You Should Try Flat Top Acoustic Strings
| D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Flat Top Strings | Amazon – https://amzn.to/3CHpStf | Reverb – https://reverb.partnerlinks.io/DAddarioFlatTops |
The D’addario Flat Top (phosphor bronze acoustic) string set is an interesting one. They kind of exist halfway in between a round and flatwound set. They’re slightly warmer in tone, seem to have a bit more tension, and don’t squeak under your fingers as you play. In this video I’m playing back to back samples of the Flat Top set against a set of traditional roundwound Phosphor Bronze strings.
Free resources, lessons, Helix presets, & contact info – https://www.AlexPriceMusician.com
Check out Jake Eddy’s Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/JakeEddy?fan_landing
Jake Eddy on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thejakeeddy/
More String Comparisons – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEvHYd6vwcGdXla6MiAGX_x2c7ZLy9LU6
▶️ *Highlights*
0:00 – Overview
0:53 – What are Flat Tops?
2:08 – Parameters for the comparison
2:36 – Chords
3:06 – Fingerpicking
3:54 – Flatpicking
4:48 – Classical
7:13 – some Tony Rice
8:47 – Jazz
9:55 – More flatpicking
10:38 – Outro
#acoustic #DAddarioStrings
=================================
Hi, I’m Alex – a full-time musician based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I make a living performing in the Western PA region and teaching guitar online and through university music programs.
???? Lessons, Courses, and Free Resources – https://www.AlexPriceMusician.com/study
???? Line 6 Helix / HX Stomp presets – https://www.AlexPriceMusician.com/helix
Use the coupon code TAKE5 to get $5 off any order over $25.
???? 14-day free trial to Guitar Tricks – https://www.guitartricks.com/?a_aid=68094dd3dcbe6&chan=YTdesc
Get started learning guitar online with Guitar Tricks, cancel anytime.
???? My Favorite Gear – http://amzn.com/shop/AlexanderPriceMusic :
| My favorite pedals – https://amzn.to/2W58t9e
| Strings & Picks – https://amzn.to/35un2qc
| Essentials for Your Music Studio – https://amzn.to/2Yz9qIB
| Essentials for Your Guitar Case – https://amzn.to/2W6MyPj
Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links, which means that I receive a small commission in return for purchases made through them, though it doesn’t cost anything extra to you. This is part of my income as an online creator and I personally endorse every product that I link. Please send me an email if you have any questions.
=================================
???? Playlists:
| Building a Pro Pedal Board from Start to Finish – https://bit.ly/3c59fsp
| Favorite Pedals & How I Use Them – http://bit.ly/2X8PFpv
| Lessons – https://bit.ly/2L0ysZk
| Line 6 Helix – https://bit.ly/3fk6ANA
| Gear Demos – https://bit.ly/3b1B5V9
| Jazz Guitar – https://bit.ly/2A0a4Vt
| The Inner Urge (my band) – https://bit.ly/3dfPyhR
=================================
⭐️ Social Media – @AlexPriceMusician:
| FaceBook – http://facebook.com/AlexPriceMusician
| Instagram – http://instagram.com/AlexPriceMusician
???? And my other projects:
| The Inner Urge – http://facebook.com/InnerUrgeBand
| Resolute Vibration – http://facebook.com/ResoluteVibration
=================================
???? Contact – https://AlexPriceMusician.com/contact
#Flat #Top #Acoustic #Strings
Originally posted by UCo74LbP05aDJk3T1shsBa-w at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnpEZucnu4M
They don't quite sound like dead strings but kinda. Undead!
Really well done video! Thank you.
I've never tried flats on my acoustics…next string change, I'll give it a whirl….but 4 out of 7 of my electrics all have flats on them. I really prefer flats…much more comfortable to play and far, FAR less string squeak which I am just not a fan of…also flats make a world of difference when recording.
i admit, earphones and eyes closed (or covering the words) have a hard time telling the difference except for string noise at times and some of the difference in the highs
I prefer the roundwounds.
great video and comparison, but was the dave matthews jump scare necessary
Great comparison! Thank you for your thoughtfully presented conparison, and for putting all the time and effort into your uploads. I really appreciate your work!
Great stuff! I'm going to try them. Thanks.
Great playing man! What's the guitar model? Sounds awesome!
Edit: I realised it's a martin
Thank you for posting. Nice playing! I have been playing off and on for about 60 years. I have just fitted these FLATS "Extra Light Gauge " as they call them. I find that these have heavier tension than a standard light gauge. And so had to re-tune down to D which feels about right for me. I have heard other people say a similar comment about the tension. They sound fine. Tone is Half way between normal and worn out strings. However I do want to try the Magma Flat Wound.
Hears what I hear strumming ,both sets are well matched , how ever finger picking give's a definite tone comparison that strumming and flat picking doesn't give so what I couldn't tell in the strumming and flat picking i could tell in the finger picking flat top strings where the difference here for the better tone at least for finger style great review .
Played so good! Got shivers from the classical part. Flat tops sound much clearer for me. Gonna try it.
I kinda hate the feel of these, they feel super chalky and have a TON of friction against my fingers for any sort of sliding up frets, somehow feel more sandpapery than my round wounds. Its like the worst of both worlds. LOVE flatwounds on my teles, but these are just crap IMO and restrict my playing
Flat are woo
I don't know how people play 13 gauge strings, they are so hard to press. But very interesting test, I now want to try flat top.
Great playing!!!! The flats sounded flat!!
