Flats and Charlie Christians is my idea of a perfect Tele. Please try the Thomastik flats if you haven’t. Warmer and more flexible. Nickel, not chrome steel.
When I'm playing jazzy stuff I always use flats. Love that traditional tone. Less string noise esp. when recording the quieter stuff. When I'm rocking or country it always rounds. I want the twang.
Beautiful sound Tim!!! I’m also with you, I learned my lesson not to try to convince anyone about anything in this world unless asked. I use to never tell but only suggest but people don’t take it as educational they take offense. I’m one of those people that are always open to suggestions to make me a better person, player or what ever! Thanks so much for your suggestions and wonderful videos that I truly enjoy! Keep up the great work! 😊
I've just recently started my exploration of 'thin-string' jazz guitar ... I'm a life long bass player. It was a surprise to discover the many mixtures of gauges in the flatwound domain as favoured by many of you noted exponents.
Lovely playing, as always. I bought my first set of flat wounds recently and I’ve been hesitant to put them on my instrument, but you’re giving me courage with this.
I’m amazed how much I like that sound! I have flats on a 335 style guitar and have it tuned B to B. Gives me a fun and different voice to play around with. I never would’ve guessed they’d sound so good on a Tele. With headphones I hear a clear distinction when you switch to the other Tele.
I describe flats as a physical compressor. I've got a parts Tele I keep in D standard with a Filtertron in the neck and blues special in the bridge. I've added a thicker, high density steel neck plate and it has a Mastery bridge. I always have flats on it. Currently I have 12 gauge Chromes on it now. Considering using Pyramids next time after trying them on a 70s Telecaster at Carter's Vintage. I was blown away by the evenness of tone and super smooth finish. It has medium/medium high action, similar to Carol Kaye's style. You can really bite into the strings and don't have to worry about buzz. With the tone knob rolled off a bit, I can use it for a really convincing bass tone through a '67 Ampeg Gemini. I've used it to record a few tracks with a friend for both the guitar and bass parts and it does the trick great. With the neck pickup, you can get super smooth, flat tones. Despite being flats, a bright guitar and amp leave plenty of natural high end in the sound. If anyone has a a bolt on neck guitar and likes the sound of it, but wants just a bit more of everything, the heavier neck plates are something to consider. I use the Greer Super Mass version and absolutely love it. My stock screws also work just fine. It's been on the guitar for about 6-7 years now and I've never had a problem with it. You have to like the existing sound, but it adds just enough sustain and low end that it's worth it if you want a cheap, easy to do or swap mod that can be undone with no harm.
Variety is the spice of life…..but familiarity is golden when you know what you like. I’ve tried them to….didn’t like the feel but I like the way you tweaked it. I might follow your recipe for spice. Good to see you.
I have used flat wounds on my Tele and Strat for the last 25 years. Have tried them on my PRS Hollowbody but as yet can not afford the bridge to enable setup and tuning. (One day I'll get totally sacraligeous and get a Bigsby fitted to it.) Totally prefer the sound of your playing with the flat wounds and it reminds me of the strings I use on my acoustics. I use Rotosound pure bronze rather than phosphor bronze for much the same reason. The emphasis on the fundamental rather than harmonic. I found your explanation of that enlightening. I always just knew I preferred them. Never gave much thought to why. So thank you. I play mainly solo guitar/vocals from jazz to country. The owner of my local music shop thinks I'm whaco because I use 12's on my electrics and 11's on my acoustics. For me it just works. Not into string bending on electric.
I used flats for 20 years till Tim told me "I never use flats! Harmonic content is a terrible thing to waste!" about 2 years ago. I put rounds on my '50 L-7C and I'm really enjoying them. I miss the zero squeaks with the flats, but playing the guitar unplugged (which is how I often practice on this guitar) is a real joy now. Plugged in, flats sound fine, and feel great. For now, Tim created a round wound monster out of me, despite the occasional squeak.
Roundwounds are better for rock blues and distorted muddy tones despite the similarity in sound between the two types of strings. My solid body roundwound stringed squier jazz bass is very quiet unplugged almost inaudible compared to a hofner beatle bass I had strung with labella flatwounds, a zero fret, and hofner nut that i like playing as acoustic hollow body which actually had some very nice sounding natural harmonics and pizzacato thing Goin on.
Really interesting comparison! I play flats on my archtop, and really love them there, but haven't thought to put them on my one-and-only Tele (a G&L ASAT). Thanks so much for the judgement-free comparison here.
Tim, Thomastiks and Pyramids cost a lot more but they are worth it. They are round core which makes them feel a lot better than hex core Chromes. If you can spend more but Thomastik or Pyramids. They feel and tone make a big difference. Also they are pure nickle.
Agreed! Round core flats just sound beautiful to me, regardless of style. I use Thomastik Swing 10s on everything; my solid body, my arch top and my acoustic. Great feel, great, even, articulate sound and they last forever. Totally worth it!
