Flat Tops and other Flat Wound strings

I know, digging up another zombie. Sorry, just browsing around and commenting on things I find.

On the advice of several folks at another forum and a local jazz player I put Thomastick-Infeld flats on my jazz box (not the strings you are asking about). They are expensive, hard to find and I love them. Less finger squeak than the round wounds I was playing, seem to have a little more fundamental and balance which seems good on an archtop. I went up one gauge (10 to 11) and I like the wound third. They seem to work well with the humbuckers on that guitar.

(on my acoustics and particularly my 12 strings I use plane old Elixer PB Nanos - the price is a bit higher but I really like the life and simplicity of using one string on all the guitars. However I'll keep the T-I's on the jazz machine)

Based on just one ( LOL! ) pretty darn good video comparison of these three strings:

D'Addario EJ16 'normal' phosphor bronze strings (12-53)
D'Addario EXP16 coated phosphor bronze strings (12-53)
D'Addario EFT16 "Flat Tops" phosphor bronze strings (12-53)

The EFT were my least favorite.  The coated and non-coated ones just sounded so much more full of life, the "flat top" ones sounded, well..... kinda flat compared to the other two.  lol. 

Of course, this is laughable research, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression as they say. 

A discussion of flatwounds currently at another forum

www.harmonycentral.com/forum/forum/guitar/acapella-41/31928713-how-many-of-you-have-ever-tried-flatwounds-on-one-of-your-guitars

Phil's linked discussion is pretty good too.

In my humble opinion, flat wounds sound best on a jazz guitar, particularly an archtop but maybe a semi hollow also. I would not put them on a solid body or an acoustic. Yes they are expensive but they last a long time (you could use the same arguement about Elixers).

The other thing that I found about flatwounds is that I liked going up one string gauge (from 10's to 11's). I can't bend quite as deeply but since I'm playing more up the neck I like the increased tension. I also like the wound third, but that also means I had to recompensate it.

TonyKgull,
 Thanks for the video.
Tend to agree on your comments.
In all fairness, the flat wound strings would have sounded better on a Jazz guitar, played in more of a Jazz style.
 Not to sure how the guitar player got such a, squeaky finger noise from the flat top strings.
 The other two sets of round wound strings, were pretty equalish.
 The PB EXP coated strings, and the PB Cleartone coated strings, are now my favourite string.
 Never heard of that guitar make in the video, but alas so many makes. 😁