What brand of strings do you use and why?
- Thread starter AwakenTheSkies
- Start date
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wheresthefbomb
Well-Known Member
D'Addyo EXL158 13-62 "baritone light gauge." I'll often buy NYXLs for guitars I'm fixing up for other people. I'd prob buy them for myself if they came in 13-62 sets, the regular ones do seem to go "dead" more quickly.
I did Curt Mangans for a while but I found I prefer how Daddyo's are wound. Also I don't like the gauges Mangan's baritone set comes in. I will say though, you can call Curt Mangan and speak to Curt Mangan himself which is pretty darn cool.
I did Curt Mangans for a while but I found I prefer how Daddyo's are wound. Also I don't like the gauges Mangan's baritone set comes in. I will say though, you can call Curt Mangan and speak to Curt Mangan himself which is pretty darn cool.
- D'addario NYXL for recording and 27" scale guitars
- Elixir Optiwebs for everything else
Problem with Elixirs is that they feel like half gauge more or something. So a set of 10s on a 25.5" scale guitar can get painful quickly if you do a lot of bending. If they released in-between gauges (9.5, etc) it would be the only brand I'd use. So feel free to email them to request them and make the world a better place!
- Elixir Optiwebs for everything else
Problem with Elixirs is that they feel like half gauge more or something. So a set of 10s on a 25.5" scale guitar can get painful quickly if you do a lot of bending. If they released in-between gauges (9.5, etc) it would be the only brand I'd use. So feel free to email them to request them and make the world a better place!
gabito
Stay at home musician
Usually D'addario or EBs, or whatever's available if I'm not feeling fancy. I'm not very picky, I mostly care about getting a loose feeling from the strings.
009s for E or D standard, 011s for B standard.
009s for E or D standard, 011s for B standard.
Damn, and I thought I was a sicko for doing drop A with a .054. What gauge is the low B?
i used to do Drop C with a .048 lol
AwakenTheSkies
Life is like a box of chocolates
Years ago I used to do Drop C# with 10-46 on the PRS SE because the nut was cut for 11-49 maximum and strings thicker than that probably meant trouble when using the tremolo. So eventually I just left the guitar on Eb standard. But now that I have the nut files I can make things right 
Will be using 10-46 and swapping out the 46 for a 52.
Will be using 10-46 and swapping out the 46 for a 52.
I use The String Source and Stringjoy. Both great companies that I go to because I like to make my own sets based on specific tension levels and tunings. I also like S.I.T. and Magma but use those packs primarily on regular 6 string FSO's.
Years ago I used to do Drop C# with 10-46 on the PRS SE because the nut was cut for 11-49 maximum and strings thicker than that probably meant trouble when using the tremolo. So eventually I just left the guitar on Eb standard. But now that I have the nut files I can make things right
Will be using 10-46 and swapping out the 46 for a 52.
be careful when you cut your nuts
Marked Man
Well-Known Member
NYXLs are becoming my #1 standard for Superstrats and LPs. Also Curt Mangan Powerwound, still a standard, although #2 now, 10-46 @ Eb all.
For traditional SSS Strats and Teles, D'addario XLs, either 9-42 or 9-46.
For maximum metal guitars, D'addario ProSteels, 10-46.
Had an interesting experience with Ernie Ball M-steels recently on my Charvel San Dimas USA. They sound very good and are very LOUD as advertised, but feel terrible and abrasive, almost like industrial wire or something. The opposite of Curt Mangans, which are most comfortable of all to me, like butta. NYXLs are a little stiffer than CMs, but manageable. M-Steels are too much to tolerate.
Also have Dunlop Heavy Core 10-48 on one of my neck throughs that needed a bit more bottom end. They deliver it and still have plenty of edge! But they are definitely stiff and intended for downtuned guitars. It's worth it for that guitar cos they sound freakin' yuge....
For traditional SSS Strats and Teles, D'addario XLs, either 9-42 or 9-46.
For maximum metal guitars, D'addario ProSteels, 10-46.
