Dig it! Master Guitar FAQ #7 - Strings!
- Thread starter Mark Wein
- Start date
Knox in Box
Rustbelt refugee.
Elixir 10-52 because they last me almost 2 years on my limited usage.
Regular steel strings and no pure nickel. I know how to use a tone knob to roll off extra highs. But there's no way to dial them in if they're just not there.
Regular steel strings and no pure nickel. I know how to use a tone knob to roll off extra highs. But there's no way to dial them in if they're just not there.
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
PRS, Ibanez - D'Addario XL 10-46
Ric - D'Addario XL 10-46 w/ wound G
Tele - D'Addario XL 11-49
Dano Convertible - D'Addario XL 13-56
Dano 12 - Curt Mangan 9-46
Dano Baritone - Ernie Ball Slinky 13-72 (tuned to A)
Taylor 414 - Martin SP phosphor bronze 12-54
Precision - 45 - 105 Flatwounds (still working out which set i like best. right now it has EB)
La Patrie Etude - any "hard tension" set
so basically my philosophy is the best set for the guitar. the Ric likes the wound G. the bigsby'd tele likes 11s. the Baritone likes the heavier strings because they're better balanced, but doesn't like B tuning. you have to go with how the instrument responds. sometimes, it takes a while to find that out.
Ric - D'Addario XL 10-46 w/ wound G
Tele - D'Addario XL 11-49
Dano Convertible - D'Addario XL 13-56
Dano 12 - Curt Mangan 9-46
Dano Baritone - Ernie Ball Slinky 13-72 (tuned to A)
Taylor 414 - Martin SP phosphor bronze 12-54
Precision - 45 - 105 Flatwounds (still working out which set i like best. right now it has EB)
La Patrie Etude - any "hard tension" set
so basically my philosophy is the best set for the guitar. the Ric likes the wound G. the bigsby'd tele likes 11s. the Baritone likes the heavier strings because they're better balanced, but doesn't like B tuning. you have to go with how the instrument responds. sometimes, it takes a while to find that out.
Johnny N.
Kick Henry Jackassowski
On my electric I like using the DR Pure Blues in 10-46. They just seem to feel better than others I have tried. I want to give Ernie Balls a try next though because they seem to be a bit cheaper and more available around here. And for some reason, I dont really care for D'Addario's. Not sure why.
I have DR's on my acoustic too. Not sure which ones but I like how they feel.
I notice some folks have a real issue with DR's but they feel and sound right to me.
I have DR's on my acoustic too. Not sure which ones but I like how they feel.
I notice some folks have a real issue with DR's but they feel and sound right to me.
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
DR seems to have consistency issues. at least that's what people complain about. i've never really used them, except for the Zebra strings on my Convertible.
Johnny N.
Kick Henry Jackassowski
Maybe I just dont change my strings enough. Every set I have bought has been fine.
Modern Saint
Starve your Fear, Feed your Dream!
For electrics I use GHS Boomers 10-46 Light Gauge sets. I am planning to try a set of 11's on one of my Tele's to give me a thicker sound.
Why I love the GHS strings? I love the brightness, durability and consistancy as well as the feel of the strings. I have been using Boomers since 1990 and I have tried many brands: Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Fender Bullets, Gibson but I still love the GHS Boomers best.
For my Steel String Acoustic's I use Elixir's. These things are just freakin' awesome. Tone and ease of play for days. I usually replace these strings about once every 12 - 18 months. Prior to the Elixir's I tried various bronze strings but was never happy so I continued to try different brands until I found one that I like.
For my Classical Guitar I use D'Addario Pro Arte High Tension Strings (Blue label). I have used Augustine's and another brand but the Pro Arte sound and feel the best IMO.
Why I love the GHS strings? I love the brightness, durability and consistancy as well as the feel of the strings. I have been using Boomers since 1990 and I have tried many brands: Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Fender Bullets, Gibson but I still love the GHS Boomers best.
For my Steel String Acoustic's I use Elixir's. These things are just freakin' awesome. Tone and ease of play for days. I usually replace these strings about once every 12 - 18 months. Prior to the Elixir's I tried various bronze strings but was never happy so I continued to try different brands until I found one that I like.
For my Classical Guitar I use D'Addario Pro Arte High Tension Strings (Blue label). I have used Augustine's and another brand but the Pro Arte sound and feel the best IMO.
I've been through everything over the years I think...I had a set of 11-52's on my Hamer Superstrat at one point..in standard tuning! 
. Over the last few years I've settled down to 009-046 on my Strat and other Strat scale length guitars..and either 10-46 or 11-49 on my Les Paul..still experimenting with that one... I've also been through every major brand, but D'Addario just seem to work best for me, feel wise and sound wise. The fact that they're cheap is a bonus. 
. Over the last few years I've settled down to 009-046 on my Strat and other Strat scale length guitars..and either 10-46 or 11-49 on my Les Paul..still experimenting with that one... I've also been through every major brand, but D'Addario just seem to work best for me, feel wise and sound wise. The fact that they're cheap is a bonus. 
Lerxst
spaghetti and blankets
I've been through everything over the years I think...I had a set of 11-52's on my Hamer Superstrat at one point..in standard tuning!
I'm kinda in the same boat running heavier strings for years then settling into 9s or 10s on F scale guitars and 10s or 11s on G scale gits. It's more about feel & playability since it's not too hard on my amps to dial in the same basic tone, no matter the gauge.
B Valley
Rattlesnake Shaker
D'Addario XL 10-46 for Strats and Teles. I like 11s for my 6120.
I've always had consistent quality from D'Addario, very little breakage, they feel smooth and sound the way you expect.
