Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

The short-scale model that changed history

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kieran campbell
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Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by kieran campbell »

Hey, I was talking to a guy on the fourm and he said that 325s need Heavy Gage flat wounds ? is this true :D
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tennis_nick
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by tennis_nick »

kieran campbell wrote:Hey, I was talking to a guy on the fourm and he said that 325s need Heavy Gage flat wounds ? is this true :D
They need them in the way that Homer Simpson needs beer.

It's not a necessity, but it's the Homer we know and love, and he seems to perform his best when he has it!
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kieran campbell
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by kieran campbell »

that is probably one of the best analogys I have ever read,hear or Dreamed of!
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kiramdear
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by kiramdear »

+1 Bravo Nick!

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Must ...have ... flats ... MMMMMMMM!
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kog
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by kog »

Definitely flats. I went to D'Addario Chrome 12s, then 13. Stays in tune and has that great early-Lennon attack. Little harder to bend strings, but the short scale mitigates that to a degree. I can still do the lead break to "You Can't Do That" even with 13s.
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Ric O'Sound
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by Ric O'Sound »

I have to go with the consensus, here. I use Thomastik-Infeld Jazz-Swing 12's on my 1996 RI and it's definitely got the Beatles' vibe going. I originally had used Pyramid 12's, but I like the TI flats better because they sound just as good to my ears and have a lot less tension than the Pyramids, so they're a bit easier on the neck. I highly recommend them.
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beatlefreak
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by beatlefreak »

They don't need to have flatwounds, but if you're looking for that sixties sound, they'll get you there.
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leftybass
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by leftybass »

I have D'Addario .011 chromes on my 325, and I love them.

On a C58, it does take bit more fine tuning if the guitar still has a Kauffman, but the .011s note just fine. Just don't move the Kauffman arm (no matter what string you have....) :wink:
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wj350
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by wj350 »

Another T-I Flat 12s fan here for these little guitars. In addition to the sound, the feel of these strings is great on that short neck.

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doctorwho
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by doctorwho »

Although I am a fan of flatwounds, all of my short-scale Ricks have roundwounds on them.
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beefandbones
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by beefandbones »

I have TI flats on my 1996, 12s I believe. I actually really liked the stock Rickenbacker ground-wounds a lot too, but I wanted to try flats for that historically-accurate thing. If I had newer 320 (early 80s MG would be perrfect) I'd put some ground-wounds on it.
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mike_d
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by mike_d »

I scored about a dozen sets of Vintage 60's era pyramid flat .13s and have them installed on a new 325c64. I have modern versions of Pyramid flats on some of my other 325s and 1996. The vintage ones feel and sound very different than the current ones. I like them both but the vintage ones are much smoother and not as stiff.
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by tracy »

The holy grail (aargh, I can't believe I said that) strings for Rickenbacker 325's is the Maxima 13-56 flats. Never heard anything better for chording. You'll have a bit of trouble with the solo for 'You Can't Do That' as you really need a plain G to bend to pitch, but for the shingalingaling there's nothing like them.
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37012player
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by 37012player »

mike_d wrote:I scored about a dozen sets of Vintage 60's era pyramid flat .13s and have them installed on a new 325c64. I have modern versions of Pyramid flats on some of my other 325s and 1996. The vintage ones feel and sound very different than the current ones. I like them both but the vintage ones are much smoother and not as stiff.
More info please if you can provide it...... :shock:

Si........
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mike_d
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Re: Do 325's Need Flatwounds?

Post by mike_d »

37012player wrote:
mike_d wrote:I scored about a dozen sets of Vintage 60's era pyramid flat .13s and have them installed on a new 325c64. I have modern versions of Pyramid flats on some of my other 325s and 1996. The vintage ones feel and sound very different than the current ones. I like them both but the vintage ones are much smoother and not as stiff.
More info please if you can provide it...... :shock:

Si........
Sure thing. Initially, I bought three sets of vintage Pyramids through an Ebay auction for $30.00. The seller was a music store in Canada. The seller mentioned that he had many other sets, so I made him an offer for 10 more sets! I may contact him again to see if he has any left. This was about six months ago, so they may all be gone by now. They sound great on my 325c64.
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