I've had the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Bebop .012's (roundwound) on one of my X170's for several days now and could not be more pleased. As soon as I put them on and tuned up they acoustically sounded better than anything I've used before. Amplified I couldn't be happier. Initially I was skeptical in what seems like inconsistant gauges within the set but they feel perfectly consistant (I can still bend 'em too) and the tone is.... sublime. My playing is more original jazz/blues thing going on now running straight into my Fender tube amp (occasionaly a little delay). I'm getting a much more ringing, bell like tone that I knew this guitar was capable of, both chording and single notes. Sustains a given. I almost was going to plunker down a couple hundred for an EQ... maybe later now :wink: .
Shout-Out for T-I JAZZ BeBop's
- Thread starter Ravon
- Start date
VinceM
Junior Member
That's great to hear! Isn't it awesome when a simple thing like a string set change fixes other tonal issues?
I've tried those on my X500 but didn't have any luck, due to the unwound 3rd string. I couldn't believe a set of 12s would have an unwound 3rd! Since the X500 has a non-adjustable bridge, the intonation went to crap. I assume the bridge on your X170 is adjustable. Right now I have a set of Gibson L5 12's, which are also roundwound but have a wound 3rd
I've tried those on my X500 but didn't have any luck, due to the unwound 3rd string. I couldn't believe a set of 12s would have an unwound 3rd! Since the X500 has a non-adjustable bridge, the intonation went to crap. I assume the bridge on your X170 is adjustable. Right now I have a set of Gibson L5 12's, which are also roundwound but have a wound 3rd
I found the TI string info to be a little confusing when I started looking into them a while back, but here's what I learned, I hope this helps.
The TI Swing series are flats with a wound G. They come in 4 different guages:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/frames/start03/body.htm
The TI George Benson sets are also flats with a wound G, and come in 2 different gauges:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/frames/start03/body.htm
Both are available with either a plain steel or tinplated steel 1st and 2nd
TI BeBops are round wound with a plain G.
You can special order the TI George Bensons as round wounds (in either gauge) if you want a wound G. I believe these are the only roundwound set they offer with a wound G.
- jw
The TI Swing series are flats with a wound G. They come in 4 different guages:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/frames/start03/body.htm
The TI George Benson sets are also flats with a wound G, and come in 2 different gauges:
http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/frames/start03/body.htm
Both are available with either a plain steel or tinplated steel 1st and 2nd
TI BeBops are round wound with a plain G.
You can special order the TI George Bensons as round wounds (in either gauge) if you want a wound G. I believe these are the only roundwound set they offer with a wound G.
- jw
Yeah, kinda concerned that the G was unwound but man, for my X170 the BeBops are just flatout working, A/B'ing through a Fender Twin and a Fender Blues Deluxe. My other X170 has D'A's Flat Chromes and it sounds nice (I've tried 'em all as most of us have :wink: ) and I'll keep them on there, for now. Certainly string preferrence is such a personal thing and I almost hate to post something like this for obvious reasons but I'm just not hearing that annoying, dead 'plink' I've always heard when I've run clean.
AcornHouse
Venerated Member
Pete Townshend talks about a magic combination in an article, talking about how the Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 that Joe Walsh gave him had to have a specific amp and specific volume pedal to be magic. Any one element in the chain, and it lost it.AlohaJoe said:
I'll try to find a link.
Edit...
Here: http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/guitar/gretsch.html
Look for the excerpt from the '93 article.
VinceM
Junior Member
AlohaJoe said:
AlohaJoe - wow really? Even the 13s have a plain G? It's strange that this is not clear on the packaging. In my mind it kind of went without saying that anything above 11s would come with a wound G.
Thanks for this info - it's good to know.
Vince
Right On. I tried the T-I 'Swings' (flats) and D'A flats and wounds but none really worked for me and was skeptical when my buddy who owns a music store pitched me a set of the BeBops before I gave up on the T-I's. Also, I certainly agree that the tone is in the fingers but finding that right combo makes life so much easier 8) .AlohaJoe said:
I second the motion - I started using TI BeBops on my X-170 about a month ago, and I have never been happier with the tone or feel than now! I do wish they'd offer the higher-guage sets with a wound G, but even without it hasn't put me off. Sounds great both acoustically and plugged in.
For me, I was always having to give the devil his due when it came to strings. Good tone= heavy strings and high action. Just seems that now with the T-I Bebop's theres some mediation there and that I've hit that sweet spot, both in comfort and tone. The X170 I have them on has some pretty bad 1st. position fret divits, so I have to keep the bridge a little high or else it'll buzz pretty bad. And fret buzz is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me :shock:jmac said: