Flatwound strings vs. Roundwound strings

[JakeK]

Which type of strings do you feel gives you the sound you're after?

My tech hates flats, but I love the sound of them. He always sets up my guitars with rounds. When I had my Ric 325V63, it was set up with flats at first, and I thought they felt cool and gave off a good British sound.

[tennis_nick]

It always depends.

For me, Basses need flats... unless they're a jazz bass.

Electric guitars need rounds... unless they're short scale Ricks, or 12s... and even at that, it's only sometimes...


I couldn't choose just one.

[iamthebassman]

Depending on the bass I use flatwounds, roundwounds, or nylon tapwounds; so I didn't vote.

[lennon211]

For me, it depends on the guitar. For most of my Rics, a few Gretsch and Jag, it's flats. For the rest rounds. For bass, it's rounds at the moment.

[wj350]

As Matthew says, it depends on the guitar for me. I use T-I Jazz/Swing Flats on quite a few of my guitars, primarily the hollow/semi-hollow bods--325, Casino, J-160E. The only solid body I use them on is my JM, though I've experimented with them on others.

Bill

[soundmasterg]

I voted flats because I do like them a lot, but it depends on the guitar for me. I use flats or rounds and different gauges of each depending on the guitar. I use flats on bass, but as I get more basses, I'll get at least one with rounds. There should have been an "other" option on the poll.

Greg

[sloop_john_b]

For me, it depends on the guitar.

[jps]

My tech hates flats, but I love the sound of them. He always sets up my guitars with rounds.

If that's the case you should be looking for a new tech. He should be setting up the instrument for your taste, not his!

[johnallg]

I have 7 basses and about even mix of flats and rounds. It depends on the tone of the bass and what I want it to do. I have lately leaned towards the flat equipped basses though.

[peewee]

RWs on the guitars and FWs on the basses. Just suits my tastes.

[JakeK]

My tech hates flats, but I love the sound of them. He always sets up my guitars with rounds.

If that's the case you should be looking for a new tech. He should be setting up the instrument for your taste, not his!

He told me that I can choose what I want, so I go with whatever's available. Shame, really. All local music stores I go to don't sell flats.

[blueflamerick]

Roundwounds only. Flats are for crotchety old geezers.

[beatlefreak]

I have 7 basses and about even mix of flats and rounds.

What, do you have one bass that has two flats and two rounds on it?

[winston]

Round wound for me all the way. Guitars or basses. I love the sound the produce.

[1965]

On basses I use flats, and on all Rickenbacker guitars I use flats, for everything else it's rounds. I assume that this thread is referring mostly to Ricks though, so I voted flats.