Southern Jumbo strings

[powerpopper]

I'm officially a Gibson owner again after picking up a 2004 Southern Jumbo last night. This baby is nice and played in, has a few dings and scratches here and there and is basically ready to rock. It's easy playing for sure.

 

The store I got it from assured me that it was strung with Mediums. I could be wrong here but I thought Lights were recommended on SJ's/J-45's because of the short scale? Or at least that is what they ship with? Can someone confirm? And to all the SJ/J-45 owners out there, which do you prefer?

[EuroAussie]

Defnitely mediums for my Country Western which is close enough to an SJ.

 

Specfically DR Sunbeams 13's,big step change in tone above the 12's.

 

Enjoy your new guitar, a vintage SJ will probaby by my next Gibson, but not in the near future .. :-)

[Hall]

Way to go, powerpopper. Good guitar. I think most all Gibsons ship with lights now days. But, yes, they sound great with mediums. I've, just become afraid of mediums as my bones grow old. But, one of my old SJs has been 'round this world and is casebound now days. I'm going to try a set of 'medium once Gibson (now D'Addy wound) Masterbuilts', or maybe some Earthwoods on her and see how she holds up for a bit. I like'em both!

Glad you got one to make you happy. Enjoy!

 

 

Steve

[CAMELEYE]

Just tried a set of D'Addario PB lights on my new 12 fret SJ and brought it to life. The coated strings just didn't work. After it settles in I'll do a set up and likely switch to mediums. I've had (D'Angelico Bronze) mediums on my Fuller's J-35 for a while now with no problems.

Your SJ should be quite capable of handling either. Ce

[Hall]

Just tried a set of D'Addario PB lights on my new 12 fret SJ and brought it to life. The coated strings just didn't work. After it settles in I'll do a set up and likely switch to mediums. I've had (D'Angelico Bronze) mediums on my Fuller's J-35 for a while now with no problems.

Your SJ should be quite capable of handling either. Ce

 

 

CE:

Whether your post was meant for pp or myself. Thanks. I played mediums for years and years, then began to feel like I was doing a lot of resets. Changed my playing style and have been with lights ever since. Gonna try mediums once more on my old beat up, but structurally sound SJ, keep my rules & tools out and hold my breath for a few months 'til I see what happens.

 

 

Steve

[suburude63]

CE:

Whether your post was meant for pp or myself. Thanks. I played mediums for years and years, then began to feel like I was doing a lot of resets. Changed my playing style and have been with lights ever since. Gonna try mediums once more on my old beat up, but structurally sound SJ, keep my rules & tools out and hold my breath for a few months 'til I see what happens.

 

 

Steve

 

As some of you may know I have just bought a 57 SJ and have mediums on it > It sounds very good !

I have never heard of neck resets because of medium strings before? I thought both new and old Gibsons were made for mediums ?

Maybe I am wrong? I have always thought lights were very thin sounding (IMHO)

Confirmation from some more vintage SJ guys ????

[E-minor7]

 

 

As mentioned in the 'New to Forum. . .' thread, the Gibson-people I contacted recently mailed back this mail-answer : The strings mounted at the Montana facility are Gibson Masterbuilt Premium Phosphor Bronze wound of the Light gauge: .012 .016 .024w.032w .042w .053w.

(We talked J-45's)

 

 

[Gilliangirl]

I run mediums on Magic, all the time. Just not the same with lights. Yes, they're harder to play. Yes, you can't bend strings as well (not that I do that). Yes, I suppose they're harder on the neck. But the guitar can take it, and they sound better. The other cool thing is that when I play with mediums, it's that much easier to play on lights. But mostly, I just like the sound better.

[Gilliangirl]

Hey wait a minute! Did you say you just bought a 2004 Southern Jumbo? (running to make sure my guitar is still in its case )

 

Congratulations!

[powerpopper]

I run mediums on Magic, all the time. Just not the same with lights. Yes, they're harder to play. Yes, you can't bend strings as well (not that I do that). Yes, I suppose they're harder on the neck. But the guitar can take it, and they sound better. The other cool thing is that when I play with mediums, it's that much easier to play on lights. But mostly, I just like the sound better.

 

I'm kinda partial to Mediums. I don't bend strings anyway and I find it's just not that much harder to play on Mediums. With a nice stiff pick the SJ sounded pretty hot today.

 

 

Hey wait a minute! Did you say you just bought a 2004 Southern Jumbo? (running to make sure my guitar is still in its case )

 

Congratulations!

