Flat wound strings

Gil Berry · From: Westminster, CA, USA

In the old (very old) days, everyone used flat-wound strings on their non-pedal steels so that sliding the bar would be smoother - less drag and no buzz - but when pedals came along the flat-wounds went the way of the Edsel. I guess the problem was winding separation as the string was exercised with the constant raises and lowers. I'm wondering - with today's improved manufacturing techniques, quality control, etc., etc....could an improved flatwound be devised?

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Probably, but there's really no need. Keep in mind that back "in the old days", we used a much smaller bar, which caused a lot of the string noise in itself. When we went to the large-diameter bars seen today, a lot of the noise caused by the small bar radius striking the windings just "went away".

In addition, the tone of the flat wound, or "ground-wound" strings just wasn't as good, in many people's eyes (or ears

). They have a distinct "dead sound" that only some jazz musicians (and a few Hawaiian players) prefer.

In short...not enough "twang".

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