Wind 'em up

[sloop_john_b]

Right now I've got rounds on everything except my old ES-125, which is just perfect with flatwounds (after all, it's more or less the same as a J-160E). I go through phases, though. Always flats on bass without exception!

[lennon211]

I've set my recently acquired '62 RI P-bass with flats too, so that I can hit the Jamerson/Dunn tones.

Tell us more about this, Matt. What's the color? I was for sure you'd put some Rounds on it for that "Quick One"/"Who Sell Out" John Entwistle tone...I was for SURE!

It's a new 3-color sunburst that I ordered right before the price increase. The neck on it is very comfortable. It's out at the moment having the pickup and bridge covers installed. I decided to the flats on this one and leave the rounds on the Jazz Bass. Also, picking up the P-Bass completes the trio of terror (for the neighbors that is) of basses that I was wanting.

[kjcoff]

Hey all, I'm the newest kid on the block, so if I'm off base, feel free to blast me! I've recently picked up a 360 and the 1st thing I noticed was that it came with round wound strings. "Okay," I thought but that was more of a question than a statement. I did some research and confirmed what I thought, that late-60's Rick's came with flatwound strings. I've just purchased a set of Thomastic-Infeld (sp?) flatwounds that I'm going to string on the guitar this weekend and see how they feel. I may pull 'em off as fast as I put 'em on but I'm going to at least give them a shot. I've also heard (read) about a company called Pyramid that's supposed to make a good flatwound string. Does anybody know anything about the Pyramid strings?

[fireglo]

Hey all, I'm the newest kid on the block, so if I'm off base, feel free to blast me! I've recently picked up a 360 and the 1st thing I noticed was that it came with round wound strings. "Okay," I thought but that was more of a question than a statement. I did some research and confirmed what I thought, that late-60's Rick's came with flatwound strings. I've just purchased a set of Thomastic-Infeld (sp?) flatwounds that I'm going to string on the guitar this weekend and see how they feel. I may pull 'em off as fast as I put 'em on but I'm going to at least give them a shot. I've also heard (read) about a company called Pyramid that's supposed to make a good flatwound string. Does anybody know anything about the Pyramid strings?

I can tell you that Pyramid bass strings are high tension. I don't know about the guitar string tension. Most people here prefer the Thomastik-Infeld strings for guitar or bass.

[jimk]

Hi Kevin, and welcome to the RRF. The short and sweet of it is, some folks like 'em, some don't. And those that don't report them to be stiff, exacting greater tension on 12 string necks than other brands, such as RIC's own 95404 set.

For more information, I'd do a search through the RRF.

Cheers,
JimK

[whojamfan]

Hey all, I'm the newest kid on the block, so if I'm off base, feel free to blast me! I've recently picked up a 360 and the 1st thing I noticed was that it came with round wound strings. "Okay," I thought but that was more of a question than a statement. I did some research and confirmed what I thought, that late-60's Rick's came with flatwound strings. I've just purchased a set of Thomastic-Infeld (sp?) flatwounds that I'm going to string on the guitar this weekend and see how they feel. I may pull 'em off as fast as I put 'em on but I'm going to at least give them a shot. I've also heard (read) about a company called Pyramid that's supposed to make a good flatwound string. Does anybody know anything about the Pyramid strings?

Hello, and welcome to the forum. The TI flats you ordered for your 360 should really answer all of your questions concerning flatwounds. They are high quality and low tension, so they should feel good under your fingers. Pyramids are much stiffer, and much higher tension. Some like that, some don't. I originally strung up my 360/12 with Pyramids, as I didn't like the stock rounds it came with. Keep in mind I was looking for that vintage Beatles/Byrds/Who sound. The tone was great, but the tension was heavy, almost like playing Baritone strings. I later switched to the Tomastiks and wow, I could bend strings again and still have great tone. I wouldn't string it with anything but Tomastiks now.

As far as the round vs. flat, it's a very subjective thing. I would recommend leaving those flats on your guitar for a least a week to give them a fair shot. They will sound different and play different, but give the 14 buck pack of strings a chance. At least at the end of the week you'll know.

[JakeK]

I went through a phase yesterday before my show. I enjoy flats, I enjoy rounds, too. My 1997SPC was in for a change. While I still had an unopened package of TI flats (in 10 gauge), I decided to go ahead and get a package of D'Addario rounds in 11 gauge.

For some reason, the 11s just spoke to me last night. They sang, and they are easier for rhythm, if that makes sense. Only problem with D'Addario is that they don't have a wound "G".

[jingle_jangle]

Just finished some mods on a couple of 12s for a customer...a 325/12 received a custom set of TIs and, except for minor adjustments to the nut slots to bring the strings more in line (a typical issue with these short scale 12s because of large disparities in string diameter between the normal and octave strings on the D, A, and E strings), the nickel flats are sounding and playing beautifully.

A newer 360/12 received a pair of scatterwound toasters, a cap and also a set of TI flats. This guitar came alive with a very close to vintage sound! Of course, the treble cap addition gives a much thinner sound to the bridge pickup. Run both pickups, blend in just a tad of neck with the 5th knob, and add a little compression, and it's up there with my CW12 for evocative jangle.

A worthwhile set of mods.