Review Summary
4.9
36 Reviews
5
92% (33)
4
6% (2)
3
0% (0)
2
3% (1)
1
0% (0)
19% Recommend this product (7 of 36 responses)
By Tony
Bellingham, WA
Everything you have heard about these strings it true!
May 18, 2022
These are the strings you are looking for! Whether you are playing electric or acoustic archtop these will sound amazing and last for a long time. Other flatwounds are MEH by comparison.
By Bear
Boulder, Colorado
The best strings for archtop guitars
May 8, 2022
Archtop guitars deserve flat wound strings. After some experimentation I determined that Thomastik strings are superior in every way. I have not changed my opinion for 20 years.
Pros
- Smooth and slick under your fingers.
- Perfectly even timbre across the neck.
- Consistent volume and tone from the nut to the highest frets.
- Exceptional durability; you won?t need to change strings more than once a year.
Cons
- Price. These strings are quite expensive. However, they are so long lasting that they are actually cheaper to use in the long run.
By Rob C.
Chicago area
Best flat wound strings I've ever played
January 4, 2022
I have 10 guitars and only one with flatwounds. It's a Hamer Newport I use primarily for jazz. I love everything about these strings. The feel is sensuous and silky, the tension is right where I want it, they stay in tune amazingly well, and for me, they last approximately forever. Tone is rich and slightly dark, but not dull. I use the Jazz Swing 11s. Since I don't change strings very often, the cost is not much of an issue. In my 55 years of playing, I've never encountered better made strings, or strings that better suit their intended use.
Pros
- feel, tuning stability, durability, pitch consistency, volume evenness, tone, cloth wound ends make stringing a pleasure.
Cons
- Price
By John T.
Cincinnati
Great store
November 25, 2021
Always a pleasure to deal with this store. Great products and knowledgeable staff
Pros
- Quick service. Great products. Quick shipping
Cons
- None
By Steve
Lexington, Kentucky
A better flatwound jazz string for twice the price!
July 23, 2021
I am an unapologetic hobbyist playing in a community jazz band. I have a D'Angellico hollow body archtop jazz guitar on which I use these flatwound strings. After two or so years the metal tailpiece cracked and the D'Angellico company kindly sent me a replacement free of charge. When I had the replacement tailpiece installed, the dude at the repair shop said that these European strings are "first class," last longer, and don't put as much tension on the brittle tailpiece. I honestly can't say whether they are any better than standard jazz flatwound strings, but I only change the strings once every few months so the price difference doesn't make much difference.
By ALAIN L.
LAVAL, QC.
Thomastik-Infeld Electric Guitar Steel/Nickel Flat Wound Light, .011 - .047, JS111
October 22, 2020
These strings are so well balanced... I have them on my L4 and my 335... The best I ever had and I'll never look back!!! Oh and they last forever and stay in tune perfectly...
Alain.
Alain.
By The t.
Bellingham, Washington
They turned my cranky flat-top sweet.
October 7, 2020
These strings are the best flat wound strings I have ever used. the tension and tone is great acoustically on my cranky Epiphone fiat top. I can hardly wait to try them on an electric guitar. The lighter gauge is not a problem.
Pros
- Well made.
Cons
- A little pricey but worth it.
By JoeB
JS111
September 28, 2018
Straight-up these strings are harder to find than most popular brands and they are certainly more expensive.
They do not last as long as a set of coated strings, even though the 1st & 2nd are Brass plated. If you have acidic perspiration, you must absolutely clean and re-lube your strings after every playing session, lest they rust in no time flat.
Having said that, these strings are perfectly balanced. I have sets on my 63 jazzmaster, my early AS-120 ibanez and one of my Les Pauls. If you take good care of your strings and you have not tried a set of JS111's, these strings will certainly satisfy your curiosity and bring your vintage staggered single coils to life. They're even better on JM pickups and on humbuckers they are very sweet.
They do not last as long as a set of coated strings, even though the 1st & 2nd are Brass plated. If you have acidic perspiration, you must absolutely clean and re-lube your strings after every playing session, lest they rust in no time flat.
Having said that, these strings are perfectly balanced. I have sets on my 63 jazzmaster, my early AS-120 ibanez and one of my Les Pauls. If you take good care of your strings and you have not tried a set of JS111's, these strings will certainly satisfy your curiosity and bring your vintage staggered single coils to life. They're even better on JM pickups and on humbuckers they are very sweet.
By Rob
TI Jazz Swing 11s
November 3, 2017
Great down the middle tone - warm, rich, but not dull for a flat-wound.
Excellent soft feel.
Relatively narrow gage and tension range (11-47) from high to low E.
Top Quality - Long lasting.
Cool violin-string like red wrap around the tuning key end of the wound strings.
Expensive, but worth it to me.
I like picturing the craftswomen in their Vienna loft carefully creating these strings, as if for Mozart. ;-)
Excellent soft feel.
Relatively narrow gage and tension range (11-47) from high to low E.
Top Quality - Long lasting.
Cool violin-string like red wrap around the tuning key end of the wound strings.
Expensive, but worth it to me.
I like picturing the craftswomen in their Vienna loft carefully creating these strings, as if for Mozart. ;-)
By Lowell W.
JS111
November 19, 2015
I can't say enough good about these strings.
By Warren H.
Thomastik Flats
August 19, 2014
When I bought my first electric archtop some years ago, it came strung with a set of Thomastiks. There was another set in the case that I gladly put on when the first set wore out, which took a very long time compared to most strings I've used.
