Should YOU use Flatwound or Roundwound Strings?

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My take on the classic debate of flat vs round wound strings.
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[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

I have played an archtop with 10 gauge flats and folks did not noticed. I seemed to get away with it unnoticed because I used a thick pick and manipulate the EQs!

[@guitarman4899]

I have used 10s on every electric I have owned for since the early 70s. They are a balanced set which helps the guitar stay in tune. In Nashville studios, tuning is everything . Great video! Thanks Jamie!

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jaguarsunburst1570]

Really Great Job Man.🎸🎶🎸

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you!

[@tunaficiency]

I’ve just gone down to 11’s ( thomastik ) on my John Pisano Eastman sounds the same but feels way better but 50 % of the time I play a silent Yamaha 1/3 of the price and people always ask about and comment on the Yamaha at gigs so that’s an alternative and cheap option for jazz

[@flipmans]

Great video, Jamie. Lots of sensible points!

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks!

[@1400cbc]

Another good one, Jamie. Thanks!

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks!

[@paulgerards6494]

String size 011 or 012, depends on the guitar, the action, the scale lenght, the frets!

[@user-gj3pf8jo6z]

Thank you I appreciate the information.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

No problem

[@russcottee]

All down to personal preference I appreciate, but I've settled for '10 Hybrids' (Rotosound Blues) - fat bottoms, thin tops! 😄

[@paulgerards6494]

Depends on a lot of things: which guitar, what amp ... Flats don't have that much dynamics ;-( Sound a bit "flat" ;-) and very often sound a bit dull too ;-p

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

I've tried it all - flat, round, gold (do these still exist?), settled for Kaman Performers until they went out of business and then returned to d'Addario size 010. I found that guitar synths were triggered better and subtler with Kaman Performers. For my bass guitars it's flatwounds - ghs brite flats for the jazz bass and La Bella flats for the headless. Double ball flats for bass are difficult to find. Thomastik Infelds were a disappointment - they proved brittle and I wasn't overjoyed with the sound.

[@cburgess2805]

The only 10s in jazz go on a Selmac! Anything else is anemic pinging.

[@polkzoo6681]

To my ear flat wounds lack some midrange mid bass

[@marshallplexi]

That Guild with the flats sounded as smooth as a stick of butter floating down a milk chocolate river into a far-away land of golden sunrises and cotton candy. Let me know if you ever want to sell it.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Ha thanks for your comment! It’s a a great guitar.

[@kieran1229]

What was the piece you were playing at 5:08?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Moonlight in Vermont

[@jazzup13]

It’s beautiful! Sounds great 👍

[@Trombonology]

With all respect for those among my guitar idols who got great results with flats, I've never cared for the feel or sound I get with them. They just sound lifeless to me. I mainly play acoustic archtop, which benefits from heavier strings -- in my case, 13-56, with the 13 and 17 swapped out for 14 and 18 -- so I'm used to that feel. Accordingly, on my electric archtops and even my Rickenbacker, I run a standard 13-56; lighter strings just feel noodly for me. Though I'm actually enjoying the ease of playing single-note lines on my brand new Tele, which has yet to be set up, I find the 10s quite awkward for chords on the upper strings ... and I hate an unwound G.

[@pickinstone]

There's still a myth about flatwounds as the "jazz guitar" sound. Peter Bernstein uses round wounds. Howard Alden used rounds when I saw him play years ago. Jimmy Bruno uses rounds, from what I remember. There's certainly benefits to playing flats--but I think it's all about the sound that you are chasing. You can get a brighter sound that can be easier to dial in with a larger combo with round wounds--and more acoustic projection. Flats sound way more even across the fretboard and have no string noise, but they are often a darker sound. A lot of people in the 40s and 50s used rounds and filed them down, like Johnny Smith. There's a certain shimmer and complexity to rounds that you don't get with flats--but it's all about what sound you are chasing... and how you set your guitar tone pot (full up) and amp. I think Pat Metheny ruined guitar EQ for most jazz guitarists. Funny that he usually touts guitarists such as Joe Cohn and Pasquale Grasso--they do NOT sound as dark as him. Then again, Jim Hall didn't sound as dark either and Wes's pop happened because he guitar DIDN'T sound as dark as a bass--his sound was brighter than many realize. But that's a another can of internet guitar worms ;)

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Some great points! Thanks

[@MrPDTaylor]

How dare you question Pat Metheny in any way whatsoever!

[@pickinstone]

@@MrPDTaylor I think that even Pat Metheny spoke about the frustration of everyone sounding like him. Look at the guitarists he's given accolades to--Joe Cohn and Pasquale Grasso--they sound nothing like Pat. If we all liked the same sounds and played the same sounds, jazz would be quite boring--no?

[@simondavid3546]

Passqual grazzo told me he’s a round wounder.., dadarrio la Bella

[@charleshuguley9323]

I dislike the squeaking of round-wound strings in jazz. It's not so noticeable in rock and blues, maybe because it's lost in the noise