Flatwound Guitar Strings

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[@fngsrck]

But how can we be sure it's not your hat making it sound different?

[@kyranlior1476]

"hatwood" changes your tone so much, i tried using a polyester hat yesterday and my guitar just started sounding so harsh, but it was very bright!

[@nunugutipowerman6266]

Try wearing a condom while playing..it colours your tone so much more

[@Newnodrogbob]

Michael Harper hatwound strings...

[@Dallen9]

It only sounds different to the person wearing the hat. otherwise doesn't effect the sound.

[@1066wastrel]

@@Dallen9 mate, were you not paying attention (or watching on your phone? -schoolboy error) my playing wearing myTilley hat & baseball cap is like the difference between Mickey Moody & Joe Bonamassa!

[@Channel01_T]

I keep thinking that's a clear Strat hanging on the wall... then I realize that the wall is just painted the same color. lol

[@gibsondude07ify]

I 100% see it now lol

[@nsc217]

Haha, after you said something I saw that too

[@TheBigH1975]

one thing I like about them is the reduced screeching when you move up and down the neck.

[@Francisco17Berrios]

What? Really?? I might need to try them out hahaha

[@kittencat8277]

Yeah but they're a little harder to fret like they take a lot more strength to fret

[@custerranch]

Especially on the fast chord changes. Sounds much cleaner.

[@RamMasterRay]

@You Care Too Much They're darker for sure but I kind of like my dead old strings strings before they're too far gone. The wound ones anyway. I always wondered how fun it would be to play flatwould on a fretless.

[@drakewithers3347]

The flatwound produce quieter overtones but noticeably more clarity, especially under distortion. That was an interesting comparison.

[@aangtonio5570]

I just love how "in tune" the flatwounds sound with full chords. Thanks for the video.

[@pdp977]

Well, they seem to make more of a difference than "tonewood" does.

[@tylerlennon9955]

Alcohol really helps you hear the difference in tonewood

[@the80386]

I notice the biggest difference between tonewoods with my eyes open.

[@floydthephilosopher]

​@@the80386*arms

[@RemainIndoors]

weird. I actually preferred the sound of the flatwounds in most of your examples. Great Video sir

[@jth23271]

Remain Indoors so did I! Guess I gotta try them out!

[@autistichead8137]

That’s why I play them! You’ll never go back

[@joejoe5921]

@@autistichead8137 i just bought my first pack of these. lets see if youre right haha

[@autistichead8137]

@@joejoe5921 That’s funny since I wrote that comment I have switched to stringJoy 9.5-46 lights because I have a stat now 😂

[@johnschick502]

The roundwound sounded like it had more overtones. The flats sounded more tight and full.

[@johnwelch557]

Michael is a genius; it is the hat! I play chromes on one copy of all my guitar styles: solid, semi and hollow. Play most genres; chromes work everytime. I do switch out the wound "g" for a 17 plain.... Buy 'em, get used to 'em and love 'em....

[@jandoe2576]

I think this video perfectly shows why we love this channel. I was wondering about that topic a few days ago and this video definitely helped me to make the choice and try them out. Thanks for another great video.

[@donaldhatcher8179]

As a kid growing up many many of the real country pickers used flatwounds on 335 style guitars to get that bottom end thump. It was really an appealing sound. Obviously perfect for jazz, they also worked for that genre exceptionally well.

[@Lex10999]

In the 60's I always used flat wound strings on my Gretsch Country Club Special. (1 model down from the White Falcon). I played mostly Rock but some blues and jazz. They sounded Awesome. I could get that Dwayne Eddie twang sound as well. In the 70's I went to regular strings. Ernie Ball 9's and they also sounded great but I had a 71 Les Paul Custom (Black Beauty). I liked the Ernie Ball regular 9's instead of the flat wound 11's I used to use on my Gretsch. A few years ago I switched to Ernie Ball 10's and really like them, but now since I'm so fricken old, I went back to Ernie Ball 9's as they don't tire my hand as much. I tried 8's but they are way to sloppy, IMO.

[@rav3style]

I have a p90 with flat wounds and I LOVE the sound

[@jcomm120]

Most articulate & kind gear guy♡ Thanks for enlightening us yet again!

[@InsomniacMatt]

This is the last channel I was expecting to hear a Green Day riff

[@mishunny]

I knew Phil liked punk rock music, but yeah, I never expected to hear Brain Stew or anything like that in one of his videos. I enjoyed it.

