Restringing Flatwounds

Joined: Nov 05, 2021
Posts: 62

Posted on Jan 17 2023 03:43 AM

This might be a really silly question but I thought here would be a great place to ask

When you’re putting Flatwound strings on your guitars are they any different to restring compared to roundwounds? Any considerations to have in mind?

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Jan 17 2023 05:07 AM

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:52:19

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futureboy

Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 115
East Coast
United States

Posted on Jan 17 2023 08:47 AM

If your guitar is mostly set up then it should be a breeze. Sometimes flatwounds don't take the loss of tension too well if you have to shim your neck. Do set up work on cheaper strings for the most part.

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Jan 17 2023 09:15 AM

You may have to adjust the intonation if you have changed string sizes or switched from unwound to wound g string.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Jan 17 2023 12:57 PM

Yeah, you DEFINITELY need to pull your g string saddle way forward if it's going from plain to wound.

As for stringing them up, here's a tangential bit of widsom: On Fender's safety type split posts, you sometimes get slippage of the string. A great way to prevent this is to do one of your wraps around a single side of the post only, then continue as normal.

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DaveMudgett

Joined: Mar 17, 2019
Posts: 162
Central PA
United States

Posted on Jan 18 2023 12:12 AM

Be aware that with some flatwound strings, the windings can unwind pretty badly if you cut the string and don't bend it properly. These brands generally have a stern warning about that - if that's the deal, follow the instructions carefully.

And definitely - if you're going from a plain to a flatwound 3rd G string, you'll need to pull the saddle forward. If you're already using a wound 3rd, it might need some adjustment, but not nearly as much if it's properly intonated now. You may also need to adjust the saddles on other strings. Depending on the difference in tension, you might also need to make a truss rod adjustment. None of this is automatic - you need to evaluate your own particular situation and react accordingly.

—

The Delverados - surf, punk, trash, twang - Facebook
Chicken Tractor Deluxe - hardcore Americana - Facebook and Website
The Telegrassers - semi-electric bluegrass/Americana - Facebook

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jan 18 2023 01:00 PM

I would only echo InkEye and Mr. Mudgett.

I use Thomastik strings, whether flat-wound or round-wound. Thomastiks are not cheap, but they last well, sound fantastic and are all-around great strings. When I am setting up a new instrument, I use less expensive strings of similar gauge, until I know that I’m not going to be tearing into the guitar, and having to remove the strings.

It’s easy to break a flat-wound string if you kink it, or cut it improperly. I use the lock-back method, so I lock string under the first wrap, and I don’t cut the string until it is locked. I try to have less than one full wrap on the machine head, which I feel promotes tuning stability, but also makes it impossible to remove and reinstall a string.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Last edited: Jan 28, 2023 14:27:18

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dontrunfrombears

Joined: Nov 05, 2021
Posts: 62

Posted on Jan 18 2023 02:29 PM

Thanks for the tips guys, was thinking Thomastiks

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jan 18 2023 02:34 PM

dontrunfrombears wrote:

Thanks for the tips guys, was thinking Thomastiks

Good thinking.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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dontrunfrombears

Joined: Nov 05, 2021
Posts: 62

Posted on Jan 28 2023 01:56 PM

Got myself some TI flats, they sound amazing on my Jazzmaster

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4549
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jan 28 2023 02:27 PM

dontrunfrombears wrote:

Got myself some TI flats, they sound amazing on my Jazzmaster

Not surprised.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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dontrunfrombears Joined: Nov 05, 2021 Posts: 62	Posted on Jan 17 2023 03:43 AM This might be a really silly question but I thought here would be a great place to ask When you’re putting Flatwound strings on your guitars are they any different to restring compared to roundwounds? Any considerations to have in mind? Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Jan 17 2023 05:07 AM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:52:19 Top
futureboy Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 115 East Coast	Posted on Jan 17 2023 08:47 AM If your guitar is mostly set up then it should be a breeze. Sometimes flatwounds don't take the loss of tension too well if you have to shim your neck. Do set up work on cheaper strings for the most part. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Jan 17 2023 09:15 AM You may have to adjust the intonation if you have changed string sizes or switched from unwound to wound g string. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Jan 17 2023 12:57 PM Yeah, you DEFINITELY need to pull your g string saddle way forward if it's going from plain to wound. As for stringing them up, here's a tangential bit of widsom: On Fender's safety type split posts, you sometimes get slippage of the string. A great way to prevent this is to do one of your wraps around a single side of the post only, then continue as normal. Top
DaveMudgett Joined: Mar 17, 2019 Posts: 162 Central PA	Posted on Jan 18 2023 12:12 AM Be aware that with some flatwound strings, the windings can unwind pretty badly if you cut the string and don't bend it properly. These brands generally have a stern warning about that - if that's the deal, follow the instructions carefully. And definitely - if you're going from a plain to a flatwound 3rd G string, you'll need to pull the saddle forward. If you're already using a wound 3rd, it might need some adjustment, but not nearly as much if it's properly intonated now. You may also need to adjust the saddles on other strings. Depending on the difference in tension, you might also need to make a truss rod adjustment. None of this is automatic - you need to evaluate your own particular situation and react accordingly. — The Delverados - surf, punk, trash, twang - Facebook Chicken Tractor Deluxe - hardcore Americana - Facebook and Website The Telegrassers - semi-electric bluegrass/Americana - Facebook Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4549 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jan 18 2023 01:00 PM I would only echo InkEye and Mr. Mudgett. I use Thomastik strings, whether flat-wound or round-wound. Thomastiks are not cheap, but they last well, sound fantastic and are all-around great strings. When I am setting up a new instrument, I use less expensive strings of similar gauge, until I know that I’m not going to be tearing into the guitar, and having to remove the strings. It’s easy to break a flat-wound string if you kink it, or cut it improperly. I use the lock-back method, so I lock string under the first wrap, and I don’t cut the string until it is locked. I try to have less than one full wrap on the machine head, which I feel promotes tuning stability, but also makes it impossible to remove and reinstall a string. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Last edited: Jan 28, 2023 14:27:18 Top
dontrunfrombears Joined: Nov 05, 2021 Posts: 62	Posted on Jan 18 2023 02:29 PM Thanks for the tips guys, was thinking Thomastiks Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4549 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jan 18 2023 02:34 PM dontrunfrombears wrote: Thanks for the tips guys, was thinking Thomastiks Good thinking. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
dontrunfrombears Joined: Nov 05, 2021 Posts: 62	Posted on Jan 28 2023 01:56 PM Got myself some TI flats, they sound amazing on my Jazzmaster Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4549 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jan 28 2023 02:27 PM dontrunfrombears wrote: Got myself some TI flats, they sound amazing on my Jazzmaster Not surprised. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top

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Restringing Flatwounds