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Flat Wound Guitar Strings

zoommutt

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
1,448
I would like to know if anybody uses flat wound strings on their ES- 335 or 330? Thanks.
 

zacknorton

Active member
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
731
I’ve used them on similar guitars. I dont use them on anything but basses anymore.

I’d be more tempted to use flats on an acoustic.
 

Gold Tone

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2002
Messages
6,825
On bass
On Ricky 12 string
On L5 WesMo


That’s it...surely would sound and feel nice on an ES
 

zoommutt

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Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
1,448
I have them on one Ibanez hollow body and they have a warm sound.
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
I had a set on a upgraded Epi dot (same thing, for all intents and purposes.)
Sounded good, but not what I wanted for that guitar.
If you're looking for that jazz thump, they're great.
 

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
I've used them on both. Very different animals BTW. A 330 is more like most Gibson jazz boxes. The flatwounds add instant boom and thump and a classic warm jazz tone. On a 335 they add some more oomph and the top end suffers IMNSHO, because the 335 is closer a Les Paul than a jazz box.

I'd keep flatwounds on a 330 and round on a 335.
 

Desertdawg

Active member
Joined
Nov 25, 2001
Messages
2,057
I have D'Addario chromes on a 225. Nice smooth tones but nothing like the Thomastik Jazz strings n my L-4 CES.

Modern flat wounds are miles away from the 50s and 60's strings.
 

zoommutt

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
1,448
I've used them on both. Very different animals BTW. A 330 is more like most Gibson jazz boxes. The flatwounds add instant boom and thump and a classic warm jazz tone. On a 335 they add some more oomph and the top end suffers IMNSHO, because the 335 is closer a Les Paul than a jazz box.

I'd keep flatwounds on a 330 and round on a 335.

I was thinking about the 330 when I started this thread. Thanks Wilko,I might try it someday.
 

lonesomesheik

Active member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
1,217
I use flatwounds on both ES330 & R4, I wouldn’t change for anything else . Pyramid & Thomastik, depending on the mood, I m going on the lighter side at the moment.
 

vetteman

New member
Joined
Feb 9, 2018
Messages
10
I absolutely love the Thomastik Infeld flatwounds. ( Even though I usually replace the gold colored thinnest 2 strings with D'Addarios.)
 

JimR56

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
I've been using D'Addario Chromes (flats) 11-50 on all of these guitars for years. Never tried the more expensive brands. I'm sure they're good, but I don't feel a need to change.

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My Strat is the only electric that I have rounds on.
 

darkwave

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2001
Messages
357
Wow - that's a beautiful collection you have there. Surprised you're not going higher than 11's on the one with the CC, but I can relate. I've been unintentionally working toward a poor-man's imitation of where you're at: have an Elitist Sheraton with minis and a Harmony patrician which is being converted to dual cut-in blade single coils.

I've tried Chromes on and off on the Patrician but never quite gelled with them. Will probably give it another try when I get those new pickups in it.

- Douglas C



I've been using D'Addario Chromes (flats) 11-50 on all of these guitars for years. Never tried the more expensive brands. I'm sure they're good, but I don't feel a need to change.

J's%20group%202012%20(desktop).png


My Strat is the only electric that I have rounds on.
 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
To my ears (& hands) the Pyramid Gold Flatwounds are the best! Very twangy & lovely and last for months! They use a Core wire that’s silver plated German Steel & way more flexible than whatever string makers use here in the states. The plain strings are the same wire as the core wires. On the wound strings they use a round Wire wrap of pure nickle followed by a pure nickle flat wire wrap.
I’ve had a set on my D’Angelico for about 2 years now and a set on my Elite Casino and always used them on my 1995 Rickenbacker 360V64 12-string.
Pyramid has been making strings for 170 years...!
 
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