Let’s talk Strings

[SG John]

Let's see.... In the past, I would just use the nickel Rock and Roll Slinkys .010" - .046" on my electrics, and put the Gibson Les Paul signature strings on if I was recording. I liked the mellower sound of the Gibson strings, but didn't want to pay two times the money for everyday strings. Then for my acoustics, I would use Ernie Ball Earthwoods. I've since stopped both of these.

For a while I would move around gauges. I tried .011" sets on some of the Gibsons and Strats, but didn't really like them. Then I tried the GHS David Gilmour strings on my Strats, but I really don't like a heavy bottom. Unless I'm listening to Spinal Tap, of course.


What I'm using now is Pyramid strings for all my electrics. I like that they're nickel, and have the sound I like. They also wear well.

For everything but my Strats, I use the Pyramid .010" - .046" sets.

On the Strats, I use the "Hendrix" .010" - .036 set, because I really like the sound of lighter gauge strings on the Strats, and can get a better balanced sound out of them. I've tried them on other guitars, but they don't sound right.

For the Rickenbacker 12 string, I use a Pyramid .009" set.


For the acoustics, that's another story.

For my Martin, I use Martin Phosphor Bronze .011" - .052" strings.

For my Taylor, I use Elixir Nanoweb .011" - .052" strings. It's what they come with from the factory, and sound real good to me.

And on my Gibson Archtop, I use LaBella silver plated .011" - .052" strings.


The basses get RotoSound Swing Bass 66 .045" - .105" sets.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

So, explain to me, are you getting mangled packaging which causes you to get wonky or unreliable strings?

Somehow, I guess I am wrong that something seemingly so simple is to be a non factor. But even something as simple as packaging 6 strings into a box or plastic envelope of just large enough size to hold all 6 has become a failure prone endeavor for some string companies.

It was a joke on his part, that said, I HATE the packaging with all the strings in ine plastic baggie together. They get tangled just a helluva mess. I can't recall the type but no more!!

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

It was a joke on his part, that said, I HATE the packaging with all the strings in ine plastic baggie together. They get tangled just a helluva mess. I can't recall the type but no more!!

Now this I understand.

Kind of like untangling air hoses, numerous extension cords, etc after the work day is done on a job site.

 

[iblive]

Now this I understand.

Kind of like untangling air hoses, numerous extension cords, etc after the work day is done on a job site.

Oh boy do I get this. Got an extension cord that no matter how good a job I do winding it up, it’s a tangled mess when I go back to use it. I swear the extension cord gods are torturing me for some past transgression.

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

This is probably opening can of worms of epic size.

Currently I’m using the following.

All Ernie Ball slinky series.
9-42 for E std tuning and D#
10-48 E to D and drop tunings
10-52 C# to drop B

I really do like a standard set of 9s. They are super bendy and really bright.
The 10-48 are great because they still maintain enough tension even at those Sabbath-ish doomy tunings.
The heavy bottoms 10-52 are great for C#. Although you might have to modify the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge.

I’ve tried D’Addario strings but they just don’t seem worth the extra $$. They do sound a bit brighter. But I will go with what I know.

I’ve tried those DR neon strings recently and they do look cool but the neon coating flakes off right away and they sound like

What brand or sizes do you use and why?

The brand of makes only a small difference or none at all....

The real secret is HOW you put the stings on the guitar.

It's like 80% of all players don't know how to put the string on correctly....and they shall suffer forever more.
For one, their guitars will constantly slip out of tune.

People keep blaming the strings for a variety of problems.
And most of these problems are imaginary....and further, most can be easily solved.

But as far as Robert Herndon (destroyer of strings, all strings tremble in fear....)
He is hopeless. Buy more strings.

 

[iblive]

Read thru this real quick. Seemed to have some decent info. Your results may vary.

Seymour Duncan Talks Strings

 

[smitty_p]

I'm toying around with trying some regular phosphor bronze strings on the acoustic...just to see what happens.

I experiment from time to time.

I just installed Elixir 12 - 53 Phosphor Bronze Nanowebs on the acoustic (Taylor 415-CE). I was using Elixir 12 - 53 80/20 Bronze Polywebs.

I think this sounds better both acoustically and plugged in.

 

[iblive]

I just installed Elixir 12 - 53 Phosphor Bronze Nanowebs on the acoustic (Taylor 415-CE). I was using Elixir 12 - 53 80/20 Bronze Polywebs.

I think this sounds better both acoustically and plugged in.

Couldn’t remember. Turns out I’ve been using the Nanowebs as well. I like them. Best part. They last for stinkin’ ever!!

 

[Col Mustard]

short answer: I buy what's on sale...
Especially now that I'm retired from touring... what used to seem very important
now is one more life choice to review.

In my early days, playing bars and playing HARD on a poorly set up acoustic, my attitude
was "I break what ever I put on, so I'll use what ever is cheap." We didn't get paid much
then. I tended to prefer D'Arco when I could get them for reasonable prices.

More detail:
My group was sponsored by Elixir strings for a few years in late 90s/early oughts.
So I was given some, and was able to buy more at advantageous prices.
I highly recommend them.
They sound great and they last a long time, but I don't buy them now at full price.

I've gotten great service from D'Addario strings, and would always buy a ten pack
when they went on sale. M/F used to offer great deals on them, and I would bite.

•For my Gibson J-45 acoustic, I like Bluegrass style strings, medium bottom, light top. 12-56
•For my Martin Acoustic and my new Journey Acoustic, I use light gauge (12-54) phosphor bronze
or 80/20, whatever's onsale. D'Addario, Martin, EB... they're all good.

