Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

  1. #1

    Default Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Hello, Would someone know what the gauges of a set of medium Thomastik flatwounds are? People say they are very easy on the fingers, but I read that they were 10's, ( to 32's I think), which makes them a bit too light for me. However, maybe I've got this wrong. Many thanks

  2. #2
    Timothy Tim Logan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Shutesbury, MA
    Posts
    664

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    .01, .015, .021, .033

    “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer

    1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
    2015 Collings A (MT2-V)

  3. #3

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Tim Logan View Post
    .01, .015, .021, .033
    Thank you. Is that E a .010?

  4. #4
    Registered User Mike Buesseler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Whitefish,MT
    Posts
    1,720

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    .010 = .01

  5. #5
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Richmond, Virginia
    Posts
    7,635

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    go with "Heavy"

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

    '20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to fatt-dad For This Useful Post:


  7. #6
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,438

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by fatt-dad View Post
    go with "Heavy"

    f-d
    Depends on the instrument, but for archtops, yes I would go with heavy.

    Remember though that they are a completely different construction from say PB round-wound J74's, so the gauges don't really match to tension in the same way. That said, the plain e strings should have much the same tension as any other brand of 10's, and like you, I would prefer 11's.

  8. #7
    Mando-Afflicted lflngpicker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    2,239
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    I agree, FATT-DAD. The heavy designation is the way to go if you are accustomed to the 11-40 gauge in wound strings.
    2014 BRW F5 #114
    2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model

    YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"

  9. #8

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Thank you all for the really helpful replies. I am just wondering if the much vaunted extreme playability and low tension of the Thomastik strings are primarily a function of the fact that the medium gauge are really light gauge - for non- classical /archtop players anyway, who would regard 10's as light and 11's as medium? Or have I got this wrong/ oversimplifying? It's just that they are a lot of money if playability is a key motivator for buying them. Why not get good quality flatwound Daddarios instead?

  10. The following members say thank you to Mollina for this post:


  11. #9

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Just speculation here but I suspect the core and wrapping are different enough to make them more flexible. They certainly are easy on the fingers and very long lasting (if you like tone). Make sure you have them completely wound up to pitch before you cut off that red silk wrapping at the end of the windings.

  12. #10
    Playing on the porch
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    A Hilltop in Central Texas
    Posts
    164

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    I am an old violinist who loves the clarity and tonal qualities of really good strings. For my violins, I experimented until I found strings that sang to me. I have taken much the same approach with my mandolins. I really need all four courses to sing. I use Thomastik Infeld Medium on my Ellis, Eastman and even my campfire mandolin. The strings are not cheap, but neither is their sound. They have plenty of volume, when I need it, and they do last a long time. And, to me, they sound gorgeous.
    ---
    2021 Ellis F5 Special #564 mandolin
    1928 Roth violin
    2016 Eastman MD515 mandolin
    1907 Foltz violin

  13. The following members say thank you to GMorgan for this post:


  14. #11
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,438

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Rob Roy View Post
    Just speculation here but I suspect the core and wrapping are different enough to make them more flexible.
    That may be part of it, but for flatwounds in general, they are denser than a round wound string (which effectively has small air filled gaps created by the round nature of the winding). Therefore, to get a string that vibrates at a given frequency for a certain tension, you can use a thinner string overall. And thinner strings are easier to handle as we all know - which is to say - which would you rather fret - a .040 or a .033 if they both have the same tension when tuned to a G?

  15. #12
    Registered User Tavy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Tavistock UK
    Posts
    4,438

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Mollina View Post
    Why not get good quality flatwound Daddarios instead?
    I love the EFW74 sets, and they're half the price of TI's (for me in the UK anyway).

    But the sound is completely and utterly different: for me the TI's are just too dark/dead sounding, the FW74's are darker than the J74's that most folks are used too, but are certainly much closer in tone to J74's than the TI's. So... decide how you want your instrument to sound, and then go from there. The two sets are not at all interchangeable in terms of tone IMO.

  16. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Tavy For This Useful Post:


  17. #13

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Fascinating. Thank you all for that. I think I might take the plunge and invest in a set of TI's.

  18. #14
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    North Bend OR
    Posts
    365

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Mollina View Post
    It's just that they are a lot of money if playability is a key motivator for buying them. Why not get good quality flatwound Daddarios instead?
    I have used the both the TI and Daddario flatwounds, in various weights, on mando and 'cello, and I can assure you they are not the same. The Daddarios are great strings -- but not the same sound. They sound sort of in-between PG and TIs. If you like the sound of TIs, you should definitely try the Daddarios. If you like the sound, you can definitely save some money.

    Al

  19. #15

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Tavy View Post
    I love the EFW74 sets, and they're half the price of TI's (for me in the UK anyway).

    But the sound is completely and utterly different: for me the TI's are just too dark/dead sounding, the FW74's are darker than the J74's that most folks are used too, but are certainly much closer in tone to J74's than the TI's. So... decide how you want your instrument to sound, and then go from there. The two sets are not at all interchangeable in terms of tone IMO.
    er
    I haven't tried the TI's yet, but on my Collings MT2 I really like the FW74's. The A string could be a bit sweeter, but overall I like the tone. I like that they seem to take out the brashness of some of the bluegrass chord progressions and melodies while still making them sound like bluegrass. I find them much easier to play and without much finger noise, especially for slides. Not as much volume, but I don't have to compete with a banjo or fiddle, so no problem for me. I like them a lot. I had planned to try these and then go with TI's, but I may stay with the FW74's.

  20. The following members say thank you to Rdeane for this post:

    lenf12 

  21. #16

    Default Re: Thomastik Medium Flatwound Strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Rdeane View Post
    but on my Collings MT2 I really like the FW74's. The A string could be a bit sweeter, but overall I like the tone. I like that they seem to take out the brashness of some of the bluegrass chord progressions and melodies while still making them sound like bluegrass. I find them much easier to play and without much finger noise, especially for slides. Not as much volume, but I don't have to compete with a banjo or fiddle, so no problem for me. I like them a lot. I had planned to try these and then go with TI's, but I may stay with the FW74's.
    At one point in time, I used D'A J-74s on each of my mandolins which made them all sound nearly the same. This is on my F hole F-12 and a teens oval hole F-4. I have since migrated to EFT--74s (Flat Tops) but again, they all sounded nearly identical, including the oval hole teens F-4. When D'A introduced the EFW-74s (Flat Wounds) I decided to try them on the F-4 (voila!!), the sound difference I was looking for, not "too dark/dead sounding" like the TI's I had tried and disliked, but certainly much different tonally than the EFT-74s and much better suited to an oval hole F-4. The feel is lighter and more flexible under the fingers, a welcome change for these old hands, and they sound great for more classical and jazz styles. At 1/3 the price of TI's, I am totally sold on the EFW's for my F-4 and EFT's for my F hole mandolins.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •