Cure for Thin Trebles on an SJ?

[000Guy]

I have a 2021 Southern Jumbo I like a lot, except for its too-thin trebles. I use D'Addario or John Pearse Lights which are a good fit for the guitar, but the B and E treble strings sound flimsy thin.
What is the solution: a Red Spruce J-45 or SJ? A vintage J-45?
I've tried Medium strings and they just don't sound right on this guitar.
I need a rounder, fatter, fuller sounding string.
Any ideas from J-45 or SJ owners?

[Racerbob]

String sets are just the manufacture's most common choice but different guitars can do better with a different mix. There are mixed sets with light highs and medium lowers or the other way around.

I have several guitars that sound best with a mix of strings that suit them and not necessarily others. Online sellers can sell you mixed sets or single strings. I keep a selection of single strings in different sizes just for this kind of situation. I even have one guitar that works best with an .0115 for the first string, go figure.

My first try would be using a .013 and .017 for the first two strings and see how that works.

[Pdubs76]

You could try elixir HD lights. Treble strings will be mediums while bass strings are light gauge.

[schoolie]

Try the D'Addario EJ24 set. Don't know why, but slotting the bridge pin holes really improved the treble on my Guild jumbo. Maybe improving the break angle.

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by Pdubs76

You could try elixir HD lights. Treble strings will be mediums while bass strings are light gauge.

Yup. I prefer Daddario XS, which don’t come together in that set, but trebles are only like $1.50 each when purchased as singles.

[SalFromChatham]

Could the action be a tad too low?

Also, I have a new to me J45 variant, and it sounds so thick and syrupy everywhere when I use a specific thick Taylor pick. So perhaps try some different picks? I find that I use different picks for different guitars.

[Buc-a-Roo]

Try a heavier, round edged pick first.......guaranteed to fatten your tone. If you're allergic to heavier picks round off an edge on your favorite and see what change you get. Might also try softer pins on the offending strings......on some guitars rosewood pins really soften the tone.

[rstaight]

I prefer lights on my guitars .011 to .052. But on my Takamine GJ72CE 6 string they didn't cut it. Just didn't get much out of it. It sounded thin and really had no volume.

So I changed to, .012 to .053. That helped a lot, volume really came up. The trebles were good but the bass was still a little thin. I played this way for almost a year hoping something would change. It didn't.

I was happy with the trebles so I put on set of .012 to .056 and the bass came alive. This set is what this particular guitar likes. They drive the top and I am happy with trebles and bass I am getting.

All of the sets I mentioned are Elixir.

[CharlieBman]

Originally Posted by Racerbob

String sets are just the manufacture's most common choice but different guitars can do better with a different mix. There are mixed sets with light highs and medium lowers or the other way around.

I have several guitars that sound best with a mix of strings that suit them and not necessarily others. Online sellers can sell you mixed sets or single strings. I keep a selection of single strings in different sizes just for this kind of situation. I even have one guitar that works best with an .0115 for the first string, go figure.

My first try would be using a .013 and .017 for the first two strings and see how that works.

^^This^^

With one exception, all my guitars sound fine with .012/.016. The those E and B strings on the HD-28 just sound too thin and kind off disappear in the resonance of the other strings. .013/.017 solved that problem nicely.

[000Guy]

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I'll try heavier treble strings first and see if that does the trick. I hope so, because I do love the guitar.

[gmel555]

Yes, since many of the different string types use the same/similar wire for the first and second strings trying other gauges on those strings are your best bet and I'd be VERY tempted to try a different saddle material or two.

[cliff_the_stiff]

Originally Posted by 000Guy

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone. I'll try heavier treble strings first and see if that does the trick. I hope so, because I do love the guitar.

I do this with all of my guitars.
13/17 trebles.
Curt Mangan will send you custom sets, so that’s what I do to solve the same problem.

[donlyn]

Cure for Thin Trebles on an SJ?


000Guy,

While you originally posted about a Southern Jumbo, I play almost exclusively large Jumboes (SJ), and the gauge I use on most of them is the Elixir PB HD Light gauge:
{.013, .017, .025, .032, .042, .053}.

This gauge was particularly pointed out a few times in this thread so far, and also a variation for just changing to the .013 and .017 treble strings. I will also point out that Elixirs are coated strings, but upgrading just the two trebles works fine too.

This gauge is a meld of Medium trebles and Light bass strings. Works great and also make for a nicely balanced sound. 17" wide lower bouts don't really need fatter bass strings to be heard, and Medium bass strings can make them boomy and unbalanced. I have tried Mediums on Jumboes a lot, and came to the conclusion that the HD gauge works best for most of them. HD also works great on smaller (15") Grand Concerts too. A Grand Orchestra is a deep Jumbo style with a slightly wider waist. And HD works great for DADGAD tuning too with its fatter trebles.

I fingerpick all my guitars using my nails as picks.
And I tune my 12 string guitars down a semi-tone to 'D#'.

Be well and play well,

Don
.

[J Patrick]

John Pearse New Mediums are also a set that feature .13 and .17 strings on the E and B…..with a slightly lighter bottom than medium sets…..

[LAPlayer]

Everyone jumped on strings but have you evaluated your saddle? If you bought the guitar used any number of changes could have been made to the guitar prior to your purchase. If your saddle is bone it could be a bad piece of bone. If the saddle has a shim, or is not level on the bottom, this could cause the problem. If your bridge-slot isn't perfectly flat, if a UST was removed........

I would take the guitar to my tech and have them check the nut slots, the saddle, bridge, maybe change the saddle and - while you're at it - have a full tune up/set up done. Also you didn't say whether it has always been like this, how long you've had the guitar, and if it has recently changed.

Another thought: Do you hear similar treble deficiencies with your 000-18? Has this issue recently developed on your SJ? Your hearing might have changed, or be changing, causing you to hear differently. I ask because in your previous posts about your SJ you never mention thin-sounding trebles.