RELATED PAGES: 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.
Guitar Strings
- Strings - Manufactures Web Sites
- Thomastik-Infield
These are the string that I use on my American Archtop 7 String. Been using them for years.
- Savarez
These are the classical guitar strings that I use on my ukuleles. Al well as the Ko'olau `Alohi tenor sets.
- Gibson
- Fender
- D'Addario Strings
- D'Aquisto
- DR
- Guadalupe Custom Strings
- GHS
- La Bella
- Sadowsky
String manufactures
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D'Addario Strings
J. D'Addario & Company, Inc.
595 Smith Street
East Farmingdale, NY 11735
tel: 516-439-3300 - fax: 516-439-3333
Links
Listing Info
Uke String Sets
- J53 Hawaiian Ukulele Black Nylon
- J65 Ukulele Clear Nylon
- J68 Baritone Ukulele Clear Nylon/Silver
- J54 Tenor Ukulele Silver/Black Nylon
This is set that I use on some of my tenors.
D'Addario T46 - Titanium T2 Hard Tension, Treble Set
For a high G tuning, order a single T4601 - 1st string (e) hard tension .0285. For a low G tuning use a D'Addario Pro Arté J4704 - 4th string (D), normal tension or a D'Addario Pro Arté J4303
I get my strings online at StringsByMail.com.
The J71 Tenor Ukulele Set consists of an all-nylon string is inspired
and guided by the virtuosity of D'Addario ukulele artist,
Editor Note: January 2010 I tried this set on my Ko'olau and the C and A strings where fine but the C string felt a little too big for me so I swapped in a Savarez string. top
D'Aquisto Strings
P.O. Box 569
Deer Park, NY 11729-0569
Tel: (631)-586-4426 Fax: (631)-586-4472
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Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
8860 E. Chaparral Road, Suite 100
Scottsdale, Ariz. 85250
Telephone: 480.596.9690
Fax: 480.596.1384
Links
- www.fender.com
- Fender Ukuleles
- WidipediA: Leo Fender
- WidipediA: Fender
Info
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, and its name has become synonymous with all things rock ‘n’ roll. Iconic Fender® instruments such as the Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known worldwide as the instruments that started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today’s musicians and collectors.
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Guadalupe Custom Strings
2610 East Cesar Chavez Ave
Suite C
East Los Angeles, CA 90033
United States
323.276.0016
Links
Info
(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.
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Links
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.
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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
Benefiting from the most recent discoveries, the classical guitar strings (three trebles strings made at first of plain gut and basses strings made of copper wound on silk (later on silver plated copper wound on silk)) have evolved into the use of monofilament nylon called plain nylon for the three trebles strings and of silver plated copper wound for the three basses strings.
( source: Savarez web site )
Info
Ukulele
Here is a tenor uke string set that I've been using for years:
Savarez Alliance (red card-R)
C Tuning, low or high G
- E-1 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .024, 541 R for the A and high G in "C" tuning
- B-2 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .027, 542 R for the E
- G-3 KF Plain Treble Standard Tension .033, 543 R for the C
- D-4 HT Classic Silver Wound Polished .033, 544 RH for the Low G
D'Addario Pro-Arte
C Tuning, low G or D Tuning, low A
- D Light Silverplated Copper Wound .028, J4304 for both the low G and low A bass strings
Savarez ukulele strings for tenor ukulele. They are made of ALLIANCE KF composite fibers which represents a big advantage, improving the sound of the instrument and enhancing its colored personality. top
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
- www.thomastik-infeld.com
- Artist Page: Curt Sheller
Info
There 4 different sets available for the jazz guitarist. The Jazz Bebop Series and the Jazz Swing Series.
The string gauges for the JAZZ Swing Series: Extra Light, Light, Medium Light, and Medium
The string gauges for the JAZZ Bebop Series: Extra Light, Light, Medium Light, and Medium
I've been using the Jazz Bebop Series (BB 114) for a few years.
7 String guitar string sets and singles available.
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Online String Resources
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.
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Strings By Mail
13795 Seven Hills Road
Suite A
Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: 231-223-7788
Toll Free within the USA: 1-800-513-8271
Fax: 231-223-7798
Links
Info
Established in 1999 Strings by Mail is owned and operated by experienced musicians & true aficionados. They take pride in helping each customer reach their fullest potential, through our complete product line, our excellent delivery, and our professional guidance. They specialize in music, strings, accessories, CD/DVDs and special orders.
There is some great information on nylon strings, such as tension, scale length, etc....
Strings for Acoustic Bass, Autoharp, Baglama, Bajo Sexto & Bajo Quinto, Banjo, Bouzouki,Cavaquinho, Cuatro, Guitar, Elextric Bass, Ukulele, Fiddle, Lute, Mandocello, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Oud and more...
This is where I get my D'Addario Pro Arté J4303 single strings that I use for the low G on my tenor ukes.
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Links
Listing Info
( from listing's site ) - Touch and tone will choose the best string set for your individual style, tuning or instrument. We carry hundreds of string sets, each unique by gauge, alloy or construction.
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Links
Listing Info
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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 for my American Archtop 7 String Legend: Jazz BeBop Series BB114. I just add a .081 round wound 7th string.
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Strings Tips
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.
How often you change your strings - guitar-stuff.net
Taylor Guitars Tech Sheets - guitar-stuff.net
Taylor Guitars has several tech sheets on changing steel strings and nylon strings.
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.