Over the last year I started stringing my electric guitars with flats and the improved difference is remarkable. I don't play "jazz" whatever that may be. I play rock, R&B, folk-rock, country, blues and stuff that has no name or needs one. Sure, I know how to play lots of chords with fancy names and even use them sometimes, but I don't call that playing "jazz". The pure, rich tone that I 'm getting, not a darker tone as some may think, and the great feel of the low flatwound strings is what I have come to think is he truest electric guitar sound and what was intended for them. I mean, all these classic guitars, Telecasters, Stratocasters, Duo-Jets, Les Pauls, etc. were designed when flatwound strings where what you used on an electric guitar. Contrary to the above, I've been using very light string sets (.008s). This is definitely not what these guitars were designed to be strung with, I know. But lighter strings have better tone to me, more mids and upper- mids, and less boomy lows which you have to get rid of anyway to avoid interfering with the bass, low keyboard parts, and sounding muddy and indistinct. That they are so effortless to play is also a great benefit as it has been my experience that a lighter, more nuanced, sensitive touch produces better guitar playing, at least or me, and touch is everything on the guitar or any instrument. Letting your guitar relax with lighter strings does it no harm at all, and it just may reward you with better response.
I like the flat wounds! Definitely a bit of a fatter and clearer sound. I also found the voice separation to be really pleasant, I feel I can appreciate the individual moving voices and their interplay all the more.
Hi Tim. I don't comment often but I sure visit you as much as i can and learn from your wonderful playing. The flat wounds sounds amazing under your fingers, specially the chords played with fingers! Knowing how skilful you are, I have no doubt you'd even get a rich jazz tone out of a stratocaster if you wanted to so definitely I want to hear more flat wound strings from you because you make them sound so unique and so better than anyone else. 🙂
I honestly started using flats when I played fender bass. I always seemed to have noisy fingers and flats improved that! When I started playing guitar full time and stopped playing bass, the flats made the transition with me. I do play jazz and bluesy jazz and I do love the feel and sound and how quiet my fingers are with them. I have rounds on my Gibson explorer, it may get flats too! Lol
I'm a bassist , I do love flatwounds strings but I do have basses with both. There is an immense difference between brands , round wounds not nearly as much.
I have the same gauge 12to 53 but what I did because I like bending, I threw it away the 53, and move them all down E -42. A-32 D24. G 16 B-12. And put a 10 for the High E it worked for me
Very cool to hear you playing flats. I remember when I asked you about strings a few years ago and you said you didn't play flat wound. I like the sound of the set you have on that Tele. I'd enjoy hearing you play flats on your Tele with the CC pickups. Nice video.
Tim man I'm digging the flats! A tele with rounds always sounds a tad bit more like a fusion sort of thing to me with all those harmonics where the rounds sound very rooted in the tradition, especially when dealing with solo guitar standards which you do so well. Bonus is that rounds on a tele you still get that very clear articulate tone. Rounds on a jazz box often sound a bit too lifeless to my ears but in a tele it's best of both worlds for me. Thinking I'll put a set on mine and maybe rounds on my archtop for a change.
I tried flatwounds after watching a Jimmie Vaughan rig rundown and never looked back. Completely sold now. For that old skool blues, country and R&B tone it’s the answer. T-Bone Walker, Ry Cooder, Luther Perkins
D'addario Chromes are perhaps the most popular flat wound strings in the affordable set range. As you play it, they do have a nice transition. Flats have a quicker decay than round wounds, I think. That may have something to do with your heavy gauge (those dimensions I use on my acoustics). If you tire of the flats, the next step is to use all nickel round wounds.
I’ve tried several brands of flats and chromes are putrid in all ways to my ears. Way too dead and stiff. Anyone who is looking for true flats, look at thomastik or pyramid. - they are superior and the extra cost can be justified by the super long life
I second the all nickle. I usually keep Chromes or DR Pure Blues on my guitars. I'm putting Pyramids on my Tele next time. Had the chance to play them this past summer for the first time and I'm in love.
@@sunsetjunior9313 This is my experience too! If anyone dislikes flatwounds after trying Chromes, they should definitely try any other brand. I love D'Addario for every other type of string.
Years ago someone gave me a set of heavy flat wounds. I put em on a guitar that I kept tuned for slide work. They sounded great. Glassy and smooth. And lasted forever before I had to change them.
Flat wounds on a Tele sound great even when I'm playing mine. Also good for recording on your DAW. thanks for the tip about chromes/flat wound combo. Keep jamming!
I really like my flat rounds and how they feel as well as sound. You demo showed what you described and I heard the separation although as you said, the pickups are different. I’d love to hear a comparison with the same pickup.
That would be awesome. Of course I'll enjoy listening to anything you play, but I'd welcome another comparison and additional commentary. You really describe what we're hearing so well.
The flats sound SO much better in these styles, imo! I'm a little biased, because I have flats on my jazzmaster and hollowbody, and I can't go back to rounds. The feel and sound is addicting. Try to get accustomed to the flat G if you can, if you're not bending, you get used to it pretty quickly. Another option to consider is half rounds, which, as the name suggests, are like half way between flats and rounds. I use those on 335s and it's like magic!
