Jazz strings, which set?

Gearhead

As mentioned here I bought this jazz box. Now it is high time to restring the poor thing and I'm looking at the best options. I do not want my ES135 to sound like a Les Paul, if I want that sound I will take a Les Paul. Ditto for any other type of guitar. So the strings need to sound according to the character of the guitar.

So far, I have narrowed it down to the Thomastik-Infeld JS, the D'Angelico flatwounds, the D'Addario XL Chromes, the D'Aquisito Signature Jazz and the Webstrings Stainless Flatwounds. Just to experiment I was also looking at the LaBella Black Nylon Tape Wounds, for which I also might be able to find some alternatives.

I am half convinced that in general stainless flatwounds is the way to go, but then everyone's raving about the TI which are nickel (and pricy). I do know I do not want to spend a year and a fortune trying out all sorts of strings. Any recommendations?

AlanRatcliffe

I usually try the D'Addarios first because they are so easy to find locally and are reliable.

FruitarGeek

I use D'Addario XL Chromes

They sound and fell beautiful

Keira-WitherKay

Hi gear head , when will you be in pretoria again , i have a still sealed set of thomastic jazz swing strings flat wound of course , if you do the trouble to fetch em or send someone you can have them as a gift . They great traditional jazz box strings but now i play jazz on my tele with light strings . So they yours if you want em . They thomastic infield jazz swing js 112 12 to 50 guage and flat wound. I'm here all holiday so anytime is good just pm to arrange time if you want em.

Gearhead

Keira WitherKay wrote: Hi gear head , when will you be in pretoria again , i have a still sealed set of thomastic jazz swing strings flat wound of course , if you do the trouble to fetch em or send someone you can have them as a gift . They great traditional jazz box strings but now i play jazz on my tele with light strings . So they yours if you want em . They thomastic infield jazz swing js 112 12 to 50 guage and flat wound. I'm here all holiday so anytime is good just pm to arrange time if you want em.

Would love to get together this week, we can A/B the Aria with my guit. Do you still have the set of tapewounds you took off of the President bass?

Keira-WitherKay

Sure this week is great i'm not got any gigs or teaching till 8 th ? so perfect time . Btw aria is sold and actually the bass still has same stings on it , it's only off to get restored in new year . But please bring your jazz box i'd love to see it also be great to bend your ear and get some info from you on tube amps ? not sure if you have my new number i'll pm or sms it to you if i still got your number .

Gearhead

Keira, thx thx for those Thomastik sets! They are very different sounding and feeling, slowly getting used to them. The string change required quite a few setup changes as well: tighter truss, lower bridge, different intonation and major adjustments on the pups to balance the strings...