• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Recommended strings for vintage Gibson ES-175

youngneil1

New member
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
29
My 1950 ES-175 is in need of a string change, and since the expertise and the selection in the region where I live is extremely limited, I am asking you guys!
The previous owner supposedly had a set of 10-46 on it, and I feel that the treble strings sounds a bit thin. So I am thinking 11`s.

Do you think the guitar can take 11`s? (The guitar is in super condition, but I would hate to damage the bridge etc.).
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
Congrats on your acquisition!

Assuming no deterioration or other issues, yes 11s are OK. Also depends on what setup was done, nut work/replacement, etc. Best have a experience / qualified tech that's handled vintage Gibson arch tops take a look, eventually.

Many 50s/60s had 12s and 13s, so from a stress perspective you are good. Search on Gibson Sonamatic or Mona-Steel. Recall that a flat wound will sit a little different than a round wound. The 2004 Steve Howe reissue shipped with medium gauge nickel round wound strings (.013-.056) -- of course that nut was cut for these in mind. So it'd down to what the prior own had done, it anything.

These guitars very much respond tonally to different strings, so you may have to switch it with lots of variety while you are dialing in, chasing tone.

:salude
 

Midnight Blues

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,703
@jb_abides gave you some good advice.

There are a lot of Jazz Guitarists that used/use ES-175s that had much heavy strings than 10s. I've always used 10s on my Les Pauls/ES-355 and Strat (mainly Dean Markley, with the occasional D'Addario's thrown-in), but I have 13s on my Wes Montgomery L-5 (Thomastik flats). I'm not sure what your genre of choice is, but keep in mind that should you decide to change gauges, the heavier you go, the harder it will be for you to bend strings, should you attempt to do so.


cheers.gif
 

fakejake

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
1,274
I use Tomastik Infeld flatwound 12s on my '52 ES-175. No issues there, sounds great!
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
My cousin plays Jazz and he uses D'addario Chromes Flat Wound on his IBANEZ and sure sounds great in what you'd hear on them jazz boxes.:dude:
 

youngneil1

New member
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
29
Valuable input, much appreciated!

I think I will look into Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, and go with a set of 11`s first.
Never tried 12`s on any of my electric guitars..so maybe I will consider that if the 11`s doesn`t live up to my expectations.

Not too dependent on heavy bends on my gigs with this guitar..
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
Yup the TI's are the general concensus here as well so try 'em all pick the one that work for you in feel and sound.:salude
 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Try the German made Pyramid Strings. They’ve been in business for 169 years. They have the knowledge and the best materials you can get. The quality of their materials is so much better than anything here in the States! They have Flatwounds & Round wounds . I would put a set of .011-.050’s on that 175..
 

sonar

New member
Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
3,589
I love P90 ES-175's and could very well be my next vintage guitar. Congrats!

Another fan of Thomastik flats. I found them to sound markedly better than Pyramid or D'addario flats. And Thomastik last for freakin' ever, which helps counter the financial investment.

For gauge I'd consider your comfort first, and if needed lean on your amp's eq a little more. A favorite local Jazz player plays 10's on a reissue ES-175 and he always sounds great, although he's pinned the bridge base. The heavier gauge will help stabilize the bridge from getting knocked out of place. That said, if the guitar was mine I'd be hesitant going heavier than 12's on a 70 year old guitar.

Thomastik-infeld Jazz-Swing lights (11-47 brass plated plain trebles) have worked out really well for me on an early 50's Harmony H62 with Gibson P13 pickups. The bridge stays put and I don't feel any extra fatigue compared to playing my other electric guitars.
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
Try the German made Pyramid Strings. They’ve been in business for 169 years. They have the knowledge and the best materials you can get. The quality of their materials is so much better than anything here in the States! They have Flatwounds & Round wounds . I would put a set of .011-.050’s on that 175..

This! :dude:
 

deytookerjaabs

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
I picked up a couple sets of Pyramid flats for my last arcthop I had. It must be something in the alloy/process but the sets I grabbed had a very noticeable loose or low tension feel to them and the guitars acoustic projection/volume was decreased when compared to the regular flats I swapped them for of the same gauge. (Probably D'addario). That was a bummer and I went right back to the regular flats.

Not long after I gave up on flats and now if it's strictly a jazz box I use regular fatter gauge wound G string set with a wood bridge, preferably something stiff/tight like DR's cause you get a bit more projection coming from the top. I just prefer the character of normal strings over flats for the most part, they're more articulate and the wood bridge give the round wounds a bit more fundamental like flats which are ****ing all fundamental. If I want to do a little more with the guitar I just use a regular bridge versus a wood bridge.
 

Okctodd

New member
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
24
Late reply as I just joined the forum...I’m pretty sure Pyramid flats have a round core as do TI’s and that does decrease the tension, making them just a bit softer feeling. I use TI’s (that were gifted to me by a friend because I was too cheap to pay the price to try them;I will never use anything else!) and I did not notice any loss of projection. They’re on my LP so if there is any difference in volume compared to a hex core string turning the amp volume up an extra millimeter would even the score.
I picked up a couple sets of Pyramid flats for my last arcthop I had. It must be something in the alloy/process but the sets I grabbed had a very noticeable loose or low tension feel to them and the guitars acoustic projection/volume was decreased when compared to the regular flats I swapped them for of the same gauge. (Probably D'addario). That was a bummer and I went right back to the regular flats.

Not long after I gave up on flats and now if it's strictly a jazz box I use regular fatter gauge wound G string set with a wood bridge, preferably something stiff/tight like DR's cause you get a bit more projection coming from the top. I just prefer the character of normal strings over flats for the most part, they're more articulate and the wood bridge give the round wounds a bit more fundamental like flats which are ****ing all fundamental. If I want to do a little more with the guitar I just use a regular bridge versus a wood bridge.
 

crashbelt

Active member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
103
I restrung my 61 with TI 11s for the first time last month.

Very happy with the sound and the feel, and the bridge is well up to them - probably was strung with heavier strings in its youth!
 
Top