Excellent video! There is a difference between the two, although for the 'normal' listener it might be marginal. I found the best compromise with GHS Rollerwounds (aka Halfrounds) called Nickel Rockers, oddly enough. They come in many gauges, with or without wound G. Another factor is that round wounds don't last as long as flat/halfwounds. Loved your playing on both guitars, I preferred the flats though. Kudos, Tim 👏
You're right about there being more separation between the strings with the flat wounds. Also you can hear more of the pick on the round wounds. Both are not necessarily bad or good things in my opinion. Both sound great.
For my Gibson ES335, I went back and forth between the EXL Nickel wounds and the Chromes. I've finally settled on the half wounds, specifically the EHR340s. Light tops/Heavy bottoms, for me a great middle ground for feel and tone. Thick bass and light trebles. Plain Steel .010, .013, .017, Stainless Steel .030, .042, .052. No wound G. They're getting harder to find and I hope D'Addario continues this product line..
My first set of guitar strings I ever played were flat wound strings over 50 years ago, then I tried round wounds in the early 70’s. Flats are just great for all around strings.
I have flatwounds on my Ibanez 125 Custom with 12s...love the smoothness going up and down the neck noiseless.the lower strings with flatwounds sound more like an upright bass tonally to me which is wonderful..no squeaks at all. The Ibanez is a full hollowbody and the pickups are bright to begin with so it's got plenty of high end. I'm thinking of trying them on my Epiphone Casino which I string with 10s....I have a set of 10 flatwounds and keep thinking they might suit that guitar with the P90s..my ES 335 has round wound 10s on it which I think sound great with a stop tailpiece.
First time watching your channel, and I have a question (because I've been considering to try flatwounds on my D'Angelico semi-hollow): how does bending feel with those strings? Regards, and you now have a new follower!
I played flats exclusively on my archtop for years. Decided to try rounds again a few years ago and I've never thought about touching flats again. It was so strange to hear how much better my guitar sounded with rounds, the benefits far outweigh a little string noise 😅
There is also such a thing as a half-round string. D'Addario makes them, and as you might expect, sonically sound right in between rounds and flats. I tried them and liked them, but went back to rounds mostly because they can be purchased so cheaply in bulk.
Flatwound strings were invented as early as 1874 by Hamilton. The Original Flatwound strings were originally designed to replace the Gut strings on Bowed stringed instruments cause they hold tune better, last many times as long, they're a fraction of the price, & the flat surface makes bowing on the string easier.
Oscar, thank you, here we are talking about flat wound strings as applied specifically to guitar. While your history may be correct as far as violin is concerned, and very interesting as well. I think my audience is specifically interested in guitars and from my research flat wound strings weren’t widely marketed to, or used by guitarists until the late 40’s early 50’s
@@TimLerchGuitar Yes Flatwound Strings go back a long time as a replacement for the Gut strings. It's much easier to play on a Flat Surface, & virtually all of the D'addario Orchestral Bowed Stringed instrument strings are in fact Flatwounds.
It's all i have used for years, but hey, i play bass. Not all bass players use flats. I love that sound. It sound correct to my ears. Sounds amazing on a Tele for sure!
@@marccarter1350 - I switched to flats back in the 90’s on a whim and absolutely loved the sound and feel. Ended up getting a degree in double bass, so that really cemented it for me. I play flats on my 335, but never tried my tele. All my basses but my 7 string (which I never play) are strung with LaBella flats. Love those things.
Every once in a blue moon I put flat wound strings on my guitar. I did this two days ago and took them off within 24 hours. I have used them briefly for jazz on a few guitars but ultimately they don’t work for me. They work great for Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Bruno. But even Barney Kessel and herb Ellis used nickel wrap round wound strings. It won’t hurt to try them. The early fender guitars came out of the factory with flat wound strings.
I put some flat wounds on a tele to try and differentiate it from my other teles. Love them. Flat wounds and tuned down to D hits the spot for me. They ain’t cheap, so I better like them 😊
Great topic - well presented, as always. Nice work. I play a Tele with a Redwood body & Maple neck and a Lollar CC. I use GHS Brite Flats top loaded and I'm enamored with the tone. Just not enamored with my playing.
I like flat wounds on my Archtop. I tried round wounds on it, and it lost the full round Jazz tone I liked, and the flat wounds are a lot of fun to slide chords around on without getting excess noise and squeaks. They sounded good on your Tele, and gave it a wide, warm tonal spectrum. Do you know what type of strings Scotty Anderson uses. I couldn't find out if he uses round wounds or not?
I think if I just had one guitar I'd stick with rounds for versatility, but I have a few telecasters and l like to keep one strung with flats. I haven't used them in a while, but I've migrated to a just fingers right hand technique, and I'm about to put a flat set on my thinline to see how they work pickless. They sure aren't cheap these days, and I think they may be more labor intensive to produce a good set. This video definitely gets across the percussive fundamental emphasis I love about flats. I really like they way they sound for distorted tones too, not just clean jazz tones.