 

I did notice it has "Magic" inscribed on the inside but I didn't pay no nevermind. \:D/

 

Seriously, it's great to have a Gibson again. First time I bought a used guitar since I started gigging about a year ago. It's a relief to see the dings and scratches on her and not have to worry about the first one. She's a workhorse and a tip of the hat and a huge thank you to my wife for making this birthday present happen. Now I just have to figure out if I keep the Baggs Element that's in there or move on to something else?

 

Thanks for your input on SJ strings, guys and gal!

[EuroAussie]

This is my experience and thoughts with Gibsons, and i imagine most dreads when it comes to lights v mediums.

 

Mediums work great on mahogany b/s guitars as they deliver extra power, clarity, punch, and just make your mahogany guitar an all out cannon. Its a match made in heaven.

 

When i tried the same medium strings (13's) (and in my case im usually talking about DR Sunbeams)on my Rosewood SWD the tone was choked by the mediums, and i was really missing any real sparkle.

 

This was eventually rectified when i wen to 12's and the sparkle and rosewood richness came out. I concluded that r/wood guitars dont need medims as the r/wood tone already has a deep, rich charcter by nature and the mediums just choke it, while lights allow it to shine, providing the balance.

 

Hope that helps.

 

cheers.

[suburude63]

Whats up with Dr. Sunbeams ? I have never heard of them. Now I have heard them mentioned several times in the last week ????

Are they good? Better than John Pearse ect?

[suburude63]

Heres a very positve review below.

 

DR Sunbeam Strings

- reviewed by Todd Stuart Phillips

 

Handmade DR Sunbeams phosphor bronze strings are among the best acoustic guitar strings produced for sale in the USA. If you have yet to try them you should do so with all speed.

 

Typically, I am not a fan of phosphor bronze strings. I find them great for making bad guitars sound good because they emit a lot of pizzazz, which can masquerade as character in budget models or in expensive guitars overly built, or otherwise sub par. But when it comes to good guitars, that flashy dressing can act as sonic glare, whiting out woodier textures and the subtler complexity in the voice of the actual instrument. DR Sunbeams avoid this entirely. They do not overtly color the voice of the guitar, but rather provide a pure note for the tonewoods to reflect or alter as they will. Simply put, Sunbeams impart excellent tone for a prolonged period of heavy use.

 

My test guitar was a 1990s Martin OM-28V with a serious Sitka spruce top. I found the Sunbeams' unwound treble strings ring clear as a mountain stream and with great substance; never too cold or thin. The wound strings practically glowed in how they brought out the lush warmth inherent in the guitar. I can imagine they will perform as well on a wide variety of guitars. They react to the slightest fluctuation, influencing each quaver of the guitar's voice while avoiding the distractions present in most phosphor bronze strings. They also lack the typical, scraping phosphor bronze string noise, a nuisance for a self-taught hack like me who has anything but proper form when it comes to navigating the fretboard. DR Sunbeams manage to keep that to a minimum without resorting to any of the tone-killing coatings currently in vogue. In other words they are not dull or thuddy sounding, but clear, open and ringing.

 

I liked them from the moment I put them on. They have the vitality of brand new strings without the brashness that is normally present in even the best varieties. In fact, I have always felt strings were at their best for recording when they have had a good week or ten days of playing to burn off that brass band effect. These DR Sunbeams are there right out of the box. Whereas traditional strings find that perfect balance of string ring and body tone for a scant matter of days, Sunbeams start nearer that optimal balance and stay that way for weeks on end. They do mellow a bit over time but without sacrificing sustain or clarity. Actually, they ring for an astonishingly long time and that ring only seems to grow richer and deeper as the they age.

 

DRs are hand-wound in a small factory in Emerson, NJ and have long been the favorite of touring electric guitarists and bass players. Their acoustic guitar strings also appeal to electric guitarists, as they are offered in lighter gauges than one usually finds. The .12s I put on are officially medium gauge and even then they bend and manipulate more easily than traditional strings of the same diameter. Their "lite" gauge strings are .10 - . 44 ! This is a trend in acoustic guitar strings that I am not particularly happy to see. As much as the new, stretchy strings can enhance lead guitar solos, playing in alternate tunings becomes a problem. I perform in everything from DADGAD to Open C, so the last thing I want is a string without enough tension. These Sunbeams did get a bit wiggly when detuned but remained within acceptable limits. I expect to try the Medium-Heavy gauge soon (.13 - .56) and custom sets may be ordered through any DR dealer.

