Strings

A collection of links and information regarding strings and things for the jazz guitarist

Strings (strings.shtml) | Updated: 10-Dec-2008 - 00:19

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The rec.music.makers.guitar.jazz FAQ newsgroup's FAQ answers lots of questions on selecting a guitar suitable for playing jazz.

Jazz Tone Tips: Most jazz players use a heavier gauge string set with a wound third string. Either nickel round wound or flat wound string. Round wounds produce a brighter bell like tone than flat wounds. Some players pefer flat wounds for their lack of finger noise. Flat wounds produce a more muted tone.

Listings of string manufactures and online sites that sell strings. I use the Thomastik-Infield Bebop set (.014).

Not many stores stock the heavier gauge strings a jazz guitarist typically uses. But, I found several sources online (links below). And they can usually be found at various guitar shows around the country.

Thomastik-Infield - I've been using their Jazz Bebop Series (BB 114) for a several years.

Dealer pick for price and service: Legato Guitars and J. Hale Music Supply

Both of these dealers offer a wide range of strings suitable for the jazz guitarist.

Guitar Strings

String Manufactures click to show or hide section

 

D'Addario Strings
J. D'Addario & Company, Inc.
595 Smith Street
East Farmingdale, NY 11735
tel: 516-439-3300 - fax: 516-439-3333

Links

Uke String Sets
  • J53 Hawaiian Ukulele Black Nylon
  • J65 Ukulele Clear Nylon
  • J68 Baritone Ukulele Clear Nylon/Silver
  • J54 Tenor Ukulele Silver/Black Nylon
7 String String Sets

7 String guitar string set and singles available.

Has 7 string sets.
ECG24-7, 7-String Jazz Light .011-.065 Flatwounds
Single strings up to .070 (round wound)

(Ed.) For jazz this gauge is a little like. Most plays start with a minimum of a .012 for string one. I start with a .014. Most players also prefer a wound third string.

information-lite.png Info click here to view more info

D'Aquisto Strings
P.O. Box 569
Deer Park, NY 11729-0569
Tel: (631)-586-4426 Fax: (631)-586-4472

Links

DR Handmade Strings
7 Palisade Ave.
Emerson, NJ 07630
Phone: (201) 599-0100
Fax: (201) 599-040

Links

Company Info

More information available on listiing's web site.

Guadalupe Custom Strings
418-A N. Ford Blvd.
East Los Angeles, CA 90022
323-981-7055

Links

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(from their site) - Fourteen years ago Francisco Gonzalez, a very accomplished and knowledgeable musician himself, set out to design strings that would "respect the aesthetics, traditions and musical uniqueness of each instrument and the cultures they represent." His time and dedication produced the basic formulas the artisans of Guadalupe Custom Strings use to create strings that maintain a reputation for their exceptional quality, durability and craftsmanship.

GHS Strings
2813 Wilber Ave
Battle Creek, MI 49015
1-800-388-4447
FAX 1-800-860-6913

Links

Ukulele string sets available.

Guitar string tension calculator [link]

GHS Strings

La Bella
E & O. Mari, Inc.
256 Broadway
Newburgh, NY 12550
Phone: 914 562 4400
Fax: 914 562 4491M

Links

information-lite.png Info click here to view more info

Guitar

Perfectly Balanced Set - Guitar runs in gauges from ultra light (008-038) to heavy (014-057) in Round Wound Stainless and Flat Wound Stainless. They also have two (2) sets of Black Nylon Tape Wounds for 6 and 7 string guitars. The 7 string set is what Benedetto strings has used on his custom guitars.

7 String guitar string sets and singles available.

jb_strings_468x60.jpg

Sadowsky Strings
20 Jay Street #5C
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-422-1123
718-422-1120

Links

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(From the Sadowsky web site ) For more than 30 years I’ve been building guitars and basses for many of the world’s finest players. And I’ve put everything I know and love into each one. So when I created my own strings, I insisted that they reflect the same level of quality and passion I have always brought to my instruments. From the color and brightness of the wrap wire to the feel, tension and tone, no detail has escaped my attention.

Savarez
Savarez S.A.
Capital de 731 500 €
SIREN : 784 124 463 000 59
APE : 363Z
5, Avenue Barthélémy Thimonnier
BP 133
69643 Caluire et Cuire Cedex
France Tèl : (0033/0) 4 37 40 32 00
Fax : (0033/0) 4 37 40 32 10

Links

information-lite.png Info click here to view more info

Ukulele

Here is a tenor uke string set up that I have used at various times:

"C" Tuning (G C E A) Low "G"

Savarez Alliance (red card-R)
  • E-1 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .024, 541R for the A
  • H-2 (B-2) KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .027, 542R for the E
  • G-3 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .033, 543R for the C
D'Addario Pro-Arte
  • D Light Silverplated Copper Wound .028, J4304 for both the low G and low A bass strings

Thomastik-Infield
Diehlgasse 27
1050 Vienna
Austria

Exclusive U.S. Importer/Distributor
John M. Connolly & Co. Inc.
Box 93, Northport, NY 11768
Toll Free 1-800-644 5268

Links

information-lite.png Info click here to view more info

There 4 different sets available for the jazz guitarist. The Jazz Bebop Series and the Jazz Swing Series.

Strings - Online Resources click to show or hide section

 

Here is a partial listing of string manufactures and resources for strings that I've collected. For a more compressive list of manufactures and resellers try a Yahoo search listing.


Ukulele

Big City Strings
Bridgeport CT 06606

www.bigcitystring.com

 

JustStrings.com

www.juststrings.com

There site has the tensions listed for the string sets. Nice touch and very reasonable prices. Here is a link to the gauge that I use: Jazz BeBop Series BB114. I just add a .081 round wound 7th string.

 

Mostly String Music

www.mostring.net

 

Musician Store

www.musicianstore.com

 

Running Wild Music
1 800 687 2032


StringItUp! Guitar Strings
108 West 7th St.
Russellville, AR 72801
(479) 967-9967

www.stringitup.com


Ukulele

Strings Direct
Unit D1, The Seedbed Centre,
Vanguard Way, Shoeburyness,
Southend-on-Sea,
Essex SS3 9QX

tel order: 08700 78 74 64
• tel info: 01702 29 00 01
• fax: 08708 50 52 53

stringsdirect.co.uk

 

TuningPeg.com

www.getstringscheap.com

StringTips click to show or hide section

 

How Often

New string loose their tone pretty fast. That new string brightness disappears in a few days. At least every three months is a good guideline for changing string. Or sooner if you see any irregularities or a big loss of tone.

Here are a few site that show how to change string.

Guitar TIP-Stringing a Nylon String Guitar

Buster B. Jones shows you his fast technique for changing nylon strings. If you're a gut string player you'll love this video. (YouTube link)

This technique for changing strings applies to ukuleles as well.

(Ed.) I use this technique and it works really well and saves a lot of time when restring a guitar or ukulele.

Checking Intonation

This is something that I always forget when checking the intonation. So I wrote it down. Now all I have to remember is where I wrote it down.

When comparing the 12th fret harmonic to the fretted note at the 12th fret. If the note is sharp, string is too short from the 12th fret to the bridge. Increase the string length by moving the saddle back (away from the nut). If the note is flat, string is too long. Shorten the string length by moving the saddle forward (toward the nut).

Winding

Normally only two to three winds around a string post is all that is needed. Be sure to have the first wind lock down the string.

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Strings (strings.shtml) | Updated: 2008 Dec 10 - 00:19

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