What strings do you use?

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:59 pm

For years I've used D'addario strings mostly 10's, light top/heavy bottom, mainly because the music shop here always stocked them. I tried Dean Markleys' years ago but found D'addarios' better. Not long ago I tried Ernie Ball 12's as I wanted to tune to B and I found they're not as bright as D'addarios' but held tune very well. All my guitars are fixed bridge but I'm waiting on the BC Rich V to arrive which has a Floyd Rose tremolo so I'm deciding between D'addario and Ernie Ball. There's no music shop here now so I'll have to order them online. I want to try Dunlop strings too as they seem good for heavy and I love heavy. My Boss MT-2 is always max distortion

What do you use and can anyone recommend strings that hold their tune well on a tremolo bridge?

I'm guessing between using either D'addario, Dunlop or Ernie Ball I can't go wrong.

petey · Post by **petey** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:23 pm

Ever tried Elixir strings?

Elixir® Strings for electric guitar give you great tone that lasts 3-5x longer. Elixir Strings deliver the presence, punch, and detail of the finest conventional strings while extending tone life and clean, new-string feel 3-5x longer. Available with NANOWEB® or POLYWEB® Coating

http://www.elixirstrings.com/products/p ... ctric.html
Basically the only strings that I've been purchasing since the first time I tried them. They literally do keep that nice bright sound for a lot longer than any other strings I've tried. I have a floyd rose trem in one of my guitars and I've never had an issue with the strings going out of tune after the initial windup.

No idea about buying them online but I had a quick look at the links off their site for online stores (mostly in the US) some appear to ship internationally.

Else, Ernie ball have always had a great sound for me, but only lasted a few weeks tops.

w00dsy · Post by **w00dsy** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:41 pm

i use Ernie Balls mainly because that's what they stock locally. To be honest i've never really noticed the difference in strings. One gutiar forum i go to some guys bang on about how some strings are better than others but i'll be buggered if i could tell.

Post by **Cutter** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:02 pm

Been using Dean Markley, only beacuase I bought 4 packs of the 10 - 46 Hendrix ones, they're OK.
But I'm with Jas' any of the big 5 - 6 makers seem about the same. Even the skinny top heavy bottom isnt that big to me.

For electric I dont think it makes a huge difference, Acoustic, yep, classical yep yep. Not so much electric.

Mind you that being said, guitar stings are one of the more "fad" things about music, there always seems to be a newer gimick.
I've had Cryo strings frozen to retain something or other.
String sold in long packs to aviod "memory" from being coiled.
Pre lubed ones, (ooh err) pre tempered ones, heat treated,
Even bought a pack of coloured ones a few years ago in vegas.

God' the miles of the things I've bought over the last 30 years.....

petey · Post by **petey** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:31 pm

I entirely agree on the note that it makes little difference to the actual sound. But I just find the elixirs don't get to the dead crappy feeling/sounding strings that my others do within a week or two. They have generally lasted months or until I end up snapping one from getting over zealous on insane bends (also my ibanez catches on the 3rd fret, wears the strings down no end).

w00dsy · Post by **w00dsy** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:47 pm

sounds like your Ibby might need a fret dress. I can't remember the last time i broke a string, mine get dirty before they break. I guess i don't hit them hard enough. I actually hate the feel of brand new strings.

petey · Post by **petey** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:17 pm

Indeed it does, has for quite a while...don't play any of them enough these days to be bothered. I don't often break strings, only happened 3 maybe 4 times in my entire time playing.

Brand new strings are quite the annoyance as they constantly go out of tune while stretching, normally I've found with anything but the elixirs by the time that happens they have already lost a bit of brightness. But it might just be personal preference or different guitar to guitar. All advice is merely P.O.V. from here.

Post by **Cutter** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:37 pm

Agreed, feel is the key. On my dobro I've changed strings about 3 times in 20 years. Older, gnarly and rattley the better.
In fact I used to take emery paper to new strings. Too much buzz and hiss.
Still my brother plays far more than I do and changes all strings every fortnight and buys them on a 50m coil and cuts them to length. Go figure.

Crowella · Post by **Crowella** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:10 pm

On my guitar, I use Ernie Ball strings. They seem to always do the job but I do find that unless I look after them manically, they will fade a bit quick.

People rave on about Elixirs, so I guess it's good to hear it from here

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:11 pm

Found these to watch....
[youtube] [/youtube]
[youtube] [/youtube]

I found D'addarios are nice and bright new. Ernie Ball sounded a little dull but haven't changed in sound over a few months. Yet to try Dunlops.

matticooper · Post by **matticooper** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:47 am

I don't change strings often... I'll find the ones that are on special... anywhere between $5 and $8... and a little extra for the bronzed ones for the 'goostick'

Just count your blessings you don't have to buy Bass Strings often. I used to buy Stainless steel ones as they kept the tone, but not using a pick in the Right Hand... the new strings used to take the skin off fairly quickly.

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:32 am

My bass still has the SIT strings it came with on it. They still sound good

petey · Post by **petey** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:20 am

Yeah I wouldn't recommend looking at elixirs for a bass, they charge a fortune. (Being said, I'm not a bass player)

J.D. · Post by **J.D.** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 6:57 pm

Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 Bronze on the Taylor.

D'Addario Phosphor Bronze on the two Yamahas.

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:41 pm

I'm sticking with D'Addarios as they haven't let me down yet. My 7 string came with D'Addario 10's which is nice as it all set up nicely.

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:37 pm

I tried some Dunlop heavy core 12's to tune to C and within two weeks the bottom string sounded dead. It's sounds like it's been on there for years where the others have stayed bright.

richo · Post by **richo** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:40 am

I,m a girlyman and use Ernie Ball 9-42 on everything.

w00dsy · Post by **w00dsy** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:40 pm

richo wrote:I,m a girlyman and use Ernie Ball 9-42 on everything.

The Rev Billy G uses 7's. And he has all his guitars chambered, even some of his necks. Billy bitch mitts.

Sent from wobblys house. Get me out of here, its weird and smells funny.

Dr. Pain · Post by **Dr. Pain** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:09 pm

I put 9's on my 7 string before and I should used 10's again as the tremolo string are winning the battle.

w00dsy · Post by **w00dsy** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:28 pm

this is a really cool gear rundown with Billy Gibbons guitar tech, he talks about his light guage strings and goes through all his stage gear.

[youtube] [/youtube]

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