Roundwound vs FLatwound

Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:53 PM

So what are you currently using and why?

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:56 PM

I use flats on my jag and jazzguitar, and roundwounds on my strat. in all cases because they seem to work best with the guitar. I voted flats though becuase Im currently playing the jag most.

WR

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Surfabilly

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
7 Contributor Pins

Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:59 PM

I had to go with roundwounds, since I want to be doing stuff like "speed shifting" and scratch picking. On bass is a different story, since I have two P-basses. String one with flats, and one with rounds...that way I'll have all of my bases covered, for playing things like "Fat Albert Theme," which would sound way better with flats.

Matt

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19354
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:02 PM

Didn't we do this before in the gear forum

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JohnnyMosrite

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 913
New York City area

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:02 PM

Roundwounds for the obvious reasons - more 'ring', brighter sound..etc.
I have flatwounds on some of my jazz axes. But the sound can be approximated by turning the tone control down a bit on a guitar with roundwounds. Flatwounds seem a bit stiffer and slippery at times - MHO. I never cared too much for them.
I guess for the real "THUD" on some surf tunes (like 'Lonely Surfer') they would be the string of choice for a baritone guitar or the FENDER BASS SIX.
Bottom line - a roundwound can be made to sound like a flatwound but not vice versa.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:14 PM

Flatwounds on Two Jags and a Jazzmaster.
Roundwounds on a Gretsch.

If I wasn't playing surf I'd be using roundwounds. Specifically Rotosound Reds although maybe purples on the Jags.

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:33 PM

Brian
Didn't we do this before in the gear forum

Yes, but it wasn't a poll. Wanted to get a proper census.

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1911
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
United States

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:38 PM

Flatwounds on everything - even my Jag VI baritone - I like the way flats feel, and I like the way they sound.

Chris

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"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

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krupanut

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
2 News Pins

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:45 PM

Sonichris
Flatwounds on everything I like the way flats feel, and I like the way they sound.

Chris

Ditto.

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The Thunderchiefs

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:53 PM

All of the above -- flats on my Fender offsets, my bass, my Bronco, and The Sweptwing. Rounds on the Mosrite, Magnatone, Dano Baritone, and most other assorted goofy surf guitars I've got. I even have a sets of half-rounds on my Dano Hodad, though I don't really think much of those strings.

~B~

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BillAqua

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:07 PM

Flatwounds, preferably nickel.

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Klas

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden

Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:29 PM

Flats on everything except the Mosrite.

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T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

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TvD

Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 81
Toronto
1 Link Pin

Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:36 PM

Nickel rounds on everything.

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Trevor von Drat

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Redd_Tyde

Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 260
Oceanside, CA
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Jan 11 2007 06:08 PM

I have flats on my Jag. My jazzmaster an G&L Legacy use rounds. I play the round wounds more becuase of the little things like pick scrapes and slides sound brighter against the round wounds.

-RT

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jan 11 2007 06:16 PM

flatwounds on the Fender Jazzmaster.
roundwounds on the Retrotone Surfmaster.
roundwounds on the Danelectro Hodad.

flatwounds on the Fernandez fretless bass.
roundwounds on the Fender 51 Precision Bass.
roundwounds on the Danelectro Bass6.

roundwounds on the Epiphone Mandobird.

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kick_the_reverb

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 1339
Escondido, CA
2 News Pins

Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:00 AM

Flatwound on my Jazzmaster
Roundwound on my Dano Hodad - but I don't really play it.

Once I got the flatwounds I couldn't go back to roundwounds.
Ran

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The Scimitars

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:29 AM

i forgot to answer the "Why?" part of the question:

i like the roundwounds for their brighter, more aggressive tone. additionally, the roundwounds have a bit more mass and project volume better...especially on bass guitar. on guitar, the roundwound sound allows for DD/Mosrite sorts of sounds and tones.

i like the flatwounds for their smoother, rounder, fuller tone: for surf guitar flatwounds function well in rhythm applications as well as for fluid lead lines. on bass, i prefer the flatwounds only on the fretless...the flatwound fretless has a very unique tone that i find appealing.

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mournblade

Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 328
central Pennsylvania

Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:47 AM

I like rounds, 'cause of the brighter sound. And it's just what I've
always used. . . .

Vince

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Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!?

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Jan 17 2007 10:26 PM

Round for me. Reason: I love nickel-wrap strings; (reasonably priced) flats are always stainless steel.

