Tim Lerch - Have I Been Wrong About Flat Wound Strings for Jazz Blues Telecaster Sounds?

[@TimLerchGuitar]

Here is a new video with a better more fair comparison kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHnbhoV5p8ydraM

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

I only play tele with flats and in Dadgad! But I always enjoy a TL video no matter what.

[@AndyMurdzek]

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.

[@KozmykJ]

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.

[@lawrsvanvalkenburg]

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.

[@narta11]

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.

[@asyncawaited]

If only people knew that so much of the surf sound is in the flatwounds.

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

I love flatwounds. I use them on everything; Tele, Les Paul, flattop acoustic, archtop acoustic. I Chromes on all of them.

[@keefewn9]

Yeah Man! Good Share..

[@wrm90]

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.

[@rabokarabekian409]

My guitar teacher, who had often played with Barney Kessel, used Black Nylon Tape Wound Electric Guitar Strings. Now THAT's mellow squared.

[@analogblues9606]

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! 😊

[@Jazman342]

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.

[@jeffcaldwell2544]

The figuring on the neck of your rounds-guitar swings it for me--beautiful!

[@davidmcguirt7674]

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.

[@jadeowenhamblyn4405]

That was a really fascinating exploration of the implications of flats. I'm tempted.

[@GIBKEL]

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.

[@MatthewJBell]

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.

[@fivewattworld]

Always fun Tim!

[@TimLerchGuitar]

Perhaps a short history of electric guitar strings is an idea who’s time has come.

[@Glicksman1]

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.

[@IsaacOtto]

I have Thomastik George Bensons (lovely bright flats) on my tele + my archtop :)) Love em!

[@IsaacOtto]

(which are miles ahead of Chromes in my estimation -- having used both for quite a while)

[@zummo61]

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.

[@tyroneshuz]

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.

[@effsixteenblock50]

"Ever since I was a little baby, I would ALWAYS be dribblin'!" - Tyrone Shoelaces

[@jeremypoythress4995]

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.

[@chrislancaster7162]

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

[@kenfehr6738]

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

[@BarneysBullit]

Thanks!

[@TimLerchGuitar]

Thank you

[@BarneysBullit]

@@TimLerchGuitar de nada!

[@hcharton5722]

sounds great, I always wondered about flat wounds on a solid body. I'm gonna try it.

[@oldrrocr]

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!

[@OssianEMills]

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.

[@TresSeaver]

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.

[@berndkoelbl3852]

Hello Tim, very interesting ! Love your way of playing !

[@davidmazza3898]

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

[@jamesgretsch4894]

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.

[@dimaug5]

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!

[@MVos-md3rp]

Last forever, like years.

[@timgant7141]

Thomastiks all the way. You ain't played flats till you've tried these.

[@MecchaKakkoi]

Sounds great to me! Definitely agree about the separation.

[@VitalBigras]

Your True Fire channel is really interesting and certainly helpful 👌🏼

[@MrBobcatsband]

Very interesting points Tim. I think I may try a set on one of my Teles

[@boogiewoogie9770]

Great vid. I love the sound of flats and need to get a set for my Gretsch.

[@martinlicht1969]

I remember using black, tapewounds on a Japanese 335 way back in the day. Thanks..yes the flat wounds are fundamentally cool!

[@voracion]

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.

[@johnsieff2921]

Clearer? Gimme a Break!

[@voracion]

@@johnsieff2921 gimme a break

[@m.charron]

@@johnsieff2921 Break me off a piece of that Kit-kat bar!

[@sega62s]

flat sound good for your style 🎉

[@michaelblaney4461]

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.

[@omwilsonow]

I love what you're doing with the strings and the different guitars. It definitely changes the output soundwise of both.

[@hog7203]

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.

[@ugmodude]

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!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

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.

[@TimLerchGuitar]

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

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@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.

[@genebrenner855]

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.

[@sunsetjunior9313]

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

[@wrm90]

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.

[@wrxguyusa]

@@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.

[@chrismudd9342]

Ok, now I want to hear flats with the Charlie Christian pickup! You could make anything sound great!

[@samstamos427]

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..

[@timothydaniels504]

I have flat wounds on my Epiphone Casino. I love the sound and the feel.

[@BrentStuder]

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.

[@TimLerchGuitar]

I’m giving some thought to that, I may be able to do that, thanks for the suggestion.

[@BrentStuder]

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.

[@gertzpalma]

THANKS, TIM ! FLATWOUND

[@texasfrets]

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.

[@ricklanders]

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!

[@alanwebbguitar]

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.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

Sounds fantastic Tim!

[@papamilo2671]

Not wrong but change your mind.I love 13 flats but sometimes 12rounds will make the feel/tone.Love your music sir!

[@frantisca]

Interesting... I liked the one with the Lace Sesor Blue better. Sounded rounder/sweeter to my ear. Thanks for uploading.

