Anyone know about these "flatwound" strings?

[Surfthrees]

Howzit!
Anyone heard of these? I was told that "Monel" is a form of metal? Never heard of it....

[/IMG]

 

[TM1]

Top Tape is what Rotosound use to call Flatwounds back in the `50's & `60's. Monel is a type of steel. Gibson use to use "Monel Steel" for strings back in the `50's thru early `70's. those would be great strings is they made them with a round core like they did originally.

 

[zombiwoof]

Monel is actually a nickel comp, basically that means nickel wound. There is an entry in Wikipedia about it.

Al

 

[58Lover]

Nope, Monel is actually the original brand name of the metal that Gibson used for their strings dating back to the '30's. I believe it was actually 1927 that they were introduced.

It is a tinned steel.

 

[Surfthrees]

Wow, pretty cool. I had no idea it existed.. The wilkpedia showed it being an alloy with about 68 percent Nickel mixed with copper and some iron. Patented in 1906?
Which part would that be, the wrap, the core or both? These are hex core or round? I gotta try em...

 

[58Lover]

the wrap wire. Gibson used hex core.

 

[TM1]

the wrap wire. Gibson used hex core.

Starting in what year Scott? Don't think they used hex in `50's or `60's.
But, if anyone would know it would be you!

 

[58Lover]

Hi big guy!, Gibson didn't start using hex until the 70's. Before that, everyone was using round core I believe.

 

[58Lover]

And they made the monels until the late 90's early 2000's. I manage to grab some of the last sets and used them on my J-160E..

 

[TM1]

Scott; Hi! Yeah, thought that's what it was. I remember reading Tom Wheeler's new/first book in `74 and he was talking about string companies converting over to the new Hex Core's for improved reliability as round cores had slipping wraps on occasions... Nobody knew then the tonal trade off that you got from hex as hex core's don't sound anywhere near as good as the old round cores.

 

[zombiwoof]

Lucky for us that several manufacturers realize the trade-off with hex core, and there are now several round core strings available on the market. That's all I use now.

Al

 

[Surfthrees]

Care to name some the round core makers? Pyramid, ....

 

[TM1]

Pyramid, Thomastik & DR are the only ones I know. However, keep in mind that the DR's are made at the Fender factory in Mexico and can be very inconsistant. I had an Artist Deal with them when they first came out as Richard Coco was making them and they were great. In about `92 they had a falling out and the strings were really inconsistent and still are..They've been made in Mexico for the last 10-12 years..

 

[zombiwoof]

Care to name some the round core makers? Pyramid, ....

Along with the Pyramid and Thomastik, there are the Markley Vintage Reissue (NPS), Markley Jimi Hendrix Pure Nickel (Pure Nickel, of course), DR TiteFits (NPS) and Pure Blues (pure nickel wound), and now there are the George L's "Bright Nickel" (Don't know if these are NPS or PN, I recently bought a set but haven't tried them yet). I use the two Markley strings on different guitars I have, I love both types. I also love the Pyramid Classic Nickel, but can't afford to use them all the time. I know that I only use round core strings these days, they are made the way strings were in the 50's-60's, you just have to be careful installing them so the windings don't come loose. I think round core strings sound better than hex. The Markley strings are just getting some recognition, they are really nice strings, I used to use the original version of the Vintage Reissues years ago till they changed them to hex core, then they lost something. I was really glad to see they reissued them, they are again my favorite NPS string.

Al