Flat Wound Guitar Strings

I love flatwound ¹ strings on electric guitars, particularly hollow body jazz guitars. I’ve currently got flat wound strings on three of my guitars, one of which is a solid body. There are many companies selling flat wound guitar strings. How do you choose? I can’t answer which strings you’ll like best but I have gathered data for a large number of brands and models of flat wound guitar strings. I hope this helps.

D’Addario

D’Addario is a popular brand and one of my favorite string makers. Their flatwound line of strings are called Chromes. Because of their popularity they are easy to find. Your local music store probably has some. All of the big online musical instrument suppliers carry D’Addario. They are reasonably priced and they have a fair selection of differently gauged sets.

Chromes ²

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
ECG23	10 (16.2)	14 (17.8)	20 (20.2)	28 (21.3)	38 (21.6)	48 (19.9)
ECG24	11 (19.6)	15 (20.5)	22 (25.3)	30 (24.6)	40 (25.8)	50 (21.5)
ECG25	12 (23.3)	16 (23.3)	24 (30)	32 (27.9)	42 (28)	52 (22.7)
ECG26	13 (27.4)	17 (26.3)	26 (35.1)	35 (35.1)	45 (32.9)	56 (27)

D’Angelico

John D’Angelico was one of the greatest archtop luthiers of the last century. Discussions between him and D’Addario led to the 80 / 20 Bronze string formulation in the 1930s. He once sold strings made to his specifications. I haven’t discovered definitively whether these were wound in his shop or if he had an OEM arrangement with D’Addario or someone else. However it is clear the new D’Addario company that is currently reproducing guitars based on D’Angelico designs, is essentially a virtual company that specified what they want and have others make it. That isn’t a criticism. It brings these great designs into a price range that we poor mortals can afford. I am not sure if the strings with the D’Angelico name are unique but they are available at a good price. I recently purchased a set but haven’t had a chance to try them yet.

Jazz Stainless Steel Flatwound ³

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
FW-UL	10	14	20	28	38	48
FW-XL	11	15	22	30	40	50
FW-L	12	16	24	32	42	52
FW-M	13	17	26	36	46	56

DR

DR’s “flat-wound” strings are actually polished rather than flat tape wound strings. These are probably brighter than true flat-wound strings while still reducing finger noise.

Legend Polished Flat-Wound

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
F-11	11	14	22	28	38	48
F-12	12	16	24	32	42	52
F-13	13	17	26	34	44	54

Fender

Fender doesn’t have much of a selection for flatwound strings. Although Gretsch and Guild guitars are now part of FMIC and have often been strung with flatwound strings, Fender guitars are not associated with flatwound strings.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
50L	12	16	24	32	42	52
50M	13	17	26	34	44	54

Galli

I apologize for this entry. It is the only incomplete listing. Galli makes more gauges of flatwound string than listed here.

I had not heard of Galli until recently when I found them listed on Musician’s Friend and other sites. They appear to be a well established company only recently expanding their markets. The company was founded in 1890.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
JF1150	11	15	22	30	40	50

GHS

The first four string sets listed are part of GHS’s Precision Flats series. These are not true flatwound strings but are made with a double winding, producing a smoother finish.

Not listed here are GHS Brite Flats. Brite Flats also are not a true flatwound string. These string are precision ground to produce a smooth surface. They use Alloy 52 which is becoming popular among string makers. It is a mixture of 52% nickel and 48% iron. The nickel makes the alloy corrosion resistant while the iron gives it great magnetic properties.

The Pat Martino flat wound set is currently not listed on the GHS website but can still be found at online merchants.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
750	9	11	16	24	32	42
800	11	14	22	28	36	46
900	12	16	24	30	40	50
1000	13	17	26	34	44	54
PMARTINO	15	17	24	32	42	52

La Bella

La Bella claims to have invented flat wound strings in 1940. That alone makes the strings worth consideration. I’ll admit I have never tried them, but I feel now I have to try them – if only for fairness.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
20PXL	9	11	15	20	28	39
20PL	11	15	20	28	39	52
20PCM	12	16	24	32	42	52
20PM	13	17	23	31	42	53
20PH	15	19	25	33	44	56

La Bella also makes an interesting, non-traditional flat wound string that are wound with black nylon tape.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
800L	12	15	28	38	48	56
800M	14	18	36	46	56	67

Optima

Optima Jazz Swing Chrome Flatwound strings are not easily found online. Strings by Mail has them.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1947EL	11	15	22	30	37	49
1947L	12	16	24	32	44	54
1947M	13	17	26	35	46	56

Pyramid

Pyramid has been making strings since 1850. They are a European company (Germany) and are known for quality strings. They also seem to be among the most expensive strings (along with Thomastik-Infeld, another German string company). You’ll have to decide for yourself if the quality justifies the price.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
GF610	10	13	19	30	35	46.5
GF611	11	15	20	30	35	48
GF613	13	17	24	33	42	52

Rotosound

Rotosound are known for their monel flatwound bass string sets. They make a flatwound monel set for guitars as well. Monel is an alloy used by Gibson back in the 1930s. It was popular but difficult to work with. There are few companies currently making strings from monel.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
RS200	12	16	24	32	42	52

S.I.T.

