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.
[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.