May I recommend SIT flatwound strings. They don't lose their new flatwound brightness as fast as chromes. I think there is some magic in them. I was so thrilled I bought 5 sets
I went from flats to rounds on my Peerless & ES330 , following your advice , but I kept the flats on my R4 , to get that Bluenote sound. Do you still plan a transcription of your Rhumba blues ? around 2’15 I kind of get lost😅! Thanks. For all t.he things you do , take care Bernard.
I keep one Tele with the bottom strings of D’Adarrio Chromes. The flatwound G string always breaks anyway because the core has to be so thin to alow flat windings. Besides the fundamental, the mids and decay are different too. I still dial the guitar in bright so it’s not like the strings sound dead as is often their reputation. Also, 10’s sound great if you usually use lighter gauge sets of strings.
I put a set of half wounds on a jazz box and found them to be a real nice meeting point. Less finger noise and just a little bit of that harmonic control. Going to try them on a Tele next . Love your playing, thanks
I just switched from flats to D'addario rounds after watching your videos. I was trying to get a jazz sound out of my tele, but despite changing pickup height, string gauge, picks, technique, etc, it sounded dead. Coming from this end, I can tell you the rounds definitely sound better to my ears. I tried both chromes and TI flats. I think the flats might work better if you have humbuckers or find a set that is on the brighter side.
Well, I certainly prefer the flats for a clean jazz sound. The attack on the rounds with the pick gives back a little more metallic sound. Of course, it all depends on what the player expects from his own sound. And also on the intensity of the attack with the pick or with fingers instead.
Sounds great, as usual... Flat wounds have more mass for the same diameter, so a little more tension, which with round wounds would result in a brighter sound. The overtone structure is obviously the difference, stronger mid harmonics, and less high harmonics than round wounds. What you might call a woody tone, rather than the metallic tone of round wounds.
12s? Holy cow. I put 10 gauge flats on my semi hollow to solve some intonation issues and I find 10s are a little stiffer than I would like, so I can't even imagine 12 gauge flats.
I put them on everything.. mostly my acoustic guitars.. but also halfrounds on my Les Paul. finger feel improves. piezo pickups lose noise. taking out piezo on acoustics they actually retain high end.. I use a 7k a5 dual rail at the neck end on acoustics and love it. i add a 500k and I use the D'addario.. you want the Half rounds man
Ive been using Monel nickel on my acoustic guitar because they tend to have less overtones and tend to be more fundamental centered. I’m only playing solo guitar these days.
Love flats. Always have. But I like the smaller sizes. 11’s or even sometimes 10’s. But I don’t tune down. Everything sounds nice in your hands. Always. Even if chose to use barbed wire. Shally
Here is a new video with a better more fair comparison ua-cam.com/video/FHxURCrgjwA/v-deo.html
I only play tele with flats and in Dadgad! But I always enjoy a TL video no matter what.
Flats and Charlie Christians is my idea of a perfect Tele. Please try the Thomastik flats if you haven’t. Warmer and more flexible. Nickel, not chrome steel.
Thanks!
Thank you
@@TimLerchGuitar de nada!
I like the flat wound sound for the style I play which is instrumental Surf. It gives it that extra punch on the tank reverb.
If only people knew that so much of the surf sound is in the flatwounds.
When I'm playing jazzy stuff I always use flats. Love that traditional tone. Less string noise esp. when recording the quieter stuff. When I'm rocking or country it always rounds. I want the twang.
Beautiful sound Tim!!! I’m also with you, I learned my lesson not to try to convince anyone about anything in this world unless asked. I use to never tell but only suggest but people don’t take it as educational they take offense. I’m one of those people that are always open to suggestions to make me a better person, player or what ever! Thanks so much for your suggestions and wonderful videos that I truly enjoy! Keep up the great work! 😊
Always fun Tim!
Perhaps a short history of electric guitar strings is an idea who’s time has come.
Yeah Man! Good Share..
I've just recently started my exploration of 'thin-string' jazz guitar ... I'm a life long bass player.
It was a surprise to discover the many mixtures of gauges in the flatwound domain as favoured by many of you noted exponents.
Lovely playing, as always. I bought my first set of flat wounds recently and I’ve been hesitant to put them on my instrument, but you’re giving me courage with this.
I’m amazed how much I like that sound! I have flats on a 335 style guitar and have it tuned B to B. Gives me a fun and different voice to play around with. I never would’ve guessed they’d sound so good on a Tele. With headphones I hear a clear distinction when you switch to the other Tele.
I love flatwounds. I use them on everything; Tele, Les Paul, flattop acoustic, archtop acoustic. I Chromes on all of them.
I have Thomastik George Bensons (lovely bright flats) on my tele + my archtop :)) Love em!
(which are miles ahead of Chromes in my estimation -- having used both for quite a while)
That was a really fascinating exploration of the implications of flats. I'm tempted.
I describe flats as a physical compressor.
I've got a parts Tele I keep in D standard with a Filtertron in the neck and blues special in the bridge. I've added a thicker, high density steel neck plate and it has a Mastery bridge. I always have flats on it. Currently I have 12 gauge Chromes on it now. Considering using Pyramids next time after trying them on a 70s Telecaster at Carter's Vintage. I was blown away by the evenness of tone and super smooth finish.
