Cheap Guitar vs. Expensive Strings (Thomastik Infeld Plectrum)

Today I check out the premium Thomastik-Infeld Plectrum acoustic guitar strings. Street price, the strings sit at $22 USD - much more expensive than other brands. The point of the video is not to compare them to the D'Addario EXP set, but instead to use the D'Addarios as a baseline for comparing just how much better an expensive set of strings can make an affordable guitar sound. The Alvarez AP610 parlor guitar I used in the video runs at just $400.

I tried to cover a few different playing styles (finger strumming, finger picking, hybrid picking, jazz, and heavy strumming) so you could hear the strengths and weaknesses of each string set. I recorded the audio with an MXL 5000 condenser microphone into a Focusrite Saffire 6 and then into Logic X Pro. Drop me a comment and let me know what you'd like to see next!

#strings #comparison #ThomastikInfeld
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Hi! My name is Alex Price. I’m a professional musician based out of Pittsburgh, USA. I make a living between touring, performing on cruise ships, and while I’m home, teaching. Check out my new uploads every Tuesday and Friday for gear demos, lessons, and performance clips.

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[JazzGuitarNoob]

The Plectrums are amazing. Better low and mid range. They make the D'addarios sound thin. Parlor guitars aren't really bassy by nature, but those strings still make the low end shine through.

[onionpierogi]

The Thomastik Infelds sound great. I'd buy them every time

[sixstring]

Nice jazz playing! In fact i think you play all styles very well..Thomastik are my new favorite strings..

[ericsteffen]

Love the clarity of the Plectrums. I've been using the new(ish) D'Addario nickle bronze line and like them because I think they do a similar thing. I use 12's on my Taylor and was surprised that you would go with as light a string as 11 on the parlor given the shorter scale length. I would think even trying out 13's on a guitar like that is something I'd want to do.

[Emanual]

I prefer the Thomastik Infeld, even though they both sound great! Fabulous!!!!

[RockStarOscarStern]

They're great for playing Jazz because Flat Wound Strings produce a sound that we think is appropriate for Jazz.

[NemoNepersonne]

I love the flat wound strings. I use D’Addario flat tops on my Eastman parlor guitar and love their intensity and compression.

[nocaster]

The Thomastik excell at your jazzy moments but after all it doesn't metter when you're a great player like yourself. Cheers

[violetsky]

I liked the Plectrums a lot better until you started strumming chords. Not enough attack for that. For the other songs you did they sounded way, way better than the cheaper ones. Whether or not these are worth it probably just depends on what style of music you want to play. Plus another thing to consider is that the brightness on the Daddario’s is going to settle down after a while. Thanks for the comparison.

[robertharris]

These are hands down the best strings I have ever played. I'll never buy anything else unless I'm low on cash then It's old Ernie Ball.

[RockStarOscarStern]

It makes a great Jazz Box and they have Silk inlays

[zororosario]

T.I.s seem to be more balanced through my headphones. The DA seem to have more pop to some strings over others in the same set. I figure I can close with the balanced tension set. I use T.I. Plectrums:- on my Baby Taylor 22 3/4 11-50. On my Gibson J-35, 24 3/4 !2-59. This setup for me and what it's worth took a lot of going thru a bunch of different strings. If you record yourself and have to mix & EQ go with the T.I. by the way I don't work for any of the above companies, ha ha. Listening to you play makes me want to practice. Thanks& Cheers.

[Davimre]

The TIs are a tad painful to listen to when you’re flat out strumming (maybe it has to do with the string tension), but when your playing gets more articulate (e.g. the Joe Pass-ish stuff) the strings really shine.

[thrithree]

great video. thanks for posting it. im considering this brand for my 12 string. kind of expensive but could be worth the price.

[berkay]

Hey awesome video man I was going to ask that how much they last (Thomastik)

[holtcharlie]

What arrangement of days of wine roses was that? Sounds awesome

[charlesm]

Night & day. Plectrums are so much nicer. Just bought a mahogany parlor & I’m going to throw a set on there

[rosskelly]

The expensive strings make it sound like a more expensive guitar. On the other hand, often enough that 'expensive guitar sound' lacks a certain edge and midrange volume that would be useful to a busker, or someone playing in a noisy classroom.

[bimo]

The Plectrums sound very good but all the wound strings are not flat wound.
In the Plectrum AC111 string set,
the A, D, and G are polished bronze flat wound,
but the E is polished bronze round wound.
For a less expensive alternative to the T.I. Plectrums
I like Galli AJF Jazz Flat 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
In the Galli AJF string sets, all the wound strings are flat wound.
Street Price around $16.50

[maxverstappennonofficial]

Dude, that is a... CHEAP GUITAR? SAY WHUUT?