What Is The Point Of Flat Wound Guitar Strings?

What Is The Point Of Flat Wound Guitar Strings? I got a set to compare to the round wound strings that were already on my Gretsch Ratrod.
Can you hear a difference?
Playing through a Supro Amulet 12.
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#guitar #rockabilly #gretsch

[@gringogreen4719]

There are also an in-between style called "Half Rounds." I have a guitar with GHS Eric Johnson signature that are Half Rounds and D'Addario also makes a similar set. The other thing is you can roll your tone about halfway back and get a similar sound from round wounds. Different strokes for different folks, my experience is not better or worse, just different. I do love flatwounds on my electric bass. I have DRs on that one. Does the James Jameson sound really well! 😎✨✨ Edit: sound wise rolling your tone back halfway gets the sound. Feel wise the flats feel very different.

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

I have never tried half rounds! I’ll have to check that out

[@gringogreen4719]

@@DEATHRAYCAT D'Addario EHR350 is the set. Feel wise it's probably a bit closer to flatwounds. Sound wise they are a bit brighter than flats. They definitely should be in your wheelhouse Nico. 😉👍✨

[@tincantroubadour]

I run flatwound 11's on all my Gretsch guitars. I love them!

[@james-rogers]

Dadarrio xl chromes flatwounds 10-48 on my gretsch, smooth as silk, slides like butter! 😍😍

[@Oxmyx01]

I have them on all my boxes. I buy the three sets in one box from Amazon. I also keep a good supply of single 9's, 10's and 11's so I don't have to burn a whole set if the high E breaks.

[@ericjames7680]

Just got the Vince Ray 'DEATHRAYCAT' T-shirt, looks GREAT!!

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Eyy thanks for getting it Eric!

[@roughcutguitars]

Apologies if you made this clear and I missed it, but the too 2 strings feeling stiffer/ harder to bend is because you went up a guage. It's nothing to do with flatwound because the top strings are the same as in a round set. The important thing to know with the wound strings in a flat set is they have more weight and so put more tension on the neck than rounds because there's more material. This is easier to picture and remember when you think of the U.K. term for them: 'tape-wound /'ribbon- wound'.

[@superuser13]

I tried flat wounds for a while, went back to good ol regular slinky's at less than half the price.

[@rockitMiC]

D’Addario XL Chromes 13-56 Flat Wound on my Gretsch and all my other guitars. They sound good from the beginning and last years that way!

[@edwither8284]

😊 sounds great I like it. I think it's more about the feel.I once put the same set of TI flats on my Ibanez Artcore.I liked them,great for jazz.personally I want my Gretsch to sound as bright as possible so these days I use DR,hi beams.

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

The tone is warmer to me, less top end as you said. For a hollow body though even with rounds I’d be going with 11s or 12s, rather than 10s. Having said that on my solid bodies I use Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky strings, 9-46 as I like the lighter non wound high end, and heavy-ish wound strings 🤷‍♂️

[@paulhasenauer4166]

The flatwounds sound bassier, dryer to me, but I like the others too though, I could honestly listen to you play on anything for hours!!👍☠️😎🎸🎼

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Thanks very much!

[@TheoAndHisPedals]

What surprised me here was that there was a lot LESS difference than I thought there would be. However I wonder if that changes over time. I’ve noticed on bass that fresh flats sound pretty bright initially but dull pretty quick (which is often what people want).

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Good point!

[@Morlock68]

Nice bit of Magic Sam tossed in there.

[@simonrobson5844]

Had them on my 175 and stromberg master 400 copy (both built by Alan Brason of Whitley bay) also on ibanez George benson. Dull and lifeless. Had to come off. Round wound rotosounds 👍🏿

[@gregmock6808]

I truly believe flatwounds save fret wear and reduce string noise sliding up ahd down the neck. Roundwounds are easier to bend...I keep flats on my archtop and 335 and roundwounds on my tele and strat

[@seanmiller7187]

Flat wound strings on an electric 12-string are an absolute must. They get rid of most of the unnecessary overtones and focus the sound on the octave. All the famous electric 12 songs from the 60's used flats.

[@BrideofFrankenrock]

Stalkin’ sounding good man! Can i put in a request for Jackie Lee Cochran’s “She Rocks Me?” Thanks for all the lessons!

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Thanks for watching! I’ll check the tune out

[@Cloakdagger639]

Rounds sound like the have a little more attack or pop on the beginning of the note Lil more percussive. I know when it comes to slides flats don't give off that shriek rounds do an there's easier on the fingers so I mean it depends on the player

[@danpugatch]

I've tried a handful of flats. I like the sound of Thomastik and Pyramid but they are too stiff for me. I didn't care for Daddrio flats as much but gonna try em again on my Gretsch as I have a different amp now which is a little bright with pure nickels... Used to use DR a good decade ago on a tele. Gonna try the Ernie Balls next. I play 9s on my Gretsch and 11s on my Dreadnought due to hand/wrist injuries.

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Thanks for sharing! There are lots of different sets to try

[@danpugatch]

​@@DEATHRAYCATI put Dadarrio flatwound 10s on and digging em, it's fun to switch it up every now and then

[@toxkatz885]

Am with you, been playing flats on my gretsch for a while now, seems a more old skool tone , nicer feeling and seem to keep fresher for longer maybe because they keep cleaner for longer ?

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Definitely a different feel! Not better or worse but it’s nice to change things up

[@badcatsebastian]

When you add fuzz or more gain, the difference in sound gets more apparent. Ernie Ball makes these new cobalt flatwounds and the 3rd string is plain.

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

I will have to try that!

[@johndodson4527]

I sand my strings down a bit

[@oussamabadri1027]

One days it's possible too make video for open tunning

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Nice idea! I made a quick guide to slide guitar a while back in open g

[@oussamabadri1027]

​@@DEATHRAYCAT you are the best I'm looking forward to it 🙏🏾

[@Macfly30580]

Gretsch mania 😊😊 merci beaucoup 🎉

[@ChipMc]

Taking advice from Jonny can be expensive. 😂

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

We’re all just as bad as each other! 😂

[@Morlock68]

Nico, what is the song you are playing at 6:22. I know it but can’t place the title.

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

That’s Stalkin’ by Duane Eddy !

[@danielktdoranie]

Weren’t flat wound the the only choice for electric guitars for a long time, or am I mistaken?

[@user-vv7hb8ok2f]

it's a feel thing.

[@bobowrathsovine.]

Over $30 for just one set of strings. No thanks. I can get at least 5 sets of SIT 10-52 for that.

[@randallhaney7909]

"Can you hear a difference?" .. Nope not at all, And if there was a difference? It wasn't enough to matter. Did you feel enough difference for it to matter?

[@DEATHRAYCAT]

Listening back, the difference is minimal. In the room there was more difference but that could be me hearing the strings acoustically on the guitar at the same time as the amp. The feel on the fingers is much different though. Not better or worse, just different!

[@randallhaney7909]

@@DEATHRAYCAT Thanks for the reply DRC. It's appreciated... Most don't bother to reply. yeah Man; I get it. Especially with a semi-hollow body guitar. You can feel the natural resonance; of the guitar, As well as hearing the guitar sound the amp. is creating. While the audience only hears the sound supplied by the amp.