 

The Sunbeams may not be the first choice of people who like their strings really bright and brassy. That shiny, metallic, new string sound is simply not there. So you may prefer any of the other varieties offered under the DR brand. But I suspect most players will love how the woody nature of a good guitar comes through on a set of DR Sunbeams, from the moment they put them on. The strings start out that way and only get better.

[EuroAussie]

Yep, that pretty much sums up my feelings towards DR Sunbeams.

 

 

Heres a very positve review below.

 

DR Sunbeam Strings

- reviewed by Todd Stuart Phillips

 

Handmade DR Sunbeams phosphor bronze strings are among the best acoustic guitar strings produced for sale in the USA. If you have yet to try them you should do so with all speed.

 

Typically, I am not a fan of phosphor bronze strings. I find them great for making bad guitars sound good because they emit a lot of pizzazz, which can masquerade as character in budget models or in expensive guitars overly built, or otherwise sub par. But when it comes to good guitars, that flashy dressing can act as sonic glare, whiting out woodier textures and the subtler complexity in the voice of the actual instrument. DR Sunbeams avoid this entirely. They do not overtly color the voice of the guitar, but rather provide a pure note for the tonewoods to reflect or alter as they will. Simply put, Sunbeams impart excellent tone for a prolonged period of heavy use.

 

My test guitar was a 1990s Martin OM-28V with a serious Sitka spruce top. I found the Sunbeams' unwound treble strings ring clear as a mountain stream and with great substance; never too cold or thin. The wound strings practically glowed in how they brought out the lush warmth inherent in the guitar. I can imagine they will perform as well on a wide variety of guitars. They react to the slightest fluctuation, influencing each quaver of the guitar's voice while avoiding the distractions present in most phosphor bronze strings. They also lack the typical, scraping phosphor bronze string noise, a nuisance for a self-taught hack like me who has anything but proper form when it comes to navigating the fretboard. DR Sunbeams manage to keep that to a minimum without resorting to any of the tone-killing coatings currently in vogue. In other words they are not dull or thuddy sounding, but clear, open and ringing.

 

I liked them from the moment I put them on. They have the vitality of brand new strings without the brashness that is normally present in even the best varieties. In fact, I have always felt strings were at their best for recording when they have had a good week or ten days of playing to burn off that brass band effect. These DR Sunbeams are there right out of the box. Whereas traditional strings find that perfect balance of string ring and body tone for a scant matter of days, Sunbeams start nearer that optimal balance and stay that way for weeks on end. They do mellow a bit over time but without sacrificing sustain or clarity. Actually, they ring for an astonishingly long time and that ring only seems to grow richer and deeper as the they age.

 

DRs are hand-wound in a small factory in Emerson, NJ and have long been the favorite of touring electric guitarists and bass players. Their acoustic guitar strings also appeal to electric guitarists, as they are offered in lighter gauges than one usually finds. The .12s I put on are officially medium gauge and even then they bend and manipulate more easily than traditional strings of the same diameter. Their "lite" gauge strings are .10 - . 44 ! This is a trend in acoustic guitar strings that I am not particularly happy to see. As much as the new, stretchy strings can enhance lead guitar solos, playing in alternate tunings becomes a problem. I perform in everything from DADGAD to Open C, so the last thing I want is a string without enough tension. These Sunbeams did get a bit wiggly when detuned but remained within acceptable limits. I expect to try the Medium-Heavy gauge soon (.13 - .56) and custom sets may be ordered through any DR dealer.

 

The Sunbeams may not be the first choice of people who like their strings really bright and brassy. That shiny, metallic, new string sound is simply not there. So you may prefer any of the other varieties offered under the DR brand. But I suspect most players will love how the woody nature of a good guitar comes through on a set of DR Sunbeams, from the moment they put them on. The strings start out that way and only get better.

[Gibsonian]

I gotta go with John Pearse Phosphor Bronze #550SL "Slightly Light". "MELLOW" is the word.

[E-minor7]

Had.012 John Pearse on my Martin Custom D-18 hog since Friday. It's my soft guitar, but with these it almost gets too close to nougat. Will try them on my SJ 68 in the nearer future. Have to record some picking stuff first for which 11's will be needed to create the right slap under my Dunlop .60 (trying some British Newtone handmade ones there.)

 

In the meanwhile have to bring in a sample of .012 Sunbeams. EuroAussie been warm-talking about them several times – the review above does the rest. Just ordered 3 sets .012; DR SB 11's only go to.050.

 

Tally Ho -