[@billbones1000]

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.

[@BradRocker]

The blue Lace sensor sounds wonderful.

[@bobstrickland4223]

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.

[@rooguitar]

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. 🙂

[@GaryHavens-q7w]

Looking to set up telecaster also for jazz like the flat wound sound great. Vid

[@MrMewsique]

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

[@robertbright2057]

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.

[@kgramckow]

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.

[@CAGED1702]

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 👏

[@gregmock6808]

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.

[@billnelson9413]

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.

[@philmaz14]

Man you have killer feel!

[@bjunk5344]

Live the Tele with CC pickups what are the name of the brand Tele in this video?

[@borisfahr5619]

I use them also for years for high gain Metal. Perfekt

[@VictorscherrerBrasil]

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!

[@TimLerchGuitar]

I suppose it depends on the gauge, but remember a flat wound G string won’t bend like a plain G string.

[@foxythepirate98wolfgangh20]

There's something about jazz (traditional jazz, not prog rock, shred jazz, etc.) that just seems to not be jazz without flats. I'm sure there will be others who will disagree. But hey, that's ok. This is the first time I've heard a Tele (and I've had mine since I bought it new in 1965) with flats and while I've heard players play jazz with rounds on a Tele, using flats just makes the Tele more of a jazz box to my ear.

[@josecorisco1]

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.

[@marccarter1350]

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!

[@lowstringc]

Agree on bass for sure.

[@marccarter1350]

@@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

[@lowstringc]

@@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.

[@bronzewand]

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 😅

[@mlowack]

They sound phantastic under your fingers! Or is it the (fender)pickup...who knows, so many factors working together.

[@roscius6204]

Flats on one Strat I buy a heavy set move them up and put a 9 on the E and a Maton DC545 firstly because it has a bigsby on a wooden bridge and then found it responded better harmonically especially with regard to feedback. Always on all basses. as a guitarist it's so much nicer to play and I like the mellow attack/lack zxing They're just different, I'd highly recommend trying. Also the definitely last way longer. offsets the initial cost.

[@TheMusicalEvents]

I greatly prefer the flat wounds in this video... thanks for the comparison

[@picksalot1]

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?

[@larrydering1598]

I wish I had Scotty's dexterity, he's awesome. Tim gets a great tone and plays so nice.

[@the_nondrive_side]

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

[@patpuckett240]

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

[@BwanaTube]

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.

[@xti2020]

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 😊

[@MsDaydream]

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.

[@Aquiiin]

Are there flat wounds with coating like the new XS series? I have a nickel allergy..

[@christopherquattromusic]

I keep them on my es125, but ive had them on my Jazzmaster and 335... i like having both options in reach!

[@Bflatest]

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

[@AZCobraman]

I play bottleneck and love my flatwound 12s.

[@davidroyek5102]

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.

[@greekflatpicker]

😂

[@graemeelliott4147]

I tend to swap between Thomasik Swing (flat wound) and Beebop (round wound) strings, all 11 gauge. Never settled on either but like both, so have a guitar with each.

[@my_tube9405]

In case anyone doesn't know there are also halfwounds. A mix of the two. I believe D'Addario makes some.

[@Quimpersound]

I keep a set of flat wounds on my Asher T and a Gretsch 5120 I can't hear them any differently.

[@BushidoPhoto]

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.

[@dons5641]

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.

[@tompidgeon3548]

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.

[@worthmoremusic]

Love flat wounds and the prefer the wound G string...just more comfy, softer and quieter as you move up/down the fretboard. Sadly they're twice the price...but I do believe they last longer than round wounds.

[@josephboyle7444]

Flats vs round is like Rhodes vs Steinway. different. Cutting down on the harmonic content of the individual notes allows the player to add harmonic content in a controlled way with chord voicings. It's one of the reasons traditional jazz players like clean amps and darker tones.

[@pisatel7845]

Please let me know what tele model you have.

[@bernardparent8340]

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.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

I've installed flats of various makes (D'Addario Chromes, LaBella Jazz Flats, Thomastik Jazz Swing) on 6-7 different guitars, over the years, but they never seem to stay on longer than a week. I love the left-hand feel, and the utter silence under the left hand fingertips. I also really like the strong, even fundamental tone when using a pick. However, as I play almost exclusively Fingerstyle, I find the base notes (played by the flesh of the thumb) too weak and indistinct. Without a pick, there's just too little transient, or "attack," to the sound, and the bassline becomes textureless and hard to hear. I also like chunks in my peanut butter, and croutons on my salad.

[@shallyshal1]

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

[@jeffhildreth9244]

I have been running flatwound 11's on my 2003 Highway One for many years.

[@jasonstacey9460]

Lately i cant seem to decide between a wound or unwound g string. On my 6119. Seems like trading one problem for anouther.