What is the tune in the classical section? It was absolutely beautiful
I use the flat tops
Definitely the case that having a very rich full spectrum sound isn't necessarily appropriate for a microphone.
The more controlled sound of the flats is much more even and smooth, although the narrowed range might not be as satisfying in person
The Flat Wound have more warmth overall and low end boom which I enjoy. Why Simi-Flat as opposed to entirely Flat Wound?
The roundwounds sound better; more fuller and more lows and highs. But the flats have a nicer mids but lacking in the lows. If I'm honest, I prefer the sound of the roundwound strings.
Id think the flat tops may sound better in an acoustic lelctric
Thank you for the video. I usually go for 80/20 on my Martin, but since I’ll be recording it with mics, I decided to try the flat tops. They sound great and almost no squeak. I still prefer the 80/20, but it is what is. For a recording setting and my way of playing, I’ll be recording with the flat tops to avoid any headaches during the mixing process.
Really helpful.
I’m definitely trying the flat tops for my finger picking. I think if you strum or need sustained notes then round wound do the job, but… I play mainly arpeggios and ostinatos so all that sustain sometimes kinda gets in the way, and the flats had more definition in the mids I thought.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my HD28V and don’t laugh , ???? but I’ve also fallen in love with my son’s half size Harley Benton Travel. £90 ????????♂️ it is what it is, but capoed from the 2nd to the 5th or even 7th fret and played finger style it has a sound all its own. Steel string, yes but also hints of Dobro, classical, even Ukulele and harp. Especially when the strings are old. I believe Nick Drake used to play his strings to death before recording because he liked that shortened, more rounded sound.
Wondering if there are completely flat wound strings for acoustic and how they would sound. ????????♂️ I certainly wouldn’t miss the squeak. ????????♂️
Great A/B video, thanks. ????????☯️
I like the flat tops. More mellow to me. Think I will try a set!
Really Great Job Man ????????????
Absolutely great playing and wonderful demonstration of the two. The traditionalist: "The rounds don't sound right. They don't sound like an acoustic guitar should!" No, they sound more like a professional recorded acoustic. If you want to record regulars and then compress and EQ them to sound like the rounds, do so. ????
I just tried out the lights, the whole point is when you slide a chord up or down and there is much less squeak. I liked these a lot just for that reason.
Very interesting film, my pet hate is squeaky string noises, not so much finger squeak but pick squeak, I'm trying all sorts to reduce it and these strings certainly do seem make a difference. When amplified it gets worse and when you try to EQ the squeak out you tend to loose valuable top end frequencies. will definitely give them a whirl.
If there was the OOO (or smaller) shaped guitar, I would definitely prefer flatwound strings
The rounds sound the best on the D28. The flats seem to change the EQ to a flat line, like strings reaching the end end of their life.
This is where I start when I buy a new acoustic.
My mahogany Martin 000 sounds best with Elixir nanoweb (11-52). Went through a ton of strings for that and assumed they would brighten up the J45, nope, not nearly the same.
PB seems the most popular choice. But I thought, maybe I'll try flats… Here I am.
It's that feel & tone that fits and you'll be hard pressed to change.
Wow, you are super versatile! I've got to get some flat wounds or flattops for my fingerstyle jazz playing. Thank you!
I want to say some of the reason for the lower highs are a simple matter of a larger diameter core string. This can be overcome with an equalizer of course. Also the thicker core will increase the amount of tension to achieve the proper tuning. So you may find you will need to adjust your truss rod tension as well. The strings will also last longer because of the core size being larger. I put Magma 10s on my electric and 12s on my acoustic.
Thank you for posting this. The difference is very clear. I like the idea of reducing string squeak, and my duo partner (who plays a harp) would really appreciate it, but to me it's as though you are playing a very much inferior guitar when those flats are on it.
How do the flat tops compare to the Martin Retro’s?
great review. would love to hear these on fingerstyle jazz
Well looks like I'm getting some flat tops! I'll be sure to keep the affiliate link. I have a weird tactile issue with roundwound strings (the texture feels very bad to my fingers) and I'm only now realizing that there's viable alternatives. Thanks!
How far is that mic away?
I love my flat tops ????
You are very talented and I enjoyed this thorough demonstration very much, thank you for posting it and I hope to see more.
I dislike any string squeak and in search for a squeak free string set for acoustic guitar I tried D'Addario Flat Top.
I thought they helped reduce string squeak but didn't eliminate it.
Even with your talented playing I did noticed some Flat Top string squeak during the jazz demo.
I think the Flat Tops do a better job reducing string squeak than Elixir coated strings.
As previously mentioned, Magma Flat Phosphor Bronze are a more refined than D'Addario Flat Tops, the string surface on the Magma strings have a much smoother polished feel. I don't get any string squeak with Magma Flat
like did with D'Addario Flat Top.
actually the string whisps of round wound, make me sick to my stomach, like a rodent squeeking by ????
I think if you EQ'd the flats you could get them to ring more like round
Very interesting. With the flat-tops, as I expected, you certainly lose some high-end shimmer and high-mids that you get on the roundwounds. But they seem to also provide an audible hump somewhere a little lower in the mids register. I liked the sound, and I think I'll give them a try.
The bronze Flat tops sound amazing with an all mahogany acoustic. It really complements the warm a deep woody tones. Especially with something like a 000-15M.
Almost negligible after listening twice through, but can hear the slight differences. To me the difference is noticeable in the feel of the PB compared to FT strings.
Great demo as always. ???? ????️
Man, I didn't even know these were a thing! Definitely gonna try them with my Baden
Great episode