It has medium/medium high action, similar to Carol Kaye's style. You can really bite into the strings and don't have to worry about buzz.
With the tone knob rolled off a bit, I can use it for a really convincing bass tone through a '67 Ampeg Gemini. I've used it to record a few tracks with a friend for both the guitar and bass parts and it does the trick great. With the neck pickup, you can get super smooth, flat tones. Despite being flats, a bright guitar and amp leave plenty of natural high end in the sound.
If anyone has a a bolt on neck guitar and likes the sound of it, but wants just a bit more of everything, the heavier neck plates are something to consider. I use the Greer Super Mass version and absolutely love it. My stock screws also work just fine. It's been on the guitar for about 6-7 years now and I've never had a problem with it. You have to like the existing sound, but it adds just enough sustain and low end that it's worth it if you want a cheap, easy to do or swap mod that can be undone with no harm.
Variety is the spice of life…..but familiarity is golden when you know what you like. I’ve tried them to….didn’t like the feel but I like the way you tweaked it. I might follow your recipe for spice.
Good to see you.
I have used flat wounds on my Tele and Strat for the last 25 years. Have tried them on my PRS Hollowbody but as yet can not afford the bridge to enable setup and tuning. (One day I'll get totally sacraligeous and get a Bigsby fitted to it.) Totally prefer the sound of your playing with the flat wounds and it reminds me of the strings I use on my acoustics. I use Rotosound pure bronze rather than phosphor bronze for much the same reason. The emphasis on the fundamental rather than harmonic. I found your explanation of that enlightening. I always just knew I preferred them. Never gave much thought to why. So thank you. I play mainly solo guitar/vocals from jazz to country. The owner of my local music shop thinks I'm whaco because I use 12's on my electrics and 11's on my acoustics. For me it just works. Not into string bending on electric.
The figuring on the neck of your rounds-guitar swings it for me--beautiful!
I have flats on a tele and it is amazing. Also use them on all my lap steels in various tunings and on a short scale guitar tuned to E for slide.
Hello Tim, very interesting ! Love your way of playing !
Very interesting points Tim. I think I may try a set on one of my Teles
sounds great, I always wondered about flat wounds on a solid body. I'm gonna try it.
Your True Fire channel is really interesting and certainly helpful 👌🏼
Great vid. I love the sound of flats and need to get a set for my Gretsch.
I love what you're doing with the strings and the different guitars. It definitely changes the output soundwise of both.
I used flats for 20 years till Tim told me "I never use flats! Harmonic content is a terrible thing to waste!" about 2 years ago. I put rounds on my '50 L-7C and I'm really enjoying them. I miss the zero squeaks with the flats, but playing the guitar unplugged (which is how I often practice on this guitar) is a real joy now. Plugged in, flats sound fine, and feel great. For now, Tim created a round wound monster out of me, despite the occasional squeak.
"Ever since I was a little baby, I would ALWAYS be dribblin'!" - Tyrone Shoelaces
Roundwounds are better for rock blues and distorted muddy tones despite the similarity in sound between the two types of strings. My solid body roundwound stringed squier jazz bass is very quiet unplugged almost inaudible compared to a hofner beatle bass I had strung with labella flatwounds, a zero fret, and hofner nut that i like playing as acoustic hollow body which actually had some very nice sounding natural harmonics and pizzacato thing Goin on.
My guitar teacher, who had often played with Barney Kessel, used Black Nylon Tape Wound Electric Guitar Strings.
Now THAT's mellow squared.
Sounds great to me! Definitely agree about the separation.
Really interesting comparison! I play flats on my archtop, and really love them there, but haven't thought to put them on my one-and-only Tele (a G&L ASAT). Thanks so much for the judgement-free comparison here.
Sounds fantastic Tim!
Tim, Thomastiks and Pyramids cost a lot more but they are worth it. They are round core which makes them feel a lot better than hex core Chromes. If you can spend more but Thomastik or Pyramids. They feel and tone make a big difference. Also they are pure nickle.
Agreed! Round core flats just sound beautiful to me, regardless of style. I use Thomastik Swing 10s on everything; my solid body, my arch top and my acoustic. Great feel, great, even, articulate sound and they last forever. Totally worth it!
Last forever, like years.
Thomastiks all the way. You ain't played flats till you've tried these.
There is a difference and your description is spot on.
I keep flats on my Gretsch hollowbody.
May now try flats on some other guitars.
Just ordered flat wounds for my newest guitar (a Brian May Red Special tribute) for playing surf music like I did in the '60s...
So, thanks for this!
Over the last year I started stringing my electric guitars with flats and the improved difference is remarkable. I don't play "jazz" whatever that may be. I play rock, R&B, folk-rock, country, blues and stuff that has no name or needs one. Sure, I know how to play lots of chords with fancy names and even use them sometimes, but I don't call that playing "jazz".
The pure, rich tone that I 'm getting, not a darker tone as some may think, and the great feel of the low flatwound strings is what I have come to think is he truest electric guitar sound and what was intended for them.
