Anima
Just for interests sake, what strings do most of you use? I personally like Elixir light .010.
AlanRatcliffe
Elixir .011 - .048 Nanoweb on anything with humbuckers or noiseless single-coils. For real single-coils like my Tele, Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.011).
NorioDS
Meir, my teacher, recommended D'Addario EXL120's and I haven't tried anything else yet. (Having come from a background of playing on D'Addarios on classical guitar)
I get good tone out of them, they feel good, bend easily and just generally do what I expect them to do ? I like them a lot and I just couldn't be bothered to try other strings.
(If it ain't broke, don't fix it!)
AlanRatcliffe
Nothing wrong with D'Addarios either - slightly lower tension than the equivalent Ernie Balls. They don't last long with me, but that's definitely the composition of my sweat or something - I have a friend who's the other way round, he rusts out EBs in 24 hours, but D'Addario last ages for him.
NorioDS
I think I'm more like your friend. My strings last forever but obviously lose tone over time.
I must admit, the most I bend is generally 1 1/2 steps and I don't go crazy with the whammy bar so that probably helps ?
Anima
On average I only change my strings once a year, its also cos I usually play only one guitar for long periods of time and the rest just sit their in their boxes, but they still rust a bit. I quite like it when the strings are worn and need to be tuned quite often, they give a funny groaning but powerful sound. Thats also probably why my music sounds like doggy doo ?
AlanRatcliffe
That's the advantage of the Elixirs, IMO. If you don't play a guitar a lot and use Elixirs, the still sound good when you next pick it up. However, I do find that after nine months or so they have stretched enough that the intonation will become a bit spotty. If I play a guitar with them a lot, they still last 3 months easy, which is about three times as long as a normal, uncoated set of strings.
JoeyBones
I've switched to Diadario 0.11's on all three of my electric's. They work well for both lead and rhythm and they feel really nice. Not badly priced and I only change strings evey 4 to 6 months since I cycle my guitars. I used to use 0.09 Fender Bullets exclusively, but I found them to be a little too changy for me.
I have 0.10 Elixir's on my Gretsch acoustic, but they're about a year old and have started the rust.
I put 0.10 Dean Markley's on my Martin DC16GT and they sound pretty nice. Not as bright as the elixirs but not dull or too bassy either.
dirkv
I must say that i have always been an Ernie Ball man myself but recently i changed over to Dean Markley Signature Series and i am absolutely loving them. i play 9's on my Wasburn Chicago Series (Floyd Rose) and i play the Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms on my Washburn N1.
Both great strings but what do you guys think of GHS strings?
cain
Ive used D Addarios and they just dont work for me, their rusted in 2 days flat. Ernie balls are great i moved over to elixers and man do they PUMP. They last for 1-2 months and never loose tone, you just change em cos the coating wears out.
JoeyBones
dirkv wrote
I must say that i have always been an Ernie Ball man myself but recently i changed over to Dean Markley Signature Series and i am absolutely loving them. i play 9's on my Wasburn Chicago Series (Floyd Rose) and i play the Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms on my Washburn N1.
Both great strings but what do you guys think of GHS strings?
I tried Ernie ball 0.09's once on my Hagstrom and they just didn't feel right to me. I guess, as with all things, you have to find what suites your individual taste.
dirkv
i have also used DR Red Devils, very cool but in my opinion you are paying for colour and not tone.
Another great set of Strings are Roto Sound from England
AlanRatcliffe
I tried the original handwound DRs when they came out and was quite impressed with the tone, feel and durability. The only thing was every pack would have at least one wound string that would not intonate properly - it would just ring false, with "wolftones" like it had permanent "Stratitis".
The GHS Boomers are OK, pretty much a standard nickel-wound steel string, like Ernie Ball Slinkys or D'Addario XL. Rotos are good - their steel strings are really good, especially the bass range. I don't use them only as my bass is a double-ball Steinberger system, which limits me to the D'Addarios.
To be honest most string sets I have tried in the last 20 years are good. I even used the cheaper Darco strings for a while as that was what I had tons of in my workshop. They felt and sounded good - the only thing was they didn't last as long as the more expensive sets.
Since I've found the Elixirs, I've stuck with them. They feel good, sound good and last 3X longer than regular strings - even longer when you don't play the guitar often. I also like that they reduce finger squeak, have a smoother feel and sound like a 24 hour old "broken in" set immediately - and stay that way until (as Francis pointed out) the coating wears through.
The only downside to the Elixirs (I've mentioned this before, but it's a biggie, so it bears repeating) is that they are not electrically conductive. So for Strats and other guitars with single-coil pickups, you lose the earthing that you usually have when you touch the strings, making them noisier.
I've looked into trying the Cleartone strings, which are electroplated, instead of coated. Expensive, but they are long lasting like the Elixirs, and are electrically conductive. The only reason I have not tried them yet is they are only available from online stores that have a flat transport fee, so you have to order a lot of strings to make it worthwhile. When I start running out of string stock (6 months or so), I'll look at it again.
Deaan-Vivier
I took my Ibanez SZ 320Ex for a setup last week and was pursuaded to try the DR True Blues 0.11. I havent played much on it yet, but I do like the feel of the strings so far. It bend quite easily for 0.11 gauge strings.
I usually played on Ernie Ball super slinky 0.9 and DÁddario 0.9 gauge and I must say that between those two I preferred the Super Slinky's. My problem with the Dáddario's is also that it starts to rust whithin 2 to 3 weeks.
Spyke
I'm also a fan of the Super Slinkys, but i have the problem where i leave them on for waaaay too long. I think i'll about due for a change now seeing as i'm starting to take things a little more serious.
Tempted to go for a .010 and see if i can work with that.
LMinnie
Whenever i get a new guitar the first thing i do is change the strings out.
Ive been a really big fan of EB hybrid slinkys for about 7 years nows but just recently discovered a small instrument wholesaler in the industrial area where I work that stocks a brand that I hadn't heard off.
Roto-Sound....never heard of them
I was desperate for an E string at the time so I bought a set of 0.9's to tide me over for practise...but I have to say...I was I was pleasantly surprised they have a nice solid sound and most important.... They Dont Rust! ;D
Spyke
How's this last lot that you fitted?
They holding up?
LMinnie
They're holding up a damn side better than the hybrib slinky's that we put on that semi acoustic of mine in December....
Gareth
LMinnie wrote
Roto-Sound....never heard of them
You're not a bassist ? Rotos were developed by the Ox (John Entwhistle ... bassist for The Who) or at least he was intrumental in their development, or something like that, anyways they made bass strings before they made guitar strings, and yes they are nice.
The alloys used do make a difference, I used Rotos (nickle - looser, made in UK) whilst in the UK, then really struggled to find them when I came here in the early '90s so I switched to EBs (Stainless Steel - tighter, made in USA). I had to re-setup my basses for the tension difference but the strings lasted longer and playing paying work was scarser so it worked out.
Now Rotos are more available I may look at going back to them again when I eventually get a new bass.
Fond memories of PSD's (Piano Sting Design) just the center core of the string goes over the bridge, all the binding starting afterward .. they'd growl 'n ring at the same time ...awesome.
LMinnie
mmmm......interesting.... I do like the sound they deliver but like you said...very hard to find.
The shop where I bought them is sorta hidden away.
