Thomastik Infeld Swing vs George Benson flats

[vinnyv1k]

Yes I know the GB's have a light/heavy gauge variance but besides Benson's mug shot on the package and the turquoise silk wrap instead of red what makes the GB's so much more pricey ? I have tried the GB's and don't find them any different in quality compared to the swings. So is it that Benson gets $10 a pack for his face on the pack or is their something better about the GB's I don't know about. My ear can't hear a difference and they are not more polished feeling either.

[2bornot2bop]

TI GB's come in 14's...I've never seen Swings larger than 13's

[Frank67]

Cannot answer your question - sorry! To me the GBs sound brighter. Better quality? Dunno. Longer lived. Don't know either. Both hold for a long time.

[Max405]

Vinny and 2b, I can't imagine it getting any better than TI Jazz swings. I love George but it's not worth switch for me.
Joe D

[vinnyv1k]

2bop, a 14 E string still doesn't warrant a $12 increase as the GB 12's are $12 more also. So I guess it's the picture of George that costs the extra $12 ? The gauges on the swings seem much more balanced to me though I do like the sound of the 55 E on a L5 or a Tal. When the GB's first came out they were $2 more and now $12 more. Sounds like George wants his beak a whole lot wetter for that big smile on the pack.

[tonedeaf]

I used GB 13s for quite awhile and liked them a lot. A did find that using TI 12s gave me better pick control and a little more "finesse" with the pick contact with the string. So I use the TI 12s mostly now. (I made the switch before the big price difference showed up, so that was not a factor for me.)

[pingu]

i went swing 13s to Benson 14s
then back to swing 13s

if they did a swing 14 or 15 set i'd try them

all great strings , not that much difference
I leave them on till the intonation goes off

a year or so !

[vinnyv1k]

The GB12's are just a mix of swing 12's on the top and swing 13's on the bottom for $12 extra. I only use TI's but for now on only swings. Besides I always throw away the bronze E & B string and replace them with Elixir's corrosion proof plain steels. Better feel and sound IMO. Bronze strings always get a sticky feel to them. The Elixir E & B's always stay slick feeling.

[nopedals]

> The GB12's are just a mix of swing 12's on the top and swing 13's on the bottom

That would make me lean toward the swings. Going a bit heavier on top makes sense for feel, tone, intonation. On the heavier strings, I would rather have lower tension. Years ago when I played rock and roll and needed an unwound G, I always used the fender 10-38 set.

I know the conventional wisdom is to go heavier on the bass strings, and I suppose it is stupid to quibble with a player like Benson, but I can't hear a 5% difference on the bass strings, and if I did I'm not sure I want my bass strings sounding more bassy. But I sure feel the difference.

[vinnyv1k]

I agree no pedals. I would like to see a TI set as follows 13,17,21,27,37,50. A GB reversal basically.

[Jabberwocky]

...I know the conventional wisdom is to go heavier on the bass strings, and I suppose it is stupid to quibble with a player like Benson, but I can't hear a 5% difference on the bass strings, and if I did I'm not sure I want my bass strings sounding more bassy...

Just as an aside, Pat Martino who is well-known for playing a HE-MAN 16E, 18B or 15E, 17B actually uses the wound strings from what would be considered a traditional 12-52 set. His string set is either a 16, 18, 26W, 32, 42, 52 or a 15, 17, 24W, 32, 42, 52. So, not that heavy really except for treble E.

I can't afford the upkeep of Thomastik Infeld strings so have been examining John Pearse Acoustic/Electric Nickel Wounds which are what Peter Bernstein uses. Wipe down my current set of D'Addario Chrome strings with a light touch of Autosol to keep the rust at bay and so far, for my use, nothing deleterious. The Autusol keeps tarnish at bay but keep it off anything silver- or gold-plated as it takes it off.

John Pearse Strings also sells String Swipes which are nothing more than pads impregnated with Caig De-oxit and the website does not hide that fact. Gonna try that next.

So, my thinking is, John Pearse 12-52 Nickel Wounds, throw out the 12 and 16 and replace with 13, 14 or 15 plain E, and 17 or 18 plain B, depending on guitar.

I understand that Peter Bernstein does the same: take a 12-52 JP Nickel Wound set and replace the 12p and 16p with 14p and 18p

[rio]

The Bensons have always sound brighter to me with more midrange. I'd love to know if there really is a difference I materials.

[kid335]

Yes I know the GB's have a light/heavy gauge variance but besides Benson's mug shot on the package and the turquoise silk wrap instead of red what makes the GB's so much more pricey ? I have tried the GB's and don't find them any different in quality compared to the swings. So is it that Benson gets $10 a pack for his face on the pack or is their something better about the GB's I don't know about. My ear can't hear a difference and they are not more polished feeling either.

Vinny,
I prefer the string gauges of the 12 GB flat set over the Swings for my 16" archtop. I called Strings and Beyond to see if they could place a custom order for a Swing set made with the same gauge strings as the GBs. They were very accommodating and did not even require a minimum order.

After stringing it up, I could not tell any difference between the Swings and the GBs. After I use up my stockpile of GBs, I will be placing a larger customer order. After my little experiment I just assume that TI changed the color of the wrapping, altered the gauges and upped the cost in order to pay the big man. I don't have a personal problem with that, but that $10 difference gets pretty exponential.