I mean, all these classic guitars, Telecasters, Stratocasters, Duo-Jets, Les Pauls, etc. were designed when flatwound strings where what you used on an electric guitar.
Contrary to the above, I've been using very light string sets (.008s). This is definitely not what these guitars were designed to be strung with, I know. But lighter strings have better tone to me, more mids and upper- mids, and less boomy lows which you have to get rid of anyway to avoid interfering with the bass, low keyboard parts, and sounding muddy and indistinct. That they are so effortless to play is also a great benefit as it has been my experience that a lighter, more nuanced, sensitive touch produces better guitar playing, at least or me, and touch is everything on the guitar or any instrument.
Letting your guitar relax with lighter strings does it no harm at all, and it just may reward you with better response.
I like the flat wounds! Definitely a bit of a fatter and clearer sound. I also found the voice separation to be really pleasant, I feel I can appreciate the individual moving voices and their interplay all the more.
Clearer? Gimme a Break!
@@johnsieff2921 gimme a break
@@johnsieff2921 Break me off a piece of that Kit-kat bar!
flat sound good for your style 🎉
Hi Tim. I don't comment often but I sure visit you as much as i can and learn from your wonderful playing. The flat wounds sounds amazing under your fingers, specially the chords played with fingers! Knowing how skilful you are, I have no doubt you'd even get a rich jazz tone out of a stratocaster if you wanted to so definitely I want to hear more flat wound strings from you because you make them sound so unique and so better than anyone else. 🙂
I honestly started using flats when I played fender bass. I always seemed to have noisy fingers and flats improved that! When I started playing guitar full time and stopped playing bass, the flats made the transition with me. I do play jazz and bluesy jazz and I do love the feel and sound and how quiet my fingers are with them. I have rounds on my Gibson explorer, it may get flats too! Lol
I'm a bassist , I do love flatwounds strings but I do have basses with both.
There is an immense difference between brands , round wounds not nearly as much.
I have the same gauge 12to 53 but what I did because I like bending, I threw it away the 53, and move them all down E -42. A-32 D24. G 16 B-12. And put a 10 for the High E it worked for me
Very cool to hear you playing flats. I remember when I asked you about strings a few years ago and you said you didn't play flat wound. I like the sound of the set you have on that Tele. I'd enjoy hearing you play flats on your Tele with the CC pickups. Nice video.
Ok, now I want to hear flats with the Charlie Christian pickup!
You could make anything sound great!
The blue Lace sensor sounds wonderful.
Tim man I'm digging the flats! A tele with rounds always sounds a tad bit more like a fusion sort of thing to me with all those harmonics where the rounds sound very rooted in the tradition, especially when dealing with solo guitar standards which you do so well. Bonus is that rounds on a tele you still get that very clear articulate tone. Rounds on a jazz box often sound a bit too lifeless to my ears but in a tele it's best of both worlds for me. Thinking I'll put a set on mine and maybe rounds on my archtop for a change.
I tried flatwounds after watching a Jimmie Vaughan rig rundown and never looked back. Completely sold now. For that old skool blues, country and R&B tone it’s the answer. T-Bone Walker, Ry Cooder, Luther Perkins
Man you have killer feel!
D'addario Chromes are perhaps the most popular flat wound strings in the affordable set range. As you play it, they do have a nice transition. Flats have a quicker decay than round wounds, I think. That may have something to do with your heavy gauge (those dimensions I use on my acoustics). If you tire of the flats, the next step is to use all nickel round wounds.
I’ve tried several brands of flats and chromes are putrid in all ways to my ears. Way too dead and stiff. Anyone who is looking for true flats, look at thomastik or pyramid. - they are superior and the extra cost can be justified by the super long life
I second the all nickle. I usually keep Chromes or DR Pure Blues on my guitars. I'm putting Pyramids on my Tele next time. Had the chance to play them this past summer for the first time and I'm in love.
@@sunsetjunior9313 This is my experience too! If anyone dislikes flatwounds after trying Chromes, they should definitely try any other brand. I love D'Addario for every other type of string.
Years ago someone gave me a set of heavy flat wounds. I put em on a guitar that I kept tuned for slide work. They sounded great. Glassy and smooth. And lasted forever before I had to change them.
Interesting... I liked the one with the Lace Sesor Blue better. Sounded rounder/sweeter to my ear. Thanks for uploading.
Looking to set up telecaster also for jazz like the flat wound sound great. Vid
Flat wounds on a Tele sound great even when I'm playing mine. Also good for recording on your DAW.
thanks for the tip about chromes/flat wound combo. Keep jamming!
I remember using black, tapewounds on a Japanese 335 way back in the day.
Thanks..yes the flat wounds are fundamentally cool!
I have flat wounds on my Epiphone Casino. I love the sound and the feel.
I really like my flat rounds and how they feel as well as sound. You demo showed what you described and I heard the separation although as you said, the pickups are different. I’d love to hear a comparison with the same pickup.
I’m giving some thought to that, I may be able to do that, thanks for the suggestion.
