Anyone use flat wounds? Results?
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Anyone use flat wounds? Results?
strictly anecdotal. I put some on the first rosewood fingerboard CVC neck I had on my CV50 tele (avatar). Loved them. Then it started getting weirdly buzzy and hard to tune. Truss rod was maxed out and I could not adjust the relief. Now that particular neck had never needed an adjustment before the flat wounds and i don't know what happened. I did read that apparently flats have more tension than regular strings.
I ended up getting another neck whose truss rod definitely does work but I have not put flats on it, yet. I'm a little gun shy at the moment because necks aren't cheap and finding a rosewood fingerboard that I like (dark and even) is really difficult. I've tried a couple of replacement necks from Fender but the rosewood on them was fugly as heck and i sent them back. At this time, I won't be using any flats
Adding a washer behind the adjustment nut will sometimes allow you to adjust the relief more, read an article by Dan Erlewine from StewMac about it.
I've only ever played flats on a bass, for Jazz band. I don't particularly like that tone, but others seem to do ok with it. But yeah, they're higher tension than the same size roundwound.
Could flats do damage to my Rick bass neck? Had them on about 3 years and was considering putting them on the Hofner.
If not adjusted properly, yeah that's a possibility. I wouldn't worry too much. Sir Paul didn't GAF in the old days and his basses seem to have lasted just fine... 😎
it's definitely a jazzy sound. more mids and bass less treble.
my willingness to put them on a guitar would have a lot to do with the neck. if you have a big boat neck tele like a Nocaster or something ultra stable (like a Suhr roasted maple quartersawn) then it should be fine.
I dont personally think a tele needs them; rolling the tone off to half on the neck tends to get the sound I associate with flatwound strings. that's my personally favorite tele tone.
Well I thank you for the info. I never realized flats created more tension. I keep learning here all the time. Cheers!
I use GHS Nickle Rockers on all my lectrics they are semi flat love the mellow tone... Give um a try..
I have them on my California Fat Tele--it is currently my primary guitar for our jazz sets because it sounds better and more authentic than the semi-hollows I've had. No tuning or neck issues thus far, although I use the lightest flat set I can find that still has a wound G.
Chucko--sent you a pm.
I think it's still possible to do? I might be wrong though, but you might as well try? I think even a super thin washer might help. I've never experienced bottoming out on the truss rod. So I'm only repeating what I've read and been told.
Best of luck to you amigo! 👍
Anecdotal, having never put flats on a tele...
Had a set of stainless flats on my #1 Precision for 20 years before taking them off.
Granted I installed the EMG's on the same day - KahWhump.
Have a Taylor 810 that got fed a steady diet of .15 flatties for years - channeled Lowell with ease.
Now I'm squirming like a toad...
:spin: