Thomastik John Pearse Folk Strings PJ116

[Django]

I am new here, so please excuse me if this has already been hashed out.  I have seen some talk about these strings elsewhere and I think that there is some confusion regarding these strings.  The tension is low, like nylon, but they are not promoted as classical.  They are finger style, (fingerpicking), folk strings.  I have a 1917 Eugene Howard parlor that wears good, classical strings.  I just put a set of the Thomastik PJ116 strings on my Taylor 812ce Deluxe 12 fret, (X braced), and they are very balanced and have surprisingly good sustain and volume.  I only play fingerstyle, and the low tension makes barring a pleasure.  Surprisingly, the guitar didn’t seem to lose anything.  I did have to back the truss rod off, but other than that, it was a seamless changeover.  They are pricy compared to most other strings, but for my tired, 64 year old hands, it’s well worth it.

[Frettingflyer]

Thank you for the info, always on the lookout for strings, although I usually come back to Elixir for the long life. Sounds like a great option for people with hand issues as we age.

[boneuphtoner]

I am new here, so please excuse me if this has already been hashed out.  I have seen some talk about these strings elsewhere and I think that there is some confusion regarding these strings.  The tension is low, like nylon, but they are not promoted as classical.  They are finger style, (fingerpicking), folk strings.  I have a 1917 Eugene Howard parlor that wears good, classical strings.  I just put a set of the Thomastik PJ116 strings on my Taylor 812ce Deluxe 12 fret, (X braced), and they are very balanced and have surprisingly good sustain and volume.  I only play fingerstyle, and the low tension makes barring a pleasure.  Surprisingly, the guitar didn’t seem to lose anything.  I did have to back the truss rod off, but other than that, it was a seamless changeover.  They are pricy compared to most other strings, but for my tired, 64 year old hands, it’s well worth it.

These sound interesting- you said they are not promoted as classical, but are the treble strings nylon?

[Django]

I don’t know what the “rope” core is, but the first string has a steel core.  All 6 are either wrapped or wound.  The total tension, depending on scale length is approximately 85 pounds.  It’s like power steering for your fingers.  My son in law came by today and he was amazed.  He is going to put a set on his 814ce Deluxe.  This is from the Thomastik Infeld site:

TECHNICAL DETAILS

PJ16
E
nylon flat wound on steel core
0.016
0.40
14.00
6.40
PJ24
B
nylon flat wound on rope core
0.024
0.60
14.50
6.60
PJ25
G
nylon flat wound on rope core
0.025
0.62
14.00
6.40
PJ30
D
round wound on nylon core
0.030
0.75
14.70
6.70
PJ35
A
round wound on nylon core
0.035
0.90
14.20
6.50
PJ43
E
round wound on nylon core
0.043
1.10
13.50
6.10

[strugglinauthor]

  I just put a set of the Thomastik PJ116 strings on my Taylor 812ce Deluxe 12 fret, (X braced), and they are very balanced and have surprisingly good sustain and volume.  I only play fingerstyle, and the low tension makes barring a pleasure.

Thanks for the recommendation.  You and I have identical guitars (812ce 12 fret dlx) and a while back I put Thomastik Infeld Plectrums on mine, which I liked a lot.  One obsession I have is string noise, which is where the Plectrums impressed as they were flat wound.  Can you tell me your impression of string noise levels on the PJ116s?  I ask as all strings appear to be wound and I tend to throw in plenty of slides on the e, b & g.

Thanks.

[Django]

I haven’t tried the Plectrums, so I could not tell you if they create less string noise, but I find the folk strings to have very little noise.  The trebles have a core, but the covering is more of a braid than a wrap.  I like the feel and expressiveness.  Strings are very subjective, but I really like them on my 812. 

I hadn’t looked at the Plectrums because I assumed that they were meant to be played with a pick, (a plectrum being a pick).  It appears that this is not the case.  I may try them on another guitar, but to finger style on the 812ce 12 fret, I am completely sold on the PJ116 set.

[strugglinauthor]

I haven’t tried the Plectrums, so I could not tell you if they create less string noise, but I find the folk strings to have very little noise.  The trebles have a core, but the covering is more of a braid than a wrap.  I like the feel and expressiveness.  Strings are very subjective, but I really like them on my 812. 

I hadn’t looked at the Plectrums because I assumed that they were meant to be played with a pick, (a plectrum being a pick).  It appears that this is not the case.  I may try them on another guitar, but to finger style on the 812ce 12 fret, I am completely sold on the PJ116 set.

Thanks for the update.  I think I may have to try a set of PJ116s 

[strugglinauthor]

Strings arrived today, so I've had a few hours getting used to them.  On the positive - and slightly amazing - side, there was no need to adjust the truss rod.   The low tension is great - barring in a breeze.  As for string noise - it's there but not especially pronounced.  So all good.
 
The only thing I'm not yet convinced by are the wound trebles.  When playing fingerstyle I tend to use flesh on the bass strings and nails on the trebles and as they're wound I'm getting a brief 'scrape' with each pluck.  This is exacerbated by the fact that I invariably play plugged in with a healthy dose of reverb.  But I shall persevere.