Toaster Tops and Roundwound Strings

[Folkie]

I remember Steve Lasko saying in some thread a while ago that he found that D'Addario roundwounds sounded too harsh and trebly on his Ricks with toaster tops. My current 330/12 has hi gain pickups and is strung with D'Addario rounds. With my Janglebox JB2, the sound is perfect to my ears.

I'm ordering up a new 360/12, my first guitar with toaster tops, and am wondering if I should go with a flatwound string set like Thomastik Infeld. They do cost a whole lot more, but they're supposed to have better tone, better intonation, and a longer life. I'm thinking they might be more suitable than rounds for a guitar with toaster tops. Any advice?

Robert

[Clint]

Give the RIC branded strings a try. They're compressed round, halfway between round and flat round. To me, they give the best of both.

[Folkie]

Clint,

Thanks so much for the advice on strings. How long does a set of Rickenbacker compressed rounds last you? Have you tried flatwounds, so you have something to compare to?

I understand that POTR Curt Mangan strings are the exact same gauges as the Rick compressed rounds. Have you tried the Curt Mangan's? Do you know of anybody who has?

Robert

[MyBBruce]

Ric strings are the best:

[Clint]

I usually change the strings on my 360/12 every two years. I'm past due for a string change now but they're still bright, shiny and hold their tune really well. Personally, I don't like flatwounds on a 12 string because by making the fundamental tone so dark, the octave strings really zing. Of course, that is exactly what most people love about flats. I've never tried the Curt Mangan strings but many forumites have with positive results. I believe JimK uses the Curt Mangan strings.

[Folkie]

Thanks, Clint! I'm leaning toward the Thomastik Infeld Flats, because I really like those high-octave strings to ring out. But I may try Rickenbacker Compressed Roundwounds soon. I have a set of POTR Curt Mangans which I bought from Chris Clayton about six months ago at a guitar show. I was reserving these for my 330/12 because I like the sound of roundwounds with the hi gain pickups.

Robert

[jingle_jangle]

I though I'd read somewhere that the toaster special order option had been discontinued...

[Folkie]

I'm ordering the 360/12 with stock hi gains and then asking Chris Clayton at POTR to swap them out for toasters. It seems like a pretty routine job and he is doing it at no charge.

Robert

[scotty]

I'm ordering the 360/12 with stock hi gains and then asking Chris Clayton at POTR to swap them out for toasters. It seems like a pretty routine job and he is doing it at no charge.

Robert

Wow thats good! They certainly dont do that in the UK, especially for no extra charge! Im well jealous considering every time I put a toaster in my RIC s its costs me £135+ a Pickup.

Bitter yup as a freaking Lemon.LOL

[jingle_jangle]

You don't have Chris Clayton in the UK!!!

[scotty]

You don't have Chris Clayton in the UK!!!

Id sooner have a Jingle Jangle id really annoy ya! We could moan about the cold weather while you build me free F models day after day......

[JakeK]

I understand that POTR Curt Mangan strings are the exact same gauges as the Rick compressed rounds. Have you tried the Curt Mangan's? Do you know of anybody who has?

I use Curt Mangan 6-string set on my 6-string Ric with 12k toasters. Give 'em a try! You won't be sorry!