I just have to tell you all.

My Gretsch 6120 Brian Setzer has been needing new strings. So I went over to the gear forum and read up on the opinions of the people posting in the strings thread. I digested what was posted and headed out to buy some flat wound strings for the Great pumpkin (the name I call my gretsch).

I bought some D'Addario 'Chromes' ECG24 High Finish Ribbon wound Jazz Light Gauge size .011-.050's.
I never belived that strings could make such a big difference in sound. I had a cheap set of ghs boomers size 8 on it before. (Just because I had them when I needed them).
I have to say that the Gretsch just sings with these new strings. I could hardly put it down to even eat!

Thanks to all here that invest your time and knowledge and contribute with your fine input.
Thanks
Joel

I agree with that, I used ernie ball one time and one of the strings broke while I was tuning it up. After that I started using D'Addario, and I've been using them ever since.

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SurfBandBill
I was getting a buzz on my 'D' (4) string and no matter how I adjusted the bridge height it seemed to buzz. So I got a magnifiying glass and took a good look at the bridge. It seems that the GHS Boomer 'D' stringwas freying and was way to small for the bridge notch. The new strings took care of the buzz and filled in the bridge notch well. I may even try the next step larger strings next time.
Thanks for the input.
Joel

I lost my G from a set of chromes today. Unraveled at the bridge. I had that set on since July.

I put some Rotosound flats on my Jazzmaster today. I was reminded of how much I liked those strings. I had had the Rotosounds on one of my Jags when we were in the studio and I got a great sound.

JakeDobner
Where do you get your Rotosounds at? What size do you use?

Damn this is turning into a string discussion isn't it?

SurfBandBill
Unwinding at the bridge!
I went and made a good inspection of mine after reading that! Mine look as smooth as a babys butt. The bridge on the gretsch isn't at a very sharp angle, so I wonder if your bridge is. I over tighten my strings after putting them on and then detune them for a short period. I have the Locking tunners so I'm not to worried about the strings slipping loose.
If you try the rotosounds let us know how they are settling in.

Thanks
Joel

I've been messin' with strings with my 1961 Gretsch 6120 and my P90-equiped guitars for years (Mosrite Excellent, '57 Guild CE-100D, A-RI JAzzmaster and an '89 Gibson LP Goldtop. ALso, a Dearmond MT-77 using dynasonic single coils).

P-90's and Filtertrons LOVE flatwound strings. That's a fact, especially with the slightly less "hot" pu's. This is my experience with flats:

1. D'addarios: pure junk. They die within days and sound dull and muted compared to (music, please!!!) : Pyramid Gold strings.
   Pyramids last for MONTHS without losing tone or brightness, and sound warm and truly "vintage" to call it something. My 6120 sounds REALLY grestchy with them. You Gretsch guys should check out the Gretschpages. Everyone there raves about Pyramids (made in Germany, expensive -$20+ a set) but last 4-6 months without degrading.
   

The trick with Pyramids is that they need to be broken-in. By the time your D'addario Chromes have lost their tone, my Pyramids just hit their stride

1. Round-wounds: I have found that pure nickel strings work well in place of nickel flats like Pyramids. The best I have used and the only rounds I use (Mosrite, Goldtop, etc) are Gibson Vintage Reissue strings. You guys should seriously try them; they sound warm, never too bright or chimey.
   

I have never tried Rotosounds. I always knew them to be great bass strings, and I will give them a try.

I suppose the common denominator here is 100% nickel (no steel), and you can't just buy any of these strings in a shop. Online only at this point. The Gibson Vinatge Reissue (10's and 11's for me) used to sell over the counter at GC here in L.A. ($11/set) but no longer. I just bought on Ebay 11 sets of 11's for $4.00 a set, 1/3 of what they used to sell for in GC.

Pyramids: in USA, mail-order only, but trust me, they kill, destroy and bury D'addario chromies with their eyes closed. You will not regret it.

g

Joelman
SurfBandBill
Unwinding at the bridge!
I went and made a good inspection of mine after reading that! Mine look as smooth as a babys butt. The bridge on the gretsch isn't at a very sharp angle, so I wonder if your bridge is. I over tighten my strings after putting them on and then detune them for a short period. I have the Locking tunners so I'm not to worried about the strings slipping loose.
If you try the rotosounds let us know how they are settling in.

Thanks
Joel

Joel,
Mine was not a bridge issue -- I hadn't even played a note on the damn string yet, so it was just a faulty spring. Either way, the Sweptwing has a roller bridge, so there's no point where it can rub, it's a smooth rolling channel.

Almost all my guitars have old fashioned Kluson-style tuners, so there's no locking there. What I do is I wrap them on, tune up, play a few licks and all that, then give each string a little tug to help them settle in on the tuners. It happens every now and then that a string will snap, but I figure those strings would have snapped after playing for a bit anyways.

I will also second Jake's recommendation with juststrings.com - that's where I get all my strings nowadays. I use Roto 10s on my Mosrite, Chrome 10s on the Sweptwing, and Chrome 11s on all my Fenders.

~B~