Flatwound String Options

[JVG]

.
FLATWOUND STRING OPTIONS

This list started out for my own use, as I was flicking back and forth between webpages while researching options - I’m always interested In trying different brands. I thought it might be of interest to others dabbling in the flatwound world, or anyone looking for some variety.

For those who haven’t experimented with flatwounds, keep in mind the following factors that affect the sound and feel of wound guitar strings:

• Wrap material - steel is generally brighter sounding than nickel.

• Core shape - hexagonal core strings are generally stiffer feeling than round core, and may be a touch brighter sounding.

• Thickness/tension - the ratio of core diameter to wrap thickness is the key factor here, with thicker cores yielding higher tension and a stiffer feel. Unfortunately, manufacturers don’t provide core thickness data, only outside diameter (ie gauge). As for tone, the popular internet wisdom is that thicker strings produce “fatter” tone, but that is the subject of debate.

In no particular order:
[last updated Feb 2024]


GHS “Precision Flatwound”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, core not specified
Made in USA
Sets:
09 11 16 24w 32w 42w
11 14 22w 28w 36w 46w
12 16 24w 30w 40w 50w
13 17 26w 34w 44w 54w


D’Addario “XL Chromes”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, hexagonal core
Made in USA
Sets:
10 14 20w 28w 38w 48w
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 35w 45w 56w
Singles also available (20w to 80w)


DR “Legend”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, round core
Made in USA
Sets:
11 14 22w 28w 38w 48w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 34w 44w 54w


La Bella “Jazz Flats”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, core not specified
Made in USA
Comment: too long for Strats, Teles etc (intended for archtops)
Sets:
09 11 15 20w 28w 39w
11 15 20w 28w 39w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 23w 31w 42w 53w
15 19 25w 33w 44w 56w
12-string 11/11 14/14 20w/09 28w/14 39w/19 52w/28w


Optima “Jazz Swing”
Materials: Pure nickel wrap, core not specified
Made in Germany
Sets:
10 15 22w 30w 37w 49w
11 16 24w 32w 44w 54w
12 17 26w 35w 46w 56w


Galli “Jazz Flat”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, hexagonal core
Made in Italy
Sets:
10 13 17 26w 36w 46w
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 24w 36w 46w 56w


Dogal “Evolution”
Materials: Carbon steel wrap, round core
Made in Italy
Sets:
09 12 15 25w 35w 45w
09 12 16w 25w 35w 45w
10 13 17 26w 36w 46w
10 13 18w 26w 36w 46w
11 14 20w 30w 40w 52w
11 14 24w 30w 40w 52w
12 16 28w 32w 42w 52w
12 16w 28w 32w 42w 52w
Singles also available (16w to 52w)

Dogal “Red Tag”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, round core
Made in Italy
Comment: info about gauges is patchy
Sets:
08 - 40
09 12 16w 24w 32w 40w
10 13 18w 24w 32w 40w
10 - 46
11 13 18w 28w 34w 46w
12 16 20w 28w 34w 46w
12-string set (gauges not listed)
Singles also available (16w to 58w)

Dogal “Apache”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, round core
Made in Italy
Comment: very little info available
Only set available:
12 15 24w 32w 42w 53w

Dogal “Expressive Jazz”
Materials: Carbon steel wrap, round core
Made in Italy
Comment: info about gauges is patchy
Listed as “long scale”, so might not work with Strats, Teles etc
Sets:
10 - 46
11 14 18w 26w 36w 46w
11 14 20w 28w 40w 50w
12 16w 20w 28w 34w 46w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 34w 44w 54w
13 17 26w 35w 46w 56w
14 18 26w 36w 46w 58w
14 18 28w 35w 46w 58w


Curt Mangan “Flatwound”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, core not specified
Made in USA
Sets:
09 11 16 24w 32w 42w
10 13 17 26w 36w 46w
11 15 24w 32w 42w 52w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 36w 46w 56w
12-string 09/09 11/11 16/08 24w/10 32w/14 42w/24w
12-string 09/09 12/12 20/09 26w/12 36w/20 46w/26w
12-string 10/10 14/14 17/09 26w/12 36w/17 46w/26w
Singles also available (24w-56w)


Pyramid “Gold”
Materials: Pure nickle wrap, round core
Made in Germany
Sets:
10 13 19w 30w 35w 46.5w
11 15 20w 30w 35w 48w
11 15 20w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 22w 33w 42w 52w
13 17 24w 33w 42w 52w
13 18 26w 36w 47w 56w
12-string 10/10 13/13 20w/10 25w/13 33w/20w 39w/25w
12-string 10/10 13/13 20w/10 26w/13 34w/20w 42w/26w
12-string 10/10 13/13 19w/10 30w/13 35w/19w 46.5w/30w

