Wildkat Strings-Roundwound VS Flatwound VS Heavy gauge VS Lighter Gauge

[mrw1960]

Hello Friends,

I recently purchased a Wildkat. Excellent.The problem is I purchased this at a very reputable dealer that everyone knows: SWEETWATER. OK, here is my concern. The guitar was set up with 11-50 strings. Do not know the brand. After two weeks they stink. I was told by my sales tech that I have to stay with the same gauge or the ax will not stay in tune. HUH!!!! Say What!!!! I inquired about flatwound strings that I read in many reviews about the WILDKAT; even in the UK that alot of owners prefer flatwound to roundwounds on the KAT.........My tech said the sound would be not nice. My GENRE of guitar is BLUES. A great deal of people said they liked the flatwounds better in this category. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wildkat owners give some advice....... Even if Jazz is your tone........I am perplexed!!!!I bought DR Pure Blues 11-50s. I want to change the strings. Well,I bought them,so I need to use them.. GIVE SOME SERIOUS FEEDBACK PEOPLE.........Thank You...

[Swoop]

Your guitar may need a little adjusting when you change the strings to a different brand, gauge, or go for flatwounds over what it currently has. Strings vary quite a bit from brand to brand. However, it's not impossible to use a different brand or gauge. As I said, you'll just need to do a little adjusting of action and probably a little truss rod tweak too. Not sure how apt you are at making these adjustments. If you're not confident at doing them, then take it to a proper guitar tech and have him do them for you.

 

As for round wounds vs. flatwounds, it depends on what you play. Flatwounds are pretty near impossible to bend, so if you do a lot of bending and vibrato type stuff, you may want to steer clear of them. The DR Pure blues strings you have are excellent. They are in my opinion the best strings you can get. They're very stable in terms of tuning, and also offer increased sustain, and they last and last. Flatwounds also sound excellent, and give your guitar a bit more twang and a vintagey kind of sound in my experience. You might like to try D'Addario Half Rounds. These are like a flatwound string, but much easier to bend. I use them on my Casino and my Strat as those are my guitars which I tend to play more clean stuff on, or with just a bit of drive, and they sound great

 

As for string gauge, it really is your preference. I personally like to go middle of the road and use 10-46. They offer the best of everything, nice tone and sustain, but not uncomfortable.

[mrw1960]

Thanks Brother,

I will go with I got,I paid for them..Appreciate the advice!!!thanks........

[Ron G]

Simply try a set of flatwound strings and hear/feel/see for yourself. There's really no other way to make your determination. I've used both over the years - they each have their charms. And do not listen to other people's BS.

[Parabar]

What Ron said. I've used D'Addario XL .010's (regular roundwound) on my Wildkat since I got it and have been very happy with them, although I use flat 011's on my jazzboxes. Lighter gauges will tend to have a brighter tone, heavier strings a bit darker, and flats tend to be darker than rounds. How much bending you do, and how strong your fingers are will also factor in to which strings work best for you in both feel and tone.

[mrw1960]

Thanks....All makes good sense!!

[peeper]

Put whatever you want on there, try some new things. You may have to adjust the guitar for the new strings but you should do that every time you re string.

[mrw1960]

I agree 100%. Yeah, I have different brands in mind. Will do. Thanks all!!

Keep those fingers blistered!

[bluelake07]

You might like to try D'Addario Half Rounds. These are like a flatwound string' date=' but much easier to bend. As for string gauge, it really is your preference. I personally like to go middle of the road and use 10-46. They offer the best of everything, nice tone and sustain, but not uncomfortable. [/quote']

 

Like 'em. That's what I've got on my Casino and that's what will stay.