For years, like many guitarists, I exclusively used roundwound strings. The textured feel and bright tone were what I was accustomed to. However, curiosity finally got the better of me, and I decided to try Flat Wound Guitar Strings. To be honest, I approached them with a healthy dose of skepticism. What I discovered, though, was truly surprising and has opened up a new sonic landscape for my playing.
In this article, I’ll delve into why I finally made the switch to flat wound strings and explain why you might seriously want to consider putting a set on your guitar too. Let’s explore the world of flat wounds and understand what makes them a unique and valuable option for guitarists.
Flatwound vs. Roundwound Strings: Unpacking the Differences
While both roundwound and flatwound strings share fundamental similarities in their construction, the crucial distinction lies in the winding of the lower four strings. The top two strings, the B and high E, maintain the same construction across both types. It’s in the wound strings where the magic – and the difference – happens.
Round Wound Strings: The Textured Standard
Round wound strings are crafted by winding a round wire, typically made of steel, around a central core wire. This winding method creates a surface characterized by tiny ridges between each coil. Interestingly, roundwound strings generally exhibit lower tension compared to flatwounds. Today, roundwound strings reign supreme as the most popular choice for guitarists across genres.
Flat Wound Strings: The Smooth Alternative
Flatwound string construction takes a different approach. Instead of round wire, a flattened wire is used for the winding process. This flattened wire is then meticulously wrapped around the core wire. The unique shape of the flattened winding results in a denser string with significantly less pronounced ridges compared to round wounds. Another common feature of flatwound sets is the inclusion of a wound G string, replacing the plain G string typically found in roundwound sets.
Flatwound strings are known for having higher tension than their round string counterparts. This increased tension is partly due to the denser winding construction, but also frequently because flat wound sets are often manufactured with heavier gauges to begin with.
The Feel: Texture Under Your Fingers
Round Wound: The Familiar Grip
Roundwound strings, with their characteristic round wire wrapping around the core, create a textured surface. This texture is deeply familiar to most guitar players and provides a certain tactile feedback while playing. The specific feel can vary slightly between string brands, depending on the type of metal used for the outer winding layer.
Flat Wound: The Silky Smooth Experience
Flatwound strings offer a dramatically smoother, almost “slippery” feel under the fingers. This enhanced slickness isn’t just a matter of comfort; it’s a functional advantage. The reduced friction when fretting notes translates to less finger noise. Finger noise, that often-unwanted squeaking sound, is commonly heard when sliding fingers on the strings, especially with newer roundwound strings.
The reason for this difference in feel is the flattened winding wire. It minimizes the ridges between windings, creating a near-seamless surface. It’s worth noting that while the high E and B strings are identical, flatwound sets often incorporate heavier gauges for the higher strings compared to roundwound sets of the same nominal gauge.
The Tone: Unveiling the Flatwound Sound
Let’s address some common preconceptions about flatwound strings and tone. They are often associated with jazz guitar due to their distinctive sonic character. Conversely, roundwound strings are frequently favored in rock and genres that benefit from their brighter tone, enhanced overtones, and longer sustain. Furthermore, the “slinky” feel of round wounds makes them excellent for techniques like string bending, essential in rock and blues styles.
Adding another layer to the discussion, I experimented with half-round strings a few years ago. Marketed as a middle ground between round and flat wounds, my personal experience was less than stellar. While I won’t name the specific manufacturer (though they are a top-tier string brand), I found them not significantly different from round strings in tone. The texture was particularly off-putting, creating excessive friction that hindered smooth playing. In hindsight, it’s possible they were experiencing some corrosion, which could have impacted the feel.
My less-than-impressive experience with half-rounds led me to initially doubt whether I would truly appreciate flatwound strings.
My Experience with Flatwound Strings: A Revelation
For my flatwound string experiment, I chose my Hamer Newport hollowbody guitar. This felt like a natural fit. The Hamer, a thinline hollowbody with a 24.75″ scale length, occupies a versatile space, comfortably bridging the gap between rock, jazz, and genres in between.
The strings I selected for this exploration are arguably the most popular and readily available flatwound strings on the market: D’Addario Chromes. I opted for the 11-50 gauge set, often considered a “jazz light” gauge. D’Addario Chromes have a strong reputation as some of the best flatwound strings available. Right from the moment I installed them and brought them up to tension, the visual difference compared to roundwound strings was striking. The D’Addario Chromes clearly exhibited a flat profile and possessed a distinct silvery sheen.
Flatwound Feel: Smoothness and Comfort
The first thing I noticed was the increased string tension compared to my usual Curt Mangan Pure Nickel strings. While both sets are 11-gauge, the Chromes felt slightly heavier overall. This was most apparent on the low E string, measuring .50 on the Chromes versus .48 on the Mangans.
However, any initial reservations about the increased tension vanished the instant I started playing. The legendary smoothness of flatwounds was immediately apparent. The strings genuinely felt “slick” to the touch. There was a certain “rightness” to the feel that’s difficult to articulate. They felt firmer in tension, yet paradoxically more comfortable under my fingers than typical roundwound strings.
Flatwound Tone: Discovering a New Sonic Palette
Plugging into my Quilter SuperBlock US with my standard settings, the first thought that resonated in my mind was: This is the sound I’ve been searching for! As much as I appreciate my Hamer Hollowbody, its thinline construction and solid spruce top mean it will never fully replicate the deep, resonant sound of a traditional jazzbox with laminate construction. The Chromes didn’t magically transform it into a full-bodied archtop, but I can confidently say they brought it closer than ever before. That sought-after “thunk” sound, prized by many jazz players, suddenly felt within reach.
