Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

papersoul

New member
Do strings such as this exist? I am trying to find strings that have a lot of clarity under high gain yet retain a lot of warmth. I picked up a lot of strings the other day and hope to grab a few more brands this week. I'll let you all know what I find.

I am curious what you all have found.

Thanks.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

In my opinion brighter strings will keep the most clarity under gain, but they loose warmth when clean.

I find heavy guage strings tend to be warmer than thinner ones.

I like using bright, heavy guage strings.

GHS TNTs, GBZW, and Ernie Ball Heavy Bottom/Skinny Tops are a good comprimise. The thinner 1st through 3rd strings give you clarity where you need it, and the heavy 4th through 6th strings give you warmth.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

I like the Everly B-52 rockers. They have a good balance of zip and warmth and last about as long as stainless but are much easier on frets.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

screamingdaisy said:
In my opinion brighter strings will keep the most clarity under gain, but they loose warmth when clean.

I find heavy guage strings tend to be warmer than thinner ones.

I like using bright, heavy guage strings.

GHS TNTs, GBZW, and Ernie Ball Heavy Bottom/Skinny Tops are a good comprimise. The thinner 1st through 3rd strings give you clarity where you need it, and the heavy 4th through 6th strings give you warmth.

So true. Heavier strings have bass, so it would make more sense that they're warmer. I'm curious about the TNT's
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

I've never really found TOO much difference between strings, but noticable none the less.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

Stainless steel strings will give you the most clarity, since they're brighter than just about anything else you can find. And they are tough on frets, but they're not really as bad as a lot of you might think. I put Dunlop 6100s on the Bastardcaster (Tele) in 1999 and that's been one of my main stage instruments since then and the frets are just now starting to get to the point where I need to recrown. I think that's a reasonable tradeoff.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

I find D'Addarios warmer than the EBs.

I find pure nickel strings warmer than "nickel coated" strings.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

I've always used plain ol Ernie Balls. Always sounded fine to me.
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

If you want warmth try pure nickel strings
If you want more clarity try nickel plated steel...

It's hard to get both...The DR Pure Blues are good strings for this purpose though..Also,buy yourself different types and brands and experiment..

John
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
If you want warmth try pure nickel strings
If you want more clarity try nickel plated steel...

It's hard to get both...The DR Pure Blues are good strings for this purpose though..Also,buy yourself different types and brands and experiment..

John

I thought pure blues were solid nickel?
 
Re: Best strings for clarity and warmth under gain?

Dean Farley, the guy who used to make Scalar Strings is back with a new brand. He's working on a string that's specially designed to provide clarity under high gain. If it's as good as his vintagey nickel-wrapped strings, they'll absolutely kill.

BTW, I'm not a business associate of Dean's, just a very happy customer. :)
 
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