Strings for the X-700

[Guilderagain]

Hello X-700 owners,

If you're using faltwounds, what brand/size are you using? I currently have Thomastik Infeld (.12) and find the tone dissapointing. The TI 11s' sound superb on my X-500 and the D'Addario Chromes (11) are great too on my X-170 (not so great on the X-150).

 

[AlohaJoe]

Just opinion, but...

I like the TI 12s. I guess each guitar is different, but to my ear they sound good on my X150 (all laminate) and they last a looong time for me, even with heavy use. The low E is a bit thumpy but useable... the rest sound just right, and the low E doesn't get much use unless there's no bass player anyway.

I don't have an X700 but I do have a few of its direct ancestors. The big fully carved archtops (like the X700) are a lot livelier and serve another purpose altogether it seems to me. I think of them as primarily acoustic instruments. I have a '47 Triumph but only use nickel-rounds on it (nickel because I will throw a DeArmond on there now and then) and for that I like the Dean Markley Blue Steel because I like the tone and because they come with both a wound and an unwound G.

My wife often plays the '48 Broadway and she prefers flats (normally a bit of a no-no on that guitar) but for that application the D'Addario chromes (12-52) seem to work well and sound OK, in part because she always uses the DeArmond and some sort of amplification.

Anyway, that's probably more than you wanted to know, and the way I do it works for me but that doesn't mean it will work for you. Trust your ear.

 

[BluesDan]

I have tried the TI Bebop roundwound .12's and the TI flatwound Jazz Swing .11's on my X-700. Fwiw I prefer the .11 flats.

 

[kakerlak]

...
My wife often plays the '48 Broadway and she prefers flats (normally a bit of a no-no on that guitar) but for that application the D'Addario chromes (12-52) seem to work well and sound OK, in part because she always uses the DeArmond and some sort of amplification.

Anyway, that's probably more than you wanted to know, and the way I do it works for me but that doesn't mean it will work for you. Trust your ear.

Got Chromes on my X-700 and love them. Gives a very lively, snappy dynamic sound. This is the only guitar I've got set up w/ flats right now, though I've strung up my old Jazzmaster that way from time to time.

 

[Guilderagain]

Got Chromes on my X-700 and love them. Gives a very lively, snappy dynamic sound. This is the only guitar I've got set up w/ flats right now, though I've strung up my old Jazzmaster that way from time to time.

Thanks to all and you too Kakerlak to help me make the decision to try D'Addario chromes on my X-700 (.11's). As I said, I have Chromes on my other Guilds. I'm amazed at the trasformation of the tone! Mind you, I do have a confession to make in that I had the Thomastic Infelds on for 7 months, so Im certain that that didn't help. However, compared to the TI's it never had the clarity of tone that it had now. And for $6.85 a set, I have no excuse not to change them often! :lol:

 

[john_kidder]

I have a '47 Triumph but only use nickel-rounds on it (nickel because I will throw a DeArmond on there now and then) and for that I like the Dean Markley Blue Steel because I like the tone and because they come with both a wound and an unwound G.

I have the TI .11 flats on my new-to-me A150 - not much good acoustically, of course, and I expect that the guitar might sound pretty nifty with more suitable acoustic-type strings. Do you play the Triumph as a straight acoustic guitar, mic it, or?

 

[Chris Metcalfe]

Don't currently have a X700, but have two X500s and had an AA. I found that thomastics are great sounding strings, but had two disadvantages; they didn't last long, and the string gauges are significantly lighter for their sets than from other makers ( eg D'Addario)- to give equal string tension across the set, I'd imagine. I found that the smallest flatwound gauges that would properly drive the spruce top of the AA were D'addario 12's, and similarly for a good electric guitar sound from the X500s I have found that a D 'A 12 set is the best compromise for fat tone/ not too-stiff action.
All personal preference, of course - and I wish thomastics lasted longer; they do have a great tone!

 

[AlohaJoe]

I have a '47 Triumph but only use nickel-rounds on it (nickel because I will throw a DeArmond on there now and then) and for that I like the Dean Markley Blue Steel because I like the tone and because they come with both a wound and an unwound G.

I have the TI .11 flats on my new-to-me A150 - not much good acoustically, of course, and I expect that the guitar might sound pretty nifty with more suitable acoustic-type strings. Do you play the Triumph as a straight acoustic guitar, mic it, or?

I play it as a straight acoustic most of the time but for small to medium sized rooms I usually use the DeArmond and run it through the Princeton. It really depends a lot on the gig, the size of the venue and the competence of the soundman. Sometimes I mike the guitar in larger rooms, to get more acoustic sound into the house.

In a larger venue I'd probably take the more feedback resistant Guild (X150), but it has a much more 'modern jazz' sound so I try to also keep in mind the era of the tunes were going to play.