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String Question

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Ches Root

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Apr 17, 2010, 7:27:29 PM4/17/10
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Hi group,
I bought a Washburn HB15 jazz gtar a while ago and got the retailer to
put heavy gauge flatwound jazz strings on it for me...and i absolutely
despise them. They sound good but i can't bend them, and they just
feel awkward.
So the question is what gauge strings to bung on it..i want to have a
go at some of Django's stuff, and of course some Chet.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a link to picture of the type of gtar i'm talking about.
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/04/02/decades_after_his_death_django_reinhardt_still_sets_the_mark_for_guitar_inventiveness/?s_campaign=8315

Thanks,
Ches

Tony Done

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Apr 17, 2010, 7:46:29 PM4/17/10
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"Ches Root" <Ch...@theRoot.com> wrote in message
news:m9gks55jnf8n0rt04...@4ax.com...

Those Selmer guitars used by Django's group had a long scale and were
designed for light strings. Try 11s, roundwound.

Tony D

Ches Root

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Apr 18, 2010, 7:13:11 AM4/18/10
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On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:46:29 GMT, "Tony Done" <tony...@bigpond.com>
wrote:

Thanks Tony, will give 11s a go.
Strings should have some character to them and those big fat
flatwounds just had none at all.

Ches

Sheldon

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Apr 19, 2010, 3:23:44 PM4/19/10
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"Tony Done" <tony...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:pLryn.19943$pv....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
I agree. Flatwounds are harder to bend and have a mellower sound. They are
popular on bass guitars.


Tony Done

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Apr 19, 2010, 4:35:22 PM4/19/10
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"Ches Root" <Ch...@theRoot.com> wrote in message
news:35qls5pkfc2csgfed...@4ax.com...

Can you give us some feedback on how they worked please. Those of use that
offer advice on Usenet like to know how good it was, for future reference.
If you're interested in gypsy jazz, have listen to this, posted by Marc
Mulay in alt.guitar:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Syjp3Xx160&feature=related

Tony D

Mr. Green

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Apr 20, 2010, 4:22:10 AM4/20/10
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On 18 Apr, 00:27, Ches Root <C...@theRoot.com> wrote:
> Hi group,
> I bought a Washburn HB15 jazz gtar a while ago and got the retailer to
> put heavy gauge flatwound jazz strings on it for me...and i absolutely
> despise them. They sound good but i can't bend them, and they just
> feel awkward.
> So the question is what gauge strings to bung on it..i want to have a
> go at some of Django's stuff, and of course some Chet.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Here's a link to picture of the type of gtar i'm talking about.http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/04/02/decades_after_his_...
>
> Thanks,
> Ches

Hi

I use flat wound 11's on my Washburn J3 (25.5" scale). I like the flat
wound smooth squeek free feel and I also like the mellow bass tones. I
find they are OK for one tone bends on the top two strings.

MrGreen

Pt

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Apr 21, 2010, 10:35:50 AM4/21/10
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On Apr 17, 6:27 pm, Ches Root <C...@theRoot.com> wrote:

> So the question is what gauge strings to bung on it..i want to have a
> go at some of Django's stuff, and of course some Chet.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Man this brings back memories.
I started playing around 1960.
I took lessons and the only lessons available in my area at the time
were jazz lessons.
Nobody would teach rock.
My guitar was a Les Paul Custom and the only strings I could buy were
Black Diamond Heavy Flat Wound.
I hated those strings.
They tore my fingers up and I could not bend them.
These days I use Elixir acoustic nanoweb 11's on my acoustic/elec and
electric archtops..
They play good, last a long time, sound good and I can bend them.

Pt

Derek

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Apr 21, 2010, 11:00:11 AM4/21/10
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The other reason to use flats, is they do not sustain as long as
rounds. Since you are typically playing more notes in jazz, you don't
want as many ringing notes.

I have .12 flats on my jazz guitars, both Gibson scale, so a bit less
string tension. I have no problem bending them.

I keep .11 rounds on the strat and tele, and bend as much as I want.
I guess it is what you get used to, and like to hear.

There are also some in between strings, like ground wound, or half
wounds. You get some brightness and sustain of rounds, with less
string squeak and smoothness of flats. Lots of choices.

Ches Root

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Apr 21, 2010, 4:49:36 PM4/21/10
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On Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:35:22 GMT, "Tony Done" <tony...@bigpond.com>
wrote:

I don't know how he does that that fast on a nylon string, i tried
playing yakety axe on my classical but couldn't pick fast enough on
it..no problems on the ibanez though.
On that note, i've put a set of 10s on the Washburn that were
originally destined for the Ibanez..much much better, easier on the
fingers and can bend them with ease.
Will add a set of 11s to the shopping list for the next music shop
trip...i tend to go the heaviest gauge i can practically use for more
tone and depth.

Thanks for your help Tony
Ches R

Ches Root

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Apr 21, 2010, 5:00:43 PM4/21/10
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I'm used to classical guitar so one can only imagine the horror at
trying to play those heavy flats.
I thought about wearing safety goggles in case the guitar exploded
under the tension of those evil suckers :-)

Ches R

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