Sadowsky Blue Label Steel FLW 011-048

I've tried a lot of different strings sets in the past and my favourites have been the Rotosound Stainless Steel (roundwounds), with Thomastik Flatwounds being a close second due to its incredible round tone. Both of them gauge 11.

This is mainly because my hands get a bit sweaty when I play guitar so stainless steel strings have been the solution for me in terms of feel and string lifespan. Before breaking them in they've got this scratchier attack and they might not be ideal to record (at first)...

But these Sadowsky are just like the Rotosound, only that being flatwounds they are even smoother and more resilient. None of them beat the Thomastik 11's for me in terms of tone, but on the other hand if the Thomastik have a more "classical-guitar" tone with its natural attack, the Sadowsky have a more "American folk guitar" sound which is also very natural and pleasurable to hear.

I'm very thankful to Sadowsky for providing this great stainless steel strings set which make life easier for musicians like me. Recommended to any guitar player who wants flatwounds and doesn't mind a bit more attack (at least at first) on their instrument!

I normally don’t bother reviewing products, but felt compelled to tell you about how great these strings are.

I have been searching for the right set of flat wounds for my Gretsch 6120 for almost a year. I wanted the nice qualities (smooth feel, warm tone, long lasting) without the feeling that they are more like acoustic strings (heavy and stiff)
I tried D’addario and Thomastik 11’s and 12’s, but wasn’t totally happy with either. It felt like I had to adjust my playing style to compensate for the extra tension.

(Side note: The nice thing about flat wounds is that they are really tough! These sets were easily transferred onto other guitars, so they didn’t go to waste)

I decided that an unwound G string is essential for maintaining that ‘electric’ feel with the articulations. I scoured the site to find a set with a plain G, and came across these.
As soon as I tried them, I knew my search was over! They feel totally natural, and the tension is just perfect. Even though they are a slightly heavy gauge, the bending and vibrato feels just right to me (neither was very comfortable with the other options I tried). They work really great for open tunings and slide too.
In addition to my Gretsch, they are now on my telecaster and strat for the foreseeable.

I had never heard of this brand before, but I completely endorse these strings as my current no 1 choice.