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  #1  
Old 06-22-2019, 12:28 AM
SpiderTrap SpiderTrap is offline
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Default Recently began change to Electric

Played Acoustic all my life . Bought a YAM ( wood ) Pacifica 112V ( $300 ) about a year ago and never messed with it much as I really dont care for Schrill (sp ) electric sound . I prefer more vintage mellow sound . So Changed Strings to Flatwound Dai Chromes 10-48 and just purchased 11-50s not here yet . I must say , the Flatwounds changed the entire tone to almost sound like an amped acoustic , with alot more sustain of course. Not a bad lil git , not gonna shell out $1000 on an elec ... Play with small amps with tiny bit of delay only and get very nice tone . Anyone else like the Flatwound strings ?
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  #2  
Old 06-22-2019, 06:49 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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When I started playing in 1962 flatwounds were de rigeur for serious electric players, and the lightest set you could get was 12-52 - been using flats ever since (mostly 12-52, 13-56 on my full-hollowbody jazzboxes - only recently went over to 10's/11's on some of my guitars, as a concession to age); took an occasional excursion into half-rounds in the '70s-80s - still use them once in a while on my semis and hollowbodies, when I need a brighter tone for certain situations...

BTW, since you're coming over from acoustic and prefer a mellower sound, you might want to check out a semi-hollow (ES-335 style) or full-hollowbody (ES-175/Gretsch 6120 type) instrument; they're closer in feel to an acoustic guitar in terms of size and handling, and the body resonance takes some of the edge off the highs (FYI I too find certain electrics shrill and harsh-sounding, particularly with ultra-light roundwound strings). As a whole they're a bit more expensive - the decent stuff starts around $600 and goes up (way up) from there - but IME you're more likely to find the tone you're after; next time you visit your favorite local guitar store check out one of the Korean-made Gretsch 5400/5600-Series Electromatics and/or a Godin CW II (I own examples of both and can vouch for both their tone and QC/playability) as well as the Beatles-approved Epiphone Casino and Joe Pass models - you'll find a lot to like...
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Last edited by Steve DeRosa; 06-22-2019 at 07:08 AM. Reason: additional info
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Old 06-22-2019, 07:15 AM
guitararmy guitararmy is offline
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These are a nice semi-flatwound string for jazz, but I think they've been discontinued:

https://www.ebay.com/p/GHS-1800-Comp...d=263036426689
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Old 06-22-2019, 07:41 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guitararmy View Post
These are a nice semi-flatwound string for jazz, but I think they've been discontinued:

https://www.ebay.com/p/GHS-1800-Comp...d=263036426689
I've been using the 12-54 1810 set on my '82 Yamaha SSC-500 since day one - my only deviation from flats, BTW - and they were discontinued a couple years ago; still have a few sets in stock, keeping my eyes open for NOS whenever I visit a music store - probably go over to Martin Monels (yes, they work for electric) when they run out since they have a similar feel...
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Old 06-24-2019, 07:53 AM
ras1500 ras1500 is offline
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I've been using Pyramid Gold 11 - 48 flat wound strings on my Strat for several years now. They are my go to strings for that guitar. I've used Thomastik Infeld Jazz Swings 11-47 on my Guild Starfire and found them to be excellent strings. Presently I have TI George Benson 12-53 strings on the Guild. To my ears they are a bit too dark sounding. I'll probably go back to the Jazz Swings. However, you can't go wrong with D'Addario chromes.
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Old 06-24-2019, 08:00 AM
pf400 pf400 is offline
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I put flats on my Gretsch 6122...they sound great and there is no finger-scratch noise when I move up and down the wound strings. They do not feel like acoustic strings, as I hoped they would. And, if you form a chord with a degree of reach needed, there is less grip on the string...your fingers will tend to slip. The guitar is awesome but for these and other reasons, I just can't consider it a keeper. Can't get that Chet tone to the degree I wished...probably I just don't have the touch for it.
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Old 06-24-2019, 09:50 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pf400 View Post
I put flats on my Gretsch 6122...I just can't consider it a keeper. Can't get that Chet tone to the degree I wished...
Not to worry since most of us won't ever play like Chet anyway, but as a lifelong Gretsch guy I'm curious what amp you're using, as well as your pickup/tone switch/amp EQ settings; as I'm sure you're aware Gretsch instruments are highly idiosyncratic, and the settings I use for my "Chet tone" will be be quite different on my '64 Double Annie, 5622T-CB, or White Falcon through the same amp - much less different amps with varying electronics (tube/SS), speaker complements, and power ratings. That Country Gent is a nice guitar - wanted a Gent since I saw the flame-bodied one on the first page of the '63 catalog when I was a kid (a full year before the Beatles' arrival, BTW), but that Falcon was too good a deal to pass up when it came along - and IME I wouldn't be too quick to give up on it...
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Last edited by Steve DeRosa; 06-25-2019 at 07:04 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 06-24-2019, 11:09 PM
Dadzmad Dadzmad is offline
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SpiderTrap - I also went from playing flat tops for decades to Fender solid bodies a few years ago and flat wounds were part of the transition. Unlike acoustics the strat type guitars can be endlessly adjusted with screwdriver and allen wrench on the kitchen table to our jaded tastes. Youtube will guide you.

A few points from my recent tinkering to pass along for what it is worth

Going to a heavier flat wound changes the balance of metal moving in the magnetic field of the pickups. Try adjusting them up or down. flat or tilted etc. Do this with some volume and you can tune the sound to your tastes. All it takes is a screw driver. Do this before even thinking about swapping out the pickups.

If the Yamaha has all five hooks on the claw put in five springs for heavier strings and fully float the trem even if you never use it. Trust me this is the heart of the Strat feel and sound. If you find me FOS just block it with a chunk of flooring and move on.

If you become attached to the guitar very nice pickups can be had from winders like Rose Pickups for about thirty bucks each. He does good work.

Enjoy your Yamaha they have made really nice no BS guitars for many decades now.
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Old 06-26-2019, 08:08 AM
pf400 pf400 is offline
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To answer Steve's post, I've tried a Fender Custom Deluxe Reverb, Roland Cube 80XL, 2 keyboard amps, and a Vox mini. I'm chicken so I've had two of the better local Guitar Techs set up the guitar. I did get a comment that the intonation is just slightly off but I don't want to mod the guitar in any way.
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