I tried out Flatwound strings . . .

[rickenbackerkid]

And I like them a lot! They have a slightly duller tone on the wound strings, which means the low strings seem to breakup and distort sightly less, which brings out the chime of the unwound strings.

Downside is that I'm useless at bending them . . .

Anyway, I made a video with before and after so I could hear the flats vs. rounds and also played a song with both. Check it out if you are interested:



Anyone else using flats?

[foal30]

A number of guys use flats on hollow bodies.

[H671]

Most of my guitars use flats apart from one acoustic & my double neck (only because they aren't old enough to change).

[k1w1]

I use them on both my Harmony hollow body electrics, have for years, much prefer the tone to wound strings on a hollow body. They also last for ages longer than wounds.

[rickenbackerkid]

H671, k1w1, do they get a lot duller? I was surprised how bright they sounded right out the packet. Also, have you guys tried out various brands? Is it worth shelling out for Pyramids or other fancy brands?

[Single coil]

Flats on bass yes

[k1w1]

H671, k1w1, do they get a lot duller? I was surprised how bright they sounded right out the packet. Also, have you guys tried out various brands? Is it worth shelling out for Pyramids or other fancy brands?

They lose a bit of the brightness over the first few months but then seem to level off and stay the same for ages. I have had the same set on my Airline H70 for 18 months, still sound good. I just wipe down after playing and occasionally Fast Fret.

I used Pyramids initially, but tried D'Addario Chromes a few years back and they are fine and half the price, so use them now.

[H671]

I use D'adario as well and they last forever. I only change then if I have issues when tuning. Like rounds, they a bit brighter when new, but then settle down to a nice warmth.

[H671]

I forgot to say that some of mine have been on for over 5 years.

[telefiend]

The flats sound good! Seems like they better suit the brighter Rick pickups to my ears. Going to try some out on my Esquire I think.

Also, sweet guitar! Would love a Rickenbacker one day.

[rickenbackerkid]

I really love my Ric tim/ null_pointer was selling a 650 not long ago for an amazing price, not sure if he still has it. I wanted it but too many kids, not enough work, too much mortgage and so on!

[telefiend]

I really love my Ric tim/ null_pointer was selling a 650 not long ago for an amazing price, not sure if he still has it. I wanted it but too many kids, not enough work, too much mortgage and so on!

I was tempted by it too, but holding out for a Fireglo 330 or 620

[StrummersOfThunder]

Right, first of all great clip!
I agree with you in terms of the sound separation unwound upper to lower strings when using flats.
To me they sound a little more compressed , they maybe loose some of that new round wound mid focused 'zzzzzing' (in a good way) ?
Secondly, what a great ric. Sounds epic. And totally suits the flats.
Nice one

[rickenbackerkid]

Secondly, what a great ric. Sounds epic. And totally suits the flats.

shout out to @Eurera and @Conway who passed it on down though the NZG! For some reason this guitar just works for me, inspite of and maybe because of it's quirks.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Secondly, what a great ric. Sounds epic. And totally suits the flats.

shout out to @Eurera and @Conway who passed it on down though the NZG! For some reason this guitar just works for me, inspire of and maybe because of it's quirks.

This exactly.
I really dig rics. They have their own thing going on but they feel rock solid, and have a great balance of bit and jangle. Plus I've always liked the look. More of a sunburst fan but that jetglow looks rad.