Guitar Strings 101

There's folks who will argue that the standard D'Addarios are just as effective as the D'Addario NYXLs, but having played the originals for years and popping the 1st and 2nd strings during bends: i switched to NYXLs and will tell you from first hand experience that they absolutely wont break. They sound as new as the day i put them on and dont corrode. I wont use another brand anytime soon

I prefer the 10-52s as they are heavier on the bottom end ( .010, .013, .017, .030, .042, .052) vs the 10-46 (010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
 
I'm one of the Elixir heretics!
I never break strings with the weak-ass way I play.
Don't really sweat either (hard to get hot in Yorkshire!).
The new, thinnest coating, Optiweb Elixirs are just the best of all worlds for me.
9's for Fender scale, 10's for Gibson and Eb, custom 11's for drop C (52).
 
Clockworkmike said:
There's folks who will argue that the standard D'Addarios are just as effective as the D'Addario NYXLs, but having played the originals for years and popping the 1st and 2nd strings during bends: i switched to NYXLs and will tell you from first hand experience that they absolutely wont break. They sound as new as the day i put them on and dont corrode. I wont use another brand anytime soon

I prefer the 10-52s as they are heavier on the bottom end ( .010, .013, .017, .030, .042, .052) vs the 10-46 (010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
Click to expand...

I break them all unless I change after every show and/or rehearsal.

All break about midway down the neck and never at the bridge.
 
My acoustic gets Elixers. Won’t experiment there. My electrics….. I’m not as tough on strings as some of you guys, so I haven’t been fussy. I don’t break strings playing. I’ve tried a few different brands and haven’t really noticed much difference. They all sound and feel great when new and crappy when they get old and greasy.
 
SkyMonkey said:
I'm one of the Elixir heretics!
I never break strings with the weak-ass way I play.
Don't really sweat either (hard to get hot in Yorkshire!).
The new, thinnest coating, Optiweb Elixirs are just the best of all worlds for me.
9's for Fender scale, 10's for Gibson and Eb, custom 11's for drop C (52).
Click to expand...

I‘m pretty light with how I treat my strings, too. Years ago I actually practiced lightening my attack and my grip on the neck. Of course, some songs or passages require a certain attack to get the right sound or percussiveness from the strings. I haven’t broken a string on any of my electrics while playing in about twenty years.

I try to press the strings as lightly as possible and use economy of motion by not moving my picking hand or my fretting hand further than necessary. Sometimes, I’ll practice in front of a mirror and watch my hands to be sure I’m not wasting motion, either while picking or fretting notes and chords.
 
smitty_p said:
I‘m pretty light with how I treat my strings, too. Years ago I actually practiced lightening my attack and my grip on the neck. Of course, some songs or passages require a certain attack to get the right sound or percussiveness from the strings. I haven’t broken a string on any of my electrics while playing in about twenty years.

I try to press the strings as lightly as possible and use economy of motion by not moving my picking hand or my fretting hand further than necessary. Sometimes, I’ll practice in front of a mirror and watch my hands to be sure I’m not wasting motion, either while picking or fretting notes and chords.
Click to expand...
Yes. Plus if you chord too hard you pull the strings out of tune.
 
SkyMonkey said:
I'm one of the Elixir heretics!
I never break strings with the weak-ass way I play.
Don't really sweat either (hard to get hot in Yorkshire!).
The new, thinnest coating, Optiweb Elixirs are just the best of all worlds for me.
9's for Fender scale, 10's for Gibson and Eb, custom 11's for drop C (52).
Click to expand...
I’m an Elixir fan too. My sweat is corrosive and I can kill strings very quickly. I find the Elixirs last a lot longer. Been using their Optiweb and Nanoweb 9s and 10s on my guitars.
 
Robert Herndon said:
If the nut is cut properly, you can push the strings down behind the nut and it will come right back to pitch...

View attachment 71911

My first fret action is .030" and chords are always in tune.
Click to expand...
I didn't mean the guitar goes out of tune. You are essentially stretching the strings making the chord go out of tune. It's perfectly fine once you release the kung fu grip.
 
Cadorman said:
I didn't mean the guitar goes out of tune. You are essentially stretching the strings making the chord go out of tune. It's perfectly fine once you release the kung fu grip.
Click to expand...

Good Point...

I clamp down with ferocious force, which I've just learned to accept, but since I do not intonate at the 12th, but rather at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th frets, I am always in perfect tune...

What's interesting is I frequently play 6 hour sets without fatigue.

20210808_154331.jpg
 
Robert Herndon said:
Good Point...

I clamp down with ferocious force, which I've just learned to accept, but since I do not intonate at the 12th, but rather at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th frets, I am always in perfect tune...

What's interesting is I frequently play 6 hour sets without fatigue.

View attachment 71913
Click to expand...
Now that's what I'm talking about! I had the G.I. Joe with orange hair in the sailor outfit. Had a talking one too.
 
Clockworkmike said:
There's folks who will argue that the standard D'Addarios are just as effective as the D'Addario NYXLs, but having played the originals for years and popping the 1st and 2nd strings during bends: i switched to NYXLs and will tell you from first hand experience that they absolutely wont break. They sound as new as the day i put them on and dont corrode. I wont use another brand anytime soon

I prefer the 10-52s as they are heavier on the bottom end ( .010, .013, .017, .030, .042, .052) vs the 10-46 (010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
Click to expand...

I stopped using the regular D’Addario strings, too. Well, in fact I stopped using D’Addario, altogether!
I grew to dislike the “sizzle”.

Now, I use GHS DYXL 10-46 on most of my electrics, except for my SG Original 2. The DYXL strings have a wound 3rd string.

These are $6.02 a pack from juststrings.com. I have to order them as they are not available locally.

1628464100609.gif

For my SG Original 2, I use Thomastik-Infeld 9-43 Blues Sliders. I wish Thomastik-Infeld had strings with a wound 3rd.

These are $23.95 from juststrings.com. They are DEFINITELY not available locally!

1628464135355.gif
 
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