For acoustics I use Martin M140 Bronze Light gauge 12-52, although I'd like to try Elixirs at the next change. I started buying them when I bought my first Martin. The only thing I changed was switching from a medium gauge to light gauge. I can't imagine going any lighter, both for the sound, and for the fact that I play slide on them as well.
I've always had consistent quality from D'Addario, very little breakage, they feel smooth and sound the way you expect.
For acoustics I use Martin M140 Bronze Light gauge 12-52, although I'd like to try Elixirs at the next change. I started buying them when I bought my first Martin. The only thing I changed was switching from a medium gauge to light gauge. I can't imagine going any lighter, both for the sound, and for the fact that I play slide on them as well.
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paulskirocks
Blue Zone Compliant
GHS Boomers have been my choice for a long time...
Peeker
jerkass
D'Addario's on all the electrics, varying gauges.
ranging from 10 to 12, I think.
no idea what's on the acoustics, it's been a while since I changed 'em.
GHS, I think, on the basses.
that was simply a price thing at the time.
I don't have a brand preference for them.
they don't usually last long enough to matter.
ranging from 10 to 12, I think.
no idea what's on the acoustics, it's been a while since I changed 'em.
GHS, I think, on the basses.
that was simply a price thing at the time.
I don't have a brand preference for them.
they don't usually last long enough to matter.
jelloman
Couch'd Tater...
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46 on the electrics...
...I use to use 9's but have grown to prefer the 10's...there is a touch more meat, and I have come to appreciate the resistance of the 10's when I bend...I tried a bunch of different makes in an A/B test a couple years ago, including GHS Boomers and Burnished nickels, Rock and Roll semi-flats, DR Pure Blues, and Dean Markley...after all of that I ended right back with the EB's, so go figure...
Martin Marquis 10-47 on my acoustic, mainly because I'm a wimp and like to keep the strings on an acoustic as light as possible...
GHS Pressure Wound on bass...lightest guage...nice compromise between rounds and semi-flats...
...I use to use 9's but have grown to prefer the 10's...there is a touch more meat, and I have come to appreciate the resistance of the 10's when I bend...I tried a bunch of different makes in an A/B test a couple years ago, including GHS Boomers and Burnished nickels, Rock and Roll semi-flats, DR Pure Blues, and Dean Markley...after all of that I ended right back with the EB's, so go figure...
Martin Marquis 10-47 on my acoustic, mainly because I'm a wimp and like to keep the strings on an acoustic as light as possible...
GHS Pressure Wound on bass...lightest guage...nice compromise between rounds and semi-flats...
John Watt
Banned
When I first got a Fender Stratocaster in 1970, rock guitarists were still using a banjo string on the first,
and stepping back mass manufactured guitar strings so they could bend them easy.
After coming back from Toronto, playing guitar, I brought Ernie Ball information to my local music store,
and have been using them ever since. It's nice that they caught on and are available everywhere,
still at reasonable prices. They were $4.95 here in the Niagara Peninsula, in 1970.
The major retailer back then was Fender, selling strings even in non-Fender frachise stores.
Ernie Ball was different right away, feeling soft, stretching, and staying in tune after being broken in.
Fender and others were hard, stiff, and stayed the same for over a week, before they started stretching.
And once that started, it didn't really stop, not good for getting the same responses from distraught effects use,
night after night.
Phosphorous bronze and acoustic bronze strings are almost there, like Ernie Ball, but don't do the nickle-plated thing.
Rubbing a 24 carat gold piece on your strings over the pickups would be the best to enhance magnetic-electronic induction.
Gold-stained strings! That's a pre-worn, retro look I could go for.
Forget playing your strings with your own teeth! Look for some gold teeth, or bling, and go for audience participation.
and stepping back mass manufactured guitar strings so they could bend them easy.
After coming back from Toronto, playing guitar, I brought Ernie Ball information to my local music store,
and have been using them ever since. It's nice that they caught on and are available everywhere,
still at reasonable prices. They were $4.95 here in the Niagara Peninsula, in 1970.
The major retailer back then was Fender, selling strings even in non-Fender frachise stores.
Ernie Ball was different right away, feeling soft, stretching, and staying in tune after being broken in.
Fender and others were hard, stiff, and stayed the same for over a week, before they started stretching.
And once that started, it didn't really stop, not good for getting the same responses from distraught effects use,
night after night.
Phosphorous bronze and acoustic bronze strings are almost there, like Ernie Ball, but don't do the nickle-plated thing.
Rubbing a 24 carat gold piece on your strings over the pickups would be the best to enhance magnetic-electronic induction.
Gold-stained strings! That's a pre-worn, retro look I could go for.
Forget playing your strings with your own teeth! Look for some gold teeth, or bling, and go for audience participation.
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Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
update: the switch to Dunlop has been pretty sweeping across my main instruments. i dug the 10s with the wound G on the Ric, but it loves Dunlop 11s. i've gone to Dunlop 10s on both my PRS and Ibanez and will finally make the switch to 11s on my Tele on the next string change. i've also played the Phosphor Bronze 12s on my Taylor and dig them as much as the Martins.
voodoothatido13
jits player
Elixir 10s currently, just ordered some DR black beauties, Dean Markley HELIX HD, and D'Addario's to test out, all in 10
The elixirs seem to last me forever, I hardly ever change strings. I am pretty good about washing my hands before and wiping my guitar down after playing though, probably helps.
I'm not a good enough guitar player and not experienced enough to dislike the elixirs due to their sound. Between tweaking the guitar and amp controls I can get a sound I like.
The elixirs seem to last me forever, I hardly ever change strings. I am pretty good about washing my hands before and wiping my guitar down after playing though, probably helps.
I'm not a good enough guitar player and not experienced enough to dislike the elixirs due to their sound. Between tweaking the guitar and amp controls I can get a sound I like.
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