The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hello all,
Have just received some sets of Gibson L5 strings (11-52s) from the US but it will be a week or two before I get them fitted to my guitar.
I belive they are similar to the Sonomatics we used in the 60's and would be interested to hear any comments from members who have used them.
Cheers,
JB

Gibson Sonomatics (set E340) were gauged: 13 / 17 / 26(w) / 56 / 46 / 56. The Shadows had a promo/endorsement deal with Selmer from the mid-sixties onward and used/recommended that set of strings, whether on the acoustic Gibsons they were then using or on their various electrics.

At the latter end of the 1960s, Gibson introduced a lighter version, Sonomatic Light Gauge (E340L), which were sized 11 / 12 / 19(w) / 32 / 42 / 52.

During his solo years, Hank was using E340s on one Burns Marvin and either E340Ls or Fender Rock'n'Roll (which were a fair bit lighter) on the other.

E340Ls were notable for their very light second string (12), which was even lighter than the second in an Ernie Ball Slinky set (13).

If the current L5 set is gauged 11-52 (and it seems to be 11 / 14 / 19(w) / 30 / 41 / 52), the gauge seems to be related rather more to the E340Ls rather than the pukka E340s. But only three out of the six strings are the same gauge and of the other three, one is heavier (the B) whilst the D and A are lighter.

Incidentally, the L5 strings are available in the UK:

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/698-gibson_l_5_pure_nickel_wound_jazz_electric_guitar_strings

JN

Jim,
Thank you for the detailed info.
I purchased the strings while in the US last week and had them mailed to NZ.
They cost around $US 7 which seems to be a good deal cheaper than those available in the UK.
Looking forward to hearing how different they sound to the Ernie Ball Power Slinkys that I have been using.
Cheers,
JB

Hi John, I have been using Gibson L5 strings (12/56) exclusively on my Strats for the past five or six years (before that I used DR's, which are also very good). They last a long time (I don't gig, so maybe that is why) and they get better after some use, so let them settle in a bit before judging them.

Cheers,
Bojan

I use L5's on a couple of my strats 11-52 and 12-56's and they sound really good, obviously the heavier the gauge the more springs you will need plus possibly truss rod altering (luthier/tech) if not sure or competent

Oh