Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!
I use D'Addario XL for my hard-tail guitars; gauges vary from 9-42 on most of the Fender-scale instruments to 9-46 or 10-46 on Gibson instruments. I've used these for a LONG time.
I've used Fender Super Bullets (9-42) for more than 20 years on my G&L guitars with the Leo Fender designed Dual Fulcrum Vibrato. I've also tried the Stainless Bullets and Original Bullets (pure nickel), and they work fine too.
Both D'Addario and Fender strings have been very consistent over the years. They are cost effective, and easily available.
On acoustics, I prefer D'Addario phosphor bronze--been using them since they were first introduced and nothing beats them. Most of my Martin and Taylor dreads get -17 medium gauge, two get the D'Addario -19 Bluegrass gauge, and the Ibanez Artwood gets -16 lights. If I'm playing a lot, I'll use the regular D'Addario EJ sets; if a guitar is going to be sitting a bit and only played occasionally I use the EXP sets. Again...consistent, cost effective, easily available and good sounding. I've found some good deals this past year on Martin SP strings, and while they are usually slightly more expensive than the D'Addarios, they are a very fine string. I gave up trying Elixirs on my Taylor 710--they break, they have higher tension, and they simply don't sound as good.
I'll usually re-string a guitar and let it sit for 24 hours to stretch the strings, rather than yanking on them. This seems to maximize string life. Washing your hands before a playing session is a good idea. I find that keeping them clean and lubricated (I use the Dunlop 65 String Cleaner) also goes a long way to improve string life. I find that about 15-20 of sofa time is about max life for my strings, or 8-12 hours of live performance time. Usually, it's the fret wear on the strings that is the determining factor.
That's how I do it.
Bill
