Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Are flatwounds good for an acoustic that has a sliding pickup?
Flatwounds for a monkey on a stick
- Thread starter Darryl Hattenhauer
- Start date
Darryl - Assuming you are talking about a vintage DeArmond on an archtop, give it a try and see what you think. My wife has a '48 Epi Broadway w flats and through her DeArmond it sounds great (rich and dark) plugged in, which is how she usually plays it. I have a '46 Epi Triumph that I frequently play unplugged and only put the DeArmond (1100) on it for gigs, so I prefer roundwounds (nickel only). They are a little brighter and give a punchier and better defined note from the wound strings. To me the flats also give a more 'modern' tone and for acoustic playing the flats sound kind of flubby and ill-defined. My take (for what it's worth) is flats for electric, rounds for either. It can't hurt to try something different and see what you think. Trust your ear.
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
AJ,
You've confirmed everything I was thinking. I like the DeArmond because it's a distinctive sound, and it sounds better to me with flats. I use .010 Daddio chromes.
hf
You've confirmed everything I was thinking. I like the DeArmond because it's a distinctive sound, and it sounds better to me with flats. I use .010 Daddio chromes.
hf
Another consideration (just to confuse the issue further) is the guitar itself and the type of music you like to play. IMHO most archtops tend to like heavy strings (especially carved tops played acousticly) but if you're playing strictly electric and/or doing a lot of string bends 10s can be a nice compromise, although you will get a lot more sound out of the guitar with heavier strings. If you do decide to change to heavier strings you will likely need to adjust your set-up a bit.
For me, an archtop with a DeArmond is the sweetest sound for jazz and blues.
For me, an archtop with a DeArmond is the sweetest sound for jazz and blues.