String question

I know some people think flatwounds will be better for slide (thinking there will be less string noise), but in my view, flatwounds are best suited for archtop jazz guitars (that's what I use on my old Kay jazzbox). Flatwounds take all the "zing" and treble out of the tone...perfect for mellow jazz, not so good for slide...unless that's the specific tone you are shooting for. Serious slide players (including lapsteel, Hawaiian and pedal steel layers ) generally use roundwounds. Give it a go, it might be just what you are after...especially if you are playing fretless and using a lot of fingered rather than slide playing..it will stop a lot of the squeaks when sliding with bare fingers.

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ChickenboneJohn May 27, 2014 at 6:11am

I know some people think flatwounds will be better for slide (thinking there will be less string noise), but in my view, flatwounds are best suited for archtop jazz guitars (that's what I use on my old Kay jazzbox). Flatwounds take all the "zing" and treble out of the tone...perfect for mellow jazz, not so good for slide...unless that's the specific tone you are shooting for. Serious slide players (including lapsteel, Hawaiian and pedal steel layers ) generally use roundwounds. Give it a go, it might be just what you are after...especially if you are playing fretless and using a lot of fingered rather than slide playing..it will stop a lot of the squeaks when sliding with bare fingers.

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