How extensive is your string inventory?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Little Pigbacon
  • Start date Start date
L

Little Pigbacon

Guest
How’s your back stock of strings? How many sets, brands, gauges, types, etc.? How many times could you restring all your guitars with what you have on hand?
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I have maybe 100-120 packs on hand at the house.

4 boxes of D'addario NYXL 11's . 10 to a box (Baby Blue and black box and packs) This is my main string for playing live and recording. D Standard Guitars
around 20 packs of D'addario 10-46 and 10-52 for E Standard and Drop D guitars
maybe 10-12 packs of D'addario EXP Phosphor Bronze 12s and 13s Acoustics
and then 30-40 packs of DR Hex Core 11s, EB Slinky and Super Slinky, Exlixir 13s and Dean Markley Jazz 12s, Martin Bronze 13s
and then maybe 20 packs of weird things like -glow in the dark DRs 10s, a few packs of 8s and 9s etc and maybe 2 packs of old GHS boomers.

then I have maybe 100 individual 11, 14, 17 and wound G strings in paper envelopes and plastic packages -mostly EBs and D'Addarios -from when I used to play a lot with my custom guitars with alternate tunings. -Alot of these are 20 years old and in the EBs are in paper packaging -so not sure if their any good.

I have about 30 Guitars, so every guitar 4-5 times?


I'd be willing to bet 20% of my strings (especially the Ernie Balls in paper) are slightly oxidized and worthless -but I don't tend to throw strings away.
 
Last edited:
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I keep an extra set on hand for my main guitar and bass. The other instruments don’t see as much playing time so I change those as needed.

I change strings every month or so. More if I’ve had more gigs. I’ve been using D’Addario which last a long time. I have about 9 basses and 9 guitars. I mostly play one of each. lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

At the same time!
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I keep an extra set on hand for my main guitar and bass. The other instruments don’t see as much playing time so I change those as needed.

I change strings every month or so. More if I’ve had more gigs. I’ve been using D’Addario which last a long time. I have about 9 basses and 9 guitars. I mostly play one of each. lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish to one day be this way.

But the old strings could come in useful if there was a Zombie Apocalypse or WW3.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I wish to one day be this way.

But the old strings could come in useful if there was a Zombie Apocalypse or WW3.

I try to at least buy 3 packs for guitar strings. But that doesn’t always happen. I rarely break strings, but I have an extra set in my case.
The D’Addario anti corrosion packs keep them fresh.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I have more than usual. I'm down to my last couple sets of Curt Mangan 10-48s that I use on my drop D guitar (usually my R7). I just bought a ten pack of D'addario 10-46 and realized I had another one that was unopened in my gig box. The band was on a bit of a hiatus, so I lost track of what I had and bought the extra ten pack on sale.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I usually keep a tenpack of D'Addario XL125 sets home for standard E, drop-D and even drop-C# (25.5" scale necks). I carry two sets for a single gig and a tenpack for a tour. I use these on everything, even my acoustics. I prefer the feel much better than bronze strings or whatever folks fancy using.

I don't change them too often, only when a string breaks (whole set) or when a set starts to feel bad, that's approx. 2 months for me on a regular gigging guitar, a little longer on a sleeper. To me it is common to play a dosen gigs or more in a row with one set. I bring two guitars for every band I gig with and I switch them show after show so strings last long. As for recording, I put on a fresh set a couple of days before pushing REC button. I prefer a slightly worn-in feel.

After every touch I clean my strings like crazy using Dunlop stuff that has a lot to do to preserve the condition I guess, no corrosion whatsoever. I do it on a regular level on my sleepers, too. They get soaked then polished every 2 weeks. I guess I have more Dunlop formula 65 bottles around than actual string packs.

off: There was one extreme case when a friend borrowed a guitar from me. The very same set was on that poor axe for 3 years by the time I got it back and for some weird reason I don't know it did not start to wear out / wobble at all. I left it on to see how far it endures. It lasted as long as 5 years and it still did not break, I changed the set because of a minor wobbling issue.
 
Last edited:
How extensive is your string inventory?

