Best Flatwound Guitar Strings of 2025

Hayden Bryant Avatar
Hayden Bryant
Last Updated: 5 Feb 2025

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Flatwound guitar strings are a popular choice among musicians who prefer a smoother, more mellow sound. Unlike roundwound strings, flatwound strings have a flat outer winding which reduces string noise and produces a warmer tone. They are ideal for jazz, blues, and other genres that require a clean, articulate sound. Flatwound strings also have a longer lifespan than roundwound strings, making them a cost-effective option for guitarists who play regularly. Overall, flatwound guitar strings are a great choice for those seeking a distinctive sound and durability.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

D'Addario XL Chromes Flat Wound Guitar Strings Cover #TOP 1
D'Addario XL Chromes Flat Wound Guitar Strings
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Olympia 11-50 Gauge Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings Cover #TOP 2
Olympia 11-50 Gauge Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings Cover #TOP 3
Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Flatwound Guitar Strings

#TOP 1

D'Addario XL Chromes Flat Wound Guitar Strings

ECG24
multicoloured
Jazz Light, 11-50
D'Addario XL Chromes Flat Wound Guitar Strings Cover
D'Addario Guitar Strings - XL Chromes Electric Guitar Strings - Flat Wound - Polished Ultra-Smooth Feel And Warm, Mellow Tone - ECG24 - Jazz Light, 11-50, 1-Pack

D'Addario XL Chromes offer a unique flat wound design, delivering a mellower tone compared to traditional round wound strings. This makes them ideal for jazz enthusiasts seeking warmth in their sound. The polished stainless steel ribbon wrap ensures an ultra-smooth feel, enhancing your playing experience. With the proprietary Hex-Core, these strings guarantee perfect intonation and consistent durability, allowing you to focus on your music without worry. Overall, D'Addario XL Chromes enhance your guitar's tone and playability, making them a great choice for any musician.

What We Like
Mellow tone for jazz music
Ultra-smooth playing experience
Consistent intonation and durability
Made in the USA
#TOP 2

Olympia 11-50 Gauge Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings

3801804
silver
Olympia 11-50 Gauge Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings Cover
Olympia Flatwound electric guitar strings 11-50 gauge

The Olympia Flatwound Guitar Strings are crafted from stainless steel, offering durability and a smooth feel under your fingers. Being of high quality, these strings ensure a consistent performance, making them a reliable choice for musicians. Made in Korea, they reflect superior craftsmanship, which can enhance your playing experience. With a gauge of 11-50, these strings provide a balanced tension that suits various playing styles, allowing you to express yourself freely while enjoying a rich sound.

What We Like
Durable stainless steel material
High-quality construction
Made in Korea
Balanced tension for playing
Smooth feel for easy playing
#TOP 3

Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings

JS111
silver
Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings Cover
Thomastik Saiten für E-Gitarre Jazz Swing Series Nickel Flat Wound Satz JS111 Light .011-.047w,silver

The Thomastik Jazz Strings are legendary guitar strings designed for optimal performance. Featuring treble strings that are brass-plated steel, these strings provide a bright and clear tone. The nickel flat-wound design on a round core ensures a smooth feel, making it comfortable for your fingers while playing. With a light gauge of .011 to .047, you will find it easier to bend and play, enhancing your playing experience. These strings offer a string tension of 56.6 kp, allowing for great control and stability during your performances.

What We Like
Legendary quality
Bright, clear tone
Smooth feel
Easy to bend
Stable string tension
#TOP 4

Ernie Ball Light Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings 11-50 Gauge

P02580
light (11-50)
Light 11-50
Ernie Ball Light Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings 11-50 Gauge Cover
Ernie Ball Light Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings - 11-50 Gauge

The Ernie Ball Flatwound Strings are designed for exceptional playability and sound quality. Wound with stainless steel ribbon, they offer a smooth, polished feel that enhances your playing experience. You will appreciate the reduced finger noise, allowing for a cleaner performance. Additionally, the tin-plated steel hex cores provide durability while contributing to a mellow, vintage sound that many guitarists cherish. These features make these strings an excellent choice for musicians seeking both comfort and a rich tonal character.

What We Like
Smooth, polished feel
Less finger noise
Mellow, vintage sound
Durable construction
#TOP 5

Thomastik Jazz Swing Electric Guitar Strings

JS112
Original Version
Thomastik Jazz Swing Electric Guitar Strings Cover
Thomastik Strings for Electric Guitar Jazz Swing Series Nickel Flat Wound Set JS112 Medium Light .012-.050w

The Thomastik Jazz Swing Strings are renowned for their exceptional quality and performance. Featuring treble strings made from brass-plated steel, they deliver a rich tone that enhances your playing experience. The nickel flat-wound construction on a round core provides a smooth feel, perfect for jazz enthusiasts. With a medium light gauge of .012 to .050, these strings offer a balanced tension of 63.6 kp, allowing for comfortable playability and expressive bending. You’ll appreciate the clarity and warmth these strings bring to your sound.