[@cherrysunburst828]

@hans meier green day - brain stew

[@DIYTFY]

Immediately unsubbed when I heard it. 👍

[@____smith]

@@DIYTFY you sound like a lot of fun

[@DIYTFY]

@@____smith Very true. 👍

[@DragonofLimerick]

knew about flatwound for bass, but that is cool that there is flatwound for guitar

[@JCKnuckles]

I played flat wound on a 6 string years ago. They feel amazing but ultimately I agree with you Phil. Had a similar experience to you. BTW this channel is one of the better channels on YouYube thank you for everything.

[@cromwellfluffington1627]

Been using flatwound for metal for years. Love them.

[@noahtenshen]

In the sixties I only used flat wound strings on my Silvertone. I only played rhythm guitar in my band and I liked them because they didn't have the "squeal/shriek" that round wound do. I still have that guitar and it still has flat wound 13s on it. I never knew the difference about strings so that's all I ever used. I think my older brother, who introduced me to guitar, liked flat for that reason and I never questioned it.They sounded great for smooth rhythm playing. Now I like that string sound on round wound--and also lighter strings on my aging fingers. Flat are indeed more slick. They both serve a purpose. I do suggest trying them out as well. Rock On!

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I've never played flats on guitar, but I had them on my bubinga Warwick for years and loved them. Warm tone, smooth playing, and ridiculously long life. Backing off the tone on that bass would get almost a fretless sound with flats vs the bite of rounds

[@RayTones]

Flat wounds are really good for the sliding slurs you hear in a lot of blues and jazz playing. Like you were saying, the feel of the strings entices you to play differently. You can easily slide (as you noted) over the strings without any string noise. Not really a big deal playing rock or metal, but playing smooth jazz and such in intimate settings at really low volumes it really makes a difference. Also, the wound third isn't very conducive to big step and a half bends and such unless you have vice grip hands. You also noticed that the chord articulation is better with flat wounds, and that again plays into the more jazzy styles. There seems to be some good reasons why the flat wounds were a lot more popular with the older styles of playing, but not so much any more.

[@peteredie9108]

Ive been using flatwounds for blues/phyc and I gotta say I really love them.

[@tonepilot]

Wow, didn’t expect that much of a tonal difference. Cool video. I think I prefer the flatwounds for all but clean.

[@GarryMcNew]

Fantastic informational video! Sir, you just flat ROCK!!

[@moonchild4806]

Hell yeah. As a bass player I have several basses strung with flats. Love them.

[@ukulele666]

thank you for this stuff, exactly what i was looking for, best channel ever xD

[@jularious2725]

Thank you for making a string comparison, I was waiting for someone to make a video, but I doubt anyone could have done better; good stuff. Plus, I enjoyed that Green Day riff at 3:49

[@codymeng1580]

The flatwound through distortion are so tight and chunky holy crap

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

They're great for slide playing too. You can also use them for recording. The Wound G String that these Flatwound String sets have acts as a Transitional String between the Wound Bass Strings & Plain Steel Treble Strings.

[@overvieweffect9034]

at first I didn't like the flatwounds, but I eventually WARMED up to them.... I'll see myself out

[@gastank43]

People get so WOUND up when I tell them I think they sound a bit FLAT... Badum Tss

[@PoliteAF]

Super helpful video. Thank you!

[@AkimboCorndogs]

I used flats for a few years. They sound great and feel great for the kind of playing you do in jazz, and they hardly make any noise at all when you move your hand across them. However, they’re harder to bend and be expressive with, and I like the brighter tone you get for distorted sounds. Half wounds are a good middle ground, you can bend more and get a little more high end, but they’re still quiet and warm.

[@dalepal]

It’s always fun to experiment with different stings. I have never tried flat wounds so maybe it’s worth giving them a shot.

[@BrentODell]

I've been using Chromes for years, they're my favorites

[@atithesnail]

Thank you for trying out distortion, I've watched like 20 videos in the topic and you were the only one assuming someone would be interested in that. :D

[@unclestubs5697]

Yesterday I was reading about jazz and how the Arch top guitars use Flatwound strings and I wondered how they would sound. Today, you do this video! Very cool, they do warm up the sound a bit, I really liked how they sounded clean. Thank you

[@thomasseveroii5093]

I love the sound of flatwound! Might try one of that.

[@JLong-py6mx]

Fett Wey Try all 6!

[@Eventual420]

Nicely done Phil!

[@n9969]

When I started playing I had the privilege of learning on my friends dads 1964 Jaguar which had Flatwounds on it. I used shortly after 12 gauge flats on my 1990 Jackson Kelly and although suffering at first, grew to love them. It was only until I started learning about pick slides that I strung guitars differently. Still love flat wounded strings for certain set ups.

