’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

[motopsyche]

’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

Ok, here's the deal: I have the world's most road-worn '63 X500B that features a set of tasty, articulate, razor-sharp DeArmond Dynas. Rocker heaven, but I'm still casting about for a jazz tone I hear in my head but not in my speaker. Flats are usually too dull to my ears, but what if we throw a set of flatwound 12s on the X monster and run 'em through the Dynas? Might the result be a brighter, more defined flatwound tone? Potential jazzy tone? Something altogether different?

Any predictions? :?:

 

[Walter Broes]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

Worth a try maybe? A set of strings is not that expensive. I don't like flats much, but a lot of people do.

"Maximum fatness" DeArmond recipe seem to be to raise the pickup bodies up as close to the strings as possible (spacers), and drop the poles a little - has worked for me, in any case.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

There's a lot of variation in flat wounds -- though they're expensive, Thomastik-Infelds and Pyramids are excellent. I find them to stay a lot more articulate than d'Addario chromes, whose only redeeming value is low price. Those always manage to sound both dull and harsh to me. They sound, to me, like the cheap humbucker of strings, if that makes sense.

You could also try a wooden bridge, which will add a lot of warmth. If you do, you might find yourself going back to a roundwound to keep more snap in the tone.

 

[Walter Broes]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

Another thing I just thought of - have you checked what kind of tone pots are in your guitar? If they're the strange stacked, double pots with two capacitors on them Guilds of this era had sometimes - take them out and replace them with regular tone controls - the stacked ones are never on "neutral", and always have a cap involved in some way, and not for the better.

 

[teleharmonium]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

The Thomastik Jazz/Swing flats and Dynasonics on a hollowbody guitar are one of my favorite sounds. It will definitely be brighter and more defined than what you probably think of when you think of flatwound strings. I highly recommend giving it a try.

 

[rwmol]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

Seeing we're throwing out ideas. Heres one: Why not try a set of D'Addario half rounds: http://store.daddario.com/category/1458 ... ight_12-52
They also come in 13's

I agree with Smiert on the Chromes. I never could keep the intonation. I really like the TI George Benson flats but too expensive and the "G" string wears through rapidly.

I recently picked up a set of Sadowsky Flat Wound 13's. If they work out, they will be my "Go To" strings.

Randy

 

[motopsyche]

Re: ’63 Guild X500B + Dynasonics + Flatwounds = ???

Thanks for the great suggestions. Walter--I'm familiar with the tone sucking caps on those older Guilds. I think the ones in this guitar are not of the stacked variety.

I just happen to have a set of TI flats in the drawer. Time to break 'em out and have a go.

Did I mention that I have an almost-equally player worn '60 T-100 with Franz pups that has tone to die for? To my hands, it plays like a dream and just feels so right. It lived its life with a harp tailpiece and a wooden bridge, but the addition of a TOM and Guildsby has made this a weapon of choice. I love it.

Like Walter, I'm still dialing in those DeArmonds. I sank the polepieces halfway into the neck pickup on a '63 Starfire per Walter's recommendation, and what a difference it made. I have to wonder what string/amp/music style combination they were aiming for back then. I see a lot of DeArmond equipped Starfires in the hands of mid-60's British bands.

I'll report back on the TIs. Thanks for the input, all. 8)