Members Stackabones Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 New Strings Day! Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum AC111. Only the 6th string is wound. The 5th, 4th, and 3rd are flatwounds, and the 2nd & 1st are plain. Light gauge string set. I've had these on for a week before recording. First impressions were that the guitar really opened up: very rich and chimey, almost like a different guitar. I had D'Addario EXPs before and they are decent strings, but they lose their charm rather quickly ime. Though I haven't had these on too long, I really love the feel and responsiveness. I've put these on my Yamaha FS720S, which is a short scale neck (24.9"). These light gauge strings on a short-scale neck make the guitar feel quite pliable -- tension is definitely looser than previous strings. I really enjoy being able to employ a light touch while playing this guitar with these strings. The volume has dropped a bit, but I think it's a wonderful thing. I don't like loud guitars (especially when singing), except when I'm at jams -- and then I take my Gitane D500. Mind that there is still plenty of volume, but it is not overbearing at all and has a gentle character to it, not at all brash. Recorded using my Zoom H4n and I used GarageBand to trim the front and end off and adjust the balance and levels a bit. During the first verse I played over the soundhole, and then (to give you an idea of the responsiveness) I played closer to the bridge in the second verse. The rest is pretty much over the soundhole. Arrangement is me reading out of a fake book. The little tag at the end is my idea. O Christmas Tree While the above recording is acoustic, I'm curious as to how this guitar will sound with my Fishman Neo-D humbucking soundhole pup. To my ears that pup gives most of my acoustics an archtop-like quality, and I wonder if that'll be moreso with these flatwounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Cool. Those are low-tension too. Only about 120lbs total. Great for vintage parlors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 New Strings Day! . . .. . . Only the 6th string is wound. The 5th, 4th, and 3rd are flatwounds, . . . Slight nitpick: The 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th strings are all wound but only the 6th is roundwound. The others have flat windings. BTW, very nice playing. Sounds really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 I love their mandolin strings. I've had a set on my flat top for over a year and a half now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Deep End, absolutely correct! Thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Moto****** Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Bloody expensive though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 True, but flats tend to last a little longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fastblueheeler Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Sounds great Chris! I put a set of cheaper ones, GHS I think, on my Taylor a few years ago and liked them a lot. Thanks for the Christmas tune! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 You're welcome, Bill. You've got me wondering about those GHS flats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Bloody expensive though! I bought four sets through a wholesale connection. Now I'm on the last set and wondering about alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 Well ... while we're here, if anyone knows of other strings like these T-I Plectrums, let it be known. I heard about these posting on another site, so I'm game for other suggestions. Acoustic flatwounds, whatcha know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted December 22, 2010 Members Share Posted December 22, 2010 D'Addario has a PB Flatwound set that I tried once...excellent for recording with, 'cause you get no finger squeaks! Haven't tried those Thomastiks, yet, but likely will, eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Thanks, TAH. Are you talking about the Flat Top PB from D'Addario? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Thanks, TAH. Are you talking about the Flat Top PB from D'Addario?Yeah, that's the specific name! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Cool, TAH! Also wondering now about low-tension strings in general, acoustic or electric. Anyone got some direction on this? I'd love it if I could find some low-tension flats for my jazzbox, but I'm generally curious about low-tension strings! Whatcha know, HCAG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I tried to listen. But I can never reach your music. Divshare wants me to register or log in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Try this ... http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10030458 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chordchunker Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Those look great! I`ve used Daddario XL Chromes FW and I just love `em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I use those Chromes on my electrics too, Chordchunker. After using these T-I strings, I may give their electric flats a spin, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 You're welcome, Bill. You've got me wondering about those GHS flats? Probably Custom Shop Rollerwounds. Available in .011's and .012's. I'm guessing you'd prefer .011's so that's what I linked to. AFAIK, they're 80/20's if that matters. I've been meaning to try d'Addario Flat Tops for ages but I'm too cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted December 23, 2010 Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 I tried Galli bronze tapewound strings but didn't care for them:http://www.gallistrings.com/catalogo_4.asp?id_cat=1&id_sot=12&id_sot_2=15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2010 Thanks for the link, DeepEnd. Not quite sure what rollerwound means, but I'll look into it. It seems like they "semi-flat" -- interesting. Nice to see you back, Garthman, and thanks for the Galli link. After playing these T-Is, I'm thinking that I like the fact that they have one roundwound (on the low E) mixed with the flats -- it gives it an interesting texture and feel. Plus, the low tension is quite marvelous. When I first considered flats for a flat top, I was worried that they would sound lifeless. While I haven't tried a fully flat set yet, I'm encouraged by the T-I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abluesguy Posted December 24, 2010 Members Share Posted December 24, 2010 Nice playing, Stack! I have a couple of gits I'd like to try strings like this on. Here's a probably stupid question, low tensions strings = easier to play? And by low tension, do you mean just lighter gauge, or can you have two sets of the same gauge strings, and one is a lower tension? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 24, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2010 Thanks, abluesguy! Yeah, low-tensions are easier to play and, just as advertised, they are lower in tension than other strings -- not just a lower gauge. I had no idea something like this existed, and to be honest I didn't get them for the low tension aspect but for the flatwounds -- pleasant outcome! I'm stoked about low tension strings!!! These T-I Plectrums only come in low tension AFAIK, so you can't buy a regular tension set to directly compare, though I guess you could assemble strings from another brand/set to hear & feel the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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