I've experimented with other, less costly, flat wounds, but Thomastiks are the standard of comparison. As the archtop collection grows, so does my appreciation for the quality of Thomastik strings.
I've experimented with other, less costly, flat wounds, but Thomastiks are the standard of comparison. As the archtop collection grows, so does my appreciation for the quality of Thomastik strings.
By Tim W.
I finally came back.
June 3, 2014
I have an Ibanez AM93 and play through a 77 Deluxe Reverb. I got this guitar about 3 months ago and the amp about 2 months ago. I love the guitar and as I have read elsewhere, the guitar will tell you what string to put on it. (And the amp too) Well I tried 6 different sets of strings from wound, half round, compound, and flat wound, and though some were really close, I was still missing the magic. I was trying not to play such an expensive string, but I decided to give the TI's a try. Well this is it! All the magic is there. No other string gives me the tonal AND tension balance like these. I can bend easily and the volume and tone from the plain B to wound G is seamless. Closely voiced chords are not muddy and the overall tone is rich with overtones. No going back to any other string now. And yes they do last a long time, so all in all they are an economic choice.
By Keith
Jazz strings-.011
March 22, 2013
Great sound and feel, that coming from a player with over 200 years of experience.
By Koddee Z.
THE BEST
February 17, 2013
Excellent, first rate strings! Professional feel, sound and quality. Try a set and you will be hooked. ONLY flatwounds I use, period!
By Bill S.
Thomastik-Infield JS111
February 14, 2013
This my first experience with these strings for my 2008 Gretsch G6120 Nashville. Wow! Very comfortable - these strings give my Gretsch a nice tone with the pick-ups seeming more alive and responsive. Initially reaction- not dissapointing at all.
Great service from Juststrings !
Great service from Juststrings !
By Robert
Hate flats? Buy these!
May 14, 2012
I always loved the sound of mellow strings minus the finger squeak but hated the dull thud of flatwounds. I'd try a set and they would be gone in ten minutes. These strings are great! No thud! Bright! Flexible! And they do not feel unnaturally super slippery. Nice acoustic sound, too. I am leaving these on!
By Steve M.
Thomastiks
May 23, 2011
The best ! Worth the price. Great tone, touch, life. Get sum !
By Paul
Thomastik-Infeld flatwound
May 17, 2011
Hands down, best jazz strings I've ever played. Tone, feel, it's all there.
By Chuck
Thomastik-Infeld .011
May 4, 2011
I have tried so many different strings in the past and I rate these the best. They seem to maintain a consistent balance throughout the life of the string. Along with great intonation.
When I pair this set up with my ES 165, I very seldom have to fine tune my guitar.
For a Jazz player that needs to use a lighter gauge strings (.011), these are highly recommended. The feel and tone are exceptional.
When I pair this set up with my ES 165, I very seldom have to fine tune my guitar.
For a Jazz player that needs to use a lighter gauge strings (.011), these are highly recommended. The feel and tone are exceptional.
By Chris S.
Super Smooth
February 22, 2011
I use these on my archtop jazz box. they are super smooth. I used to use the Bensons' for this box but these strings are just as good if not a little more "flexible" than than the Bensons' allowing for lots of fun styles that can be played on them without the annoyance of the string buzz as you slide your fingers up and down the neck.
By keith b.
Thomastic-Infeld Flat wounds
February 3, 2011
Best flat wound strings and i have tried them all. A great variety of gauges to choose from. I buy lots of them and mix them to get the best fit. Great for archtops and solid body electrics alike. Makes your Telecaster sound like an old Gibson 175. No kiddin.
By matt
infeld guitar strings
December 11, 2010
Nice sound, play well.
By Richard
Thomastik-Infeld Flat Wound .011
November 20, 2010
The best I have used. sound so good and feel great 41 years of playing
By Allan
Thomastick-Infeld JS111 guitar strings
November 2, 2010
I have used many different strings in over 50 years of playing. I feel that these strings are the best for my style of playing. I play a lot of solo swing & Classical pieces. These strings have excellent feel, a warm, balanced, mellow tone and excellent intonation. They are the best I have found.
By Buddy
Like Rubber Bands!
October 28, 2010
I put these on my Gretsch hollow body and they buzzed at every fret. Had to raise the action ridiculously high to get rid of the buzz. Bought some heavier strings from another company for LESS money, lowered the action again and all is well. The tone isn't very good with these string, either.
By tommy c.
dig the JS111 flats
September 28, 2010
Consistent tone and long life. Very happy with these strings - best flats I've found.
By ricky j.
for all styles
August 27, 2010
I use these strings on my old Gibson es-225t. Great for blues, jazz, country, light rock, folk. I also use the 12's on my full size es-150.
By Justin P.
Can't beat these
July 29, 2010
Have periodically tried (or had to use in a pinch) other brands - even other Thomastik strings - and always come back to these. Very musical and expressive strings with a surprisingly large breadth of tone - these work especially well for finger style or thumb-picking.
By Jay M.
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flat wound
June 28, 2010
These are the nicest flat wound strings I've come across. Extremely musical and fun to play. And these are nickel wrapped strings. I've tried stainless steel flats from other companies but they sound stiff, dead and dull to me. I like Pyramids too but the nickel rubs of on my fingers! The Thomastiks don't do that and seem to last a little longer.
By Jim B.
T-I .011-.047,JS111
April 12, 2010
Great strings on my Rickenbacker 340-VP.This is my second set, and it nails the vintage tone.I did have Pyramids on it at one time but they were a little stiff. The T-I strings have a bit less tension and sacrifice no tonal quality. Very long lasting and worth the money.
