Recommend Me Some Strings!

[Jermo3178]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I bought a case of Boomers once because they were cheaper than the Slinkys and D'addarios that I use, at that moment. Every pack in that case had rusty strings... couple years later I bought a couple packs to get through, same thing. I'll stick to the slinkys and XL's... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

+1 on the Cleartone strings use them on all my guitars electric and acoustic and bass. 10s and 11s on electrics ,they make a large variety for many instruments each string is coated.

 

[emilio]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I love me some Dunlops and Ernie Ball!

 

[uOpt]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I have been using Dean Markley Nickelsteel for decades and no issues with inconsistency or breakage. I originally picked them for sound. I think the boomers were a tick more brilliant but the nickelsteel last 3x as long with good sound.

What I don't like is that they consistently have a too light H string in there. But they are hardly alone in that club.

 

[LogicallyInsane]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

Well for me, I hate Ernie Balls... I once bought a 3 pack of them, and broke the "e" string within the first 10 mins.. Changed it with a replacement from the other pack, then the b string broke 5 mins later... then the next day the "e" again... It was a vicious cycle, and one that I decided wasn't worth the time or money..

I used to love Dean Markley Blue Steel.. Recently got into Fender 150L Pure Nickel's though... Loving the tone with them...

I bought a case of Boomers once because they were cheaper than the Slinkys and D'addarios that I use, at that moment. Every pack in that case had rusty strings... couple years later I bought a couple packs to get through, same thing. I'll stick to the slinkys and XL's... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This is why I quit using the Blue Steels.. last 3 packs I bought.. (from different places btw) were rusty outta the box..

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

This is why I quit using the Blue Steels.. last 3 packs I bought.. (from different places btw) were rusty outta the box..

I forgot about Blue Steels... I bought a pack of those after the last boomer fiasco. They were rusted too. The first bunch of boomers, I got online. The last bunch and the blue steels came from Sam Ash. Nothing sucks like getting ready to restring a guitar, and have a freshly opened pack of rusty strings.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I love me some Dunlops and Ernie Ball!

Yes to the first. But EB's always break on me within days.

 

[DreX]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

Elixir poly webs don't rust out as fast as other strings on account if their thick protective coating, which is great for me because there are a lot of guitars I can't get to playing as often and I rarely break strings. Cleartones make the same promise but have a sticky feel and sound no different.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I use daddario not only because I like the tone and feel, but they last the longest under my fingers and because I haven't legitimately broken a string since I switched to them years ago. And by legitimately I mean while playing the instrument. Occasionally I have done something stupid like tune it an octave higher than normal when I was just starting out and that snapped it, or if I cut it accidentally or something else stupid.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

GHS Burnished Nickel for me. I found an online store that will replace the plain strings in the set with custom gauge strings at no extra cost.

 

[formula73]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

Elixir plated plains for no other reason than I'm a corrosive SOB.

Seen the remake of House On Haunted Hill? Death By Corrosion? That's me.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I remember these being the best strings I've tried (and don't buy them on amazon with that link - there's no way you should pay $7 for a set of strings.) - It's just the ernie ball power slinkies are a lot cheaper ($4 @ GC), and they last forever. Idk, maybe I'll try them again.

I used snake oil strings for a number of years, and they were just that. Fret wear was exactly the same as before, sound too, etc. I know some guys swear by them but the only thing they did for me was make my wallet lighter.

I actually started using snake oil strings because of how quickly I wore down the frets on my highway 1 strat. If there was a difference, I didn't notice it, because my jazzmaster (which has gone through mostly SOS) has about the same level of fret wear after about the same level of use.

Just IME of course.

 

[mrpinter]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

About twenty years ago I was trying to find strings I liked and was switching a lot, and found that most of what I tried was very similar. Then I found a little known company (at least in the U.S.) that made strings that sounded and felt better, and lasted longer, than anything I'd yet used. These were Thomastik-Infeld products, and I found that they were famous for their orchestral stringed instrument strings and that a lot of top jazz players had used their double bass and guitar strings religiously for many years. At the time they were just introducing their newer round wound acoustic and electric strings here in the states, and they weren't nearly as expensive then - but the distributor was also barely breaking even on them for fear of not gaining any market share. I've never looked back, and wouldn't switch even though they are now priced like they always were in Europe, which is - pretty pricey, because I don't think there is anything to compare with them.

I'm using their Plectrum acoustic strings, and the Jazz Bebops and Jazz Swings on my electric guitars. I find that for me the Bebops make a great universal usage string - not just for jazz, and their flat wounds are magic on a traditional tele I've got equipped with SD's Broadcaster bridge pup. They all last a very long time before needing replacement. I just hope they're selling enough of them here to continue to import them.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I'm biased because I represent D'Addario, but I have to say, their new NYXL are the strongest strings made, ever. That's just a fact. They also come up to tune faster, stay in tune longer, and they never break.

Click here to read what people are saying about them.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I'm currently using the D'addario XL balanced tension set of 9s.

 

[kherman]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I usually used d'addario. But, right now I'm giving those Webstrings a try. So far they seem decent. I'll have to see how long they last.

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Recommend Me Some Strings!

I'm biased because I represent D'Addario, but I have to say, their new NYXL are the strongest strings made, ever. That's just a fact. They also come up to tune faster, stay in tune longer, and they never break.

Click here to read what people are saying about them.

very interesting. Thanks for sharing, I'm going to try a set on my new Gibby.