[@0475cmoore]

If my dad were still alive, I’d still be kicking his ass for selling his 60’s Jag and fender amp 3 or 4 years before I started playing! I did get the 76 D-35 so i wasn’t completely screwed!! Lol I remember it having flat wound strings on it! Wish i knew the year! I remember the smell of that orange lined case, and that it was either white or cream with a tortoise pickguard I believe! That would have been sweet to have today but he let it go because he never played it!

[@Krydoss]

Very useful, dear Sir. Thanks a lot for your work.

[@gerryloughran1676]

cool ...flats are softer and warmer ...but got brighter highs ...great info -Thanks

[@johnielolclown1613]

Nice Vid Phill. I always wondered about Flatwound and now i know

[@drutgat2]

And then there are picks. I was very surprised and impressed at how the different ceramic picks made by Tusq can change the sound from bright to 'dark' and warm. Thanks for this.

[@anthonyderosa7730]

It makes sense that they're good for jazz. Very clean sounding.

[@williamcastleberry7338]

I tried a set on my American Standard 2 years ago. Well that's what I have on all my guitars (Strat, Les Paul, Epip Wildkat, Epip Dot, and Grestch )now. And they last for ever. I love them. I play Country , Rockabilly, little Blues and Southern Rock.

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Liked the flat wounds, honestly enough order a set for my Tele . both flats and round wound definitely have their own unique sound

[@mattmanley7118]

Love the channel Philip. I actually use flatwound strings on many of my guitars for slide guitar

[@mattmanley7118]

I have actually been building a guitar and have used your videos as sort of a guideline I love what you do been a fan for years I just don't normally comment on KZbin I seem to miss all your live streams so that's unfortunate KZbin is not too good with the notifications

[@ZacCostilla]

Same here. I have a Godin 5th Avenue with a custom Charlie Christian pickup and I use D’Addario Flatwound Chrome 11s. Slide guitar sounds sweet in that thing! On a side note, I placed the pickup the exact same distance form the bridge as the 5th fret is from the nut in order to really capture all the harmonic overtones and it makes the guitar playing really come alive without having to be super bright. Sometimes rolling the tone knob too much takes too many of the overtones out.

[@gertzpalma]

THANKS, PHILLIP!

[@hjubris]

Love that 24 or 5 to 3 riff

[@SteamvilleQuintet]

Thanx Phil, I wanted to try these 20 years ago but everyone said they sounded flat and awful. That's what I get for listening to metal heads. They sound great and I like to slide barre chords a lot, so there ya go.

[@mfsperring]

That was really interesting. Not something I would have thought about doing. Now Ive got to try it myself.

[@davidsharp9805]

Fab sound and vid. Love flats on all the versions, the fundamental note is punchier.

[@iniquity7]

Great video phil!

[@clemintine99]

The metal tone with the flats was naaasty

[@TheH.W.]

It's always funny to see/experience, that even if you think you're not missing something, Phil comes around with something new, you'd never expect to be that interesting. Well done bro. Maybe cu on TGU#19

[@frankeinstein1570]

The Drop D flatwounds sounded so, so good! Blew the roundwounds out of the water distorted

[@nb3596]

I have the flat chromes on my Fender Telecaster. Got rid of the tele-twang. Also love the feel. I also use only flats on my bass. Great strings. Thanks for the info.

[@gabebarber5813]

Great video, I might even try one next time I’m changing strings

[@themusicman1352]

Very informative. Great video

[@jpllpj9910]

I liked the sound of the flat strings.

[@Synathidy]

I string bend extensively on the top treble strings and know that having my G-string wound would make it less natural for me to bend the f*ck out of my G-string as it is my habit to do. Also, pinch harmonics are a huge element of my own style of metal playing. Makes the choice quite easy for me, but the comparison is still fascinating. 15 years of practice has made me adept at working round-wounds silently. Silencing unwanted string noise is an art, and can be done with determination and patient practice. All in the hands.

[@michaellevine6019]

GHS precision flatwound 9-42, the g in plain.

[@jasonfifi]

on the one i keep in standard, i use a 12 and drop the 52, and add a 9 on top, i'll check those out.

[@jasonfifi]

@@jeffbeck6501 yeah, i switched to 11s in college, and 12s shortly after... if you don't think you can learn to live with a wound G, cop the GHS... because you won't want to switch back to roundwound strings.

[@oldrrocr]

I'll try them. thanks.

[@t.p.sheppard1270]

Put flatwounds on my G&L S-500 with MFD pickups and it changed everything about the guitar to the positive. It seemed to reign in the MFD’s without giving up too much of the high end. I love flats now.

