent 10% off sales. This week, they're giving an extra 10% off all sales as a "tax day" discount. So TIs are $22.50, Pyramids are $17.50 and Chromes are $18.

[John A.]

I get that we disagree. What if I play acoustically, what if I play at low volume? They don't sound the same atall.

Actions speak louder than words, and archtop players get hooked on expensive TI's for a reason, and it's not because they don't value their hard earned money..

Later.

I'm not denigrating TIs or saying people don't have reasons for picking them. Just noting that those are subjective preferences that not everyone agrees on, not objective differences in grade or quality.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Indeed! I was too cheap to try them for years, back when they were only available at list price and Chromes were less than half their cost. But I tried a set of JS112s when one of the online string sellers had a decent sale maybe 3 years ago. They sounded and felt wonderful on my 16" laminated Ibanez archtop, and they remained consistent for a year. I was so happy with them that I bought a few more sets the next time they went on sale, putting JS113s on all of my archtops and 110s on 2 of my solid bodies. I now have 110s on my flat top too, since I use it on solo jazz gigs and to back vocalists. The action is as low as it is on my LP, and they sound both big and truly alive on it.

I love the slightly softer, sleeker feel of the TIs compared to the Chromes. I think they respond better to the right hand than Chromes, in that they bring out the subtle differences in picking position, force, style etc a bit better than Chromes do for me. And oh my do they last! At one year, I decided to put a fresh set on the Ibanez and recorded before-and-after clips that I posted as a "blindfold test" to demonstrate how well they'd held up. Half of those who guessed which were the old ones and which were the new ones guessed wrong. I didn't waste money even though I changed them before they needed it, because the education was worth it - and I still carry the used ones as spares in one gig bag, although I've never broken a string on an archtop.

FWIW, TIs are not much more expensive than Chromes these days. Strings and Beyond sell Chromes for $20, TI JSs for $25, and Pyramid Golds for $19.45 - with frequent 10% off sales. This week, they're giving an extra 10% off all sales as a "tax day" discount. So TIs are $22.50, Pyramids are $17.50 and Chromes are $18.

I had never heard of them when I tried the George Bensons (who knew?) some years ago on a carved acoustic 17-inch archtop. Unplugged they almost made it sound like a big acoustic guitar. Incredible. I still play TIs but lighter gauge than the Benson 12s these days. Do they sound as rich and alive as the Benson 12s? Sadly no, but they still sound darned good. Stickin' with 'em.

[Cunamara]

... archtop players get hooked on expensive TI's for a reason, and it's not because they don't value their hard earned money.

Some do. Not me. Tried them, the return on investment was unsatisfactory. They didn't sound that much better either acoustically or electrically than anything else I tried. I liked Pyramid round core nickel strings for a long while, but have found other strings I like as well or better that are easier to come by and cost less. I used Vincis for a few years before they were sold, sold again and eventually went out of business.

On my 17" carved archtop (and my flattop) I prefer Martin Retro Monel strings (.011-.052 IIRC). It's the right mix of fundamentals and overtones on the wound strings. On my Ibanez GB10, I have been liking SIT S1150s. Lately on my Stratishcaster and semi-hollow Tele I've been using SIT flats.

But hey, everybody gets to pick the strings that work best for them and their instruments, for their technique, for their desired sound with their picks and amps, etc. There is no such thing as an objectively superior guitar string.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Well, “superiority” is not exactly what John and I were discussing (quality and grade), but whatever.

Somehow you are able to make your choices and feel certain they’re the right ones. If your decision criteria isn’t “superiority” then you can decide what it is.

[skiboyny]

Nickel is more expensive than stainless steel. IMO it's also more musical. I guess you could call that more "high end".

[iim7V7IM7]

I have never considered strings to be “high end”. Some strings are expensive due to materials, process, region of manufacture vs. location of the player.

Archtops:

Magnetic Pickups: Thomastik Infeld Jazz BeBops 13/53 are my strings of choice. They are round wounds, but use a finer wrap wire so they feel smoother and they also last a long time for me. I needed to change strings 2-3 times a year. They were always expensive, but they have skyrocketed in price over the last 5-years.

Acoustic: I prefer 80/20 Brass strings. Sound wise, John Pearse 12/53 are my favorites, but they have a very short use life under my fingers. I have had good luck recently with an extended life set called Paradigm 80/20 Brass 12/54 by Ernie Ball. They have a heavier A string (0.044”). They have extended life due having the wrap wire plasma polished to perfect its surface to resist corrosion and they are coated with a hydrophobic/oleophobic nano-coating. They feel like non-coated strings and not like PTFE coated strings. The cost 2x John Pearse and 1/2 TI Bebops. They last me > 8-12 weeks.

[John A.]

Nickel is more expensive than stainless steel. IMO it's also more musical. I guess you could call that more "high end".

Most stainless steel alloys have nickel in them, and none of the strings labeled as pure nickel wound are that (they’re all nickel/copper alloys). Plus, most of the material in a set of either stainless or nickel wound strings is stainless steel (the plain strings and the cores of the wound strings), and the metal overall is a very small percent of the cost of a set of strings.

The difference in nickel content between stainless wound and stainless wound strings is pennies. Whatever the merits of of TIs (which I use, so I’m not knocking them), they’re not more expensive because they contain more nickel than Chromes. The cost difference is entirely a function of where you buy them and what the market will bear.

[DawgBone]

Well, “superiority” is not exactly what John and I were discussing (quality and grade), but whatever.

Somehow you are able to make your choices and feel certain they’re the right ones. If your decision criteria isn’t “superiority” then you can decide what it is.

I agree. The purple wraps on the LaBellas just sound better than the blue or red wraps on them other strings. Even the most crude demo will make this obvious. Used in conjunction with an f-hole instrument equipped with gold hardware superior tone will be achieved provided you have a Twin Reverb to pair it with. I try not to help people doing it wrong because I might lose some gigs when they up their game with the purple so I just let the TI fan boys be.

[marcwhy]

Most of my guitars have Stringjoy strings, which I really like! One archtop came with Pyramids, which also sound great, so I've been using them whenever I change strings on that guitar. One observation: after about 5 minutes of playing the Pyramids, my fingers smell of metal; this doesn't happen with the Stringjoy.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Nickel is more expensive than stainless steel. IMO it's also more musical. I guess you could call that more "high end".

higher grade.

[AllanAllen]

I like a 013 on the high end.