That would be awesome. Of course I'll enjoy listening to anything you play, but I'd welcome another comparison and additional commentary. You really describe what we're hearing so well.
The flats sound SO much better in these styles, imo! I'm a little biased, because I have flats on my jazzmaster and hollowbody, and I can't go back to rounds. The feel and sound is addicting. Try to get accustomed to the flat G if you can, if you're not bending, you get used to it pretty quickly.
Another option to consider is half rounds, which, as the name suggests, are like half way between flats and rounds. I use those on 335s and it's like magic!
Excellent video! There is a difference between the two, although for the 'normal' listener it might be marginal. I found the best compromise with GHS Rollerwounds (aka Halfrounds) called Nickel Rockers, oddly enough. They come in many gauges, with or without wound G. Another factor is that round wounds don't last as long as flat/halfwounds. Loved your playing on both guitars, I preferred the flats though. Kudos, Tim 👏
You're right about there being more separation between the strings with the flat wounds. Also you can hear more of the pick on the round wounds. Both are not necessarily bad or good things in my opinion. Both sound great.
For my Gibson ES335, I went back and forth between the EXL Nickel wounds and the Chromes. I've finally settled on the half wounds, specifically the EHR340s. Light tops/Heavy bottoms, for me a great middle ground for feel and tone. Thick bass and light trebles. Plain Steel .010, .013, .017, Stainless Steel .030, .042, .052. No wound G. They're getting harder to find and I hope D'Addario continues this product line..
My first set of guitar strings I ever played were flat wound strings over 50 years ago, then I tried round wounds in the early 70’s. Flats are just great for all around strings.
So Cool!!
I have flatwounds on my Ibanez 125 Custom with 12s...love the smoothness going up and down the neck noiseless.the lower strings with flatwounds sound more like an upright bass tonally to me which is wonderful..no squeaks at all. The Ibanez is a full hollowbody and the pickups are bright to begin with so it's got plenty of high end. I'm thinking of trying them on my Epiphone Casino which I string with 10s....I have a set of 10 flatwounds and keep thinking they might suit that guitar with the P90s..my ES 335 has round wound 10s on it which I think sound great with a stop tailpiece.
First time watching your channel, and I have a question (because I've been considering to try flatwounds on my D'Angelico semi-hollow): how does bending feel with those strings?
Regards, and you now have a new follower!
I suppose it depends on the gauge, but remember a flat wound G string won’t bend like a plain G string.
I played flats exclusively on my archtop for years. Decided to try rounds again a few years ago and I've never thought about touching flats again. It was so strange to hear how much better my guitar sounded with rounds, the benefits far outweigh a little string noise 😅
There is also such a thing as a half-round string. D'Addario makes them, and as you might expect, sonically sound right in between rounds and flats. I tried them and liked them, but went back to rounds mostly because they can be purchased so cheaply in bulk.
Flatwound strings were invented as early as 1874 by Hamilton. The Original Flatwound strings were originally designed to replace the Gut strings on Bowed stringed instruments cause they hold tune better, last many times as long, they're a fraction of the price, & the flat surface makes bowing on the string easier.
Oscar, thank you, here we are talking about flat wound strings as applied specifically to guitar. While your history may be correct as far as violin is concerned, and very interesting as well. I think my audience is specifically interested in guitars and from my research flat wound strings weren’t widely marketed to, or used by guitarists until the late 40’s early 50’s
@@TimLerchGuitar Yes Flatwound Strings go back a long time as a replacement for the Gut strings. It's much easier to play on a Flat Surface, & virtually all of the D'addario Orchestral Bowed Stringed instrument strings are in fact Flatwounds.
I use them also for years for high gain Metal. Perfekt
It's all i have used for years, but hey, i play bass. Not all bass players use flats. I love that sound. It sound correct to my ears. Sounds amazing on a Tele for sure!
Agree on bass for sure.
@@lowstringc Many don't. The use round wound which eat the frets. Flats are really not very common on bass or guitar. I loved the sound, sleek feel
@@marccarter1350 - I switched to flats back in the 90’s on a whim and absolutely loved the sound and feel. Ended up getting a degree in double bass, so that really cemented it for me. I play flats on my 335, but never tried my tele. All my basses but my 7 string (which I never play) are strung with LaBella flats. Love those things.
Every once in a blue moon I put flat wound strings on my guitar. I did this two days ago and took them off within 24 hours. I have used them briefly for jazz on a few guitars but ultimately they don’t work for me. They work great for Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Bruno. But even Barney Kessel and herb Ellis used nickel wrap round wound strings.
It won’t hurt to try them. The early fender guitars came out of the factory with flat wound strings.
Hi Tim try also the Half Round DAdarios! The perfect compromise! They ar awesome!
Thats the sound! Funny how the Tele just flowed into jazz, and the Strat sez OK but nope, except.
I put some flat wounds on a tele to try and differentiate it from my other teles. Love them. Flat wounds and tuned down to D hits the spot for me. They ain’t cheap, so I better like them 😊
Love flats especially on arch tops
Great topic - well presented, as always. Nice work.