[@jasonfifi]

been using flats on tele for basically every style of music for over a decade. shit's awesome.

[@ExplicableCashew]

I've had a pack of flat wounds in my drawer for a while now. Reason for buying was, I wanted to have less sizzle with higher gain - but I was worried that it would sound too necky and muddy with chords... Somehow I just never got around to trying them. Hearing you chug on these, oh my god. Exactly what I hoped these would be. Brb installing

[@Patbwoy]

Hey, great to hear that you learned how to pronounce D'Addario correctly :)

[@chusamusic1409]

Thanks for this 🤘🤘

[@stephenpouta2801]

My Ibanez Artcore came with D Addario stainless flat wound strings. These strings lasted a Very Long Time. Switched them up for Half rounds just to give them a try. Half rounds are a good balance of round wound brightness/lightness and Flat wound feel.

[@sopanmcfadden276]

Flatwounds sound a touch warmer which is ideal for me. Thanx for the video

[@pierheadjump]

Thanks Phill, ⚓️

[@BessieBopOrBach]

I use flats on both of my currently active electrics (a Hofner semi-hollow and a Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster). I use the .012 set on the Hofner and the .011 set on the Jazzmaster. At their best, they feel way smoother and more luxurious than rounds. I also think flats are a big part of getting a genuine surf type sound on the Jazzmaster. Mind you, I have always used a wound G. I do find, however, that D'Addario chromes stiffen up considerably during the winter. I have a set of Thomastik Infeld Jazz Swing flats on reserve for the semi, but I haven't installed them yet.

[@RumblinMan]

Yo Phil! Great vid is always. Hope you’re doing well man!

[@ColinStuart]

Thanks Phil, I'll now have to try some flatwounds on my Tele. Long way from Black Diamonds.

[@dunlop7rush]

Flats on a tele are magic.

[@simplygreg17ify]

I was wondering about putting some in my MiM Tele as well

[@simonpreston1693]

I'm definitely interested in trying the flatwounds with my single coils.

[@bandicoot5412]

Got 11/50's on the 175, nice strings, play anything on them, well made, more tension than regular round 11's, got to watch that, they make them in 10's

[@drewboy7319]

Great video Phil, I liked the warm, growl of them, I've tried flatwound strings before in a metal band... They were really warm and slippery... Really slippery! and the wound g string kinda thru me off 😁

[@major7thsharp11]

Flatwound strings are sooooo underrated

[@EWT423]

Im using the Chromes too, but changing the g string to a normal one, because it seems to buzz after a short time and the tension is too high for nice bendings. If they are too "mellow", switch your volume pot to a higher one. 250>500 ohm, so you get the high tone back. The sound is tighter, more precise and they are extremly nice to play.

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Flat wound are warm and smooth sounding.

[@marvinhanson9391]

I Love flatwounds on everything

[@micheltremblay4774]

I had some on my Epiphone Emperor "Joe Pass", they did sound great on the hollow body.

[@danieljoustra5662]

your clean tone @548, the chord progression is different/inconsistent with the flat wound vs. round. I love your work! Best Gear Guides on the Net!

[@deanplayer69metalplayer89]

Never tried Flatwound strings before, that sounded pretty good I've got to try some just for the hell of it!

[@rickbrown3426]

I like the flats on that axe

[@duanetalton755]

Flat-wounds were used in ALL the Beatles recordings.

[@trDewy]

Even on the guitars? I knew Paul liked flats/tapewounds on his basses but it would be news to me if John and George used flatwounds too.

[@dysonw869]

I’ve been playing round wounds on my guitars for Beatles stuff. I switched to flats not to long ago on my Epiphone Casino, and the tone is really close to The Beatles tone

[@KCJeffro]

T-Bone Burnett was talking about that in the "Broken Record" with Rick Rubin.

[@Kpengie]

Not true. Only used for their earlier albums, they moved over to roundwounds later.

[@ChurchillCigar]

Only true till about 1965, when they got the Blue Strats. Fender guitars came strung with medium gauge roundwounds (sth like 12-52). The Beatles didn't care ; they were sending Neil Aspinall or Mal Evans to get strings. They got what was available, most likely Black Diamonds or Pyramid strings.George is perhaps the only one showing some interest for "new things". Being friend with guitarists such as Clapton, I guess he at least knew about lighter strings (either getting lighter sets in the late '60s or doing it the "old way", i.e. throwing a banjo string for the high E, switch the other 5 and get rid of the low E). The 325, 360/12 and Gretsch had flats, the Casino also. Can't say for sure what the Gibson Les Paul came strung with. John cared so little it is said by the time of his death, some guitars (either the Casino or the 325, I can't remember) had a mix of flats and rounds on them... McCartney always used flats on his basses. And the Rotosound Tapewounds in 1969.

