More disappointment from Thomastik flats

[jzucker]

I have bought several hundred sets of TI Flats over the years and I have never had a problem. That said, I wonder what they do with string sets that fail their in house inspection? Could it be that they sell those to a discount retailer?

It's possible. Upon closer inspection, it's the G string. The others seem to be ground ok. I typically buy from juststrings though occasionally amazon as well.

This happened to me before and the factory confirmed that their machine was out of spec. I switched to chromes for a couple years and then a similar thing happened with the chromes. As an endorser, I was able to talk to the manager in the manufacturing area for the flatwounds who confirmed that it was a similar thing as with the TIs. Apparently, grinding the thinner strings is problematic if the machinery drifts out of spec. Daddario made a correction, sent me some new G strings and I never had a problem with them again though I only use them on one axe. When I had the problem with daddario, i bought a set of TIs from a new batch and the problem appeared to be solved.

UNTIL THIS LATEST BATCH.

i'm not sure what I'll do. Right now I have chromes on my Ibanez PM120 and they sound fine and they've lasted a long time. The tension is greater on the chromes though...

Oh, and to answer the question of what effect it has, the roughness is worse than a roundwound and it wears my picks extremely quickly and acoustically it sounds bad.

[frabarmus]

Dogal flats R40 Expressive Jazz for me! I keep them on for any time between 6 and 12 months. Love their sound and feel. They have a round core and feel very comfortable under my fingers (even big gauges). I've used La Bella flats too and liked them a lot... but they sounded a little too "muffled", in comparison, for my tastes... and they broke easily on my 23.5 scale length luthier-archtop. I also use D'Addario Chromes 13-56, from time to time and they sound really nice, too, but have more tension, with their hexagonal core...

[frabarmus]

P.S. I've never really bonded with TI flats... they feel almost like "half rounds" under my fingers...

[jzucker]

P.S. I've never really bonded with TI flats... they feel almost like "half rounds" under my fingers...

they didn't used to but I think the machines gradually need adjustment which seems to not be done as regularly as it should

[Alter]

I've always found Thomastik kind of scratchy and sticky feeling, but I like the lower tension, especially on the light strings. 13s feel like 12s, and the tension is more balanced, cause many archtops develop neck twist problems over the years sure to excessive treble
string tension.

Haven't played La Bella for years. I'm trying to organize recording another jazz album this year, so it's probably worth it to check out string choices again!

[GuyBoden]

I've had one single rough string from a Thomastik Infeld flat Swing set in over 20 years of buying them.

Thomastik Infeld flat Swing sets are still the best flat sets for my fingers and ears. IMHO.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

they didn't used to but I think the machines gradually need adjustment which seems to not be done as regularly as it should

Are you talking about the machines that wind the ribbon aound the core, Jack?

[bluenote61]

i tried them but they are not flats as I recall.

The Pyramid Gold series are flatwound strings throughout.

[jzucker]

Are you talking about the machines that wind the ribbon aound the core, Jack?

i'm talking about the grinding/polishing machines. That's what the plant manager at daddario said was out of spec on the sets that I purchased with rough G strings. In the smaller gauges, the tolerances matter more

[lammie200]

i tried them but they are not flats as I recall.

They are flats as someone mentioned. Made in Germany says the label.

[John A.]

they didn't used to but I think the machines gradually need adjustment which seems to not be done as regularly as it should

I guess I haven't used them long enough to have experienced them being flatter. For the maybe 7 or 8 years I've switched off between TI's and Chromes (for now at least, settled on TI's), the Chromes have always felt a little smoother. But the TI's have never felt rough enough to bother me or to produce finger-squeak. I like the gauges and tension a lot more on the TI's, so unless something changes radically I don't see switching. I don't really pay attention to string cost. If I spend $20-ish more over the course of a year than I would on a different brand that's not enough to bother me.

[skiboyny]

Right now I have chromes on my Ibanez PM120 and they sound fine and they've lasted a long time. The tension is greater on the chromes though...

Oh, and to answer the question of what effect it has, the roughness is worse than a roundwound and it wears my picks extremely quickly and acoustically it sounds bad.

So if you like the chromes, (and they are definitely smoother) order them in similar gauges as the TI, they are available at many dealers that way. It will come to about $21. and the tension will be a touch less than the TI in like gauges. For me they last probably the longest. Stainless is a different sound than nickel but you know exactly what to expect.

[Marty Grass]

I'm not recommending this brand. They're definitely not flats. But I have tried a set. They are not too bad. $2 a set.

