Another 'best strings' post

[Beerman]

I know there are lots of things that make deciding on the best strings for your guitar such as the guitar itself, the type of music you play and even how often you change strings but I wanted to re-visit the string issue again.
I've tried coated and the standard for years and have pros and cons on each. On my Strat, I use lights (9's) but on my PRS and Hagstrom, I use 10's and lately have been using GHS Nicek Rockers. They sound great but don't seem to last long.
I've always been a big D'Addario fan and ages ago, lived on Ernie Ball. For my acoustics, I've been fond of the coated strings as they last longer but my Zager is very particular.
So, what do you seem to stick to most....brand and gauge and why?

[Spudman]

For more than the past two decades I've used (get this) Musician's Friend, now called Rogue, bulk sets for electric. Either 10-46 or 9-42 gauges. Just depends how I feel. In all that time, gigging, rehearsing, neglecting my guitars etc. I've probably only broken fewer than 5 strings. That's a pretty good success rate if you ask me.

Obviously the Rogue strings are made by a reputable string manufacturer who probably does several different brand names for the same strings. I have no complaint or issues with that or the very consistent quality that I've come to expect. When purchased in packets of 12 the price per set is almost unbeatable.

For acoustic guitars I haven't used enough different brands to have a real opinion. I've played some Elixers that I liked, Martin Phosphor Bronze, GHS bronze etc. that were good as well. I'm not very picky about my acoustic strings...yet.

[marnold]

This thread comes up every so often. I've got GHS Boomer .010s that I've always used. I mainly started using them because back when I played bass I used Boomers. I've really only tried D'Addarios. There seemed to be no reason for me to switch. My skin chemistry is very easy on strings, so buying in bulk really isn't necessary. By time I'd use the last set, they'd probably be tarnished from just sitting there :)

On my bass now I use DR Hi Beams .045-.105. I wanted to try stainless strings because my current bass is a bit on the dark side. I first tried Rotosounds but didn't like them. Hi Beams feel "looser" for the same gauge as well as brighter and "growlier" than the Rotosounds. I replace bass strings once every epoch.

[GF'sUnderdog]

I have used Ernie Ball Super Slinkys since the mid 80s and have broken less than a dozen strings in that time (mostly broke from my stupidity!).

With my acoustics, I am all over the place. Currently I am using medium guage Elixers. They are ok but take some getting used to.

[progrmr]

Ive come to like Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10's - use them on everyting. I don't gig or play with a band so they last forever (I do wipe down the strings everytime I finish playing). Great tone and they just feel right to my fingertips while playing and bending.

[Katastrophe]

Used to use Dean Markely Blue Steels... and switched to D'Addarios of various gauges in the early 90s. I have never, not once, broken a string with the D'Addarios. I've used them ever since.

I've tried Ernie Ball, GHS, off brand and other strings. There are some great ones out there, but the D'Addarios last a long time, sound great, and don't break.

Unless quality goes downhill, I'll be using these from now on. Currently using the .009-.042 set. Used to use .010s on all my guitars, but got tired of putting in the extra fight for what was just a little more fullness in tone. Who knows, if I can find them, I may even try a set of .008s.

[Eric]

I haven't paid much attention to strings. I have a bunch of D'Addario 10s that I bought on sale from MF about a month ago, but have used GHS Boomer 11s before that. I think I used some Ernie Ball Slinkys before that for maybe a pack or two.

I'm curious to try something light like 8s or 9s eventually. When I switched from 11s to 10s on 25.5" scale guitars earlier, it was like night and day, so I'm wondering if the same will hold for 10s to 9s or 8s.

[FrankenFretter]

I use 09-42s on my "shredder" style guitars, and 10-46s on all the others. I used to only use Ernie Ball Super Slinkies, but lately it's been Webstrings. They are just as good as the EBs, and very affordable. I think I'll stick to the Webstrings from now on. I've been very happy with them.

[birv2]

I just discovered Darco 10's, made by the Martin Co. I'm really loving them -- tight and bright!

[mapka]

Haven't had much experience with acoustic strings. Think I have a set of Martins on now. I always used GHS boomers. Started using them cuz the guy who turned me on to playing used them. Thought I might like to try a set of Ball super slinkys for a change. Put them on my Telecaster and love them! I will keep using them for a while on this guitar. On my Hagstrom (the other guitar I always play) I still have the factory strings but will soon be changing them. Will start with the GHS on there and see if they can hold a tune with the Tremolo like the factory strings did. If not then the search will continue

[BigJD]

Free strings are the best! (My brother is sponsered by GHS so I get my own custom gauge free)

[Perfect Stranger]

I've used www.webstrings.com now for a couple of years. Great strings, great
price, great service.....why go somewhere else?