Had an interesting experience with Ernie Ball M-steels recently on my Charvel San Dimas USA. They sound very good and are very LOUD as advertised, but feel terrible and abrasive, almost like industrial wire or something. The opposite of Curt Mangans, which are most comfortable of all to me, like butta. NYXLs are a little stiffer than CMs, but manageable. M-Steels are too much to tolerate.
Also have Dunlop Heavy Core 10-48 on one of my neck throughs that needed a bit more bottom end. They deliver it and still have plenty of edge! But they are definitely stiff and intended for downtuned guitars. It's worth it for that guitar cos they sound freakin' yuge....
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Marked Man
Well-Known Member
I just bought a set of Stringjoy 9.5 - 46. Looking forward to trying those on my ESP Horizon III next time.
thats close to what i use. I use 9-12-16-24-34-54 (for my dropped D. if i want E standard ill switch the 54 for 48)
gabito
Stay at home musician
Let me see...
It's 049 for the low B, I'm using D'Addario 011s right now on this guitar, 25.5" scale.
I mean, I know I could go for something else, but these are all right. I like the loose feeling. The guys from Carcass use or used 012s on their Gibsons, the guys from Entombed used to put some 010s and tune to C or B (or A#?), so I think I'll be fine
There's also Tony Iommi who uses 009s when tuning to C# or something like that, but he's missing a few fingers (which I'm luckily not) and he's Tommy Iommi so he can do whatever he wants.
I don't usually play like a caveman, I have a light touch and I'm kind of prone to get tendinitis or pain in my hands if I use heavy strings or a very high action.
HeHasTheJazzHands
Well-Known Member
D'addario XL whenever possible. I've found they're the brightest and clearest strings I've tried so far without having to go the boutique route.
I'll use other brands like GHS and EB if I need a specific string gauge, but otherwise D'addario is the go-to. I said it in another thread but I'd like to try and use the XS strings again.
I'll use other brands like GHS and EB if I need a specific string gauge, but otherwise D'addario is the go-to. I said it in another thread but I'd like to try and use the XS strings again.
Heavier the better for me.... I want to punish the strings.
Let me see...
It's 049 for the low B, I'm using D'Addario 011s right now on this guitar, 25.5" scale.
I mean, I know I could go for something else, but these are all right. I like the loose feeling. The guys from Carcass use or used 012s on their Gibsons, the guys from Entombed used to put some 010s and tune to C or B (or A#?), so I think I'll be fine
There's also Tony Iommi who uses 009s when tuning to C# or something like that, but he's missing a few fingers (which I'm luckily not) and he's Tommy Iommi so he can do whatever he wants.
I don't usually play like a caveman, I have a light touch and I'm kind of prone to get tendinitis or pain in my hands if I use heavy strings or a very high action.
Fair enough! I see a lot of "oh gosh a .070 is just way to floppy for anything below C" and "god forbid I play on anything other than a bridge cable or I'll go 0.0001 cents sharp" so it's nice to see someone else in the spaghetti strings club
In my infinite nerdiness, I checked: your .049 is at 11.7lbs, my low .054 is 11.3lbs in A - a mere 0.4lbs difference in floppage.
CleansingCarnage
SS.org Regular
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11-68 and 10.5-62 sets from Stringjoy for 7 string, and D'Addario XS 10-46 and 12-52 for 6 string.
Calija
SS.org Regular
I like my pretty colorful collection of balls
GHS strings and GHS Fast Fret on them.
The individual sealed packages are key, you know they’re going to be fresh. Fast Fret makes them last longer than any coated string. They have a great range of gauges, I use Custom Lights and TNT’s mostly. The ZW TNT’s are awesome for an odd tuning I like on one of my 7’s I just add a string and I buy individual strings for my C tuned 6 stringers. Their acoustic strings sound really really good.
The individual sealed packages are key, you know they’re going to be fresh. Fast Fret makes them last longer than any coated string. They have a great range of gauges, I use Custom Lights and TNT’s mostly. The ZW TNT’s are awesome for an odd tuning I like on one of my 7’s I just add a string and I buy individual strings for my C tuned 6 stringers. Their acoustic strings sound really really good.