This just in: I recently saw some "Donner" strings on sale on Amazon for a ridiculously low price.
So I bought a ten pack of those, and will try them out next time I have a "guitar day" at home.
I can't believe they're any good... commie strings but I'm trying to live simply on Social Security
so I'll give 'em a try, and report to y'all. It prolly turns out that ALL strings are made in China
anyway, so what's the big deal any more. The Donner strings are extra lights... *shrugs.

For my Fretless bass I prefer D'Addario 45-105 half round (or "Ground Wound) strings, trying to preserve my lovely
rosewood fingerboard. Those strings have not done any harm to it and I've played that bass since I built her
in 2009. Elixir makes excellent bass strings too. I never use tape wound, or flat wound on the fretless,
because I love the tone given by the ground rounds. Lots of character and MRRRROWWRRRR...

For Electric guitars I use D'Addario 10-46 on the Tele, the Epi ES-339 and the Silverburst SG below.
Those instruments have all been professionally set up and I don't seem to break strings on any of them.
I use D'Addario 11-49 on the faded brown SG, because they sound SOOOOOOO good.

There you have it... I believe I've done well buying strings onsale and changing them often (or when they begin to
bug me). I might try a set of nines on the Fender Tele above. I usually tune her to open D or D7 and play slide
on her, so the tens work fine so far. The Epi and the Gibbie in the center both were issued with tens from the
factory and they both sound excellent with them, so I'm happy.

 

[Clockworkmike]

I was a big time proponent of D'Addario NYXLs and I liked the regular XLs too ( NYXLs seemed to last a bit longer and stayed brighter but both were great). Recently though, I switched over to Ernie Ball Paradigms and they don't seem like they've aged a second which is pretty awesome.

Size however, ugh, I probably should ease up a lil bit. While they aren't insanely heavy, I do use 10-52s which are essentially 10s for the first 3 strings and 11s for the last 3. I just like the way they sound when rhythm playing, cause they are very defined and pronounced. But truthfully, I could probably switch out to 10-46 or a hybrid 9-46 set ...maybe. I do tend to meat hand strings and break em lol

 

[Inspector #20]

Ernie Ball Paradigms.

Put a set on my Les Paul in February 2022 and haven't broke them yet, despite playing daily.

No other string has delivered that.

 

[Clockworkmike]

Ernie Ball Paradigms.

Put a set on my Les Paul in February 2022 and haven't broke them yet, despite playing daily.

No other string has delivered that.

View attachment 88285

I've been amazed by them so far. They feel and like when I took them out of the pack and put them on 3 months ago. Pretty damn impressive really. Only other string I seen that lasted that long were elixirs but they lost their sound within a month, so that's a no go.

 

[Session 5]

I only use these, most popular brand according to Amazon, I have tried different brands, but now all I use . Never had a broken string in eight and a half years, I change them out once strings become dull sounding, which has been turning out to be approx every 3 months . 10-46

 

[ibmorjamn]

Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48

Usually I tune to D standard, sometimes Eb standard, and drop C/C#....and once in a while I go all the way down to drop A...these strings cover it all for me pretty well, only thing is the lower I tune, the more mindful of pick hand attack/dynamics I gotta be.

I don't particularly love anything heavier than that, and these have just worked for me for a long time, so I just keep going with it

Rather than posting a new thread, did you have to modify the nut with the 11/48's?
Last night I was playing the new to me Dean V and I found a drop tuned bass clip in my daw. I believe it was C. The 10/46 do not hold up well in C.

 

[mcblink]

Rather than posting a new thread, did you have to modify the nut with the 11/48's?
Last night I was playing the new to me Dean V and I found a drop tuned bass clip in my daw. I believe it was C. The 10/46 do not hold up well in C.

Nope, @LRT has been playing that V for some time now. I let him try it once and I never got it back!

He still strings it with 11-48s, and the nut has never been modified or changed from factory in any way. I believe he has posted a clip or two of himself playing it recently somewhere in the GoT thread. They do well in Drop C, too much lower than that though, and they do get a little floppy.

 

[ibmorjamn]

Nope, @LRT has been playing that V for some time now. I let him try it once and I never got it back!

He still strings it with 11-48s, and the nut has never been modified or changed from factory in any way. I believe he has posted a clip or two of himself playing it recently somewhere in the GoT thread. They do well in Drop C, too much lower than that though, and they do get a little floppy.

Cool, thanks. I have a set I got from stringjoy. I hate to pull strings off of Black Dean because they are new but I have to try it. I never drop to C or even D for that matter but something different will be cool.

 

[mcblink]

Cool, thanks. I have a set I got from stringjoy. I hate to pull strings off of Black Dean because they are new but I have to try it. I never drop to C or even D for that matter but something different will be cool.

I usually tune to D standard and go from there. They will feel pretty stiff at E standard.

 

[ibmorjamn]

The strings are on but it looks to me like the E string nut could use a slight adjustment.

 

[gball]

GHS Boomers or SIT Powerwounds (Mostly the Boomers though). 9-42 now, although I played 10-46 for many years whithout wondering why and realized somewhere along the line that the 9's feel and sound better.

 

[ibmorjamn]

GHS Boomers or SIT Powerwounds (Mostly the Boomers though). 9-42 now, although I played 10-46 for many years whithout wondering why and realized somewhere along the line that the 9's feel and sound better.

I am happy so far with the Stringjoy 11/48 for drop C tuning. They are comfortable and they actually sound better than the 10's especially the high E.
I just bought sets ernie ball 9's and 3 sets D'Addario 9 / 42 also.