Indeed, it's never just install, set up and forget about it when switching gauges (or even just brands) and you keep an eye on it for a few days and adjust when needed.
I'm using a velcro tie (no capo..lol) and a business card to feel it out with the 17th fret pressed.
I swapped the 12 - 50's on the jazzmaster over to the kurdtz jag and put the 11 -47's on the jazzmaster. Feels good. 47 is a tad bit more slinky than i like but that's being nitpicky.
Both guitars have a 1mm shim and around 1.5mm action at 12th fret.
It's true these don't need that much time/stretching tuning up when fresh.
I like their dynamics in sound and how they feel under my fingers. They're not slippery, there is some friction.
Balanced output between strings too.
Might sound like i'm sponsored (i wish ...lol).
Question regarding flat wound strings
Moderated By: mods
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kingkiller
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Yes, big difference in construction and material.
Hex core vs round core
Steel w chrome vs nickel
Thomastik jazz swing are round core nickel wound.
Why they feel more slinky than say d'addario chromes which is chrome plated steel with a hex core (which might make them last longer?).
Personal of course what you prefer, I wanted to check out 'vintage spec' flatwounds.
In US there are brands that make round core nickel flatwounds if you're looking for a better deal in price vs European import (Kurt mangan?)
Hex core vs round core
Steel w chrome vs nickel
Thomastik jazz swing are round core nickel wound.
Why they feel more slinky than say d'addario chromes which is chrome plated steel with a hex core (which might make them last longer?).
Personal of course what you prefer, I wanted to check out 'vintage spec' flatwounds.
In US there are brands that make round core nickel flatwounds if you're looking for a better deal in price vs European import (Kurt mangan?)
Put them on my old jagdezb1 wrote:You put a set on the Squier? Do an video.Hurb wrote:Please only buy thomastik-infeld.
Thats right folks I am a flatwound snob after 1 day
I had planned a video at first but am feeling a little washed out with YouTube/life in general so I couldn't face it.
I will be getting a set on squier for sure though.
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kingkiller
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I've been using flatwounds on all 3 of my Jags since starting this thread. I have the Thomastik on an American Original, and Chromes on a 1962 and a CIJ.
Interestingly, I prefer the Chromes. They feel smoother under my fingers, and sound better with my setup (to my ears of course). With the Thomastik there's still some resistance under the fingers and some squeak when sliding over them. This isn't a big issue, and is a lot less than standard round wounds.
The Thomastik are still great, and I love the red silk wrapped around the windings at the ball end, classy and just something a little extra. I fitted the Thomastik just after fitting a Mastery to the AO, so I'm not sure which is having the greater effect, but the sustain is really long: not just for a Jag but actually for any guitar, it's quite surprising. Not that I need a bent clean note to ever hold for 20 seconds, that's what fuzz is for right?
The Chromes seem to make the Jag sound more like a Jag, they round off the top end just right so that there's no shrill treble coming through, but without killing presence altogether. They feel oh so smooth, no squeak, a real pleasure to play. I've been cleaning my strings with Dunlop Ultraglide, probably once a week, and the strings are still as close to new as you can hope, no corrosion on the strings to make things rusty and grippy, although Stainless Steel wouldn't rust anyway, but it gets rid of finger grime etc. Eventually a High E snapped, so I just replaced the unwound strings with spare D'Addario singles, leaving the flatwounds to power on.
Oh yes, forgot to mention I replaced the wound G with unwound as I play lead and prefer it that way for bends and runs and general ease of playing. + The Mastery won't intonate perfectly with a wound G.
Flatwounds were a real game changer for me, and I can't see me ever going back to round wounds. I've just ordered another set of Chromes (gauge 12 this time) to fit to my White Falcon
Interestingly, I prefer the Chromes. They feel smoother under my fingers, and sound better with my setup (to my ears of course). With the Thomastik there's still some resistance under the fingers and some squeak when sliding over them. This isn't a big issue, and is a lot less than standard round wounds.
The Thomastik are still great, and I love the red silk wrapped around the windings at the ball end, classy and just something a little extra. I fitted the Thomastik just after fitting a Mastery to the AO, so I'm not sure which is having the greater effect, but the sustain is really long: not just for a Jag but actually for any guitar, it's quite surprising. Not that I need a bent clean note to ever hold for 20 seconds, that's what fuzz is for right?
The Chromes seem to make the Jag sound more like a Jag, they round off the top end just right so that there's no shrill treble coming through, but without killing presence altogether. They feel oh so smooth, no squeak, a real pleasure to play. I've been cleaning my strings with Dunlop Ultraglide, probably once a week, and the strings are still as close to new as you can hope, no corrosion on the strings to make things rusty and grippy, although Stainless Steel wouldn't rust anyway, but it gets rid of finger grime etc. Eventually a High E snapped, so I just replaced the unwound strings with spare D'Addario singles, leaving the flatwounds to power on.
