What Strings Do You Use? [POLL]

NorioDS · 2015-06-11T15:23:11+00:00

So I'm curious... What strings do you use? (old forum) Poll Results: What Strings Do You Use? Ernie Ball: 16 D'Addario: 18 Elixir: 21 Martin & Co: 0 Thomastik-Infeld: 0 Other: 4

warrenpridgeon

I am a pretty recent Elixer 10-46 electric convert. They retain their sound much longer than the ernie ball slinkies I used to use.

domhatch

so ja. acoustic i use elixirs exclusively. electric i'm not that worried - gauge is most of the decision, so it'll either be d'addario or ernie ball.

elixir nanoweb - light (12 - 53)
electric - ernie regular slinkys or d'addario xls (10 - 46)
on my bass, whatever it's currently strung with (i have a spare set, i just take the used packaging with to the store and replace them). they're d'addarios, but hell, no idea what gauge.

interesting to see what other folks use though...
dh|

DaFiz

They're Ernie Balls...
Earthwood Phosphor Bronze
45 55 80 95
They really do feel and sound fantastic 8)

NorioDS

@DaFiz, how easy is your acoustic bass to play compared to an electric bass? I like the idea of being able to play during load shedding ?

DaFiz

Norio. It's a full size fretboard. I always find a shorter scale is easier with my short fingers,
but the Phosphor Bronze strings actually softer than the electric guitar equivalent ?

Charlie4

Ernie Ball for electric.
Elixir for acoustic.
Tried, tested and approved. 8)

Gibsonguy

I use D'Addario XL 10 strings. I tried Elixir for a while - I liked the sound and feel but I had strings break on a couple occasions. Can't risk that performing so I went back to D'Addario.

Anyone else have that problem with Elixir?

briang-telkomsa-net

D'Addario

Elixirs @ R270/pack - wow!
No wonder I don't use them - although, if you can get them from "strings and beyond" for R130/pack when buying 10 packs (as per "ez") it is worth considering if they last and keep their tone for as long as everyone is saying?

Nice bit of empirical evidence gathering Norio 8)

studmissile

Gibsonguy wrote I use D'Addario XL 10 strings. I tried Elixir for a while - I liked the sound and feel but I had strings break on a couple occasions. Can't risk that performing so I went back to D'Addario.

Anyone else have that problem with Elixir?

Same problem with Elixirs! ....Prefer EXP's ever since! also love bullets!

V8

briang wrote D'Addario

Elixirs @ R270/pack - wow!
No wonder I don't use them - although, if you can get them from "strings and beyond" for R130/pack when buying 10 packs (as per "ez") it is worth considering if they last and keep their tone for as long as everyone is saying?

Nice bit of empirical evidence gathering Norio 8)

You got me thinking...I put a set of Elixir's on the strat about a year ago and recently got a tele and slapped a identical set of Elixir's on and was extremely surprised at how much more presence (bite/<insert adjective here>) the tele had in comparison. At the time I was rather puzzled!

In retrospect I have a strong suspicion that the ones on the strat are now likely dead. What confused me was that they looked and felt as new (I hardly ever wipe off the Elixir's)- Seriously! I'm not especially hard on strings, but usually a set of fender bullets/slinky's lasted 6-8 weeks before the treble strings started to resemble science experiments (even when wiped off).

It makes sense they'll eventually 'die', the claim is up to 4x longer than a uncoated string, so I could expect a max life of 6-9mths in my case.

Havn't had any breakage issues with them, though many have. I have a set on a Cort which has had the strings popped on/off a good few times the last 6mths and that set is still going strong.

BigG (Elixir user) did a string review a while ago - interesting stuff -> http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/strings-big-g's-experimentation-research/

Squonk

My bad experience with Elixirs - a string broke a day after putting them on. Looked for sharp bits on my guitar but there was none, could have been a bit of a dud string. But after the fork out of cash it has put me off them since.

This was on my Takamine Acoustic which seems to like D'Addario's especially the Phosphor Bronze range.

However I am a total noob when it comes to electric guitars.

I have a Peavey T-60 which has had Ernie Ball Super Slinky's on there for about 2 years and they still sound good.

What advice for Strat style guitar. I recently got a cheap Squier Affinity model and need to restring. What kind of guage and string do you suggest.

warrenpridgeon

V8 wrote
briang wrote D'Addario

Elixirs @ R270/pack - wow!
No wonder I don't use them - although, if you can get them from "strings and beyond" for R130/pack when buying 10 packs (as per "ez") it is worth considering if they last and keep their tone for as long as everyone is saying?

