Offset with flatwound strings ?

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N0_Camping4U
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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by N0_Camping4U » Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:45 pm

Singlebladepickup wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:50 am
It is rounds which are heresy. I have spoken.

This is the way.
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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by hillerheilman » Sun May 02, 2021 1:48 am

Singlebladepickup wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:50 am
It is rounds which are heresy. I have spoken.
What about half rounds though?

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by JVG » Sun May 02, 2021 4:13 am

I’ve dabbled in half-rounds.

I like the Daddario ones, but was not at all a fan of the ghs offering. The feel takes a bit of getting used to.

However, I don’t subscribe to the idea that they sound halfway between rounds and flats - i reckon they are much closer to the flat end of the spectrum, sonically.

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by hillerheilman » Mon May 03, 2021 4:13 pm

JVG wrote:
Sun May 02, 2021 4:13 am
I’ve dabbled in half-rounds.

I like the Daddario ones, but was not at all a fan of the ghs offering. The feel takes a bit of getting used to.

However, I don’t subscribe to the idea that they sound halfway between rounds and flats - i reckon they are much closer to the flat end of the spectrum, sonically.
Hmm, interesting...
How exactly would you describe the difference?
I’m considering trying out the D’Addario half rounds. I’m using chromes currently, but I’m finding that those lower strings don’t have as much definition or clarity as I would like. I definitely enjoy the lack of string noise though. I’m wondering whether or not half rounds would give me the best of both worlds.

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by mcbrandt » Tue May 04, 2021 8:03 am

I used a set of those D'Addario half-rounds too. I'd agree they seem to fall more towards the flat side of the equation. It's been a while so I can't really expand much on difference in sound, but yeah, it might be a good place to start.

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by andy_tchp » Tue May 04, 2021 2:38 pm

hillerheilman wrote:
Sun May 02, 2021 1:48 am
Singlebladepickup wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:50 am
It is rounds which are heresy. I have spoken.
What about half rounds though?
Or... rollerwounds?

I didn't entirely care for the lack of clarity/definition when I tried flats on my Jaguar.

I've been using these for years and years though: https://www.ghsstrings.com/products?cat ... -rockerstm

Not quite as bright/zingy as regular roundwounds when you put on a new set, and they sound consistent pretty much from the moment you put them on until they need replacing.

I haven't tried the burnished version, might assist with the minimizing of string noise?

https://www.ghsstrings.com/products?cat ... -rockerstm
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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by muffonrat » Sat May 08, 2021 4:03 am

It really depends on what kind of sound you are after, style of playing, what genre etc.
For offsets it is not rare to see them strung with flats and higher gauge strings.
Personally I use rounds 12s on most of my guitars, this fits the kind of music I like and play, indie/shoegaze/jangle.

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by jakeisjake » Sat May 08, 2021 4:44 am

I use half rounds on a lot of guitars, including offsets. I like flats, but the other players in the house (our kids) like wound strings. The half rounds have the warmth and lack of screech that flat wounds do, but still somewhat feel like wound strings.
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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by Arc » Sat May 15, 2021 4:37 am

I put flats on every guitar I own for 13 years. I basically went from super slinkies to chromes after I read that Leo engineered his guitars around this kind of strings. But I was wrong. First of all no stainless steel flats (like the us made nowadays) existed at the time, everything was nickel. On top of that if you look for old fender catalogs you’ll see that the factory set was something like a halfround 12-52, it was called the #1500. People say that JM and jag came with flats from the factory, but probably it was this “hybrid” set. Anyways flats are surely period correct, employed by rocknrollers, surfers, jazzmen etc, please just don’t buy stainless steel flats.
Two sensible options are the newtone archtops (with a wound G) or the thomastik jazz bebop (plain G). They both share the same construction method: round core nickel plated, double wrap of thin pure nickel wire. This results in a smoother feel compared to rounds with a less of a dead sound compared to flats.

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Re: Offset with flatwound strings ?

Post by jorri » Sun May 16, 2021 5:00 am

I used to use flats too. But if ever i played anything requiring attack and zing, (so falling in the genre of general 'rock music') they don't do what rounds do. That i used to just make ambient sounds, maybe some 60s twang or jazzy things is why they worked. I even tried a brass pick for some attack at one point which is kinda cool, but not the same level of harmonic energy- id say chords and harmonies are clearer with lots of gain saturation though- they are less 'heavy' too.

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