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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 143
Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | I was looking at the web site "http://www.webstrings.com./" that I found from doing a search here at OFC (for which, I am very grateful) and it generated a couple of questions.
1. Flat wound strings on an acoustic. The benefits of flat wound string look like they might be advantageous, but the sound might suffer. Have you ever used them?
2. They had listed along with the X-light, light and medium strings, one called "bluegrass", that looked to be a combination of the lighter high strings, and the heavier low strings. Any thoughts on this "combo" string set?
3. May be an age old question, but what is the real difference between the 80/20 bronze and the phosphorous wound? Can you really tell much difference in the sound? Does one "last" longer than the other?
What a great site! The prices where right, to say the least. A person can afford to "experiment" with the different ones available for under $3.00 a set, which I might just do, but your opinions, I would fine interesting, if not very informative.
Thank You!
Live long and prosper!
Dale |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The advantages with flatwounds are they cut down finger-noise & keep their tone for ages, however they sound very different to roundwound strings, with less sustain & much less brightness. They tend to be used mostly by jazz players and they're welcome to them. There was a variant of the rouundwound called "groundwound" where roundwound strings were ground down almost flat but I haven't seen these for years.
The "Bluegrass" gauges are intended to produce a bigger low end response while keeping the unwound strings comfortable for bending & lead lines.
For an explanation of the difference between bronze & phos-bronze take a look at this
http://www.daddariostrings.com/viewfullfaq.asp?alt=100000300 |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I've been told that using flatwounds on my vintage Rickenbacker 12 are advantageous because the bridge is not compensated (there are only 6 saddles, not 12) and therefore the flatwounds keep intonation accurate between the octave strings. Any truth to this? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | None whatsoever, the amount of saddle compensation is determined by string mass, string tension & action height, regardless of the wrap type. Using flatwounds on a Rick 12 would destroy it's signature sound.
There are only six saddles on ovation electric-acoutics and the intonation on the 12 string guitars is more than acceptable. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Thanks PT for the quick and informed response. Guess I won't be ordering any Pyramids ... I'll stick with the compressed round wounds. I can definitely hear intonation issues, so I'll swap out a 12-string bridge for the 6 string bridge. Then again, maybe that's what gets the signature chimey sound? :D Funny though, I don't notice any intonation problems on my CL12. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 143
Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | Thank you Paul, that did answer my questions!
Live long and phosphor!
Dale |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Just a note for history
Flatwounds were string manufacturers answer to the big band fear that somebody might hear the guitar and be driven to Elvis like gyrations. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Just a side note:
The newest issue of AcousticGuitar (arrived last night) has a seemingly interesting and informative article (haven't read it yet) on the history, science and mechanics of "steel string" construction. Even has some pics from the D'Addario factory. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 143
Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | OK! That's it! I'm subscribing.... |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 99
Location: St. Petersburg, FL USA | Just got 6 sets from webstrings.com ($17 & change total). Orders over $15 ship for free. At this price I figured I couldn't go wrong...
Got 3 Lights (.12 - .53) and 3 Bluegrass (.12 - .56). OF COURSE, they arrived 24 hrs. too late, so I already have a new set of D'Addarios on. As soon as they wear out, on go the Bluegrass. Will post back with comments. I've seen mixed reviews on these guys, so I'm curious. |
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webstring.com --- option questions?
