Flatwound Advice?

[Infern0]

I just got a pair of Steve Harris Flats. I was ecstatic about receiving them. When I got them, cut the A string a tad bit short, no big deal. Test time.

I start off with My Friend Of Misery. Nice Metallica Solo. Lots of fret buzz, no sustain. War Pigs. Still no sustain. Some Chords. Really tight strings, hard to push onto fret board.

So here I am asking for advice. I have heard that flats sound prime after the first month, is it worth the wait? Or am I more of a round person?

[Luckydog]

the quick answer is yes.

[JimmyM]

I think you're a rounds person. Steve Harris changed his strings frequently so they sounded like rounds. He definitely wasn't going for the Jamerson flatwound sound. Flatwounds get thuddier and less sustainy after time. Not what you're looking for.

[danis]

I agree,they are not for you...but give 'em a chance.
If you play them more,expect to sound more mellow (the fret buzz will go) but you can do nothing about the sustain and the tightness.

Sounds like you need to adjust the neck and string height but it also sounds like you're not a flatwound kinda person.

[Pilgrim]

Flats are great, but you can't judge them in the first couple of months. I find they need at least six months to mellow. Unlike some others here, I don't notice any loss of sustain as they age. They just sound and feel different than rounds.

[lonote]

You are clearly a rounds kind of guy, no flats will make you happy.

[lowerclef]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Steve Harris changed his strings frequently so they sounded like rounds.

That sounds weird. If you want to get a roundwound sound, why not just use rounds?

Flats do require some break-in time (usually a month or so in my experience), but then they get amazing. Depends on what you're going for, though. Definitely not for slap and tap!

As for getting fret buzz and no sustain, you may have a bit of a setup issue. With flats, you should experience fewer noises and buzzes.

[JimmyM]

Don't know why Steve likes flats. I guess it's the slide noise factor.

[christle]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Don't know why Steve likes flats. I guess it's the slide noise factor.

He has mentioned that in a couple of interviews. He really hates the string noise you can get with rounds.

[Infern0]

Yeah, Harris does a lot of sliding. I see why he would prefer flats for his music. A little update for you, after a few days of playing I get almost no fret buzz. I am liking it. They sound a lot more mellow, still no sustain Tightness may be caused by small nut, anyone know where I can find a replacement? Dean bass. Overall, they are starting to produce a highly unexpected but rather decent sound. Good for harmonics I might add. I will stick with them for another two weeks or so, if by then I am not liking them, D'Addarios or DRs it is.