Flatwound strings??

[Gizzmo0815]

Does anyone here use flatwound strings on their electrics? What's the benefit? Do they sound significantly different? Easier on the hands? I've never tried them so I don't know what the intent of the strings is. Any info about them would be awesome :-)

[J.B. Lee]

They sound very mellow and are mostly used by jazz players. The other benefit is that they don't make noise when you slide. They feel nice under your fingertips but are harder to bend in my experience.

[Gizzmo0815]

I just looked at a package in the store and they seemed a lot more "stiff" for lack of a better word. I was just curious if they had a specific application.

[JC777]

They aren't as bright as round wound strings and a warmer feel.

Pick up a set and try them. I have a set on a Les Paul right now and I like the tones that I get with them.

[wedgehed II]

I have them on my Dean Stylist & my Hofner CT Club. As stated, they feel different & sound a bit more mellow. They're certainly worth trying if you're in the mood for something different & don't want to spend a lot of money.

[MahaloVision]

I've got them on my archtop V. As for sound, think George Benson.

[Gizzmo0815]

I mostly play blues (at least I try to) would they work well in that realm? I could imagine a warmer sound mellow blues tune might sound pretty good with them...I think I'll pick up a set on the way home from work.

 

 

..As for sound, think George Benson.

 

 

Gotcha...like it.

[jerry_picker]

I just looked at a package in the store and they seemed a lot more "stiff" for lack of a better word. I was just curious if they had a specific application.

Jazz.

[wedgehed II]

Don't be afraid to kick in a distortion pedal. Flats can rock the {censored} out also.

[fmw]

I use them on my archtop. The "stiffness" relates mostly to the fact that Jazz players normally use heavier gauge strings than rock players. We don't bend the strings very much - partly because they are so heavy. We rely mostly on slides, hammer-ons and pulloffs. .11 and .12 are pretty normal gauge for jazz. I use d'Addario .11 and they perform pretty well for me.

[Funderbunk]

Don't be afraid to kick in a distortion pedal. Flats can rock the {censored} out also.

 

 

Hell yes they can... D'Addario Chromes (extra lights) are turning up on a lot more guitars around here. If they were a little cheaper, they would probably be on all of them.

[blackscot]

Have used them on-and-off on the Gretsch below.

+1 what most others have said. Smooth-mello-jazzy sound. In playing they slide easy but are hard to bend.

They bring out the best from archtops played in clean mode.

[WRGKMC]

SIT and D'Addario make some reverse half wounds that are fantastic. Much better than plain flatwounds because they can rock out like round wounds but dont have the finger noise. They last a long time, Intonate well, Low fret wear, Picks last longer, and chords sound much more unified. If you never tried them before its a pretty cool feel. I woud go with the SITs first.

http://www.juststrings.com/sit-pf946.html

These second

http://www.juststrings.com/sit-sl1046.html

There arent bad either

http://www.juststrings.com/daddarioelectricguitarhalfround.html

[Uma Floresta]

Don't be afraid to kick in a distortion pedal. Flats can rock the {censored} out also.

 

 

Truth. Flats are used on Gretch guitars a lot for rockabilly. Also used by surf guys a lot.

 

They're warmer. Harder to bend, but it depends on the brand. TIs are much easier to bend than, say, Chromes.

 

I switched over to them a month or two ago. I'm definitely converted.

[Samnite]

I like the sound of flats on bass. Huge thumps.

[Doctor Morbius]

Flats aren't only used by the jazz crowd. Surf dudes use them too.

I just put a set of D'Addario XL Chromes 11-50 on a guitar but haven't really spent any time with them.

[nickeroo]

I use them on my fretless. Wha everyone says here is right. And yes, they sound great with distortion. But for blues...maybe not, but there's no harm in trying right?

[Mel Cooley]

They're good for jazz or old school (think early '60s and earlier) anything. I played in a very traditional rockabilly trio for a while and tried to get used to them, but couldn't do it. They seem to go dead pretty quick too.

[Jkater]

I have them on my semi. I really like the playing feel and the "duller" sound actually makes chords sound pretty clear (you hear all the notes). Forget bending a wound G string, it wont go up much in pitch. So far the replies have been very accurate. I will always have one guitar with flatwounds but I might put them on my LP instead of my SA2200 because I'd like to have the SA for more things and flatwounds are great but not the most versatile strings.

[fmw]

I mostly play blues (at least I try to) would they work well in that realm? I could imagine a warmer sound mellow blues tune might sound pretty good with them...I think I'll pick up a set on the way home from work. Gotcha...like it.

 

 

Not my choice for blues if you bend strings. They don't bend easily. For blues I use .10 ga. regular strings on a solid body. I think d'Addario makes a .10ga flatwound set. You might try those.

[SoliDeoGloria]

So I do the Yazz thing as well cept I've been using Round's on my XV-620(TeleThinline) Think that Flats would go on fine and sound good? I know that they are great for Arch-tops... And does DR make flatwounds? If so I"m sold because I just tried some DR's on my XV and I love them; moreso than the Ernie Ball...

[Monkeybot]

After 10 years of playing the thing, I just put flatwounds (D'A .11 Chromes) on my CIJ Jazzmaster and I found myself with a completely different guitar. I think that I've finally figured out what a JM was supposed to sound like.

The string tension really lends itself to a mellow, jazz-like tone. The pu's really sound "tamed" but still really full and amazingly "mellow".

I was used to .11 roundwounds and the tiny bit of twang that the CIJ gave me. Weird. I always thought that my JM was a great complement to my Casino and my AmS Tele. That "snap" is almost completely gone. No jangle at all.

Is that a bad thing? I'm not sure. I have to really think about how I'm going to use it now. It was my go-to guit for so long - Flats kind of took away some of the versatility, but gave me a really sweet new tone.

Still working on all of this - Flats are a big change if yr used to rounds. My JM might actually sound like a JM should - Don't know how I am about that -----

[dangerine49]

I use flats (D'Addario Chrome 10's mostly) exclusively and have since the 60's. I can't stand the feel of roundwounds and I hate string squeak. They play faster too. They do sound a bit mellower than roundwounds, but that's why they put tone knobs on amps. I have no problem bending them, but maybe I'm just used to them.

[dirtbag_surfer]

On my AVRI Jazzmaster I use Pyramid Gold pure nickel flat wounds 013 - .052.

They absolutely kill it for surf, where there isn't much bending going on anyway...they are kind of expensive . Ok, the Pyramids are REAL expensive at about 30.00 a set. BUT they sound GREAT and very "authentic" and last for a long, long, long time.

[TESmith]

Another vote for flat wound's on my Gretsch
I like the tone and the feel. To my ears it brought out the best in this guitar