Has Everyone Given Up On Pyramids?

raider · Post by **raider** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:55 pm

On my 350V63 I have Rick strings now I'll
throw this in. When I bought my Gretsch EE
I had Pyramids Gold and they played good and
sounded good thru my AC-30TBX. With that said
getting back to my Rick I like Rickenbacker
strings but I would be willing to try Thomastik
Infelds. Could some one tell me the difference
between the Rickenbacker strings and the Thomastik Infelds. Our local music stores do
not sell Pyramids or Thomastik Infelds.
Lou D

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:49 pm

Our strings and TI's are completely different animals. Ours are compressed round wound, i.e. would slightly oversize and then compressed down to the exact gauge. You'd classify these as a modern type of string.

While TI does make a wide range of different strings, the type most often used are flat wound, a smooth, compound wound string replicating those more common in the 1960's.

trancedental · Post by **trancedental** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:27 am

I tried Pyramids they're very stiff & 3 of them broke even though I've been playing years & have never broke strings often before. Expensive as well. Next!

I'm using Thomastiks flatwounds on my 360VP 12'string although you have to put together the set yourself.

These are my favourites for 12 strings after trying 5-6 different makes

wolfgang · Post by **wolfgang** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:13 pm

Do Pyramids of the same diameter need more tension
than TIs or compressed (!) Rickenbacker strings?
Why?

mike_d · Post by **mike_d** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:25 am

Pyramids sound great on some guitars and not others. I like them on my six strings better than on the Ric 12s. I also like the TIs and Ric strings on the 12s.

arrow201 · Post by **arrow201** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:26 am

i'm going against the rest of you but i do prefer the egyptian strings.
I've tried many brands of strings...Ric, TIs, etc. and though
the others are good (i rate TI as #2) i find the Pyramids to
ring/chime/sustain better than all the others.

i dont't know of all the changes made since 1990 (mine is
a '90 360/12WB) but the guitar required no modifications...just
adjust the intonation. i would say Pyramids have been on
the guitar for at least 12 of those years and have no neck problems.
The only problem i had was a broken 'R' tailpiece after 15 years,
which are now made even stronger.
RIC = High Quality ! ...i think the guitar can take these strings

Yes, they are stiffer and i would only put them on a 12 ...for a 6,
i would go with TIs

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:06 am

Very fond of Pyramids, myself....

I'll get me coat....

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:22 pm

Interesting discussion.... I've been all Pyramids flats all the time and I think they sound great, but based on the comments here I'm thinking of trying some TI's on my 360, 350v63 and 620/12.

Any recommendations of which one?

http://www.juststrings.com/thomastikinfeldelectricguitar.html

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:34 pm

I use these ones on my 230 and I like them lot, though it is harder to bend of course.

http://www.juststrings.com/thomastikinfeldelectricguitarjazz.html

teb · Post by **teb** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:58 pm

This is what I've been using on my twelve (you have to order them individually):

TI Jazz Flats twelve-string sets

Name........................... Code..... Qty...... Price each
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomastik-Infeld Nickel TOI_JS39 -1 - $4.12 Low E primary
Flat Wound .039, JS39

Thomastik-Infeld Nickel TOI_JS33 - 1 - $4.12 A primary
Flat Wound .033, JS33

Thomastik-Infeld Nickel TOI_JS25 - 2 - $3.52 Low E octave & D primary
Flat Wound .025, JS25

Thomastik-Infeld Nickel TOI_JS20 -2 - $2.72 A octave and G primary
Flat Wound .020, JS20

Thomastik-Infeld Plain TOI_P13 - 3 - $1.22 B's and D octave
Steel .013, P13

Thomastik-Infeld Plain TOI_P10 - 3 - $1.22 High E's and G octave
Steel .010, P10

Subtotal $28.04
Shipping 5.95
Tax 0.00
Total $33.99

The set seems pretty well balanced. I've considered going slightly bigger on the D, A and low E primary strings as it is a light set, but just turning up the bass on the amp seems to give it all it needs. They have a different sound and feel from the Ric compressed strings, which tend to be quite a bit more lively. The TI's bring out the octave strings more and the brand you like best may well just be a matter of what kind of sound you're after and what amp and effects you tend to use. I well may stay with Ric strings on my second twelve for a change of pace (if it matters, they're more fun to play unplugged and you can still dial-in a lot of jangle when you are plugged in). I didn't like the hard feel of Pyramids and the majority of the people who build and work on my guitars aren't very keen on them either. When JH and MA agree on something, I think it has to be taken as a serious sign....

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:03 pm

I guess I'll try the "Blues Sliders" since it has a cool photo on the package.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:54 pm

As far as string tension goes, here's a comparison of some flat/round 10's:

Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Steel/Nickel Round Wound with Silk Inlay Medium Light, .010 - .048, SL110:

D'Addario Electric Guitar Chromes Flat Wound Extra Light, .010 - .048, ECG23:

GHS Electric Guitar Dynamite Alloy Roundwound Ex. Light, .010 - .046, DYXL:

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:24 pm

http://www.zacharyguitars.com/Strings.htm

The main point of this long diatribe is that "Optimum Gauges" should have a slight linear increase in tension as the strings get thicker:

Does anyone have an opinion of ZOG strings?

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:35 pm

Would ZOGs be good for my ZON?

milo · Post by **milo** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:20 pm

Some friends and I have just tried the Zachary strings in the last few months. Two of us really like them and the other guy thought they were too bright. They are pretty bright and seem to be a bit more powerful. They also seem to feel a touch stiffer than most brands of the same gauge but I guess that makes sense because two of the strings have additional tension (to get the linear increase) than a "normal" set.

Overall I'm pretty happy with them for the price. The low E seems to be the most noticeable difference in that it seems to come out of the amp a bit tighter. We ordered 10 sets to split between us and I think we'll be ordering more, especially since he's local and I don't have to pay shipping.