Nice bit of empirical evidence gathering Norio 8)
You got me thinking...I put a set of Elixir's on the strat about a year ago and recently got a tele and slapped a identical set of Elixir's on and was extremely surprised at how much more presence (bite/<insert adjective here>) the tele had in comparison. At the time I was rather puzzled!

In retrospect I have a strong suspicion that the ones on the strat are now likely dead. What confused me was that they looked and felt as new (I hardly ever wipe off the Elixir's)- Seriously! I'm not especially hard on strings, but usually a set of fender bullets/slinky's lasted 6-8 weeks before the treble strings started to resemble science experiments (even when wiped off).

It makes sense they'll eventually 'die', the claim is up to 4x longer than a uncoated string, so I could expect a max life of 6-9mths in my case.

Havn't had any breakage issues with them, though many have. I have a set on a Cort which has had the strings popped on/off a good few times the last 6mths and that set is still going strong.

BigG (Elixir user) did a string review a while ago - interesting stuff -> http://www.guitarforum.co.za/guitar-gear/strings-big-g's-experimentation-research/

I'm tough on strings... even though I wipe them down every time I play. If I use non coated strings they start sounding sucky after 2 - 3 weeks and feel terrible after 4 - 5 weeks. With Elixirs I can go around 3 months. I still wipe them though. So for me it's working out much better to use Elixirs.

warrenpridgeon

Squonk wrote My bad experience with Elixirs - a string broke a day after putting them on. Looked for sharp bits on my guitar but there was none, could have been a bit of a dud string. But after the fork out of cash it has put me off them since.

This was on my Takamine Acoustic which seems to like D'Addario's especially the Phosphor Bronze range.

However I am a total noob when it comes to electric guitars.

I have a Peavey T-60 which has had Ernie Ball Super Slinky's on there for about 2 years and they still sound good.

What advice for Strat style guitar. I recently got a cheap Squier Affinity model and need to restring. What kind of guage and string do you suggest.

I submit that if you put new set on it would sound better... lol. One buddy went through a stage where he only changed strings on his electric when they snapped...this could be yearly...on someone who was playing every week. lol. I find my strings become "dull" after a while (your while will be longer or shorter depending on how often you play).

V8

Squonk wrote What advice for Strat style guitar. I recently got a cheap Squier Affinity model and need to restring. What kind of guage and string do you suggest.

As far as I recall, The Ratcliffe approved choice are Fender Bullets...they have a special string end that fit like a glove in the bridge. I used em for ages - but got converted by the slick feel of exilir's.

Gauge depends on you really, since a strat is 25.5 scale length and I like a easier playing guitar (lotsa bends). I err on the side of lighter (9's or 10's). I did run 11's for a while and tuned down to Eb.

Banditman

I've been using Slinkys for years now, 11's on the Les Paul & Sheraton and 10's on the Strat.

domhatch

Banditman wrote I've been using Slinkys for years now, 11's on the Les Paul & Sheraton and 10's on the Strat.

i took lessons from tony russell a while back (a good while back). and switched my then go-to epi goldtop to flatwounds (12s i think). but i also had an experience on the same guitar with 11s (ernie balls) tuned down a half-step. (i type under correction, but i believe a number of blues guitarists do this - a heavier set of strings gives you that wonderful heavier-string tone on a les paul, but you get that extra give in the strings to bend like you have the hands of srv. lovely combination.)

anyone else ever put heavier gauge strings on and tune them down - as in set the guitar up for this and play like this for this specific porpoise? if so, which strings?
dh|

canonball

It would be Elixir Nanowebs on everything, except... The Bass VI is an Odd Duck, so he gets D'addario's custom XL set, and no-one sells Elixir Acoustic Baritone strings, so I'm using up the D'addario EXP23 sets I have (which are dreadful: useless coating, finger squeak for days).

Eujean

domhatch wrote anyone else ever put heavier gauge strings on and tune them down - as in set the guitar up for this and play like this for this specific porpoise? if so, which strings?
dh|

I had a guitar a while back that I didn't play much and was basically only for drop C.. I think I used 11 through 56.. Maybe the 56 was thicker, I can't really remember. But now I barely move from a good set of 10s. Have had quite a few elixirs break recently, perhaps just a bad batch or something. Really want to get my hands on a set of good D'Addarios though..

doc-phil

I've always used Ernie Ball. I find they dull out fairly quickly, but maintain their useful life for around 2 months or so of semi regular playing.

morph

The best thing about Elixir, it those guitars that hang there for six months, and you pick the up and the strings are smooth. No rust or stickiness. Then those that are played regularly, like daily, two to three months later and still fine. well worth the cost

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