What We Like
High-quality materials
Smooth playing experience
Balanced tension
Rich tone for jazz
#TOP 6

Ernie Ball Super Slinky Flatwound Guitar Strings

P02593
Super (9-42)
Ernie Ball Super Slinky Flatwound Guitar Strings Cover
Ernie Ball Super Slinky Flatwound Electric Guitar Strings 9-42 Gauge (P02593)

The Super Slinky Flatwound Strings from Ernie Ball are precision wound with cobalt alloy ribbon wire, ensuring durability and quality in sound. Their flexible construction helps reduce finger noise, which is beneficial for a smoother playing experience. You will appreciate the round sound paired with a flat feel, making these strings comfortable to play. Additionally, the plain G string adds versatility to your performance. Crafted in Southern California, these strings use only the finest materials for optimal performance.

What We Like
Low finger noise
Durable cobalt alloy construction
Comfortable flat feel
Versatile plain G string
High-quality materials
#TOP 7

Rotosound RS200 Monel Flatwound Guitar Strings

RS200
RS200
.012-.052 Medium
Rotosound RS200 Monel Flatwound Guitar Strings Cover
Rotosound RS200 Monel Flatwound Medium Gauge Electric Guitar Strings (12 16 24 32 42 52)

The Rotosound Monel Flatwound Strings offer a unique playing experience for guitarists. Made in the UK, these strings feature a soft feel that significantly reduces finger noise, allowing you to focus on your performance. Their powerful, assertive tone enhances your sound, making it ideal for jazz and other genres. Developed in 1966, they provide a deep, warm bass sound that is both rich and classic, perfect for musicians seeking a professional quality. The premium Monel alloy ensures high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion, salt, and acids, prolonging their lifespan.

What We Like
Soft feel for comfortable play
Powerful, assertive tone
Deep, warm bass sound
Corrosion-resistant materials
Made in the UK
#TOP 8

Thomastik Jazz Swing Extra Light Guitar Strings

JS110
Nickel
Thomastik Jazz Swing Extra Light Guitar Strings Cover
Thomastik Saiten für E-Gitarre Jazz Swing Series Nickel Flat Wound Satz JS110 Extra Light .010-.044w

The Thomastik Jazz Swing Strings are a legendary choice for guitarists seeking a unique sound. These extra light nickel flat-wound strings offer exceptional playability with their .010 to .044 gauge. The treble strings are crafted from brass-plated steel, providing a bright and clear tone that will enhance your performance. Additionally, the flat-wound design on a round core delivers a smooth touch, making them perfect for jazz and swing styles. You will appreciate the comfortable string tension of 49.6 kp, allowing for easy bending and expressive playing.

What We Like
Legendary sound quality
Extra light gauge for comfort
Smooth flat-wound design
Bright, clear tone
Easy string bending
#TOP 9

Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings

JS113
Original Version
Thomastik Jazz Swing Series E-Guitar Strings Cover
Thomastik Saiten für E-Gitarre Jazz Swing Series Nickel Flat Wound Satz JS113 Medium .013-.053w

The Thomastik Jazz Strings are a legendary choice for guitarists seeking quality and performance. These strings feature treble strings made from brass-plated steel, providing a bright and lively tone that enhances your playing experience. The nickel flat-wound design on a round core ensures a smooth feel, making it easier for you to play with precision. With a medium gauge set ranging from .013 to .053, you will find the ideal balance of playability and tone, allowing you to express yourself effortlessly.

What We Like
Quality brass-plated steel
Smooth nickel flat-wound design
Medium gauge set
Bright and lively tone

Olympia Flatwound Bass Strings 45-100 Gauge

FLS (045-100)
[POSSIBLE] Silver
Olympia Flatwound Bass Strings 45-100 Gauge Cover
Flatwound bass guitar strings stainless steel by Olympia 45-100 gauge

The Olympia Bass Strings are specifically designed for regular Long Scale 34" bass guitars, ensuring a perfect fit for instruments like the Precision Bass. These strings provide excellent sound quality, delivering a thick, warmer tone that enhances resonance and produces punchy bass sounds. You will appreciate the four individually sealed flatwound strings, which maintain their freshness and performance for longer. With a gauge of 045, 065, 080, and 100, these strings offer you a versatile range suitable for various styles of playing.

What We Like
Excellent sound quality
Designed for long scale guitars
Thick, warmer bass tones
Four sealed strings included
Versatile gauge options
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our flatwound guitar string research, we found 172 flatwound guitar string products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 27,164 customer reviews through our big data system to write the flatwound guitar strings list. We found that most customers choose flatwound guitar strings with an average price of £19.46.

The flatwound guitar strings are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of flatwound guitar strings, including D'Addario, Olympia, Thomastik, Ernie Ball, Rotosound.

Written by
Hayden Bryant Avatar

Hayden was born in Liverpool, and he never left his hometown until university. In his freshman year at the University of Manchester, Hayden was the group leader of a popular music group. Hayden is responsible for the popularity of his music, and this is because of his natural ability to play with keys and strings. He graduated with BFA in 2016 and returned in 2018 as a lecturing staff in the School of Music.