Re: Flatwound strings for acoustic mandolin w/ pickup?
Originally Posted by
kcswimjustin
Thank you, Al! THat's a big help. I'm not going to shell out $50 for Thomastiks until after I try the EFW74's. I appreciate your help.
I used the Thomastiks for many years but switched to EFW74's when the first came out and have used them ever since. There are certain pickups like soundhole pickups or ones that go under the strings that won't work with certain string materials but the K&K should be fine with almost any string you use. One of the advantages you have using a pickup is whatever volume loss you have using flatwound strings you'll easily get back with a volume control. I actually find the EFW 74 strings to be pretty loud. Certainly louder than Thomastik.
One thing I wanted to mention. In your original post you mentioned EFT Flat Top strings. These strings cannot be compared equally with any flatwound string. First, they are NOT flatwound. Second, they are bronze, whereas all flatwound strings (that I'm aware of) are made of stainless steel. There is a huge difference in sound and feel.
Larry Hunsberger
2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
Ibanez PF5
1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin
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