Flatwounds on 6-string Ricks?

[JeffreyK]

Hi folks,

I've just put a set of Thomastik Infeld 10-44 flats on my 360WB (with hot toasters), first time ever to play flats.
I'm mightily impressed with the sound. Especially on the bridge PU I get a bright but mellow sound, losing some of the high treble I never liked that much. Only the high B and E strings (as they're unwound) now stand out a little, but perhaps they will dull a little over time?
I do consider changing them back to the used 0.010 and 0.013 Elixir I had on previously...

I definitely will put flatwounds on my 360/12 once it comes back from the luthier, but I may now keep the flats on the 6 too.
I did notice a bit more neck relief so may have to tighten the truss rods a little.
J

[jps]

The high E and B strings are just plain steel, as what you'd find on pretty much any string set. It's the wound strings (GDAE) that are the flatwound strings.

[JeffreyK]

Yes certainly, I did mention that in the post.
Elixir strings have a protective coating which preserves them from corrosion etc. and in my opinion takes off a little of that metallic high treble harshness, which is an aspect I actually like. Therefore I wonder if using those instead of the B and E unwounds from the Thomastik set may balance things out even more.

But the main point of my post is/was, if others are using flatwounds on their 6-string Ricks and prefer them over roundwounds. I think for high gain pickups and more modern sounds round wounds may be more suitable. But with toasters and a more vintage sound in mind I think they are a great match.

J

[doctorwho]

I have used the D'Addario XL Chromes Jazz Light Electric Guitar Strings ECG24 Flatwound set (11-50; I prefer the slightly heavier gauge strings) on my Rickenbacker Model 460 (as well as on my Epiphone JL Revolution Casino), and they sound and feel great. I also bought some Elixir (Optiweb 11-49), GHS (Brite Flats 710, 10-46), and SIT F1150 (11-50) flatwound sets to try out.

[akpasta]

Elixir strings have a protective coating which preserves them from corrosion etc. and in my opinion takes off a little of that metallic high treble harshness, which is an aspect I actually like. Therefore I wonder if using those instead of the B and E unwounds from the Thomastik set may balance things out even more.

But the main point of my post is/was, if others are using flatwounds on their 6-string Ricks and prefer them over roundwounds. I think for high gain pickups and more modern sounds round wounds may be more suitable. But with toasters and a more vintage sound in mind I think they are a great match.

J

Elixir plain steel strings (unwound ones) like your B and E strings are NOT coated, so they'll be pretty similar to any other plain steel unwound string you can put on your guitar.

Regarding flats on 6 strings. I just played some shows with someone who has flats on his hagstrom 6 string guitar, and it sounded really cool. Also Peter Buck was known to use super heavy flatwounds on his rick 6 string, which was said to be a big part of the sound. I kinda wanna try it on my 6 as well.

[jps]

This guitar belonged to a friend of mine for many years. It was strung with TI flats.

PRS_Mc_Archtop_1200_4246.jpg (175.68 KiB) Viewed 4758 times

[JeffreyK]

[/quote]

Elixir plain steel strings (unwound ones) like your B and E strings are NOT coated, so they'll be pretty similar to any other plain steel unwound string you can put on your guitar.

Regarding flats on 6 strings. I just played some shows with someone who has flats on his hagstrom 6 string guitar, and it sounded really cool. Also Peter Buck was known to use super heavy flatwounds on his rick 6 string, which was said to be a big part of the sound. I kinda wanna try it on my 6 as well.
[/quote]

Many thanks!
Are you sure about that??
Before using Elixir, I used D'Addario and Vincy strings and the plain strings always corroded heavily. This completely stopped once I started using Elixirs.

Interesting comment about Peter Buck as I love his sound too. For me the two Rickenbacker cornerstones are Tom Petty/Mike Campbell for the vintage/Toaster sounds and Peter Buck for the High Gain sounds. I think I read before that he uses heavy gauges but not about flats. To me, High Gain pickups seem to want round wounds (for added harmonics), but perhaps I need to try flats as well at some point.
J

[soundmasterg]

I've run Thomastik-Infeld flats 10-46 on my 1989 230 for decades. That guitar has the HB2 pickups, same as the HB1 but different mounting style. The highs tended to be a bit harsh with rounds. The flats evened that out and made the lows and lower mids more smooth and present, and overall the sound seems to bloom more. It's harder to bend strings but that is the only downside to my ears. I'll never go back to rounds on that guitar. I use the flats on my Ric 12, and my Ric bass also. I've considered trying them on my 250v63 but haven't done it yet.

Greg

[kennyhowes]

I approve this message.

P.S. I don't have flats on all of my guitars, but when I do, it's Thomastik-Infeld.

12.jpeg (15.36 KiB) Viewed 3298 times

[iiipopes]

When I play flats, I play DR Legend flats in 11's. They are similar to the old Gibson Sonomatics, and have much more tone and longevity than do the "popular" TI flats which I can't stand as having no character.