Strings...

uOpt

uOpt

Something Cool
The bass playing did it. Now I want to re-evaluate guitar strings. I've been using Dean Markley NickelSteel 09-46 and 10-52 since forever.

Does anybody make stainless steel wind on round core? I couldn't find any. DR would be the obvious suspects but they don't.

My ideal size presumably is 09.5-12-16-26-36-46 or maybe 28-38-48 for the winds. Other than the boomer's Dave Gilmour set, is there anything close? I assembled a set of Ernie Ball singles to test the theory but that would be expensive long-term. 9-12-16-26-37-46 is what Dean Markley puts into the Helix "Carl Verheyen balanced bridge" set, I ordered one of those, too.

For downtuning, and keeping tension, what would I move to if I wanted 3 or 5 halftones down, respectively?
 
Re: Strings...

I don't play .09's. I play .10's. I am poor. I live in a poor country. However, I buy Elixir nano-coated .10's because they sound fresh for up to 4 months. Works for me for 10 bucks a pack!
 
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SnakeAces said:
I don't play .09's. I play .10's. I am poor. I live in a poor country. However, I buy Elixir nano-coated .10's because they sound fresh for up to 4 months. Works for me for 10 bucks a pack!
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I have problems with boomers not lasting long (in fact very short) but the Dean Markley Nickelsteel have been good to me. Of course I can get more at $4 shipped per pack any time I want.
 
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IIRC snake oil strings might offer something you're interested in, but I dunno.

As far as roundwound cores, I'm not what you would call fluent in the string lexicon.

If it vibrates at a certain frequency with any regularity, understand I had nothing to do with it.

At any rate GLWS(earch) - partly the impetus for giving up was a lack of viable alternatives combined with low product differentiation.
 
Re: Strings...

uOpt said:
I have problems with boomers not lasting long (in fact very short) but the Dean Markley Nickelsteel have been good to me. Of course I can get more at $4 shipped per pack any time I want.
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I know the Elixir price tag is steep at almost $10 a pack, but they really do last about 3 months! From a poor man, they get my top notch vote! My goodness, I have a set on my main axe from about 6 months ago ( I installed them in late August when I first got to Greece) and I am still rocking them. I am about to change them, but they have lasted this long through 1-3 hours a day of playing. The nano-webs are good strings for the right guitar!
 
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Dunlop and DR have sets for downtuning. For B tunings I just use a regular 13-56 and for C#12-54.
In the past I would chuck away the 10's of a 10-46 set and use a .65 bass string for my lower B string.
 
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Unfortunately I have had an abnormal amount of issues with Dean Markley strings i the past year...nicksteels and blue steels, and one set of Helix. Never had any issues over the 25"+ years prior. Weird.

Anyhoo,been messing around with strings on my new Les Paul, and the new (fender/dad) EVH strings have been super impressive Great feelright off the bat, and tonally like an optimized set of Dad XLs. Less muddy wounds, less scratchy plains. Big warm, clear tone, with enough zing. Very little break in time. A bit more expensive @ 6.50 a pack shipped amazon prime, but IME worth the 2 and a half extra bucks over dad xls or slinkys.
 
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i would've thought DR would have a stainless steel roundcore string for sure. i was going to recommend the hi beams for guitar because they are bright like a ss string even though they are nickle plated, but they are hex core.
 
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I've sworn by Dean Markley Blue Steels for years. They're stainless roundcore strings like you're looking for, plus they're very durable and stay bright for a long time. I routinely go months without changing strings. And they're a hell of alot cheaper than Elixrs (I personally hate the coating on those because I pick hard and thus fray the coating).

As far as tuning down with them goes, I can't help you much there, because whenever I go more than one half tone down, I go up one size in strings. That way I maintain string tension. It's a formula I've used for years, regardless of string type or brand, and it's served me well.
 
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I was assuming that both DR and the Blue Steels make round core available but my info found says no.

GS, where did you find that information that blue steels are round core?
 
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uOpt said:
I was assuming that both DR and the Blue Steels make round core available but my info found says no.

GS, where did you find that information that blue steels are round core?
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I just checked Dean Markley's site and sure enough, it says hex core, and on top of that they just use plated wire. WTF?!!? I'm still using up some older ones made before they changed the packaging and they're stainless round core strings. Wonderful. They screwed with my favorite strings.
 
