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I'm getting tired of it...

#22
michael_t said:
I have no personal experience with the D'A Half Rounds, so can't do a direct comparison.

That said, a couple of things I like about the Brite Flats...
First, I'm a huge fan of Alloy 52 (nickel-iron alloy) for its unique properties and tonal character, so I like the idea that the BFs are also Alloy 52, vs. pure nickel of D'A HRs. And secondly, BF factory sets are better-balanced in terms of tension, the light set (45-56-77-98) being my favorite.
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Just wondering and seeing how you know a lot about strings and such...

Do you know of anyone making a flatwound out of alloy 52?
 
#25
Jon Moody said:
To make a true flatwound (and not groundwound) out of Alloy 52, you'd have to buy it in flatwire (which I don't believe is available) or flatten it yourself.
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Ah fair enough. Can’t make something if the raw material doesn’t economically exist.

I was wondering why. Thanks Jon!:thumbsup:

Well seeing how you guys at GHS are squishing the wrap wire for the pressurewounds. Couldn’t you perhaps carry that process to the next level by flattening some alloy 52 on sort of the same fashion? Food for thought?

Idk man. I’m just a hack thinking out loud with some thoughts and ideas.:laugh:;)

Love your products that I’ve tried to date. Great tones that fit my budget!:thumbsup: Brite Flats for my Stingray are probably next.
 
#26
Heavy Blue said:
Well seeing how you guys at GHS are squishing the wrap wire for the pressurewounds. Couldn’t you perhaps carry that process to the next level by flattening some alloy 52 on sort of the same fashion? Food for thought?
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The next level of what you're suggesting is, effectively, flattening the wire. Which we can do; we have the machinery to do so.

The bigger question is: why? With Pressurewounds and Brite Flats already out there, what value does a true flatwound set of Alloy 52 bring us? And, if we did come up with such a thing, what would happen to the sales of the other two; would we be cannibalizing on them?
 
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#27
Jon Moody said:
The next level of what you're suggesting is, effectively, flattening the wire. Which we can do; we have the machinery to do so.

The bigger question is: why? With Pressurewounds and Brite Flats already out there, what value does a true flatwound set of Alloy 52 bring us? And, if we did come up with such a thing, what would happen to the sales of the other two; would we be cannibalizing on them?
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Well it would seem to me that Alloy 52 has a higher and different tonal output than stainless steel so it could be a better choice for those with lower output pickups. It could also be a more modern compliment to your Precision Flats as another option. Sort of similar to how Ernie Ball has their Group series flats and their Slinky (cobalt) flats.

I’m basing this on my extensive time with the P Flats and more limited time with the Pressurewounds. I realize these are very different strings to be comparing but my Jazz seems to have substantially more output with the PWs than with the Flats. The PWs also seem to have a lot of mids. Almost a “shouting” quality to them when new. They really do bark and seem to have a lot of cut to them.

So I get the output and cut I want with the PWs but the tone I want with the P Flats. See where I’m coming from?

Of course maybe this hypothetical string is already very close to the Brite Flats which tbh I have not tried yet.

Idk if this would cannibalize sales of existing GHS products or not. I’m not a marketing guy or anything but I’d be inclined to think that it wouldn’t as it would be different enough from your existing flats. Brite Flats seem to be a more niche product but as it’s Alloy 52, maybe it’s sales would take a small hit.

Idk. What do you think Jon? Does anyone else out there think an Alloy 52 flatwound would be something they would be interested in?

If nothing else, it could be a new and innovative product and thus, a feather in GHS’s hat.

Fun discussion.:D
 
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#28
Heavy Blue said:
Of course maybe this hypothetical string is already very close to the Brite Flats which tbh I have not tried yet.
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I pulled this out specifically. Give the Brite Flats a try first, because my educated guess is the hypothetical string will be nearly identical.

I would rather try and make a set of strings like the TI flats than add something to our line that, tonally, is going to be fighting with a couple other existing sets.
 
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#30
Heavy Blue said:
Does anyone else out there think an Alloy 52 flatwound would be something they would be interested in?
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Jon Moody said:
Give the Brite Flats a try first, because my educated guess is the hypothetical string will be nearly identical.
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As someone who's tried most of the GHS offerings, I tend to agree there is really no need for "Alloy 52 flatwound" as such. The Brite Flats (Alloy 52 half-rounds) cover the "modern flatwound" thing quite well, while the Precision Flats (stainless steel flatwound) are more for the traditional vibe. The actual tonal gap between the two is so small that anything that tries to fill that gap would be simply redundant.

Assuming (and hoping) GHS is still planning to re-introduce the Progressives (Alloy 52 roundwound) in their updated format some time down the road (who knows when), we will have the Alloy 52 trio (Progressives, Pressurewounds & Brite Flats) to cover a variety of tonal flavors between the Super Steels and the Precision Flats, not to mention we still have the Boomers (both hex-core and round-core), Balanced Nickels, Bassics and Tapewound.

So, the answer is no, I for one wouldn't be interested in "Alloy 52 flatwound"; I'd much rather have the Progressives back (PLEASE!) ;)
 
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#34
JKos said:
As to cleaning strings before installation, use a white cloth and fluid of your choice (alcohol, naptha, hand lotion, etc.) and see just how dirty the cloth gets.
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Fender 9050 Flats:

Black Residue.jpg
 
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#35
Heavy Blue said:
That great but if you do pls make them less floppy than the TI’s.
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One person's "floppy" is another person's "wonderfully low tension." TIs are characteristically low tension, which is one of the reasons people pay a premium for them; they WANT that feel they have. So no, I wouldn't want to change that part. Maybe the A string, which is completely out of sorts in the set...
 
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#36
Jon Moody said:
The next level of what you're suggesting is, effectively, flattening the wire. Which we can do; we have the machinery to do so.

The bigger question is: why? With Pressurewounds and Brite Flats already out there, what value does a true flatwound set of Alloy 52 bring us? And, if we did come up with such a thing, what would happen to the sales of the other two; would we be cannibalizing on them?
Click to expand...

You'd be able to drop the Brite Flats and the Pressurewounds and never look back.
 
#39
Jon Moody said:
Doubtful. Both of those sell incredibly well, especially the latter.
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They're a reasonably good string but an Alloy 52 flat would render them redundant. An Alloy 52 flat would outsell the other two mentioned...by far.
The two mentioned in production now would be a thing of the past. I think you already know that or you wouldn't have asked about what would happen to them.
 

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