Do any MODERN players use flatwound Strings?

**JazzMuzak** · 06-09-2016, 10:27 AM

It seems like something that's almost exclusively been relegated to old timers, lounge players, and hobbyists.

To be clearer, I'm not looking down on flats players. I use flats myself (and I'm young, imagine that!), but when you look at anybody who's considered "who's who" of modern jazz guitar or the current torch bearers it's hard to find a singe one that uses flat wounds. Julian lage, mike Moreno, Adam Rogers, Gilad Heckselman, rotem Sivan, Lage Lund, Jonathan Kriesberg, Lionel loueke, Dan Wilson, need I go on?

**mr. beaumont** · 06-09-2016, 10:28 AM

Well, there's a loaded thread opener.

**MarkRhodes** · 06-09-2016, 10:35 AM

Before this gets nuts, care to define "modern"?

**NoReply** · 06-09-2016, 11:06 AM

I'm old and use round wounds does that mean I can't comment???

**ESCC** · 06-09-2016, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by JazzMuzak

It seems like something that's almost exclusively been relegated to old timers, lounge players, and hobbyists.

On which planet did you observe this?

**Melodic Dreamer** · 06-09-2016, 12:02 PM

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

A lot of guitarist I know who play Jazz use Flats. Every other week there are post about which Flat Wound string is the best. On the other hand a lot of the contemporary guys like Rosenwinkel, Kreisberg, Lund, Moreno, Hekselman and such prefer round wounds. Of the newer generation most of the guys I am familiar with use rounds. I can't think of anyone who plays flats, but I know someone will chime in with a few namea.

**neatomic** · 06-09-2016, 12:14 PM

some use sharps as well!

hah

cheers

**Frank67** · 06-09-2016, 12:26 PM

Russell Malone appears to play flatwounds

**JazzMuzak** · 06-09-2016, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by ESCC

On which planet did you observe this?

Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

A lot of guitarist I know who play Jazz use Flats. Every other week there are post about which Flat Wound string is the best. On the other hand a lot of the contemporary guys like Rosenwinkel, Kreisberg, Lund, Moreno, Hekselman and such prefer round wounds. Of the newer generation most of the guys I am familiar with use rounds. I can't think of anyone who plays flats, but I know someone will chime in with a few namea.

This guy hit the nail on the head. I use flats myself but all of the guys he listed whom most would consider the torch bearers of modern jazz all use round wounds. Some others, Julian lage, Lionel loueke, Jonathan krisberg, Adam Rogers, Dan Wilson, and Ben monder to name a couple others

**NoReply** · 06-09-2016, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer

I think I understand what the OP is getting at.

A lot of guitarist I know who play Jazz use Flats. Every other week there are post about which Flat Wound string is the best. On the other hand a lot of the contemporary guys like Rosenwinkel, Kreisberg, Lund, Moreno, Hekselman and such prefer round wounds. Of the newer generation most of the guys I am familiar with use rounds. I can't think of anyone who plays flats, but I know someone will chime in with a few namea.

I think their choice in roundwounds goes along with that they tend to uses pedals so they want, need the brighter more defined note. I use roundwounds for same reason just I'm not into pedals anymore.

**ESCC** · 06-09-2016, 02:33 PM

Not to hijack this thread, but, whether you're using flats, sharps or round wounds, Strings & Beyond is having offering 20% off TI strings - http://www.stringsandbeyond.com

Are we talking about modern jazz guitar as contemporary players of traditional jazz songs or more modern/contemporary music played in the style of jazz, which means we are ruling out us old guys who play old style jazz, correct?

Graham Dechter, Russell Malone, Mark Whitfeild . . . use flats, they are all under 60 does that qualify them as modern? They are contemporary.

My guitar tech who plays in rock bands uses flats, he's modern and contemporary but not jazz, excuse me, I need to get another cup of coffee.

**mr. beaumont** · 06-09-2016, 02:34 PM

I use flats on some guitars, and rounds on some. I'm a part time fogey.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 06-09-2016, 02:59 PM

The first time I put flat wounds on a guitar, I don't know, but I had a hankering to eat soup and take a nap.

**ESCC** · 06-09-2016, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

The first time I put flat wounds on a guitar, I don't know, but I had a hankering to eat soup and take a nap.

Interesting, I on the other hand started drinking whiskey and played into the wee hours.

I do use rounds on my solid bodies, flats on semi-hollows and archtops.

**Gitfiddler** · 06-09-2016, 04:22 PM

Not sure what the definition is of a "Modern Player" either, but it all comes down to personal choice.

Johnny A. is definitely not considered a jazz guitarist, but he uses flats on one of his signature guitars for some songs and roundwounds on others. It all depends on what tone he's after.

Johnny A. | Driven

Need more clarity/info/feedback from the op, JazzMuzak.

**Robertito** · 06-10-2016, 12:49 AM

Pat Metheny does.

**pingu** · 06-10-2016, 08:17 AM

h

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

The first time I put flat wounds on a guitar, I don't know, but I had a hankering to eat soup and take a nap.

sounds good to me !

**pingu** · 06-10-2016, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Robertito

Pat Metheny does.

metheny uses rounds i think

note , we all use flats on the top E and B strings

**nick1994** · 06-10-2016, 08:35 AM

I think rosenwinkal and kriesburg use flats. Does anyone know for sure?

**Marty Grass** · 06-10-2016, 09:17 AM

Truth be told, I'd be fine with rounds if they didn't squeak. The brightness can be rolled off.

Having said that, I do have a fondness for the acoustic sound of the thud of hex core flats.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 06-10-2016, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by nick1994

I think rosenwinkal and kriesburg use flats. Does anyone know for sure?

No they both use rounds.

**Edvin** · 06-10-2016, 10:53 AM

Adam Rogers uses flats.

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**NoReply** · 06-10-2016, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Edvin

Adam Rogers uses flats.

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In his recent lesson video on MMC he's using roundwounds you can hear the string squeak shifting positions.

https://www.mymusicmasterclass.com/p...cal-studies-1/

**Edvin** · 06-10-2016, 11:02 AM

Oh, thank you for the information! Saw him one yeat ago using flats but he must have updated. Is the lesson any good?

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**NoReply** · 06-10-2016, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Edvin

Oh, thank you for the information! Saw him one yeat ago using flats but he must have updated. Is the lesson any good?

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I saw the lesson when it came out and it was okay, was all on scales and arps working things end to end of the neck. He uses and bases fingerings on the Segovia Scale book.