Personally though I have not yet had a problem with TIs.

https://www.temu.com/5-sets-each-set..._id=5egy6jk14f

[jzucker]

So if you like the chromes, (and they are definitely smoother) order them in similar gauges as the TI, they are available at many dealers that way. It will come to about $21. and the tension will be a touch less than the TI in like gauges. For me they last probably the longest. Stainless is a different sound than nickel but you know exactly what to expect.

What I use on my metheny is the chrome .011s but with a .012 and .016 on top. Feels good to me. I might try those on the heritage. The original TIs on the heritage sounded great. The new ones sound good but are pretty bright and my picks are wearing out like crazy when I play that guitar.

[ombudsman]

seriously these are way better than Chromes and you can get them for $20

Optima Jazz Flatwound Electric Strings | GimmeSomeStrings

[skiboyny]

What I use on my metheny is the chrome .011s but with a .012 and .016 on top. Feels good to me. I might try those on the heritage. The original TIs on the heritage sounded great. The new ones sound good but are pretty bright and my picks are wearing out like crazy when I play that guitar.

I tried that combo but to me the tension was still a bit much. (very fussy about tension, straight neck, low action no buzzing) I ordered like gauges to the Benson set. You can't get exact but very close. I like a bit heavier low E. The custom set it money if your a picky tension guy.

[omphalopsychos]

BTW has anyone tried these yet?


Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings | Gibson

[vinnyv1k]

I tried the Gibson flats and was not impressed. TI’s are far better IMO.

[Stringswinger]

@ Jack Zucker

I bought a couple sets of these Dogal Strings:

Just a moment...

They are 80/20 Flatwounds with round cores and a wound B string. As you probably know, 80/20 strings were developed by John D'Angelico and D'Addario strings for use on acoustic archtops. I put a set of these on my Heritage built D'Angelico New Yorker and they are the finest strings I have ever played on an acoustic archtop. And they are the most expensive, but I will pay for quality. I would not put these on an archtop with built in pickups, as I would prefer a nickel string set for that application and at present, I am still using TI flats for those type of guitars. But I am interested in trying other Dogal strings.

I strongly suggest you try a set of the Dogal Nightclub strings on your Heritage. I suspect that if you do, you will be very heppy that you read this post.

[frabarmus]

@ Jack Zucker

I bought a couple sets of these Dogal Strings:

Just a moment...

They are 80/20 Flatwounds with round cores and a wound B string. As you probably know, 80/20 strings were developed by John D'Angelico and D'Addario strings for use on acoustic archtops. I put a set of these on my Heritage built D'Angelico New Yorker and they are the finest strings I have ever played on an acoustic archtop. And they are the most expensive, but I will pay for quality. I would not put these on an archtop with built in pickups, as I would prefer a nickel string set for that application and at present, I am still using TI flats for those type of guitars. But I am interested in trying other Dogal strings.

I strongly suggest you try a set of the Dogal Nightclub strings on your Heritage. I suspect that if you do, you will be very heppy that you read this post.

There's also a flat set (Dogal) made expressly for acoustic guitar, called "Nightclub". I think they're non magnetised flatwounds but I've never tried them and have no idea about them, really...

Dogal R39 Nightclub Extraflat Medium Tension Muta Set 6 Corde Chitarra Acustica | eBay

[frabarmus]

Ah, sorry! Exactly the ones you bought! The ones you're talking about...

[frabarmus]

I've also used these a few times... they're super smooth flats but have a slightly brighter tone than common flatwounds.

Evolution System: Ultraflat

[frabarmus]

BTW has anyone tried these yet?


Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings | Gibson

I've never tried them but I have a set in my string box. We'll see...

[jzucker]

I tried that combo but to me the tension was still a bit much. (very fussy about tension, straight neck, low action no buzzing) I ordered like gauges to the Benson set. You can't get exact but very close. I like a bit heavier low E. The custom set it money if your a picky tension guy.

I like the chrome .011 setup (.012 and .016 on the E/B) on my Metheny. They seem to sound really good. I have them on this guitar. Very metheny-esque. However, not sure what they would sound like on my Eagle or Holst where I really want an old guitar sound. That's where the thomastiks shine. Except the recent set on my eagle which stand out as being very rough.

I may just stop at the hardware store and buy some 500 grit sandpaper and give them a light polish over the pickups.

Is 500 grit the right grit to accomplish this? Is there a better way other than wet/dry sandpaper?

[sgosnell]

I would think a grit closer to 1000 would be preferable. I've never seen 500 grit, but 400 and 600 are common, and coarser than I would consider for that application. I would also consider white Scotchbrite pads. But try whatever you want and report back.