[Zip]

I'm just now trying 'Rev. Willy's Mexican Lottery®Brand' guitar strings, 7's to 38. If Rev. Gibbons gets those tones out of these, they can't be too bad. We'll see...

[Beerman]

I really appreciate all the info on strings. Keep em coming.
I just changed the strings on my PRS to GHS Nickel Rockers and will see how long they keep the sound. I've been very pleased so far. I may try some of the webstrings I keep hearing about on my Hagstrom as it sounds too good to be true and I want to see this for myself. I've heard for awhile these are made by the same folks that make many of the big boy brands so it's worth a shot.

[duhvoodooman]

I use D'Addario EXL110's (.010 - .046) on pretty much all my electrics. I'm strictly a home/leisure player and am very easy on my strings, so sets last me a long time. I very rarely break a string (even though I do a lot of string bending) and have had excellent experience with the D'Addarios. I ran 9's on one of my Strats for a while--liked the easier bending, but they sounded noticeably thinner to me, so I'm back to 10's for the meatier tone.

[sunvalleylaw]

I am pretty much in there with DVM. I never had much use for 9's though. My D'Addarios last a long time. I have no reason to doubt Spud's experience either though. He gave me a set of those MF strings, and they seemed fine too. Also a pair of Boomers. I guess I am just not that picky, as long as they are not smaller than 10's.

[NWBasser]

On my fretted basses, I use DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams for long-lasting growly tone and nice feel. I use GHS Bright Flats on the fretless and may never change them.

For electric guitar, I've used D'Addario 10s and currently have GHS Boomers (10s) on the strat. The Boomers were free. I think I'd like to go back to 9's on the strat though and may use webstrings.

For the acoustic, I use D'Addario Phosphor Bronze Ultralights.

[markb]

I've always been a D'Addario fan. 10-46 on the electrics, 12-53 phosphor bronze on the acoustics. Except, that is for a "banjo killer" rosewood Sigma dread' and a L'Arrivee parlour that both needed 13-56 pb's to really open up.
My Blueridge, however really loves Martin SP PB 12-54 so that's what I'll put back on at the next change. I must try a set on the J45 as well.

[Beerman]

I went ahead and ordered $30 of strings from Webstrings to see how they are. Got some 9's and 10's to try on the Strat and Hagstrom and a set for the mandolin.......my mandolin is 18 months old and the strings have never been changed but I've not played it all that much.
I don't expect these strings to be superior quality but I'm hoping they are very good at least.

[Perfect Stranger]

I went ahead and ordered $30 of strings from Webstrings to see how they are. Got some 9's and 10's to try on the Strat and Hagstrom and a set for the mandolin.......my mandolin is 18 months old and the strings have never been changed but I've not played it all that much.
I don't expect these strings to be superior quality but I'm hoping they are very good at least.

You are going to be VERY pleasantly surprised. I'd put webstrings up against any of them.

[mapka]

What model Hagstrom are you putting them on?

[Beerman]

What model Hagstrom are you putting them on?
It's a Swede (not the Ultra) but I bought some 9's for my 74 Strat. I've found it's a bit faster with 9's. The PRS and Swede have 10's.

[Waylanderau]

These days I'm using Ernie Ball 12-56s on my Jackson (tuned to drop C) I find it's actually easier to play fast riffs with plenty of tention. I do have big Sasquatch hands though lol so I guess they're not for everyone

[Katastrophe]

Holy crap! Those are some heavy gauge strings. I don't know how you do it, man.

[Waylanderau]

Well, bear in mind that I'm tuned a whole step down and my bottom string is another step below that. Tention-wise it's actually not a lot tighter than a set of 10-52s in E standard. The sheer fatness of the strings takes some getting used to (my bottom E string is bigger than our bassist's D string) but your fingers adapt very quickly. As previously stated I have big hands and I'm a pretty physical player so with lighter strings I find I end up bending or bashing them out of tune. On my LTD tuned to standard I'm using 11-49s, that way there's not too much difference in tention when I want to swap guitars.