The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary

View Poll Results: Do you use roundwound or flatwound strings?

Voters
649. You may not vote on this poll
  • Flatwound

    370 57.01%
  • Roundwound

    258 39.75%
  • I'm a trombonist

    21 3.24%
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  1. #1

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    I'm intrigued to see how many people use flatwounds, because now jazz guitarists tend to use roundwounds if they want a modern tone.
    I'm not saying one is better than the other, and I don't care, just want to make the poll and see what's is more used by the forum users
    Also, if you use 7 string guitar, please say it (I want to know that too!)

    Thanks!

  2.  

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  3. #2

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    I do not care about "moderne tone" and use flatwounds on my arch-top.Simply I like these strings.

  4. #3

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    Flatwound on electric, roundwound on acoustic.

  5. #4

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    Depends on the guitar. Flatwounds on all of my electric jazzboxes, but Phosphor Bronze Roundwounds on my acoustic archtop.

  6. #5

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    Mostly flats for jazz, rounds for accoustic and rock.

  7. #6

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    Half-rounds on both arch-tops.

  8. #7

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    polished rounds (similar to half rounds) - fairly bright but less squeak than rounds

  9. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill C
    polished rounds (similar to half rounds) - fairly bright but less squeak than rounds
    Good to know, i'm considering half rounds, i never tried.
    No "half round" option in the poll, uh ...

  10. #9
    Sorry, it doesn't let me add the option now.

  11. #10

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    Roundwound. Although I like the sound of flats, I always found the wound strings to be out of balance with the plain E and B. The plain strings are brighter than the wound ones.

  12. #11

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    I prefer the sound of roundwounds and tend to use them, but do have flatwounds from time to time and the lack of string squeak can be addicting.

  13. #12

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    Haha, I am a Trombonist, but also do use roundwound strings. I used to use flatwounds, but after a while, I thought they sounded a little too dead for my taste. I always prefer acoustic over electric (flattop and archtop), but play electric regularly, probably perform more on electric. I think roundwound strings get me closer to an acoustic tone on my electric guitars, which I like.

  14. #13

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    Roundwound. I have used flats from time to time. Never really liked them and felt guilty because I was supposed to. But I never liked the feel or the sound.

  15. #14

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    I tried my first set of flats a month or so back and really like them. I might even try a set on a 60's gibson heritage dreadnougt I have

  16. #15
    Flatwounds 12s on my jazzbox and simi-hollow; roundwound 11s on solid body. Acoustic has phosphor bronze 11s with a plane 18 for my 3rd string. Don't like my 3rd string wounded on acoustic. Plus I like to bend that 3rd string sometimes.

  17. #16

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    I like pro steel roundwounds, I used to use flats but I was never totally happy with them.

  18. #17

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    hate the dead sound of flats
    rounds 100% of the time for me. I like a little sparkle to my sound that flats don't have.

  19. #18
    I love the feel of flatwounds (except for bending), but prefer the sound of roundwounds. Yes, I use 7 strings :P

    By the way, we have two trombonists, we can already make a big band

  20. #19

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    Solid top floating PU wasn't getting me exactly what I wanted with flats so switched to rounds. Markley Blue Steels with wound G, now a happy camper...

  21. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by henryrobinett
    Roundwound. I have used flats from time to time. Never really liked them and felt guilty because I was supposed to. But I never liked the feel or the sound.
    Guilty, yeah. You should be ashamed of yerself, Henry!
    Last edited by ooglybong; 02-01-2013 at 03:30 PM.

  22. #21

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    Flatwounds on my archtops.
    Rounds on my rock/fusion guitars.
    Half-Rounds on my 335.
    High-tension nylon strings on my classicals.

  23. #22

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    Rounds if I want a brighter sound and want to do some bending. Flats for more mellow stuff and easier on my fingers.

  24. #23

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    I've never really done much bending, and I've always preferred the feeling of flats. I just don't get why people say they
    sound "dead".
    Last edited by =DK=; 02-02-2013 at 05:26 AM.

  25. #24

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    Keep it flat and thick for that smooth, mellow, full chordal melody sound.

    Keep it round and thin for that defiant, loud, crunchy, squealing rock and blues-rock sound.

  26. #25

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    Flatwound 12s for straight ahead stuff

    Flatwound 11 E, A & D plus plain G, B E for 335/ bending- not dead-sounding if the eq is right, IMO, and reasonable ''jazz'' sound.

    Not quite sure what's 'modern' about rounds...they were available in the 60s....anyway, whatever works for you.