John's J-160E and strings

lawton · Post by **lawton** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:00 pm

Hey all. I've heard repeatedly that John used a nickel set (not bronze) on his J-160E. Can anyone confirm this and perhaps add more detail? Did John use flats on his Gibson A/E?

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:51 pm

Excellent thread on this topic currently running at the Beatgear Tavern. You'll have to join to view it, bit it's a good read.

http://www.beatgearcavern.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2996

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 7:43 am

I dont think john really cared what was on his guitar, whatever he got for free....I dont think he would have used flats on any of his guitars because they arent bright sounding enough for that beatle-esque tone

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:30 am

"I dont think he would have used flats on any of his guitars because they arent bright sounding enough for that beatle-esque tone."

I disagree.

They used flats on all their guitars, they're essential for that 'Beatlesque' tone.

But, I'm not so sure about the J-160E.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:35 am

It seems a good bet to me that flatwounds made it to Lennon's J160E at some point. I put Pyramid flats on my Gibson J50 acoustic, for a time, and was pleasantly surprised by its sound, plugged in.

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 7:29 am

no no, I dis-agree it dosent seem likely that they would have used faltwounds seeing as they dont last as long. People sometimes are lead to beleive that the beatles were technical people, when more then likely they threw whatever strings they could find on their guitars....But I am not negating the fact the mccartney used flatwounds, it just dosent seem likely that they would have used flatwounds on their guitars

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 7:34 am

According to accounts from the man who did work on lennon's 325, he said there were a mixed amount of flat and round wound strings, so we are both correct

lawton · Post by **lawton** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 7:43 am

I believe it's a matter of record that in the early days John used flats on his 325s, and perhaps to begin with as well on the Casino. George also used flats on his Gretsches. Flats, apparently, were "what was available," so that's what went on the guitars. Another forum has a discussion of this and the point is brought up there that Abbey Road studio first shows orders for Fender roundwounds in '67/68, during the recording of the White Album.

It's my feeling that in order to play alot of the early Beatles stuff correctly (or perhaps "authentically" is putting it better) you need flats on the short scale guitars -- or you need something stronger than skin (even calloused skin) on the end of your left pinky.

Since I put up the first post I've put some nickel flats on my J-45. Unplugged, of course, the tone is dampened a bit. Plugged, however, it's fantastic, and just a bit more "Beatlesque" (to borrow an already used term) than the guitar sounded with the D'Addario phosphor-bronze set. I think the flats (12s) will stay.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 7:48 am

In my experience with flats - they last at least five times longer than rounds.

lawton · Post by **lawton** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 8:05 am

They don't get the grime into the core of the string nearly as fast, so it would make sense that they'd last longer. You can also effectively clean them up and have the cleaning really make a difference. I have a set on a 325 at this point, and the top two strings have been replaced twice (while the bottom four are rocking along).

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:39 am

alright, I will agree that some of the guitars had flatwounds, but there are certainley just as many with roundwound. I just can never get the tone on songs like rain (with the casino) while using flatwounds, certainley one should ask what type of string most 60's ricks were shipped with

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:42 am

One thing i must mention about flats.....if one ever wants to try anything different then hofner or pyramid bass flats.....dont....."Fender Steel Flats" are HORRIFIC, no flatwound sound at all and they dont last very long....just a note