[@chopperdeath]

I love flat wounds. I use stainless steel strings and the tone knob to get some highs back if needed, and no more string noise.

[@ricksadeck]

Just my experience... I played flatwounds through the 60s and 70s and switched to wound rounds in the 80s for pick scrapes that I could not do with flatwounds. A few weeks ago I switched back to flatwounds...specifically GHS Brite Flats. I couldn't be happier. Blues and Classic rock are effortless. The pedals are less gainy so I get more resolution out of the controls. Personally, I couldn't be happier. Strats, Teles, PRS with P90s and my Gretsch guitars are great. I am using 9s 10s and 11s on my guitars. This works for me "right now". Just my 2 cents. I have to say that they are so much more expensive than I have been used to though...

[@Colhogan06]

I thought the flat wound had a deeper/warmer tone as well. Those distorted licks sounded awesome with the flat wound strings.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Phillip McKnight The Wound G String has a tad bit less tension than a Plain G due to the thinner core wire so that makes it easier to press down.

[@terrymcginnis4633]

hey i stayed with ernie ball for a long time but im glad to have switched to these they are my go to strings now

[@Terribleguitarist89]

Still need to try flatwounds on my guitars. Bass wise I love flats so might be worth giving them a try. Definitely preferred the flats in this case.

[@witeshade]

I actually like roundwounds on my Les Paul for sludgey stonery riffs. With a fuzz pedal it does some very nice things.

[@barneyharding]

When I first switched from playing acoustic to electric in a band, I had awful problems with tuning stability. It may have been poor quality instruments or that my rather heavy handed acoustic technique was too much for the transition to electric. Someone suggested I try D'Addario chrome flatwounds...... It was immediately better!... So much better! I certainly believed that the greater string tension helped me and the wound third felt more resistant to my technique. I don't use them eclusively now, but!!!!! I only ever string my electrics with wound third sets from D'Addario

[@saskscott26]

I would love to hear the difference between the two using slides and if a metal or glass slide would be audibly different. Thanks for the video!

[@danieli.9252]

I put flatwounds on my Ibanez semi-hollow and I do like them (D'Addario 11s) -- however, while working through an online blues course, the bending licks were just too difficult and eventually I broke the high E string on a full step bend. I left the three thickest strings from the flatwound set, and put on the high E, B, and G strings from a set of Ernie Ball Slinky 9.5s. I'm not knowledgeable about this at all, but right now it's working and it stays in tune, and the intonation is close enough (I'm not very good at guitar, so a pitch-perfect intonation is only going to help me so much!). The lack of string noise on the thickest strings is what I like most about the flatwounds.

[@turbo_lover_od]

Thank you!

[@chrislaarman7532]

Me too (four years after...): thank you for this great demonstration! :-) Me, I have always loved flat-wound strings on bass guitars, so I had grown curious regarding non-bass guitars. However, I didn't feel like replacing strings for the test. So I bought a cheap western guitar and later a cheap strat for use with flat-wound strings (Thomastik JS110, not the cheapest). To my taste [matter of opinion] both guitars sound better with flat-wounds, but for "crying" solos I'd prefer round-wounds. I now have these JS110 also on a 6-string banjo and on a resonator guitar. I can recommend these latter changes: the banjo sounds more "focused", the flats on the dobro have made me dabble in using a slide. (As to the basses: I have promised myself to keep some with round-wound strings alongside those with flats, and one currently features tape-wounds.)

[@zanmato86]

Amazed how it sounds in drop d. Lots of low end. Possibly the slightly thicker gauges.

[@brianarguello7576]

Hell yeah dude, they help achieve that sludge more easily.

[@thetonekingofficial]

Good video. On the distortion - the roundwound had more bite. The flatwound sounded a bit darker. I like the roundwound sound better, but flatwound are pleasing to play ... like you said, very smooth. Just not sure they're for rock / metal :-).

[@oldrrocr]

thanks for this Phil. I used flat-wound all through the '60s on a strat clone. think I'll try some on my ULT-339.

[@nerdycatgamer]

I find it harder to distort with flatwounds, though I don't have much comparison because I almost only play my guitar with flats. I just use the natural overdrive from my orange amp to distort and with the flats I noticed that as I turn up the gain it pretty much only gets louder until a certain turning point where it turns 100% distorted.