Strings

[Uk Ant]

I was wondering just how fussy people were about strings, I know alot of you have your favourites but do you really find it makes that much difference.
I'm on some really cheap strings atm which seem fine, stay in tune, haven't dulled that much, so whay would I pay twice as much for a recognisable name!

 

[lex666]

Re: Strings

I'll admit, I'm pretty fussy about strings. Some strings sound very different to me depending on their composition. Also, I've found that some strings have a shorter life span than others. I also use different gauges for guitars in different tunings. IMO, good strings are the cheapest way to improve your sound.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Strings

Very picky. I need the shiny highs on the bass strings and I get cranky without them. All incoming guitars get the same set of strings within the first pickup changes.

But I have to admit that my "new" 1983 Burny was delivered with some strings on it that give a very deep roddish bass that I'll have to ask the seller about.

 

[NevermindUs]

Re: Strings

i have one guitar that i use d-addidio's on, but everything else is ernie ball. for years they didnt sound different and i didnt know why i was buying EB's, but then i tried GHS and went right back

 

[Dru Edwards]

Re: Strings

I buy Ernie Ball 9s and 10s and to be honest I don't think I could tell the difference between them and D'addarios or GHS, etc, which have the same gauge and materials. But - I've never sat down and compared.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: Strings

always used D'addarios for my electrics. always lasted longer with its tone being consistent

 

[Diego]

Re: Strings

I'm only picky about 3 things when it comes to strings:

-Gauge. This is obvious I guess. Who wouldn't?

-Material. Nickel or Nickel wound, no Steel strings for me. They sound too harsh and eat frets alive. I mostly use Nickel wounds, and will try some pure Nickels soon. Pure nickels are a bit easier to play too, aren't they?

-Strings not being Fender. I don't care about brands mostly, but Fender strings have always been horrible to me for some reason so I steer away from them. I usually end up with D'Addarios because they're cheap and reliable.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Strings

Hmmm I don't find much difference myself between the Ernie Ball's and D'Addarrio, slight but not noticeable enough to cause me to prefer one of the other really from a sound perspective. I do find a big difference between EB/D'Addario and some other strings I have tried, most of which I immediately removed and replaced with Ernie Balls again (ie. GHS, Elixir, Cleartone, Fender).

In the end, it's Ernie Ball 9's and 10's on my guitars....

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Strings

I only use D'Addarios

Used to use DR, then I used Dean Markley Blue Steel, then tried D'Addario's and they're the best.

I haven't tried Ernie Ball, GHS, Fender, et. al. --- seem cheap / chintzy to me.

_____________________________--

To answer the question, it's gotta be D'Ad's for me!

 

[Blue_Fingers_Jay]

Re: Strings

I'm only picky about the gauge.
And I don't buy D'Addarios because I had bad luck with 3 packs in all of them the G string came with RUST, maybe it was the shops fault, but I don't like to take the risk.
And I hate new strings, too bright bah.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Strings

The sound of different brands of strings isn't all that apparant to me, but I like the feel and construction of ernie ball strings the most out of anything I've tried. I'm not too fussy about guages either.

 

[Stuntman Jim]

Re: Strings

I´m not a very great guitarplayer so I´m not picky as long as my fingers don´t get black and dirty from the strings. I now use D´addarios, they´re cheap sound good and dont colour my fingers.

I restringed my little brothers guitar with some cheap ($1.5) strings and after playing for five minutes my fingers looked like I had been playing with black crayons.

/Jimmy

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Strings

If you don't notice a difference: cool. But, when you notice a difference it can be massive. Strings are probably the most important part of my sound really.

 

[LuredMaul]

Re: Strings

I am a Sales Manager/repairman by trade for the last 17yrs......have played guitar for 25yrs.

I HATE D`Addario strings; everything they claim I get the opposite from.

I use Ernie Ball Pure Nickel Rock N Roll Classic Regular Slinkey (.010-.046) on electrics and Ernie Ball Earthwood on Acoustics.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: Strings

I've been playing Ernie Ball Regular Slinky .10-.46 since 1992. I've tried just about every strings out there believe me and I keep coming back to Ernie Ball. They just give me the tone, feel and reliability that I require. I've had such bad experiences with D'Addario's and GHS in the past that I refuse to use them in any of my guitars even if they're on sale. As someone had already said, good strings are the cheapest way of improving your tone. A cheap low quality set of strings can make a $2000 guitar sound like a $20 guitar and a $20 guitar can sound like a $2000 guitar with a good set of strings. The strings are the direct link on producing that tone specially on acoustic guitars. If you think about it, they are the most important part of the guitar. All these other brands are great also, but It's really a matter of preference really. What works for me doesn't always work for others.

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Re: Strings

Elixirs. Everything else feels sticky to me.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Strings

strings are strings, for the most part. I mean, unlesss you mean those awefull Musicians Friend brand, pretty much anything will do. Thats to me , anyhow. Anyways, they all lose their snap and sparkle after a few hours so why sweat it. One thing I've noticed is that D'adarios seem to break more than Ernie balls, so I'll go back when I run out of D'adarios.
Maybe seem play a little different. I havemt experimented enoguh to know.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Strings

I like diaddarios. They keep their sound for a long time and have good definition. I used to play ernie ball but I tried them again recently and thought the tone was kinda dry and plinky. And they go dull quicker than Diaddarios.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Strings

I have only used Ernie Balls and D'Addario and I liked the EBs more but I want to try others too. Like the Blue Steels, the Kerley ones, GHS, Rotosound etc. Actually I want to try them all.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Strings

I've settled on elixirs after trying lots and lots of different brands. The feel way nice under my fingers(smoother and not as sticky), they never go dead,last pretty much endlessly. And considering how many set of other strings i'd use in the time i get out of one set of them they come out a lot cheaper.