Wound G string

[Jeff Haddad]

I recently put a set of Pyramid round core nickel round wound (11 - 50) strings on my '61 X175. I can just never get along with a wound G-string. It sounds thin and plinky. Also the hair-sized wrap seems to flatten out on the frets almost immediately. I've had this happen each time I've put wound 3rd strings on a guitar, so it's not to criticize the string brand, just to comment. When I changed out to a plain 18 for the G my guitar just plays and sounds so much better.

 

[Walter Broes]

I can't use wound G's, I just bend the G-string too much for that, I'd break them all the time, and wear out my frets.

I'm using a 17 plain G right now to balance things out a little more (with a 14 B and 11E), because that 18 plain is just too loud and twangy and ugly compared to my D string, and it works great. Dave Gonzalez hipped me to using a 17 G for more balance, and as far as I'm concerned, he was right!

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Well since he's the reason I got into vintage Guilds I'll take that as gospel!

 

[rwmol]

I recently put a set of Pyramid round core nickel round wound (11 - 50) strings on my '61 X175. I can just never get along with a wound G-string. It sounds thin and plinky. Also the hair-sized wrap seems to flatten out on the frets almost immediately. I've had this happen each time I've put wound 3rd strings on a guitar, so it's not to criticize the string brand, just to comment. When I changed out to a plain 18 for the G my guitar just plays and sounds so much better.

I had this exact same problem with TI George Bensions on my 61 A-500 and my 80 X-175. I now use Sadowskys on the X-175 and my newer L5 and no longer have that problem.

 

[twocorgis]

FWIW (which probably ain't much!), I've always used and preferred wound G strings on my X175. I'll admit that with the stuff I play (largely jazz standards) on it, there's not a lot of string bending involved, and I've always had a hard time keeping plain G strings in tune. YMMV, of course...

 

[walrus]

I use D'Addario EJ20 "jazz extra light" strings - I love the wound G! The diameter is .022. I don't find it too difficult to bend, although I'm probably not bending it as much as some. I can rock with it, though!

I, too, have trouble with plain G's going out of tune, but for me I also also think it is years of mostly acoustic playing - I'm just so much more comfortable with the wound G.

To each his/her own!

walrus

 

[DasBeef]

This topic inspired me to buy some half-rounds.....

 

[Los Angeles]

I just swung the other way - I had a real problem with matching the tone of the D and the G strings and switched to a wound G.

I really, REALLY like it.

 

[ArchtopAnimal]

For the Tele , it's plain G . For the archtops , it's wrapped for me .
I've moved to TI as the even tension sets are heaps better for chord playing.

Thomastik-Infeld Swing Series Acoustic/Electric Jazz Guitar Strings offer mellow timbre, yet powerful tonation with a super smooth true flatwound feel resulting from the polished nickel wrap wire around a round core. This legend of jazz guitar strings was designed specifically for semi acoustic and acoustic jazz guitars.

Gauge:
JS110 Extra Light 10 14 18w 23 33 44
JS111 Light 11 15 19 25 35 47
JS112 Medium Light 12 16 20 27 37 50
JS113 Medium 13 17 21 28 39 53 .......................... I go with this set for all . The 21/28/39 enable beefy plains without snapping the neck !