Looking for the perfect set of strings.

[kevinpaul]

This is like a life long quest. I like most number 9 strings. I will not use Martin strings, I will play air guitar to avoid Martin strings. I did get the name of a string I never heard of. Curt Mangan strings, they came up on the Gibson Forum.
I will Google them and look at every thing I see. If you all know about them please tell us about them.

[S. Rock]

have you ever tried ghs CL's ? they're a hybred set. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are 9's. 4th, 5th, and 6th are 10's. I have a set on my Gretsch Jet and thinking about trying some on my Squier the next time that I change strings.

[motoman45]

the only perfect set of strings is a free set of strings...lol

[edandis]

I was using Ernie Ball super slinky's, and they're good for the money but recently I've had two strings break on two different guitars, so I'm switching to D'addario's nickel wound. The salesman said a lot of people are complaining about super slinky's breaking.

Can anyone else here confirm this?

[Stratatattat]

I haven't had any Ernie Balls break on me lately, but I recently started getting the Xaviere set from guitarfetish...there pure nickel and they play pretty decently. I use the extra light slinky set.

[Stratty]

I got ernie ball regulars(love them!), my friend uses super slinkys and he loves them, never complains.

[wobble]

I currently a set of D'Addarios XL Nickel wound on my strat but have also tried EB Hybrids and Super slinkys as well as the fender strings that were on when i got it.

Next string change i will go back to the super slinkys. love em.

[OnThePorch]

I was using Dean Markley Blue Steel 10's on my CV60's when I first set it up, but I didn't like the tone. It was really bright and harsh. I switched to D'Addario XL Nickel Round Wound Tremolo 10's and I've been really happy. I thought the Nickel wound would suit the AlNiCo pickups for a warmer midrange tone. The packaging said these strings have excellent intonation, and I would agree.

[strat-a-basterd]

DR strings-or-bust

[1935streetrod]

Ditto on the DR's. They last twice as long, and are fret friendly nickel wound.

[Croppertone]

New Guy here. I've always been partial to the pure nickel strings, much less harsh. Used to love Gibson 340's, DR Pure Blues are very good. Fender 150's are what I use now, they're the cheapest pure nickel strings and seem very smooth, not so noisy.

SI

[motoman45]

Once again, the perfect set of strings, is a free set...

[rufus3871]

Originally Posted by motoman45

Once again, the perfect set of strings, is a free set...

I believe you're thinking of Beer?

+1 for D'Addarios Nickel wound. The test setup on one of mine I started with Fender Nickel wound 9's, and it sounded "tinny". Change to a set of D's 9's and it's night and day.

...for me anyway. Results may vary. Consult a physician if your distortion lasts longer than 4 hours

[houseguitarshop]

I use ernie ball regular slinkys and I never have any issues, i actually switch from dean markley to ernie ball because the dean markleys kept breaking on me.

last time the local shop was out of regular slinkys so I have supper slinkys on my main guitar right now and I like them alot. a little easier to bend still about the same feel, the only thing my guitar was set up for 10s so now my floating bridge aint floating much with the 9s

[houseguitarshop]

a guy at the local shop suggested these "D'Addarios" because they come in a three pack for a little cheaper that ernie balls, so I tried them, but I do not like them as much, they sound alittle thin and I dont seem to get as much sound out of the wood

[dannyvawn]

I've been playing for 35 years, everyday and I haven't broken a string in at least 20 years. Maybe i'm extremely lucky because I bend them until I can't bend anymore. I usually use 11/12's but sometimes 13's. I personally think most strings are the same. Some last longer but I change mine 2 to 3 times a week so it doesn't matter what I use. I believe a company called Mapes supplies all of the manufacturers with the raw materials anyway. Most string breaks arent clean breaks , they are usually due to a bad saddle unless you are a Guitar God and have such an awesome left hand. You know who you are. To all of you guitar heroes. I really worship you.

[pictoratus]

I've been using Ernie Ball strings for a long time, used them on my basses, and now on my guitars. Never had a problem with them and they sound good to me.

I recently bought some strings off ebay for 2.75 and free shipping on an auction but haven't put them on yet. If they are ok, I can get them from the seller at his regular price of 3.99 and free shipping.

I'm not holding my breath but we'll see.

[dannyvawn]

I would bet that I could set just about any of you down. String your guitar with $15 strings or even your normal brand and then a set of $2 strings and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[softwarejanitor]

Originally Posted by kevinpaul

This is like a life long quest. I like most number 9 strings. I will not use Martin strings, I will play air guitar to avoid Martin strings. I did get the name of a string I never heard of. Curt Mangan strings, they came up on the Gibson Forum.
I will Google them and look at every thing I see. If you all know about them please tell us about them.

Ernie Ball work for me. Depending on the guitar they are going on usually either Regular Slinky or Super Slinky... one particular guitar likes the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom .10-.52 set.

[squierjosh]

I was wondering when someone would say this! How different is one brand of strings from the next, really?

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

I would bet that I could set just about any of you down. String your guitar with $15 strings or even your normal brand and then a set of $2 strings and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[mrw1960]

GHS Burnished Pure Nickel Roundwounds 9-42's. Total KILLER tone and Absolute BENDER HEAVEN!

