Electric guitar strings

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Electric guitar strings

D'addario Nickel Wound 12-54 Guitar, Flexsteels 50-105 Bass.
Dunno, just like how thicker strings feel and sound.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Electric guitar strings

11's and 12's in standard tuning?

 

[Zhaggy]

Re: Electric guitar strings

Best sounding and longest lasting strings I've ever used were Aurora strings. They are all color-coated. They come in red, blue, orange, black, white, pink, etc almost every color you can imagine. Black and white are sort of matte finished. and not so bright sounding, and the others are more shinny and bright. They feel great. However they shop that had them went out of business so I haven't have the chance to get hold of them for over a year now. But I still have one guitar with a set in it and it sounds and plays great.

Other good strings:
Dunlop, GHS, DR, Ernie Ball, D'addario. Haven't had any problems with them. Sound good, feel good and last long enough.

Only string I've had problems with are Rotosounds. We just don't seem to get along. I can't play them in tune and they don't sound that good to me.

I play all kinds of gauges with different guitars/tunings/scale lenghts. In standard E/DropD I use 9-42, 9-46, 9-50 (Dimebag), in D/DropC/CGCGCE 10-52, 10-56 (Alexi Laiho), 10-60 (Zakk Wylde).

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Electric guitar strings

I'm torn on Strings, I love Ernie Ball strings for both acoustic and electric...mainly use the Hybrid Slinky and Cobalt sets. But I am now finding out how great D'Addarios sound...

 

[JeffB]

Re: Electric guitar strings

Waited forever to try them...too long....seriously Jazzed about the Rev. Willie's Mexican Lottery Brand strings..10s.

 

[Filipe Marquez]

Re: Electric guitar strings

Mine are Rotosounds, .010 for E standard. I like them cause they sound incredibly defined and bright, and the crunch from them is amazing.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Electric guitar strings

11's and 12's in standard tuning?

Sure. More than any push-back they might give, they just feel right diameter-wise to my fretting fingers. 10s and lower just don't do it for me. Bending is easy enough, and I just let my left hand be happy.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Electric guitar strings

on a strat?
Fender Bullets. Maybe it's psychological but I could swear the first time putting bullets back on after using regular Fender, D'Addario, EB, GHS, Elixir, Cleartone, and DR, I noticed a small improvement in sustain and a bit "bigger" sound. To me it makes some sense, the bullet end really does fit snuggly in the trem block with increased surface area and much more mass in direct contact with that block. I dunno. Maybe I just bought the marketing idea behind bullets and I know I always enjoy that "new string sound". But if you find something you feel works for you, do you change it, or experiment? For a while I'm done experimenting.

This is exactly what I have discovered; not only on my G&Ls, but I used them on the vintage Strat I had. I think the Bullet end really does work as advertised, adding sustain and increasing tuning stability. And with the Bullet end, you don't have to worry about the double-wrapped end of the string causing tuning issues or buzzes where the string crosses the saddle.

Definitely my string of choice for the last umpteen years on guitars with vibrato blocks. No more experimenting for me, either.

Bill

 

[the toad]

Re: Electric guitar strings

8, 9, 10 or ocassionally 11 depending on the guitar and the kind of music and tuning of the guitar.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Electric guitar strings

I like Pyramid strings. Nickel Classics for six strings and Pure Nickel for seven strings. Gauge preference varies based on tuning on the guitar, but I typically never go lighter than .10 on high E and .50 on low E.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Electric guitar strings

I use EB hybrid slinky, 9-46. I find it easier to solo on the lighter gauge unwound strings, but the heavier wound strings sound better for my heavy handed rhythm playing.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Electric guitar strings

It depends on the guitar. For a while now I've been using a hybrid set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Bebops (.010-.047) on a couple of guitars, and a similar but one gauge thicker set on a third electric guitar, and a set of .010-/044 T-I Jazz Swing flat wounds on a Tele. I use them because they feel and sound better than other strings to me, and they last a very long time.

But at this NAMM show I was given a few sets of Optima strings - the 24 carat gold plated ones - and so far I've had one of my electrics set up for their electric .010-.046 set. First impression? They're incredible; with a big fat warm but still bright tone, and are super flexible and easy to play. I'm going to try their flat wound electric and acoustic strings soon too. Maybe I've got a new brand.

 

[GAS-a-holic]

Re: Electric guitar strings

Electrics - EB Rock & Roll Slinkys 10-46
Acoustics - John Pearse 12's
Bass - Rotosound 45-105

I've reached a point where I just like the sound of nickel strings on my electrics; switched from the regular Slinkys about a year ago and haven't looked back.

 

[Jackson Distortion]

D'Addario XL Balanced Tension Regular Light, 10-46

D'Addario XL Balanced Tension Regular Light, 10-46

Reasons:

- D'Addario strings are the best!

- I don't have to fight with the strings like I did on unbalanced sets.

- Strings go out of tune much less!

- My playing is cleaner.

- My inspiration and confidence is at an all-time high.

- B string actually has tone now and I can actually feel it.

ADVICE: If you own a guitar that just doesn't feel right despite having everything set up properly, try a set of these Balanced Tension strings. They may just save it from an alternate (and gruesome) fate!

 

[LazyLightning]

Re: Electric guitar strings

Currently using EB super 9-42, they are very comfortable to me. I have 3 more pks from the last order I made and have seriously considered maybe trying out the Elixir poly or nano as well as increased guage. I hear so many great things about them, but as with most things I won't be convinced until I play them myself.

I am still trying to decide what I want to settle on in terms of my acoustic, but that is not thread related.

 

[thespricket]

Re: Electric guitar strings

I try to keep my head out of the strings as much as possible. I don't personally feel or hear a HUGE difference between string brands. When they're made roughly the same way out of the same materials the difference is way too small for me. I most use D'Addarios because they've always been reliable and sound just fine! When you look at what the pros who travel the world play, 9/10 times its gonna be D'Addarios, Ernie Ball, Ghs, or DR. And between those it's usually Daddarios. They work. They're what strings are supposed to sound and feel like.

I'm sure if I spent hours restringing my guitars and trying all the strings out there I'd find some I love but coated Daddario EXP 10's are what I prefer for now. I like the coated ones simply because they last longer and I don't feel or hear much of a difference, if any at all. I use 10s on my Gibson as well as my Fenders. For acoustics I also like the Daddario exps.

 

[B2D]

Re: Electric guitar strings

I've been using D'addario XL .010-.052s for a while now and I like them. They stay in tune well, sound great, and last a long time. Occasionally I'll foray into .009-.046 sets or Dunlop Heavy Core .010's.