What strings for a warm Jazz Tone on a Guild-DeArmond M75

[Always Learning]

New here, just joined yesterday.

Was wondering if anyone here has a suggestion on what make-model strings to use on an M75.

Do you stick with round-wound? Flats? also so as not to have to tweek the neck, stay with a light 11-50?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! I put T-I Jazz Swing flatwounds on my Newark Street Guild M-75 and found them to work very well on that guitar. They aren't cheap, but they last a long time.

 

[LeFinPepere]

Welcome, fellow M 75-Dearmondist! No suggestion on strings, I stick to Ernie Ball's with 10 on the E, because they're available at the local music store and I like light gauges... Try and post some pics, so we can surreptitiously take control of this place and turn it into Let's Talk DeArmond!

 

[Rocky]

Flatwounds are definitely the way to go for 'jazz tone', but if you can't deal with the flatwound sound, pure nickel is the way to go for warmer sounds. Something like GHS Nickel Rockers or DR Pure Blues. The D'Addario and Ernie Ball pure nickels are brighter - closer to the nickel plated strings.

 

[Always Learning]

Thanks to all who responded...

Think I'll order a set of D'Addario ECG 24 XL's they measure 11 to 50.. I'll post back my thoughts after testing

 

[walrus]

Welcome!

walrus

 

[Always Learning]

Just a little "Curious"... if I go from rounds to flats and stay within the sames gauge range... Will I still have to do a neck adjustment, a bridge and nut adjustment and also an intonation? I have heard that flats tend to carry more tension.

Again, thanks to all who have and are going to reply.

Peace Out )=

 

[jp]

I guess that depends on what you're changing from, of course. On my NS M-75 Aristocrat, I use the D'Addario ECG23 XL, which go from 10-48 and have a wound third. I think they previously had 9's on them, and I didn't need to adjust at all.

On your Dearmond, I doubt you'll need to tweak much unless you're making a drastic change.

 

[Rocky]

I guess that depends on what you're changing from, of course. On my NS M-75 Aristocrat, I use the D'Addario ECG23 XL, which go from 10-48 and have a wound third. I think they previously had 9's on them, and I didn't need to adjust at all.

On your Dearmond, I doubt you'll need to tweak much unless you're making a drastic change.

Agreed. Tensions should be about the same. The flats will feel tighter, but mostly because they're not as easy to bend. There might be some slight tweaks to the bridge or truss rod to optimize, but you should be able to at least evaluate the strings without adjustment.

 

[guildman63]

I currently have round wound strings on my AP M-75 as I have flats on my AP X-500. I have used flats on my M-75 before, and they worked very well. They were D’Addario Chromes 11-50. The strings you ordered should be fine, but the next time you change try the Chromes flat version of the same gauge. Good luck.

 

[Bill Ashton]

I will agree with "The Jag," Thomastick/Infeld are the flatwounds to get. I have not looked them up, but they used
to come in three gauges, I am sure the thinnest would suite you. I had 'em on a MIM Strat, and then on my MIM Jag.
Just great. In fact, used them on my old Gibson J-30 when I was trying to get that '60's Beatles sound. Good stuff!

 

[Uke]

Just a little "Curious"... if I go from rounds to flats and stay within the sames gauge range... Will I still have to do a neck adjustment, a bridge and nut adjustment and also an intonation? I have heard that flats tend to carry more tension.

Again, thanks to all who have and are going to reply.

Peace Out )=

Not to worry -- just put on some strings and play, play, play. However, I -- like Jaguar and Ashton -- use Thomastik-Infeld Swings (11-47) on my X-175 and I really like them. Of course they are stupidly expensive for guitar strings, but they do hold up well. Welcome to the opinion booth!

 

[ClaytonS15]

I've gone back and forth, forever, on rounds (nickleplated and pure nickel) and flats. I think I just need to accept that I don't really like flats for my playing style. To each their own!

Edit: One major exception: I love flatwound strings on bass. Dunlop and Labella flats rule.

Every string type/gauge change might require some adjustment to the truss rod or intonation, but probably nothing major unless you're changing between wound 3rd and non-wound 3rd sets, in which case some G string intonation adjustment will be necessary.

 

[Uke]

I think I just need to accept that I don't really like flats for my playing style.

 

[matsickma]

As an aside...even though the DeA M75 looks like a mini arch top and has a floating harp stop, the carved body and top are more a solid body guitar than a chambered or hollow body guitar. The Goldtone pickups also can crank out some harmonics when pushed. So from my POV it's more of a rock guitar than jazz. The M77 version dumped the floating harp stop with a hard stop revealing the true tone nature behind the M75.
M

 

[Always Learning]

I want to thank everyone who took the time to read and reply to this thread... I contacted an old friend and luthier and he suggested the D'Addario ECG23 Chrome flats (10 - 48).

When I asked him what strings for my Epiphone Joe Pass, he said to go with Pyramid Gold Chrome Nickel Flats (.010 to .0465), because it's a true hollow body.

By the way, I,m kind of new to the abbreviations on these guitars, so curious as to what an "AP M-75" and a "NS M-75" is? Are they Guild models?

Mine is a 1996 Korean "Moon Blue", bought it at my local Guitar Center back in 96, Came with the DeArmond Hard-shell case. Paid a little over 500 for the axe and case. All original parts and in "Mint" condition.

 

[GGJaguar]

what an "AP M-75" and a "NS M-75" is? Are they Guild models?

Yes. "AP" refers the American Patriarch series of Guilds that where made in New Hartford. Very few were made. "NS" refers to the Newark Street series of Guild electric guitars that are mainly made in Korea, but also Indonesia and China.

 

[LeFinPepere]

Hello! I've got her twin-sister!

 

[Bill Ashton]

Not to be a party-pooper...

Some years ago I had what looked like a wonderful DeArmond, I think an M77T? Dearmond p/u's with a Asian Bigsby. I traded
for it as I thought I could get the Cavern-Club George Harrison sound. Um, no. Tried D'Addario Chromes flatwounds and it really did not help, just made the guitar play stiffer. It was really beautiful, but eventually moved it on.

Was not lookiing for a "jazz tone," so never persued that, but I do not think my iteration could have done that. It didn't sound bad, just
not what I wanted. I am thinking that with humbucking type pickups, your guitar should sound much better

 

[Walter Broes]

Thomastik or Pyramid flats. If you're chasing archetypal classic Jazz tone - a solidbody like that has too much sustain. Part of the hollowbody sound is just that : less sustain.