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Gone_Shootin said:
I just checked Dean Markley's site and sure enough, it says hex core, and on top of that they just use plated wire. WTF?!!? I'm still using up some older ones made before they changed the packaging and they're stainless round core strings. Wonderful. They screwed with my favorite strings.
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Now that you say it, I have seen complaints elsewhere that Dean Markley changed everything about everything some time back. Didn't register at the time.

I noticed the new packaging when I ordered a batch of my "standard" strings yesterday. I really hope I get the old model or that the nickelsteel didn't change. The whole point about me using the same strings every time is that I have consistent results from gear testing :mad:
 
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uOpt said:
Now that you say it, I have seen complaints elsewhere that Dean Markley changed everything about everything some time back. Didn't register at the time.

I noticed the new packaging when I ordered a batch of my "standard" strings yesterday. I really hope I get the old model or that the nickelsteel didn't change. The whole point about me using the same strings every time is that I have consistent results from gear testing :mad:
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Exactly. Those older Bkue Steels are an important part of my tone. I'll give the new ones a try, but if they aren't any better than my second choice (D'addario XLs), I just as well switch to the D'addarios since there are places that sell them in bulk. Might be a hit up front, but it would be much cheaper in the long run.
 
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Gone_Shootin said:
Exactly. Those older Bkue Steels are an important part of my tone. I'll give the new ones a try, but if they aren't any better than my second choice (D'addario XLs), I just as well switch to the D'addarios since there are places that sell them in bulk. Might be a hit up front, but it would be much cheaper in the long run.
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Actually it turns out that the tab with my order still sits there since yesterday and I haven't sent the order.

Time to contact Dean Markley I guess.
 
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uOpt said:
Actually it turns out that the tab with my order still sits there since yesterday and I haven't sent the order.

Time to contact Dean Markley I guess.
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"Out of office until Fed 23".

That went well.
 
Re: Strings...

uOpt said:
The bass playing did it. Now I want to re-evaluate guitar strings. I've been using Dean Markley NickelSteel 09-46 and 10-52 since forever.

Does anybody make stainless steel wind on round core? I couldn't find any. DR would be the obvious suspects but they don't.

My ideal size presumably is 09.5-12-16-26-36-46 or maybe 28-38-48 for the winds. Other than the boomer's Dave Gilmour set, is there anything close? I assembled a set of Ernie Ball singles to test the theory but that would be expensive long-term. 9-12-16-26-37-46 is what Dean Markley puts into the Helix "Carl Verheyen balanced bridge" set, I ordered one of those, too.

For downtuning, and keeping tension, what would I move to if I wanted 3 or 5 halftones down, respectively?
Click to expand...

Try the Dunlop Heavy Cores. The "Heavy" set has a 28-38-48 on the low strings. I use the "Heavier" set (11-50) and it keeps tension at fairly low tunings (Drop C is the lowest I've gone). If you want to go 5 half steps down, then try their "Heaviest" which is 12-54. It worked well all the way down to Drop A.
 
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Re: Strings...

Johnny the Kid said:
Try the Dunlop Heavy Cores. The "Heavy" set has a 28-38-48 on the low strings. I use the "Heavier" set (11-50) and it keeps tension at fairly low tunings (Drop C is the lowest I've gone). If you want to go 5 half steps down, then try their "Heaviest" which is 12-54. It worked well all the way down to Drop A.
Click to expand...

Added a set. After doing bass strings the $4 feel worth spending for about any kind of thing doing a different core :)
 
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DR makes the ddt strings, which are the same idea, but a nicer string IMO. i've never been a fan of dunlop strings.
 
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Dean Markley Blue Steels have always been NPS..cryogenically treated with hex cores. DM stopped using round cores in the early 1980s,. This is what the Vintage Reissue strings from a few years ago (now discontinued) were all about. The original NPS with a round core wire. The Nickelsteels (signature) are the same wrap on a hex core.

FWIW, I too noticed the slide in consistency when they started using the colored ball ends and went to the enviro packaging. They are coiled up SUPER tight in the plastic wrapper, about half the size of any other brand, and I do not see how it is not detrimental to the woundsstrings tohave that kind of pressure on the wraps.

They were my goto string brand for many moons...since the mid 80s. Very sad to see the drop in quality.
 
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