Flatwounds on a 335

bandmaster188

Tried out a couple of jazz boxes last week and one of them was loaded with flatwounds. That was the first time I've ever played a geetar with flatwounds and I think I liked it. So I've ordered a set for my 335. They feel niiiiiice! http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/bandmaster188/imagejpg1_zps3c5f6e2f.jpg

Loobs

Which? I generally think they sound like garbage.

bandmaster188

Loobs said:

Which? I generally think they sound like garbage.

You need to get down with the jazz thing dude! http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee512/bandmaster188/imagejpg1_zps8c93a51e.jpg

bob21

It's all about D'Addario Chromes, where flats are concerned.. Lovely strings!

bandmaster188

bob21;379463" said:

It's all about D'Addario Chromes, where flats are concerned.. Lovely strings!

That's what I've ordered

ESchap

Chromes work a treat, particularly with a plywood top, retain a good brightness balance.  Frequently have them on my old 330.  Great thing is the wounds last for ever, like bass strings.  You can take 'em on and off as you please, just replace the plain strings.

I found Thomastics a bit dark, but they do work really well with a pine top.

Gagaryn

Pyramid flats work too, I've used these a lot with both semis and jazzmasters.

Loobs

Chromes are about the worst strings I've ever heard. Seriously.

samzadgan

i dont know about these...i had them on my SG and they sounded really dull...maybe it was the set up...

ESchap

Loobs said:

Chromes are about the worst strings I've ever heard. Seriously.

Compared to what ... ?  perhaps you can give an alternate recommendation for flatwounds?  They'll never sound like roundwounds .. however, that's kind of the point 

Jalapeno

Thomastik Swing 12s flatwounds here - change them every year or so whether they need it or not

Phil_aka_Pip

I neeed another 335 so I can put flatwounds on it to compare them ...

Evilmags

I use them on my jazxbox. Sounds like a jazz guitar...

GuyBoden

I'm not sure, but I don't think modern Jazz players use flatwound.

I think it's just the old Swingers who use flatwound.

Loobs

ESchap;379854" said:

Loobs said:

Chromes are about the worst strings I've ever heard. Seriously.





Compared to what ... ?  perhaps you can give an alternate recommendation for flatwounds?  They'll never sound like roundwounds .. however, that's kind of the point 

Thomastik

Evilmags

GuyBoden;380000" said:

I'm not sure, but I don't think modern Jazz players use flatwound.
u


I think it's just the old Swingers who use flatwound.

Fusion players don't, but people like George Benson do. As did Joe Pass. Watch Benson play solos, then try doing that on a set of 14s...

Loobs

Plenty of modern players, in fact more, use roundwounds. I don't know a single player personally, and I play jazz, who uses them.

JDE

I went through loads of flats. I used flats or nylon tapewound for electric jazz for ages. La Bella tapes 14 - 67 were my favourite, but they got a bit cramped on the fretboard for lots of chording. I really liked Pyramid Flats 13's, but they didn't seem to last very long, so I used La Bella Flats 13's instead. Thomastik's were ok, but I didn't like the "burnished brass" or whatever they changed the E and B strings to - I know you can pick whether you want steel or brass unwound strings, but I never had the option where I bought them from. I also seemed to break them quite a lot. I hated Chromes - I thought they sounded dead and didn't feel spectacularly nice.

I don't play electric jazz at all anymore, hence no more flats/tape, but there are some great strings out there  - I really can't recommend La Bella's highly enough for jazz playing.

bandmaster188

So what is it you don't like about them @loobs. This is a bit of an experiment for me as I've never used them before. What's the worst that could happen? Apart from wasting a tenner

Loobs

They sound utterly dead usually.

bandmaster188

I can't say I noticed this myself. I tried out an epi 175 which had rounds on and an ibanez 175 alike with flats. The ibanez definitely had a softer, mellower attack, but I wouldn't say it sounded dead. But as this is my first foray into the world of flat wounds, i don 't think I can cast proper judgement just yet.