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Post by slowpoke on Jan 19, 2006 1:46:12 GMT -5
Yep. Well, after playing roundwounds for a good six years or so I finally put a set of D'Addario Chromes on. I'd been playing Xl11s so the guage doesn't get me too much. I can't bend notes as high as I used to on the G string but hey. My ears and fingers are really happy I switched!
This forum aided toward me doing this so I guess I must thank you all. All these people recommending Chromes... what's next Mickey Baker?
PS. I've been thinking about it... so much talk of his book.
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Post by namaste on Jan 19, 2006 18:42:53 GMT -5
Funny you mentioned this. I have switched back to good old wound strings. But my reasoning has more to do with the material I'm playing. I now have a Tele with a humbucker and it's far more versatile with wound strings and a plain 3rd.
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Post by slowpoke on Jan 19, 2006 21:22:01 GMT -5
that is a funny coincidence
I play in a folk/rock/// band, but I play a semi hollow so it still works. in fact i can get away with a lot more because i don't have to be AS concerned with muting certain strings. i'm not sure why that works that way. but it's a nice change, i might try using a light guage for my G but i'm not sure.
I love the sound they make though, it's very sweet.
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Post by Professor on Jan 19, 2006 23:32:13 GMT -5
I like the way flats feel...luxurious, but I play a wide variety of music, and I need the versatility, so I play rounds.
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Post by slowpoke on Jan 20, 2006 20:44:48 GMT -5
What do you guys find so much more versatile about rounds? I've been playing them for so long and flats for so little that I haven't noticed much restriction (aside from the bending). I find it easier to play a lot of chords but I probably wouldn't like them as much on a solidbody. I do notice that flats have a much more mellow "clean" sounding tone. They don't seem to ring as much. Anyway I'll try these for a while maybe a couple sets down the road I'll switch back for the hell of it.
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Post by Professor on Jan 20, 2006 21:20:53 GMT -5
Well yes, there's the bending, and there's a big difference in the tone. Which is great for jazz, but add in the shorter sustain, and it just makes a totally different animal. If I could have one ES-335 with flats and one with rounds, I would, but right now it has to do double duty.
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Post by namaste on Jan 20, 2006 21:26:26 GMT -5
slowpoke, the flats kinda suck at rock, and they aren't much better in country.
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Post by slowpoke on Jan 21, 2006 15:21:43 GMT -5
So it's all in the tone, then? I don't know... doesn't seem to affect me too much, just seems to sound better. Time will tell.
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Post by slowpoke on Jan 22, 2006 22:45:21 GMT -5
Well, played a gig with the flats last night and now I'm getting a bit of second thoughts. I think I can probably make some adjustments with my amp but it didn't seem to cut through the mix as much. I've got an old fender and I never turned the bright switch on or had very high treble with rounds but with the flats on it was the first thing I changed. So, we'll see.
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mahayana
Member
ballads, small combo stuff
Posts: 693
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Post by mahayana on Jan 24, 2006 18:44:27 GMT -5
I used to use Guild nickel flatwound mediums. Haven't seen them for quite a few years, though.
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Post by namaste on Jan 24, 2006 22:48:12 GMT -5
slowpoke, your comments on tone I think are dead on. I fingerpick, but only with fingertips, no nails. And I also flatpick. So for me, on my solidbody, the RW's are great and really come across cleaner.
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Post by dkaplowitz on Jan 25, 2006 9:44:43 GMT -5
I can't imagine using flats on my teles/strats and LP style guitars, but I use them on my 175. I tried TI RWs (Bebop 13s) on my 175 and the squeaking with position changes drove me nuts. I don't know if it was the heavier strings that caused it, or if it was amplified by the hollowbody, but I couldn't wait to get them off. I'm sticking to either the TI GB 14s or the Swing 13s.
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Post by Professor on Jan 25, 2006 22:37:10 GMT -5
Well, I just bought a new jazzbox, and it's got flats on it now, I think I'll try them for a while, they do feel great.
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Post by slowpoke on Feb 9, 2006 0:19:58 GMT -5
So, I switched back to rounds now. I learned a lot when I had the flats on, it put a new spin on my ears and I think I'll definitely be trying them again. D'Addario makes a half flat/half round string that I think I'm going to give a shot.
I've got Gibson Brite Wires on it now and I'm diggin' em.
How 'bout you prof? Still playin' the flats?
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Post by Professor on Feb 9, 2006 23:56:54 GMT -5
Yes, I am. I'm gona go ahead and keep flats on that guitar, it's just so sweet that way. I have other guitars with rounds.
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