[Para]

Jabber have you tried Newtone strings they are supposed to be really good and they aren't a bad price, under a tenner £9.99 at Strings Direct.
I keep meaning to try some but I buy TI's in bulk and haven't got round to it yet.

Welcome to Newtone Strings

Here at Newtone Strings we make High Quality instrument strings for the majority of steel strung instruments. All our knowledge is available for you to be able to get the 'Perfect' set of strings for you and your instrument. There are a large selection of 'standard' sets available to chose from, but we can adjust any set to meet your specific requirements.

The first thing is that Newtone strings are all individually handmade. This means that every string passes through the hands of up to three people, who make a physical and visual check at every stage of production. If a fault occurs or if the string is not up to standard on our machines, it gets cut in half and discarded. However, our scrap rate is extremely low. The major reason in terms of why our strings may feel or play differently to those from other companies lies with our use of round core wire in all our Acoustic guitar strings and some of the Electric ranges available.

[Jabberwocky]

Hi Para, no, I'm afraid I have not had the privilege of getting acquainted with Newtone strings. The double-wound ones look very attractive.

Someday...

Do you get your TIs from Thomann?

[rio]

I have ordered custom gauge sets of Newtones to match the TI Bebop gauges and they are every bit as good.

[nickyboy]

Jabber have you tried Newtone strings they are supposed to be really good and they aren't a bad price, under a tenner £9.99 at Strings Direct.
I keep meaning to try some but I buy TI's in bulk and haven't got round to it yet.

Welcome to Newtone Strings

Here at Newtone Strings we make High Quality instrument strings for the majority of steel strung instruments. All our knowledge is available for you to be able to get the 'Perfect' set of strings for you and your instrument. There are a large selection of 'standard' sets available to chose from, but we can adjust any set to meet your specific requirements.

The first thing is that Newtone strings are all individually handmade. This means that every string passes through the hands of up to three people, who make a physical and visual check at every stage of production. If a fault occurs or if the string is not up to standard on our machines, it gets cut in half and discarded. However, our scrap rate is extremely low. The major reason in terms of why our strings may feel or play differently to those from other companies lies with our use of round core wire in all our Acoustic guitar strings and some of the Electric ranges available.

I've been using Newtone resonator strings on my Nationals for years and they're superb.

[Cunamara]

> I know the conventional wisdom is to go heavier on the bass strings...

I dunno, around here the conventional wisdom is to go heavier on the treble strings to get better volume balance with the bass strings. Archtops in particular are usually quite bassy. Even my GB10 is really bassy.

[Max405]

Ironically, 4 days ago, I installed my first ever set of TI Swing 13's. I'm used to the feel of TI Bebop round 14's, which of course were the previous string on the guitar. I installed the Swings to gain a sense of the guitar, a single humbucker SE, with flatwounds...It's been a struggle adapting to the lack of fingerstyle grip the rounds have allowed me, but I'm holding out hope I can adjust to the less expensive string. I think more than anything it's the thinness of the string that's bugging me...well, it's only been 4 daze.

Bro, the problem won't go away. I think you might have ruined the guitar. The solution? Put the strings and the guitar in its case, and ship that shit off to New Jersey! For you, (cause your my boy), I work hard to restore the vibe.
Joe D.

[Jabberwocky]

I have ordered custom gauge sets of Newtones to match the TI Bebop gauges and they are every bit as good.

I wrote to Newtones and Malcolm was quite willing to make up any custom set one wishes. The cost for 6 sets of Double Wound 80/20 plus Royal Mail came up to about GBP73.xx. As Para said, about ten quid a set.

Malcolm also said that they at Newtones try to balance the strings for even tension across the custom set. I hope I have not misquoted him.

Well worth consideration.

[Para]

I usually get my strings from Strings Direct Jabber I find them very reliable. I think I'm going to try some Newtones.

[bigdaddyguitar]

Guitars 'n Jazz in New Jersey . only a 3.00 difference .

[FreddieP]

Just as an aside, Pat Martino who is well-known for playing a HE-MAN 16E, 18B or 15E, 17B actually uses the wound strings from what would be considered a traditional 12-52 set. His string set is either a 16, 18, 26W, 32, 42, 52 or a 15, 17, 24W, 32, 42, 52. So, not that heavy really except for treble E.

I can't afford the upkeep of Thomastik Infeld strings so have been examining John Pearse Acoustic/Electric Nickel Wounds which are what Peter Bernstein uses. Wipe down my current set of D'Addario Chrome strings with a light touch of Autosol to keep the rust at bay and so far, for my use, nothing deleterious. The Autusol keeps tarnish at bay but keep it off anything silver- or gold-plated as it takes it off.

John Pearse Strings also sells String Swipes which are nothing more than pads impregnated with Caig De-oxit and the website does not hide that fact. Gonna try that next.

So, my thinking is, John Pearse 12-52 Nickel Wounds, throw out the 12 and 16 and replace with 13, 14 or 15 plain E, and 17 or 18 plain B, depending on guitar.

I understand that Peter Bernstein does the same: take a 12-52 JP Nickel Wound set and replace the 12p and 16p with 14p and 18p

On my archtops, I've found D'Addario Chromes do it for me, but the 1st and 2nd strings rust like mad. I'd like to try the Autosol, but is that the cleaner or the polish?

[Jabberwocky]

[FreddieP]

Thanks, will try!