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Strings (strings.shtml) | Updated: 29-Nov-2008 - 22:02
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.
D'Addario Strings
J. D'Addario & Company, Inc.
595 Smith Street
East Farmingdale, NY 11735
tel: 516-439-3300 - fax: 516-439-3333
D'Aquisto Strings
P.O. Box 569
Deer Park, NY 11729-0569
Tel: (631)-586-4426 Fax: (631)-586-4472
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
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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Big City Strings
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| 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.
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| Mostly String Music
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| Musician Store
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| Running Wild Music
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| StringItUp! Guitar Strings
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| Strings Direct tel order: 08700 78 74 64
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| TuningPeg.com
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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.
Taylor Guitars has several tech sheets on changing steel strings and nylon strings.
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.
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).
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.