Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I understand that flat-wounds would have been standard issue for early 1960's Rickenbacker 360's and the like. Does anyone know what current string brands and gauges might best correspond to the original equipment?

There are numerous threads on recommendations for strings, including flat-wounds. IIRC, Thomastik-Infeld are highly rated. Personally, I like the D'Addario ECG24 set (11s) as well as the D'Aquisto 120 (12s) - they seem to be nearly as good, it not as good, as the Thomastik-Infelds at a lower price.

A lot of folks seem to think that the Pyramid strings are the closest thing you can get to what strings were like in the 60s. D'Addarios and Thomastiks use processes designed to sound "better" than the old strings, but my personal experience is that they aren't as good with vintage pickups. Pickups were designed to sound good with the strings they had, not necessarily the other way around. Yes, I know that Pyramids are twice as expensive as other strings, but when you're talking about a $4000 guitar or whatever it is, isn't it worth having something that sounds right? Just my take on it

IIRC, th4 modern Pyramid strings are nothing like their '60 versions. TIs come closest to vintage feel and sound.

Yep, In years past, John Hall stated several times on this forum that the TI strings were about as close to the old Rickenbacker (Maxima) flat-wound strings as you could find, which is one reason that so many of us started using them in the first place. They tend to feel very different from Pyramids. I don't find that they sound all that different, but with lower tension they are easier on both your fingers and your guitar's neck.

I know there have been numerous threads, but I'm kinda torn on flats. How much brighter are the TI wound strings than D'Addario Chromes? I've got the Chromes on my (recent-model) 330 right now, and I'm the fence about trying other flats or going back to rounds for more crispness. I could use a little more "ting" to those low strings.

Thanks,
- Scott

flat wounds from thomastik are great but - i do use chromes on bass and some guitars too...not much difference in sound between chromes and ti flats on 6 string guitar and bit more mud on bass. i haven't tried chromes on 12 string but i do have one 660/12 string strung with ti flats set from potr and another one 450/12 with custom set that i created from ti single string from juststrings.com that goes like this: 10-10, 12-12, 18w-10, 22w-12, 33w-15, 39w-18w and *that* is the sound i do like a lot - it makes the b string pair less dominant compare to 13-13 of the standard set + thinner lower octave strings + 15 plain steel octave A makes all the octave strings somewhat more pronounced. if you are looking for very *bright* sound take a look at stainless round wound strings and change them often ....and if it is early 60's 360 with single rod in neck watch out for string tension no matter what.

grazioso wrote:....and if it is early 60's 360 with single rod in neck watch out for string tension no matter what.

I wasn't aware... is this a particular problem with these early 60s guitars?

apossibleworld wrote:

grazioso wrote:....and if it is early 60's 360 with single rod in neck watch out for string tension no matter what.

I wasn't aware... is this a particular problem with these early 60s guitars?

not with all of them but i have seen my share of these necks with dip at 12th fret and twist around 3rd fret ...some of them have very thin flat neck + sometimes with thin fingerboard and it doesn't play well with some heavy strings - some flats could be way too much or some hex core strings like d'addario can lead to situation that the single folded rod can't properly compensate and so the setup with the optimal action can be bit problematic ...some lighter gauge ti flats should be just the ticket...e.g. ti - js-110

I've used TI flats and Pyramids and Rics and D'addarios. Currently using Pyramids on my two mid-60's 12's and I love the sound, feel, and action. No issues with the neck warping from the tension.

teb wrote:Yep, In years past, John Hall stated several times on this forum that the TI strings were about as close to the old Rickenbacker (Maxima) flat-wound strings as you could find, which is one reason that so many of us started using them in the first place. They tend to feel very different from Pyramids. I don't find that they sound all that different, but with lower tension they are easier on both your fingers and your guitar's neck.

So the TI's are lower tension than Pyramids? I have never heard that; are they the same gauges but different cores?

zenitb wrote:

teb wrote:Yep, In years past, John Hall stated several times on this forum that the TI strings were about as close to the old Rickenbacker (Maxima) flat-wound strings as you could find, which is one reason that so many of us started using them in the first place. They tend to feel very different from Pyramids. I don't find that they sound all that different, but with lower tension they are easier on both your fingers and your guitar's neck.

So the TI's are lower tension than Pyramids? I have never heard that; are they the same gauges but different cores?

yes - the same gouges have lower tension on ti flats and even lower tension on original 60's strings. e.g set of aluminum wrapped 60's flats has about half the tension of ti flats.

grazioso wrote:

zenitb wrote:

teb wrote:Yep, In years past, John Hall stated several times on this forum that the TI strings were about as close to the old Rickenbacker (Maxima) flat-wound strings as you could find, which is one reason that so many of us started using them in the first place. They tend to feel very different from Pyramids. I don't find that they sound all that different, but with lower tension they are easier on both your fingers and your guitar's neck.

So the TI's are lower tension than Pyramids? I have never heard that; are they the same gauges but different cores?

yes - the same gouges have lower tension on ti flats and even lower tension on original 60's strings. e.g set of aluminum wrapped 60's flats has about half the tension of ti flats.

I remember trying flatwounds on a Mustang in the 60's and they turned my fingertips grey - now I know why; aluminum wrap!

I don´t think it´s aluminum but Nickel.

If I'm going flat, I go Pyramid.