| Author |
Message |
Brutus1999
Username: Brutus1999
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 10:17 am: | |
OKAY--I know that there have been several discussion threads dealing with strings. But none in the past couple of years. But there have been changes in strings in the past two years! Including coated strings from, now, a number of different brands.
So, I'd like to start a "thread" on string preferences for different kinds of music. Because hollowbodies are so different from semi-hollows, I thought it might be good to confine this particular discussion to semi-hollowbodies, because if someone says that a particular string is too "muted" for example, and they are referring to its use on a hollowbody, that would just add confusion to those wanting to understand what it might sound like on a semi-hollow... /As it is there will still be some variables because of mahogany versus maple bodies and V2 versus Super 58 versus custom pickups!
To allow for some consistency across comments, I'd appreciate it if posters specified, as well, which type of music they believe the string is best suited for. Maybe posters could use a system like this (imaginary) set of heavy, flatwounds:
For classic jazz--A
For modern jazz---B+
For Blues---------B (not as easy to bend)
For rock----------B
as well as maybe a comment on whether the gauge is just right or a little too heavy for beginners.
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This isn't as complicated as it sounds....just mention strings you know about, their "playability" and rate them according to particular styles of music (I know that this will be somewhat a matter of taste!)
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For example, having just got my set-neck, Korean AM-50, (and already love the sound with the old strings on it!), I'm looking for a set that would serve me the following ways:
learning 50's - 70's jazz--45%
blues----------------------35%
classic (not metal) rock---20%
and I've been looking at three possible choices:
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Thomastik-Infield Extra Light
NOTE DESCRIPTION DIAMETER INCHES TENSION LBS
1st E Plain Steel .010 7.2
2nd B Plain Steel .014 16.5
3rd G Nickel Flat Wound .018 19.0
4th D Nickel Flat Wound .023 18.1
5th A Nickel Flat Wound .033 18.1
6th E Nickel Flat Wound .044 18.7
---------------------OR------
Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Steel/Nickel Flat Wound Light, .011 - .047, JS111
TOI_JS111 $14.56
NOTE DESCRIPTION DIAMETER INCHES TENSION LBS
1st E Plain Steel .011 19.8
2nd B Plain Steel .015 19.5
3rd G Nickel Flat Wound .019 21.7
4th D Nickel Flat Wound .025 21.3
5th A Nickel Flat Wound .035 20.2
6th E Nickel Flat Wound .047 21.1
----------------------------
OR
--------------------------
Elixir Electric Guitar PolyWeb Coating, .010 - .046, 12050
ELX_12050 $9.98
NOTEDESCRIPTION DIAMETER INCHES TENSION LBS
1st E Plain Steel .010
2nd B Plain Steel .013
3rd G Plain Steel .017
4th D PolyWeb Coating .026
5th A PolyWeb Coating .036
6th E PolyWeb Coating .046
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SOOOOO--any comments on these sets or others FOR THE TYPE OF USE I OUTLINED?
And, any comments on other sets of strings, with (admittedly personal) "grading" for classic jazz, modern jazz, blues, rock, or whatever?
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Thanks in advance,
brutus99 |
Funkle
Username: Funkle
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 11:26 am: | |
Brutus,
I think the TI flats are better than the Daddario chromes in every way. More musical and resonant, less brittle. They sound wonderful on my AG195.
I think flat wound strings are kind of a one trick pony. They have a specific sound on on hollowbodies that is very well suited to jazz, but not much else. They are dark, and produce a nice "thunk" or "thud" on the lower notes. They don't have much, or any "twang" and they quickly turn to mud with distortion. So you can forget about blues/rock. I suppose you could put flats on a semi or solid and heavily EQ and come close to a Jim Hall/Metheny type of tone, but it seems to go against the character of the guitar.
If you want to maintain the versatility and character of the AM, I'd recommend rounds. I have .11 Elixir Nanowebs on my AS200, and I can cover rock, fusion and jazz with easy. They are a little more twangy than flats, but it work for a brighter jazz tone. The goretex coating knocks off some of the twang, compared to Daddario XLs. Polywebs will knock off even more highs, and sound like a well broken in set of strings.
Then there are the hybrid strings: Semi-flat Daddarios and TI round wound jazz strings. They seem like a good match for a guitar like this in theory, but I've tried both with dreadful results. They sounded horrible and non-musical to me. They seemed to have some strange harmonics.
One recommendation I have is to try a Benedetto A6 pickup in the neck position. It did wonders for my AS200. It is warm and compressed, with a soft attack, and will take some of the edge off a semi if you want to play jazz. It wont turn it into an L5, it will still sound like an AM50 just a little smoother. |
Wildfield
Username: Wildfield
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 1:31 pm: | |
I'd agree with Sven's comments about flat wounds. They are a bit of a one trick pony and in my opinion probably best suited for a traditional jazz tone on a full archtop.
I have an AM70 with Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions. I've been using 12-52 half rounds. I like the sound and characteristics a lot. Has more pop than flat wounds for rock, blues and fusion while maintaining a slightly darker tone than round wounds.
If I move away from half rounds on my AM70, I'd much prefer round wounds over flat wounds. |
N4vgm
Username: N4vgm
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:20 am: | |
GHS Rollerwounds, smooth feel, less bright but still classic nickel sound for blues/rock. |
Tone
Username: Tone
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | |
Great thread
Right now I have Thomastik-Infeld Swing Series 11's on my AM255.
I'm not happy.
It's not that there's anything wrong with the strings. In fact TI flats are the best ones I've used so far. They're very well balanced, consistent, and feels right on your fingers.
I think Super 58 and Flat wound strings are just way too muddy, even for traditional jazz. I'm going to have to try Elixir .11's.
I personally think flat wounds only works good for full hollow bodies. I never got it to work on semi's so far. |
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