Flatwound string wrap and lock tips

[Guido_59]

Hello I don't use flatwound string from many years.
Now I want use it in my Epi Les Paul for more mellow and jazzy tone.
Are there some tips to wrap and lock flatwound strings on tuning machine to not damage the flatwound coating?
Thanks from Italy
Bye

[pingu]

i just do that ....
plenty of windings on there

works fine

[sgosnell]

I don't do anything differently than with round-wounds.

[Marcel_A]

Why do you use so many windings? I pull the string through, leave some room for a few windings and cut of the rest.

[pingu]

It makes me feel secure

also i think (could be wrong)
that you need more windings
for flat would strings

btw TI are good flats

[Gabor]

I never use more than 3 windings, maybe 4 on high B and E. It is true, I never bend, and use 12s, 13s
I never noticed the need to handle differently the flatwounds vs roundwounds. I did not even thinked about it.

[Guido_59]

Thanks guys. Ok for winding, it's not different to roundwound.
It's better to make a little "bend" ( I don't how tell this in English, excuse me) before cutting, or you leave the end of string straight after cutting?

[pingu]

i do a little bend at the end .... yes

[Guido_59]

i do a little bend at the end .... yes

Thanks "s little bend," I don't known how to tell this.
I have justu try Chrome 10-48 and they sound good for me.
After I'm very curious to try Thomastik gauge 11-47 , I think is limit for my guitar.
Do you think Thomastik had less tension that D'Addario?
Bye from Italy.

[Marcel_A]

Thanks guys. Ok for winding, it's not different to roundwound.
It's better to make a little "bend" ( I don't how tell this in English, excuse me) before cutting, or you leave the end of string straight after cutting?

Why do you worry about this?

[kris]

The TI's are braided with a red thread to prevent the strings from being cut in the tuning machine.
Therefore, more turns need to be done.
I don't use such strings with locking machines.

[pingu]

Thanks "s little bend," I don't known how to tell this.
I have justu try Chrome 10-48 and they sound good for me.
After I'm very curious to try Thomastik gauge 11-47 , I think is limit for my guitar.
Do you think Thomastik had less tension that D'Addario?
Bye from Italy.

less tension , yes I believe so

[pingu]

1156775[/URL]]Why do you worry about this?

I once stuck a string end into my finger

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

The TI's are braided with a red thread to prevent the strings from being cut in the tuning machine.
Therefore, more turns need to be done.
I don't use such strings with locking machines.

I think the silk thread wrap on the free end is supposed to help secure the flat wire wrap against spreading or unraveling. Here’s a quote:

“For example, if we take a flatwoundor a tapewound string, the windings on these strings are wound very tightly next to one other to create a beautifully playable, flat surface. However, if these windings become separated, it can expose the inner core making the string vulnerable to breakage and in some extreme cases, the string can start to unravel.”

Most of the companies that use it tell you to leave at least some of the thread wrap when stringing, and some actually tell you not to use their strings if the tailpiece-to-tuner distance is too short to do that. I use TI flats on a few guitars, none of which is long enough to get the silk on all the pegs. I just cut the string far enough out from the peg to let me put two 180 degree bends in the free end (like a tiny paper clip). I’ve never had one unwrap. When I use Chromes, I bend the free end once. To be honest, I don’t think the second bend does anything - but the cost of good flats makes me cautious.

I’ve used Sperzel locking tuners on several guitars, and the winding on two Chromes did separate and lead to core breakage at the peg before I figured out the problem. I also had a few strings break at the bend going into the peg hole when I loosened them for access to pickup cavities etc. I was over tightening the locking screws - they just need to be barely finger tightened. I still have them on two, but I wrap a turn or two around the post when stringing and just tighten the locking screw until it makes contact with the string. Once the strings are in tune, they hold without a problem - and I often find that the locker has backed off a bit with no effect on tuning or stability.

[Guido_59]

Fear of string breakage in tuning machine.
Is there a TI Faq about ? I'll looking for it.
Do you intend that string must be wrap in tuning machine starting from the red thread?
I hope to have enough space in tuning machines.

[pingu]

I’ve too had multiple flat wound string breakages on the low E with locking tuners

I got rid of the tuners .....

[ThatRhythmMan]

I recommend making sure that at least a little of the silk wrap in the tuning machine, including at the bend. A sharp bend in the metal wrapping of the flatwound strings will tend to put a break in the wrap that will make the round core very prone to breakage. Locking tuners can be fine, but the wound strings still need to be locked on the silk wrap which will defeat the main purpose of locking tuners on the wound strings.

[Hammertone]

Hello I don't use flatwound string from many years.
Now I want use it in my Epi Les Paul for more mellow and jazzy tone.
Are there some tips to wrap and lock flatwound strings on tuning machine to not damage the flatwound coating?
Thanks from Italy
Bye

Flatwound (and roundwound) strings that are wrapped on round cores should be bent before being cut within the wound area. This helps to prevent the string windings from possibly loosening on the core. Wound strings from TI Swing and Bebop sets, some Pyramid sets, DR Pure Blues, and various other sets should be trimmed this way.

[Guido_59]

Then D'Addario Chrome flatwound haven't this issue cause have an exagonal core ?
Maybe on YouTube exist a video tutorial for Thomastik string and other similar.

[guitarcarver]

I've always used less wraps but wind so the string is pinched between two wraps which locks it in place. Never had issues with breakage with rounds or flats.

[s11141827]

I think they should include instructions w/ these strings cause it's common for the silk windings to extend past the tuner posts when putting them on something else like a Gibson Guitar w/ a 24.75 in scale, a Stratocaster, or even so an Acoustic Guitar. Taller Tuner Posts might help as well.

[s11141827]

Thomastik Infeld told me they're working on Instructions for those strings & they're designed more like their Bowed stringed instrument strings, so maybe they should be made in different sizes so you can find the one that works w/ your specific Guitar. I actually got a good sound on the Really really light gauge strings by cranking the angle of the head stock down to 90 degrees (like a lute) & using Grover ultra short post locking romantics, which puts the strings at a really really steep angle over the nut.

[Kozmyk]

Please excuse the thread resurrection.

One way to avoid string breaks that I found is Not to thread the string in from the 6 o#clock and tighten.
This leaves almost all the strain on the corner of the hole and the clamping point.
Try threading on from the 1 o'clock (or 11 o'clock for the right hand side tuners if applicable.)
Once up to tune tension you will have about 2/3 of a turn on the post.
I've not had any breaks at the tuners since doing this.

Also, this might be obvious, but don't over tighten the clamp.
This weakens the string at the point of contact.