Pyramid “Fusion Flats”
Materials: Pure nickel warp, round core
Production: Germany
Sets:
09 11 16 24w 32w 42w
095 115 16 26w 36w 46w
10 13 15 26w 32w 38w
10 13 17 26w 36w 46w
11 14 18 28w 38w 48w
12 16 22w 32w 42w 52w


Thomastik-Infeld “Jazz Swing”
Materials: Pure nickel wrap, round core
Made in Austria
Comment: sets available with either brass-plated or tin-plated plains
Sets:
10 14 18w 23w 33w 44w
11 15 19w 25w 35w 47w
12 16 20w 27w 37w 50w
13 17 21w 28w 39w 53w
Singles also available (18w to 53w)

Thomastik-Infeld “George Benson”
Materials: Pure nickel wrap, round core
Made in Austria
Comment: sets available with either brass-plated or tin-plated plains
Sets:
12 16 20w 28w 39w 53w
14 18 21w 31w 41w 55w


SIT “Flatwound”
Materials: No info available
Made in USA
Sets:
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w


Rotosound “Top Tape”
Materials: Monel wrap, core not specified
Made in England
Only 1 set available:
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w


Picato “Chrome Tape Flatwound”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, hex core
Made in England
Sets:
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 34w 44w 56w


Harley Benton “HQS EL Flatwound”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, hex core
Production: USA
Sets:
10 14 20w 28w 38w 48w
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w


Ernie Ball “Slinky Flatwound”
Materials: Cobalt alloy wrap, core not specified
Production: USA
Sets:
9 11 16 24w 32w 42w
10 13 17 26w 36w 46w
11 14 18 28w 38w 48w


Ibanez “Artcore”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, hexagonal core
Production: China
Only 1 set (IFSS6L):
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w


Sadowski
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, core not sprecified
Production: not specified
Sets:
11 14 18 28w 38w 48w
11 14 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w
13 17 26w 36w 46w 56w


Gibson “Flatwound Nickel”
Materials: Stainless steel wrap, core not specified
Production: USA
Sets:
11 15 22w 30w 40w 50w
12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w


Please let me know of any not mentioned here.

[supersonicjazzmaster]

Thanks a lot for this list.
This is helpful.
I started searching for alternatives in flats when D´Addario raised their prices for their "Chromes" a lot.
I tried several brands.
Meanwhile I use chromes again especially on my Mustangs. Because I like the 11-50 gauge a lot on those guitars.
On Jags and Jazzmasters I use 12-52 Rotosunds meanwhile instead the D´Addarios.

So with your list I can easily check gauges and check other brands!

[Johno]

Don't forget Picato...

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/picato-m32

[JVG]

Excellent - thanks! I didn’t realise Picato did flatwounds. I will have to try them

I’ll update the original post soon.

Cheers!
J.

[JVG]

Thanks a lot for this list.
This is helpful.
I started searching for alternatives in flats when D´Addario raised their prices for their "Chromes" a lot.
I tried several brands.
Meanwhile I use chromes again especially on my Mustangs. Because I like the 11-50 gauge a lot on those guitars.
On Jags and Jazzmasters I use 12-52 Rotosunds meanwhile instead the D´Addarios.

So with your list I can easily check gauges and check other brands!

A lot of it comes down to personal taste. I really like Daddario Chromes, even though they are sometimes considered “entry level” in the flatwound world. On the other hand, i wasn’t so keen on the Pyramid ones (rougher texture and weird gauges in the sets) although they are considered top-shelf. I’m currently using Thomastik Infeld and i love them - really smooth and beautifully rounded tone. Very pricey though

J

[JVG]

List in initial post updated, with additions including Ernie Ball, Gibson and a few others.

The array of flatwound options available now is quite impressive.

[DeathJag]

This is awesome! Now how about we get some reviews of each??!! (Integrated into the master list?)

Now I haven't tried too many flatwound sets, but I have tried Pyramid and Thomasik and a few others, but none of them compare to the Dogol Expressives. Holy SHIT they feel and sound like a spiritual awakening. I had the D break after a few months and they sent me another one free! A pal of mine who only uses flats, and is a guitar tech, took one feel and was totally blown away. They are pricey AF but the sound is worth so much more.

By the way - I'm not a flats guy at all. I like my .014 - .060 rounds on all but this one guitar. (I put the Dogols on Johnny's old '65 jag. Seemed fitting to have that be the one flats guitar.)