FelixB
Joined: Dec 05, 2014
Posts: 16
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Posted on Mar 01 2022 03:35 PM
A few years back I had the honor of speaking with Oleg from Messer Chups before a show and I asked him if he was using flat wound or round wound strings to which he replied, "both; it's a mix". I just thought, oh cool and didn't think much about it.
But now I'm wondering if this is something common for surf players? I've never really thought of trying that, but I don't even know what strings would benefit as a flat and which as a round. The more I listen to Messer Chups the more I wonder if he was maybe just yanking my chain. Although it's hard for me to hear the difference, so maybe he was serious. Or maybe he meant that he switches between the two types and didn't mean that he mixed them in the same setup.
Do any of you guys do that? Mix the two types?
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Mar 01 2022 04:53 PM
The old Gibson JS-40 string set had a flat wound low E, and the other wound strings were all round wounds. It sort of took the edge off of the low E.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25682
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Mar 01 2022 08:30 PM
Brian/Danny
I think this should be in the gear area
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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SandBug
Joined: Feb 22, 2016
Posts: 443
California
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Posted on Mar 01 2022 09:35 PM
I assume if someone says "both; it's a mix" that they mean they use each type of string separately, for example; they have several guitars, some set-up with flats, some with rounds. Or they could also mean that they set-up one guitar some times with flats, or sometimes with rounds. It's hard for me to imagine a guitar intentionally set-up with a literal mixture of the two types on at the same time.
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cirecc
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 311
seattle, wa
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Posted on Mar 02 2022 08:16 AM
SandBug wrote:
I assume if someone says "both; it's a mix" that they mean they use each type of string separately, for example; they have several guitars, some set-up with flats, some with rounds. Or they could also mean that they set-up one guitar some times with flats, or sometimes with rounds. It's hard for me to imagine a guitar intentionally set-up with a literal mixture of the two types on at the same time.
Yup, I’m pretty certain that’s what he meant. He uses different guitars, some with rounds, some with flats. That’s pretty common (I know I’m that way).
I guess it’s possible that he mixes the strings on the same guitar, but I feel like someone who would do that would just be waiting to give their lengthy explanation as to why that’s the best idea.
— -Eric
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Mar 02 2022 08:22 AM
cirecc wrote:
SandBug wrote:
I assume if someone says "both; it's a mix" that they mean they use each type of string separately, for example; they have several guitars, some set-up with flats, some with rounds. Or they could also mean that they set-up one guitar some times with flats, or sometimes with rounds. It's hard for me to imagine a guitar intentionally set-up with a literal mixture of the two types on at the same time.
Yup, I’m pretty certain that’s what he meant. He uses different guitars, some with rounds, some with flats. That’s pretty common (I know I’m that way).
I guess it’s possible that he mixes the strings on the same guitar, but I feel like someone who would do that would just be waiting to give their lengthy explanation as to why that’s the best idea.
That’s a good point, if he was mixing flats and rounds on the same guitar, chances are there’d be an explanation inside him just waiting for any opportunity. 
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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FelixB
Joined: Dec 05, 2014
Posts: 16
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Posted on Mar 02 2022 01:53 PM
Well as far as I know he only uses his AVRI Jazzmaster, or at least on tour. He used to use a Jaguar about 12 years ago and he occasionally records with a strat, but 99% of everything they've done has been on the same Jazzmaster.
Hence why I would have maybe thought he could have meant they're mixed on the same instrument. At any rate, sounds like it's a bad idea to try.
Thanks for responding and sorry if I'm in the wrong forum asking this.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Mar 02 2022 03:02 PM
FelixB wrote:
Well as far as I know he only uses his AVRI Jazzmaster, or at least on tour. He used to use a Jaguar about 12 years ago and he occasionally records with a strat, but 99% of everything they've done has been on the same Jazzmaster.
Hence why I would have maybe thought he could have meant they're mixed on the same instrument. At any rate, sounds like it's a bad idea to try.
Thanks for responding and sorry if I'm in the wrong forum asking this.
It’s not impossible that he would. The only thing I would suggest is that you could buy Thomastik Infield Jazz Swing flat wounds individually (I use Strings By Mail) and experiment.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
Last edited: Mar 02, 2022 15:03:24
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FelixB
Joined: Dec 05, 2014
Posts: 16
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Posted on Mar 02 2022 09:34 PM
Good call, synchro. Those would probably blend the best with traditional round wound/round core nickels.
As an aside, I wish there was an American string manufacturer that made flats the old school way.
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dannylectro
Joined: Aug 18, 2008
Posts: 373
Orange, CA
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Posted on Mar 04 2022 06:43 PM
FelixB wrote:
Good call, synchro. Those would probably blend the best with traditional round wound/round core nickels.
As an aside, I wish there was an American string manufacturer that made flats the old school way.
Gibson makes nickel flats now but they are not roundcore like the originals.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Mar 04 2022 06:51 PM
Thomastiks are round core, and feel a lot slinkier, to me.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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