S.I.T. makes a stainless steel flatwound string. No choice of gauges.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
F1250	12	16	24	30	40	50

Thomastik-Infeld

Thomastik-Infeld makes a Jazz Swing series of flat wound strings (JSxyz) and George Benson flat wound strings (GBxyz). I’ve used the JS strings and think they are great but expensive. Are they worth it? I’m not sure. However, the strings last a very long time and feel great. I like them a lot.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
JS110	10 (17.2)	14 (16.5)	18 (19)	23 (18.1)	33 (18.1)	44 (18.7)
JS111	11 (19.8)	15 (19.5)	19 (21.7)	25 (21.3)	35 (20.2)	47 (21.1)
JS112	12 (22.8)	16 (22.8)	20 (24.6)	27 (24.1)	37 (22.8)	50 (23.3)
GB112	12 (22.8)	16 (22.8)	20 (24.6)	28 (27.3)	39 (24.8)	53 (26)
JS113	13 (26)	17 (25.1)	21 (27.3)	28 (27.3)	39 (24.8)	53 (26)
GB114	14 (32.8)	18 (28.7)	21 (27.3)	31 (31.3)	41 (27.7)	55 (27.5)

Newtone

Newtone Archtop Masters are double wrapped strings, not traditional flat wound strings. As with double wrapped and polished strings from other companies, these are expected to be brighter sounding than traditional flatwound strings while still providing a reduction in finger noise when sliding your finger up or down the string length.

Cat No	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
AM-L	11	15	22	30	40	50
AM-ML	12	16	24	32	42	52
AM-M	13	17	26	36	46	56

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All Flat Wound Strings sorted by gauge of 1st and 6th strings.

Brand	Cat No	Min-max	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Type 4
La Bella	20PXL	09 – 39	9	11	15	20	28	39	FW
GHS	750	09 – 42	9	11	16	24	32	42	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	JS110	10 – 44	10	14	18	23	33	44	FW
Pyramid	GF610	10 – 46.5	10	13	19	30	35	46.5	FW
D’Addario	ECG23	10 – 48	10	14	20	28	38	48	FW
D’Angelico	FW-UL	10 – 48	10	14	20	28	38	48	FW
GHS	800	11 – 46	11	14	22	28	36	46	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	JS111	11 – 47	11	15	19	25	35	47	FW
DR	FL-11	11 – 48	11	14	22	28	38	48	NT
Pyramid	GF611	11 – 48	11	15	20	30	35	48	FW
Optima	1947EL	11 – 49	11	15	22	30	37	49	FW
D’Addario	ECG24	11 – 50	11	15	22	30	40	50	FW
D’Angelico	FW-XL	11 – 50	11	15	22	30	40	50	FW
Galli	JF1150	11 – 50	11	15	22	30	40	50	FW
Newtone	AM-L	11 – 50	11	15	22	30	40	50	NT
La Bella	20PL	11 – 52	11	15	20	28	39	52	FW
GHS	900	12 – 50	12	16	24	30	40	50	FW
S I T	F1250	12 – 50	12	16	24	30	40	50	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	JS112	12 – 50	12	16	20	27	37	50	FW
D’Addario	ECG25	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	FW
D’Angelico	FW-L	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	FW
DR	FL-12	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	NT
Fender	50L	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	FW
La Bella	20PCM	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	FW
Newtone	AM-ML	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	NT
Rotosound	RS200	12 – 52	12	16	24	32	42	52	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	GB112	12 – 53	12	16	20	28	39	53	FW
Optima	1947L	12 – 54	12	16	24	32	44	54	FW
La Bella	800L	12 – 56	12	15	28	38	48	56	NT
Pyramid	GF613	13 – 52	13	17	24	33	42	52	FW
La Bella	20PM	13 – 53	13	17	23	31	42	53	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	JS113	13 – 53	13	17	21	28	39	53	FW
DR	FL-13	13 – 54	13	17	26	34	44	54	NT
Fender	50M	13 – 54	13	17	26	34	44	54	FW
GHS	1000	13 – 54	13	17	26	34	44	54	FW
D’Addario	ECG26	13 – 56	13	17	26	35	45	56	FW
D’Angelico	FW-M	13 – 56	13	17	26	36	46	56	FW
Newtone	AM-M	13 – 56	13	17	26	36	46	56	NT
Optima	1947M	13 – 56	13	17	26	35	46	56	FW
Thomastik-Infeld	GB114	14 – 55	14	18	21	31	41	55	FW
La Bella	800M	14 – 67	14	18	36	46	56	67	NT
GHS	PMARTINO	15 – 52	15	17	24	32	42	52	FW
La Bella	20PH	15 – 56	15	19	25	33	44	56	FW

1. How do you spell Flat Wound Strings? I’ve tried to keep the spelling used by the string maker’s website. Flatwound (one word): is used by D’Addario, D’Angelico, Fender, Galli, GHS, Optima, Pyramid, Rotosound and S.I.T. Flat Wound (two words) is used by La Bella and Thomastik-Infeld. DR strings hyphenates to flat-wound.
2. D’Addario is one of only two companies who make string tensions available. The table presents string diameter in 1000ths of an inch and tension in lbs at standard tuning and scale length.
3. Diameters given in 1/1000ths of an inch
4. FW: traditional flat wound strings; NT: non-traditional smoother strings due to nylon tape, double wrap or polishing.