Oh yes, forgot to mention I replaced the wound G with unwound as I play lead and prefer it that way for bends and runs and general ease of playing. + The Mastery won't intonate perfectly with a wound G.
Flatwounds were a real game changer for me, and I can't see me ever going back to round wounds. I've just ordered another set of Chromes (gauge 12 this time) to fit to my White Falcon
Really interesting review/breakdown. I probably should try chromes i just don't really like changing since I have found something I like.
I like there is still a bit of grip the thomastik-infeld. But I guess that's different strokes init!
I am currently uploading a little video just for ShortScale of some Toanez!
I like there is still a bit of grip the thomastik-infeld. But I guess that's different strokes init!
I am currently uploading a little video just for ShortScale of some Toanez!
Hahaha!
Hand is like 'yea OK..'
Spanky with the strangle switch. That's a big palette of sounds with so little going on.
//thomastiksnobsclub
Interesting about the feel of chromes vs jazz swings, having tried both (but the chromes a long time ago) I know I prefer a bit of friction on strings surface over totally smooth.
I don't use crazy blues bends but I can bend these (including wound g) fairly easily if I want to.
Was playing some blues stuff yesterday evening to see.
Hand is like 'yea OK..'
Spanky with the strangle switch. That's a big palette of sounds with so little going on.
//thomastiksnobsclub
Interesting about the feel of chromes vs jazz swings, having tried both (but the chromes a long time ago) I know I prefer a bit of friction on strings surface over totally smooth.
I don't use crazy blues bends but I can bend these (including wound g) fairly easily if I want to.
Was playing some blues stuff yesterday evening to see.
Sounds are all nice nice nice! That Jag is so sublime looking too, did Aen use to have it, or has it always been yours? I'm sure it's been on my radar for years and years.
Totally agree with the different strokes statement, I bought the Thomastik expecting to prefer them, but was surprised that the Chromes were more me. Some of my playing is bordering on shred, or at least rather fast and 'intricate', and so the smoothness of the Chromes helps me with this.
Since using Chromes with my band, our bass player felt they had to change to flats too. They suddenly noticed how much string noise was coming through from their roundwounds now that I'm not making any, and it drove them crazy. I think it's cleaned up our sound quite a lot. It's surprising how much such a small change can make to playing style, sound, and band dynamics.
Perhaps I'll try and beat the Tier 3 Blues by recording a lil shortscale gear demo this week
Totally agree with the different strokes statement, I bought the Thomastik expecting to prefer them, but was surprised that the Chromes were more me. Some of my playing is bordering on shred, or at least rather fast and 'intricate', and so the smoothness of the Chromes helps me with this.
Since using Chromes with my band, our bass player felt they had to change to flats too. They suddenly noticed how much string noise was coming through from their roundwounds now that I'm not making any, and it drove them crazy. I think it's cleaned up our sound quite a lot. It's surprising how much such a small change can make to playing style, sound, and band dynamics.
Perhaps I'll try and beat the Tier 3 Blues by recording a lil shortscale gear demo this week
Yep used to be Aens. Had it over 10 years now.GreenKnee wrote:Sounds are all nice nice nice! That Jag is so sublime looking too, did Aen use to have it, or has it always been yours? I'm sure it's been on my radar for years and years.
Be interested in what you think.BearBoy wrote:I've been using Chromes forever but just ordered some Thomastik-Infelds to try out
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kingkiller
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So I finally got off my ass and put the chromes on my mustang. It feels...weird going to flatwounds after using only roundwounds for the 8 or so years I’ve been playing. They’re smooth but I feel like I can’t slide up the string as easily as with roundwounds, but that may just be me still getting adjusted. I like the way they sound though, not that I can really discern the subtle differences. They definitely sound warmer. I’ll keep them on for a while and see how I get on with them, but I’m not 100% sold just yet.
After putting the La Bella flatwounds on my bass vi I know what you mean about the rubbing that kinda slows your slides on the strings. The thomastik-infeld don't do that they feel much nicer. I think it must be the nickle vs stainless steel if the la bellas.kingkiller wrote:So I finally got off my ass and put the chromes on my mustang. It feels...weird going to flatwounds after using only roundwounds for the 8 or so years I’ve been playing. They’re smooth but I feel like I can’t slide up the string as easily as with roundwounds, but that may just be me still getting adjusted. I like the way they sound though, not that I can really discern the subtle differences. They definitely sound warmer. I’ll keep them on for a while and see how I get on with them, but I’m not 100% sold just yet.
I love the thomastik-infeld and am not sold on the la bellas which is a shame as they cost 70 fucking quid! They do sound good their tension is crazy though.
I don't personally like the sound of a tone pot turned down so probably so?Doog wrote:Apart from the feel, do they really sound any different to just backing your tone pot down a bit?