O.K., so I've looked over these various string tension charts, and I'll be honest, its awfully tough to make much sense of any of it. There's little difference in 'complete set tensions' between sets of comparable gauges, regardless of brand, and I just don't see a huge difference in string-to-string variability by brand either.

Moreover, some of the numbers appear to be flat-out erroneous or testing anomalies. For example, the D'Addario chart lists the tension of an .048" string as being LESS than that of an 0.050" string, and an 0.038" as being LESS than that of an 0.020"? And on the TI string chart, their unwound 0.014" has roughly the same tension as their 0.031" wound string, yet MORE than any single one of their other strings?

All of that seems completely non-sensical to me. I understand that its possible for a wound string (of higher diameter) to have LESS tension than an unwound string of lesser diameter. I get that, but why would the TI 0.014" string (at a whopping 31.0 lbs., compared to only 17 lbs. for the comparable D'Addario), have MORE tension than any other single TI string that they make, from 0.012" all the way up to 0.055"??

And its important to note that that same phenomenon is apparently NOT true with the D'Addario's. In other words, the D'Addario 0.014" (at just 17.85 lbs.), is expectedly LESS than all other higher-gauge strings. That disparity between the two brands and the two charts is a bit puzzling!

"Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work, you can always hit them with it." - Boris the Blade

Last edited: Mar 04, 2019 13:38:02

Hey! I'm still loving the DR Zebras for the bottom four strings, but those unwound strings are just so damn screechy!

Can anyone comment on the "least screechy" High E (.13) and B (.17) strings out there?

Daniel Deathtide

So uh. I just got back into guitar playing a year ago, and I've always used super slinkys or whatever they're called and I want to change to something heavier, I know how to change strings but I've never done a setup myself (outside of lowering the bridge on the Fender when I got it used), what kind of strings should I use and how complicated is it to set up?

Really interesting to read about people's experiences of flats and half-rounds....and reeeallly heavy gauges....

I've been using Ernie Ball "Beefy" Slinky's 11-54.

They're 11, 14, 22, 30, 42, 54, but I replace the 22 with a 20 because I find it beyond hard to bend.

(I'm using a japanese Fender Jazzmaster)

https://the-birdcage.bandcamp.com/

Daddy wrote:

I have a J Mascus Squier Jazzmaaster with roundwounds. I would like to put on flatwounds for a better "surf" (50's sound). Back in the early "60's I played guitar and really did not like light guage (slinky's) I'm a bass player and have no intention of playing the JM out; just at home along with YouTube and MP3's. I can play some simple Surf lead, Let's Go Trippin', Wipeoout, Honky Tonk, Bulldog, etc. Since I play bass with flatwounds i feel I can handle a thicker guage, so what guage do you guys suggest; I'm looking at 12's but may be able to handle 13's. I looked on this and other sites but found no answers

You JM probably came with 10s. Going to 13s would be a big jump. I would start with 12s and then go to 13s if you want next time you change. It will let your hands build up to the heavier gauge.

Be advised that you are going to need to tighten the neck truss rod to accommodate the strings, and possibly have to file the nut. It's a pain because you need to remove the neck on a JM to adjust the truss rod. You generally will have to make several adjustments to get it right. Unless you are real comfortable working on guitars, take it to a luthier for a professional setup. Should cost no more than $100 or so.

If you do this you may just want to go to 13s if you think you can handle it (as a Bass player, you might).

Last edited: Jun 24, 2020 09:11:49

After many years as a strat player, I purchased my first Jazzmaster. I decided to dedicate it for surf playing.

At first I put flatwounds but changed very soon. Flatwounds sounded too dull in my ears. The attack of the notes is more present in roundwounds so I switched to those.

However I have a problem. I use a plain G. The notes in this string "die out" very easily. It's like there is no sustain. Especially if I play an open G note. A guitar tech that I know, told me that plain G strings of that diameter tend to do that, because their mass doesn't help them vibrate. In the case of wound strings, the wounds help them vibrate cause the mass amount is smaller.

Has anyone had the same issue?

Surf Rock from the Northern Greece seas
http://meanwhileinmexico.gr/

Could be a nut thing indeed. I will have to test it!

Surf Rock from the Northern Greece seas
http://meanwhileinmexico.gr/

That is a good call! I use 12s on the jazz master and Strat, but 13s on the Jag and they feel the same.

I am in a huge quandary! DR have stopped making Zebra strings, which is all I have played for decades. They are the perfect blend of fundamental and harmonics, with a little more emphasis on the fundamental, but not nearly as much as flat wounds.

I may read through this thread to get ideas. I’ve always been a round wound fellow, but those D’Adarrio Chromes flatwounds sound pretty dang good. And they have harmonics that I usually don’t hear with flats. Expensive, but perhaps the next best thing?

Daniel Deathtide

Give the pyramids time to break in. They don't sound like they 'should' right out of the box. Once they do, they are glorious.
They feel a little bit more slippery than the thomastik flats.
But it is all about what you like.
Cheers, Andy

www.LosVenturas.be

Klas wrote:

Yeah, Pyramid flats sound quite sterile out of the box and take some time to break in and come alive. I've used the brand for many years on my two flatwound stringed Fenders and here's what their .13-.56 set sounds on a stock CIJ Jag once broken in (although this is my brother Jack playing lead on his CIJ Jag).

Waitamimute! You use flats for that drip?!! I think I’m gonna get a whole batch of chromes. I only got a .056 to replace the DR Zebra .056 which was too thuddy and dull. The chrome .056 sounded very nice, super loud and with a great big tone, but it didn’t match the other Zebras as well.

Daniel Deathtide