String Suggestions

[bluesking55]

Ive been using d'addario strings, 10-46 for well over a decade.
Recently ive been reading how differnt strings bring differnt tones, brightness etc.

What do u guys reccomend or use?

 

[chervokas]

I like pure nickel, round core strings for my electrics because I have bright guitars and bright amps and I like the added warmth. I also like the fact that they don't drive the pickups as hard as nickel plated steel or steel wound strings and so I can get a big, natural, warm, pianoish tonal quality with vintage output pickups kept low relative to the strings and strings that don't drive the pickups too hard.. I use different sets for different guitars...round wound pyramid nickel classis sometimes. 10-46 or 11-50 depending; for flatwounds I love the Thomastik Jazz flats, 10-44. I prefer a wound G but sometimes, if I need to play parts with substantial G string bends at the bottom of the neck I'll use a plain G. It all depends on the guitar and the context.

On acoustics I haven't used any round cores yet. I mostly prefer uncoated 80/20 bronze, and I've used both Ernie Balls and D'Addarios to my satisfaction.

 

[michael.e]

I use only two sets of strings.
First, always, is Ducks Deluxe
Second, Thomastick.

Otherwise, I hear this strident, harsh, shrillness that I cannot dial out.

 

[Koop]

This will probably get me banned from TGP...I've used D'Addario 10-46s most of the time but recently I picked up a pile of 10-46 sets from Webstrings. I dunno, I change my strings often and I find I like fresh strings best, regardless of brand. Buying in bulk (whether Webstrings or D'Addario) lets me play fresh strings most of the time. If I played "boutique", expensive strings I probably would be reluctant to change them that often.

I know, it's a little nutty. Spend thousands to get the guitars I want, thousands more on the amps I want but look for great buys on strings so I can change them often without concern for cost.

 

[Al Rose]

I use Dean Markley Blue Steel 11-52 on both my Strat and my Daion. Good sustain and tone, and they last a lot longer than others I've used.

Al

 

[bluesking55]

Thanks for the suggestions, Im gonna try them all..had to sell my acoustic last year

 

[Chad]

I always used to play D'Addario XLs. About ten years ago, I experimented with probably 25 different varieties of strings. Different brands, different models, nickel wound, flatwound, burnished, compound wound, etc. When all was said and done my choice was: D'Addario XLs.

Nobody can tell you what will work. You just have to experiment. And your experiments might just lead you back to where you started.

 

[SlyStrat]

I like GHS Boomers. To my ears they add a little beef to the tone.

 

[chervokas]

Nobody can tell you what will work. You just have to experiment.

I think that's the bottom line. Nothing more personal than strings and you just need to try a bunch of different sorts. Frankly I find that with each guitar it takes a little bit of experimentation to find the right strings.

 

[RAILhead]

I'm a big fan of Ernie Ball 10s, and I also like the same D'Addario 10s you do.

 

[ggwwbb]

I use Webstrings too.....I personally like them better, regardless of price. They seem to last a little longer, require a little less stretching, and are cheap!

 

[Telefunky]

In a music store last year and the only strings in stock were Dunlop's. Had no choice at the time, but I've been using them ever since. They feel good and sound great. I don't know anything about how they're made!

 

[John Coloccia]

D'Addario XL's. I typically setup most guitars with their "Light" set, .10-46. For my personal guitars, I prefer their light top/heavy bottom set, .10-.52. Honestly, I think the bottom is just a touch heavier than it needs to be...feels a bit unbalanced. .10-.50 would be perfect for me, IMHO. I think the GHS Eric Johnson set goes .10-.50. I may try those again, though I tried them once and decided I really liked D'Addarios.

One interesting trend I've noticed over the years is that string preferences appear to be getting heavier. Growing up, it seems like everyone was playing with .009s and even .008s. Now everyone seems to be playing with .010s and .011s. I wonder if that's a general trend, or just a TGP trend?

 

[Al Rose]

D'Addario XL's. I typically setup most guitars with their "Light" set, .10-46. For my personal guitars, I prefer their light top/heavy bottom set, .10-.52. Honestly, I think the bottom is just a touch heavier than it needs to be...feels a bit unbalanced. .10-.50 would be perfect for me, IMHO. I think the GHS Eric Johnson set goes .10-.50. I may try those again, though I tried them once and decided I really liked D'Addarios.

One interesting trend I've noticed over the years is that string preferences appear to be getting heavier. Growing up, it seems like everyone was playing with .009s and even .008s. Now everyone seems to be playing with .010s and .011s. I wonder if that's a general trend, or just a TGP trend?

Interesting observation. I've seen the same thing. I started playing around 1970 and used .008's and .009's. Broke quite a few. When I moved up to .010's I noticed slightly "fatter" sound and a tad more sustain. Also, string breakage stopped. Am using .011's now. All that said, when I was young it was all about volume and distortion. Only hard rock. Strings didn't matter (or so I thought) Now, my band plays 60's classic rock and blues, and it's all about clean tone. Where I'm going with this is as we get older, our tastes seem to become more refined, and we gain experience. Then we get better sounding amps and guitars, and the "little" things like strings start to matter a lot more.

Don't get me wrong - I still like hard rock stuff, but I just don't play that style anymore. Also, my thoughts above are broad generalizations, but I think they are pretty accurate. YMMV...

Al

 

[Pietro]

different strokes for different folks.

I use Elixir because I like my strings to last a while (I get weeks, often months out of them), and I like the fact that the nanocoating takes a little of the edge off to start with. Very nice.

If I didn't, I'd use D'addario, because they are my favorite non-coated brand.

 

[VintageToneGuy]

DR Pure Blues 10's

 

[Dr. Jimmy]

I love GHS Boomers, I use the .010's but swap the .017 and .013 for a .016 and .012. Seems to work well for me.....

 

[wilblee]

I use 10-52's on my 335 and DGT, 9-46's on everything else. Right now everything has GHS Boomers, which I like a lot, but once my current stock gets used up, I'll likely try some other brands. Strings are fun in that there are so many choices and they are relatively cheap.

 

[frquent flyer]

Thomastics and curt mangan on electrics;and elixirs and J 16s on acoustics.

 

[toasterdude]

I use Dean Markley Blue Steel 11-52 on both my Strat and my Daion. Good sustain and tone, and they last a lot longer than others I've used.

Al

Same here. Have not changed strings in two months and they still play and sound great. I use the same gage as well. Hate floppy strings 11s don't flop!