I play a Tele with a Redwood body & Maple neck and a Lollar CC. I use GHS Brite Flats top loaded and I'm enamored with the tone. Just not enamored with my playing.
😂
I keep them on my es125, but ive had them on my Jazzmaster and 335... i like having both options in reach!
THANKS, TIM ! FLATWOUND
I like flat wounds on my Archtop. I tried round wounds on it, and it lost the full round Jazz tone I liked, and the flat wounds are a lot of fun to slide chords around on without getting excess noise and squeaks. They sounded good on your Tele, and gave it a wide, warm tonal spectrum. Do you know what type of strings Scotty Anderson uses. I couldn't find out if he uses round wounds or not?
I wish I had Scotty's dexterity, he's awesome. Tim gets a great tone and plays so nice.
The flat wounds sound a little more hi fi to me if that makes sense. Thanks for the video Tim.
I think if I just had one guitar I'd stick with rounds for versatility, but I have a few telecasters and l like to keep one strung with flats. I haven't used them in a while, but I've migrated to a just fingers right hand technique, and I'm about to put a flat set on my thinline to see how they work pickless. They sure aren't cheap these days, and I think they may be more labor intensive to produce a good set. This video definitely gets across the percussive fundamental emphasis I love about flats. I really like they way they sound for distorted tones too, not just clean jazz tones.
May I recommend SIT flatwound strings. They don't lose their new flatwound brightness as fast as chromes. I think there is some magic in them. I was so thrilled I bought 5 sets
I went from flats to rounds on my Peerless & ES330 , following your advice , but I kept the flats on my R4 , to get that Bluenote sound. Do you still plan a transcription of your Rhumba blues ? around 2’15 I kind of get lost😅! Thanks. For all t.he things you do , take care Bernard.
I keep one Tele with the bottom strings of D’Adarrio Chromes. The flatwound G string always breaks anyway because the core has to be so thin to alow flat windings. Besides the fundamental, the mids and decay are different too. I still dial the guitar in bright so it’s not like the strings sound dead as is often their reputation. Also, 10’s sound great if you usually use lighter gauge sets of strings.
The flat wound strings sound really warm and full. Might give them a try myself 🤔.
Lerch Merch!
I have been running flatwound 11's on my 2003 Highway One for many years.
I put a set of half wounds on a jazz box and found them to be a real nice meeting point. Less finger noise and just a little bit of that harmonic control. Going to try them on a Tele next . Love your playing, thanks
Live the Tele with CC pickups what are the name of the brand Tele in this video?
I just switched from flats to D'addario rounds after watching your videos. I was trying to get a jazz sound out of my tele, but despite changing pickup height, string gauge, picks, technique, etc, it sounded dead. Coming from this end, I can tell you the rounds definitely sound better to my ears. I tried both chromes and TI flats. I think the flats might work better if you have humbuckers or find a set that is on the brighter side.
Well, I certainly prefer the flats for a clean jazz sound. The attack on the rounds with the pick gives back a little more metallic sound. Of course, it all depends on what the player expects from his own sound. And also on the intensity of the attack with the pick or with fingers instead.
They sound phantastic under your fingers! Or is it the (fender)pickup...who knows, so many factors working together.
Have you ever used a stereo output so the E and A strings or separate from the rest and you can put different EQ or even octave on them
Sounds great, as usual... Flat wounds have more mass for the same diameter, so a little more tension, which with round wounds would result in a brighter sound. The overtone structure is obviously the difference, stronger mid harmonics, and less high harmonics than round wounds. What you might call a woody tone, rather than the metallic tone of round wounds.
Not wrong but change your mind.I love 13 flats but sometimes 12rounds will make the feel/tone.Love your music sir!
12s? Holy cow. I put 10 gauge flats on my semi hollow to solve some intonation issues and I find 10s are a little stiffer than I would like, so I can't even imagine 12 gauge flats.
You just planted a seed in my brain. Hmm - I may try flatwounds on my Telecaster now.
I put them on everything.. mostly my acoustic guitars.. but also halfrounds on my Les Paul. finger feel improves. piezo pickups lose noise. taking out piezo on acoustics they actually retain high end.. I use a 7k a5 dual rail at the neck end on acoustics and love it. i add a 500k and I use the D'addario..
you want the Half rounds man
Ive been using Monel nickel on my acoustic guitar because they tend to have less overtones and tend to be more fundamental centered. I’m only playing solo guitar these days.
I like flat wound strings when I’m using a flat pick but I find them difficult to play finger style.
I have flat wound strings on 3 of my guitars. They have a unique sound and you can still get bite out of them with the proper settings.
Love flats. Always have. But I like the smaller sizes. 11’s or even sometimes 10’s. But I don’t tune down. Everything sounds nice in your hands. Always. Even if chose to use barbed wire. Shally
Tim, a\was the player you went to see who had the flat wounds Kenny Vaughan?
No, although Kenny is great.
Hey! that's a good idea! slap on a set on a 'spare' guitar. I've got one in mind.
Thanks!
Thank you