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SSIV

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Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:53 PM So what are you currently using and why? — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:56 PM I use flats on my jag and jazzguitar, and roundwounds on my strat. in all cases because they seem to work best with the guitar. I voted flats though becuase Im currently playing the jag most. WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
Surfabilly Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 852 Connersville, Indiana, USA	Posted on Jan 11 2007 03:59 PM I had to go with roundwounds, since I want to be doing stuff like "speed shifting" and scratch picking. On bass is a different story, since I have two P-basses. String one with flats, and one with rounds...that way I'll have all of my bases covered, for playing things like "Fat Albert Theme," which would sound way better with flats. Matt — Fast Cars & Loud Guitars! Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19354 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:02 PM Didn't we do this before in the gear forum — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 913 New York City area	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:02 PM Roundwounds for the obvious reasons - more 'ring', brighter sound..etc. I have flatwounds on some of my jazz axes. But the sound can be approximated by turning the tone control down a bit on a guitar with roundwounds. Flatwounds seem a bit stiffer and slippery at times - MHO. I never cared too much for them. I guess for the real "THUD" on some surf tunes (like 'Lonely Surfer') they would be the string of choice for a baritone guitar or the FENDER BASS SIX. Bottom line - a roundwound can be made to sound like a flatwound but not vice versa. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:14 PM Flatwounds on Two Jags and a Jazzmaster. Roundwounds on a Gretsch. If I wasn't playing surf I'd be using roundwounds. Specifically Rotosound Reds although maybe purples on the Jags. Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:33 PM Brian Didn't we do this before in the gear forum Yes, but it wasn't a poll. Wanted to get a proper census. — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1911 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:38 PM Flatwounds on everything - even my Jag VI baritone - I like the way flats feel, and I like the way they sound. Chris — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
krupanut Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 492 Austin Texas	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:45 PM Sonichris Flatwounds on everything I like the way flats feel, and I like the way they sound. Chris Ditto. — The Thunderchiefs Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Jan 11 2007 04:53 PM All of the above -- flats on my Fender offsets, my bass, my Bronco, and The Sweptwing. Rounds on the Mosrite, Magnatone, Dano Baritone, and most other assorted goofy surf guitars I've got. I even have a sets of half-rounds on my Dano Hodad, though I don't really think much of those strings. ~B~ Top
BillAqua Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1054 Chicago IL.	Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:07 PM Flatwounds, preferably nickel. — "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there" https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/ https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/ Top
Klas Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 2310 Stockholm, Sweden	Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:29 PM Flats on everything except the Mosrite. — T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S Top
TvD Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 81 Toronto	Posted on Jan 11 2007 05:36 PM Nickel rounds on everything. — Trevor von Drat http://www.myspace.com/vondrats Top
Redd_Tyde Joined: Apr 23, 2006 Posts: 260 Oceanside, CA	Posted on Jan 11 2007 06:08 PM I have flats on my Jag. My jazzmaster an G&L Legacy use rounds. I play the round wounds more becuase of the little things like pick scrapes and slides sound brighter against the round wounds. -RT Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jan 11 2007 06:16 PM flatwounds on the Fender Jazzmaster. roundwounds on the Retrotone Surfmaster. roundwounds on the Danelectro Hodad. flatwounds on the Fernandez fretless bass. roundwounds on the Fender 51 Precision Bass. roundwounds on the Danelectro Bass6. roundwounds on the Epiphone Mandobird. Top
kick_the_reverb Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1339 Escondido, CA	Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:00 AM Flatwound on my Jazzmaster Roundwound on my Dano Hodad - but I don't really play it. Once I got the flatwounds I couldn't go back to roundwounds. Ran — The Scimitars Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:29 AM i forgot to answer the "Why?" part of the question: i like the roundwounds for their brighter, more aggressive tone. additionally, the roundwounds have a bit more mass and project volume better...especially on bass guitar. on guitar, the roundwound sound allows for DD/Mosrite sorts of sounds and tones. i like the flatwounds for their smoother, rounder, fuller tone: for surf guitar flatwounds function well in rhythm applications as well as for fluid lead lines. on bass, i prefer the flatwounds only on the fretless...the flatwound fretless has a very unique tone that i find appealing. Top
mournblade Joined: Sep 27, 2006 Posts: 328 central Pennsylvania	Posted on Jan 12 2007 11:47 AM I like rounds, 'cause of the brighter sound. And it's just what I've always used. . . . Vince — Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!? Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Jan 17 2007 10:26 PM Round for me. Reason: I love nickel-wrap strings; (reasonably priced) flats are always stainless steel. — SSIV Top

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Roundwound vs FLatwound