Flatwound
Flatwounds ( German flat wound or Flachumwickelte also -) flatwound strings called and falsely sometimes "wound strings" - are a form of strings of metal, in which the strings cores ( core ) with the eponymous flat wire are wrapped (wound). Flatwounds are mainly used on electrically amplified plucked instruments such as electric guitars and electric basses , but they are also used in some musical styles on the acoustic string instrument double bass and on fretless versions of the acoustic bass guitar .
Properties and areas of application
Typical flatwound strings are mostly made of the metals nickel or steel ; Mixtures of these metals are also used. Because the string cores are wrapped with flat wire, flatwounds have a much smoother surface than strings whose core is wrapped with round (roundwounds) or with half-round wire ( half- rounds) . Due to the smooth surface, the background noises of the fingers, which arise when playing plucked instruments, especially through the movements of the gripping hand on the strings, are largely avoided. With the roundwounds wrapped with round wire, however , these playing noises can be heard more clearly and can even be used specifically as a musical stylistic device.
Compared to other types of strings , the sound of flatwound strings has a lower proportion of high frequencies and at the same time more or less emphasized low mids. The reason for this is their greater physical mass than other strings and usually greater rigidity with the same string thickness. The result is a slightly muffled, distinctive tone which, in the sound of orchestras and music groups, can clearly stand out from that of more treble-accented instruments. On the electric guitar, flatwounds are used especially in some more traditional styles of jazz (such as swing , bebop and hard bop ) but also for beat music ; On the electric bass, they play a role in shaping the sound of early reggae , also in beat music and in soul music in the style of the 1960s. Few bassists, like Steve Harris , also use flatwounds for rock and metal .
A side effect of wrapping with flat wire is that it is less susceptible to contamination than strings with a rougher surface, which can have a positive effect on the lifespan of flatwounds .
Well-known brands of flatwound strings include D'Addario (“Chromes”) , Thomastik-Infeld , LaBella and strings from the manufacturer Fender . The products differ mainly in their rigidity, depending on the manufacturer, and in the proportion of higher frequencies in the sound.
Musician with a style-defining flatwound sound
- Charlie Christian , jazz musician, pioneer of the electric guitar
- Miloslav Ladislav "Ladi" Geisler , bassist, guitarist of the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra
- Steve Harris , heavy metal bassist for Iron Maiden
- James Jamerson , bassist for the Motown Soul
- Paul McCartney , bass player, made famous by the group The Beatles
- Wes Montgomery , jazz guitarist
- Pino Palladino , bassist in the area of blues
literature
- Paul Day, Heinz Rebellius (Eds.), André Waldenmaier: E-Guitars -
Everything about construction and history . GC Carstensen Verlag, Munich 2001. ISBN 3-910098-20-7