[66musicmaster]

I break 9's. I recently broke a 10 on a big SRV style bend. Replaced it with an 11. LIking it enough that I'll probably go heavier next time. And only Ernie Balls. I used to use D'addarios as backups if EB's werent; available, but the last set I tried just did not feel right to my fingers. Don't know if it was the metallurgy of them or what the difference is, but they do feel different to me. So for me, EB's are the perfect strings.

Randy

[richieryan]

I've been using the EB "Not Even Slinky" set...
Not as hard on fingers as I was expecting.

[richieryan]

However, you can always try these:
Nice pic work by a member at the Squier '51 board...

[YeahDoIt]

Originally Posted by squierjosh

I was wondering when someone would say this! How different is one brand of strings from the next, really?

As an experiment I put a piece of 0.011 steel fishing wire on my Telecaster in place of the first string and I do not notice much difference in sound.

[manticus]

Originally Posted by YeahDoIt

As an experiment I put a piece of 0.011 steel fishing wire on my Telecaster in place of the first string and I do not notice much difference in sound.

Some strings certainly feel different and I can notice a very slight difference in sound on an electric. On an acoustic, however, I have seen (heard) huge differences in strings. I have a friend with a 1960's Gibson (can't remember the model) that we experimented with. When he would put Dean Markley's or D'Addarios on it, it would sound alright but be nothing special.

For kicks, he ordered bulk strings from MF and put a set on. That guitar just came alive! It was bright, responsive and the low end end was very tight, no mud at all.

It was pretty amazing, actually, watching how the guitar would behave with each different brand and type...

-Andy

[goinpostal]

I really don't see much difference in strings. However I had to go to .012s years ago because I tend to break .009s and .010s too often. 99% of the guitars I've had over the years sound better with .012s anyway.

[cmv29]

Originally Posted by edandis

I was using Ernie Ball super slinky's, and they're good for the money but recently I've had two strings break on two different guitars, so I'm switching to D'addario's nickel wound. The salesman said a lot of people are complaining about super slinky's breaking.

Can anyone else here confirm this?

dude not only do they seem to break easy they go stale really quick.imo d'addarios are the best.

[houseguitarshop]

Originally Posted by Stratty

I got ernie ball regulars(love them!), my friend uses super slinkys and he loves them, never complains.

I use regular slinkys,

I break my high E the most, but I bend and whammy the crap out of the high E, normally bending and pushing on the bar at the same time, to get an enormous bend, sometime resulting in breaking the sting.

I generally break a sting on one of my guitars every thee to four weeks, sometimes less, if I am playing alot, and I definatily break stings on my whammy set up guitars alot more then my decked guitars

I started just buying extra single ernie ball 10s so when I bust the high E and the other stings still have life left, I can repair without spending 6 bucks

[ratdog472]

For 26 years...



I use both 9's and 10's. They hold up for a long time and keep their tone.

[Suek]

Originally Posted by richieryan

However, you can always try these:
Nice pic work by a member at the Squier '51 board...

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I got suckered in when I seen the other green one's. When I seen these I was embarrassed...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Good one.

[S. Rock]

Originally Posted by ratdog472

For 26 years...



I use both 9's and 10's. They hold up for a long time and keep their tone.

I just put some of the 10's on 3 of my guitars. my Les Paul, my Squier Strat, and my Gretsch "New" Jet. they seem to be doing pretty good.

[Meteorologist]

.011-.050 GHS Boomers on the Strat, .009-.042 GHS Nickel Rockers on the Lyon (Washburn) Heavy Boomers add more girth to the Strat and the light, pure nickel Rockers and some sparkle to the cheap humbuckers in the Lyon.

[guitar guy]

I haven't had much issues with the earnie ball's breaking and I actually like them enough to say they are my second favorite string. Not much a fan of D'Addrios. I do like GHS, I'd say my third favorite.

But why am I always the only pwerson who mentions Dean Markeley Blue Steels in these threads? They are awesome! I have a fresh set waiting for my Squier Bullet that I'm getting ready to put back together. I have a set of super slinkies on my other guitar. no issues there.

[jrich99]

D'Addario Hybrid 9's. Standard bass strings, light treble strings.

[hunter rose IV]

i like a hybrid set of ernie balls...
11-14-18-32-42-52 on most of my strats,nice bendability,and they stay in tune very well...
on my acoustics i use d'addario's..13 to 58's and they sound wonderful and warm.

thom

[Fenix]

First time trying D'addario's Pure Nickels....great full blues tone......not to shabby...

[Old Mojo]

Ain't no such animal as one perfect set for every guitar and every style. As for gauge, the trade off is between tone and playability. Stevie Ray played 13s for the tone, but on at least one occasion he had to super-glue his fingertip back on after slicing it off. If you don't do 3-fret bends, then it isn't so much of a factor.
Materials also affect tone. Nickels are warmer, fatter and mellower than steel. Stainless is even brighter and "bitier". Bronze has more acoustic resonance, but poor magnetic properties.
Round-wounds are brighter than flat-wounds.
Pick material and gauge are another factor having a major effect on tone. Nylon, acrylic -- even agate, steel, leather and felt -- they're all out there.
Finding the right strings for your particular application is like the quest for the holy grail. And when you think you're there, somebody comes out with something new.

[BigKatt1974]

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

I would bet that I could set just about any of you down. String your guitar with $15 strings or even your normal brand and then a set of $2 strings and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I'd take that bet in a heartbeat...