3 D’Addario EXL110
5 Ernie Ball Super Slinky
1 GHS 12-50 Flatwound
1 DR 12-52 Flatwound
2 Optima Gold 9-42 Brian May
1 Pyramid 9-42 black coated
1 Pyramid 10-465 nickel flats
1 Pyramid 12-string nickel flats
1 Pyramid 640 short scale bass
1 Elixir 12-56 phosphor bronze
4 Martin Marquis 80/20 light
1 Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 12-string

And a ton of leftover singles from 30 years of sets.

Basically, these are the sets I don’t use much. All the strings I use are on guitars and I need to buy some replacements pronto.
 
Last edited:
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

You know what lawyers boxes are? I have 2, full to the top - organized by acoustic sets, electric sets, banjo sets and related, nylon string sets, and bass sets. Also - singles of all kinds, organized by type from smallest to largest, and even some slightly used strings organized and ID stickers on everything. Happens when you've been doing guitar repair for 40 years. No - they don't rust or wear out.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I change strings a lot, but I mostly use the same set for most of my electrics. I buy them in packs of 10, and when I get down to 3, I re-order. I generally use 1 set of strings per outside show (it is Florida, and I sweat), but only use 1 guitar per show.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I have pile of Curt Mangans in plastic bag, probably 5 sets worth of strings there. I order more every now and then when it seems I'm running out.

Everytime I order something I also get couple sets of strings.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

Maybe a set or two, I think. I generally don't change very often, and when I do, I usually just buy them fresh, pack at a time.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

Might have a set or two spare if I'm lucky. I only buy when they need changing.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I've got a few set of nines, and 11's - mixed breeds, lot of individual strings a well

maybe a 1/2 dozen set of tens

Set of 105 bass strings

and some acoustic sets

I keep them on hand for me and for work I do for others
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

All I have for my electrics are Ernie Ball Rock 'n Roll Slinky 10-46. I keep a set or two in my main guitar gig bag, or whichever one I'm taking to rehearsal that night. Been playing the same Strat since I finished it really. I'll change when needed, and almost always before a gig. I think I have one or two sets of Martin Marquis Light strings for my D-28. Since I'm not playing bass primarily right now, only one set in the case (EB Slinky 45-105). I used to buy strings by the box but now I pick up two or three packs at a time. Last time I went to GC they had five sets of what I use left so I bought them all.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I've currently got:

7 x Elixir electric 11-49 - For all my short scale guitars
8 x Elixir electric 10-54 - For all my Fender scale guitars
3 x Elixir acoustic 11-52 - For my acoustic and tenor acoustic (just use the highest 4 strings)
1 x unbranded light gauge bass strings (I think 40-95?)
1 x Elixir acoustic mandolin strings 10-34

When I get down to the last pack I'll start searching for the cheapest bulk replacements I can find. Except for the mandolin and bass . . . bass strings seem to last forever, and I don't play the mandolin much.
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

1- NYXL 11-52
2- NYXL 11-49
3- Gibson Vintage Reissue 10-46
1- Elixir 9-42
1- Ernie Ball SS 8-38

I couldn't restring all of them but the seldom players get elixirs for long life.
 
How extensive is your string inventory?

I use D’Addario EXL120s (.009-.042) on all my electric guitars. I also keep individual strings in all the sizes to use in case of breakage. Currently have 6 extra sets and will get more when I get down to 2. For the individuals I wait until I’m out.

93a6613dd90267d81e58fada5728205b.jpg


Those Rogue strings aren’t great but they aren’t bad either. I like to change the entire set at once, but these are great for the times when you’ve just recently done a string change and one string breaks for whatever reason. This way I don’t have to break into one of the sealed up new sets but can just replace the one string and it works fine until I’m ready for a complete change.

I keep one extra size in the Rogue strings (008) as well that I use for the high G string on my BC Rich Perfect 10 Bich (it’s a 10-string… think of a 12-string with only one course on the E and A strings).

String changes vary among my different guitars, but as a general rule I do a complete string change if I have a break and the strings are more than three months old, or when I start noticing the intonation going to crap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: How extensive is your string inventory?

I might only have a few singles, but generally, I don't break strings. The Steinberger gets double ball strings, which is a really great idea- even though those strings are expensive. I use standard D'Addario 9-42 sets on everything. I hate having to make custom string sets, or getting used to a brand that no one stocks. I don't like coated strings either, as the coating flakes off quickly and I get white dandruff all over the guitar and case.
 
Back
Top