favorite strings?

[kill em all]

I use ernie ball beefy slinkies and I don't want to change guage. But I have been popping alot of strings and I was wondering if you guys could tell about your strings: the problems, the sound, maybe there is a special bridge I could buy to help save strings? Someone recommended me Dean Markley Blue Steel said he stopped using ernie ball 'cause they break alot. Any merit to that? If anyone used guage 11 or higher and has some few string problems I'd like to hear aobut it. Any input appreciated, I've got some live shows comming up and can't afford to pop strings on stage.

[EricJ1186]

I use D'Addario (11 guage) normally. Though right now I am using Knuckle Head nine's cause I got them free. Honestly, I hated Ernie Ball and Elixirs. I found Elixirs popped just as often as other strings (I change them biweekly to month anyway) and the elixirs cost too much. Knuckleheads are nearly identical to Ernie Ball save you get an extra high E string and they sound a bit brighter.

Go with what is best for you though.

[bigbuda]

I use 11's on my Jackson. Never broke a string yet. I'm currently using GHS Boomers. I've tried elixer's and didn't care for them. Ernie Ball has some good strings. Try taking a pencil and rubbing the tip in the grooves of the nut. This will leave graphite in the grooves and may help prevent string breakage. ;)

[arska007]

i use D'addario's 10's on electric and 11's on acoustic

[heknowsnothing]

yea i use ernie ball power slinky on my les paul. If have the same problems. When im doin lots of hard power chords, the A or E usually break right at the bridge when you do palm mutting etc. pain in the arse really. Gonna probz change my strings soon. maybe after i change my guitar :p

[stackny]

I like the Ernie Ball's the best. Got D'Addario on right now and the tone is already starting to die on me after 3 weeks I believe. Elixirs broke fairly quick on me. The stock strings on my guitar lasted the longest for me, about 4 months. Im thinking I may need to up it a gauge size.....

[Cryptic Excretions]

Just to join the Ernie Ball band wagon, I use hybrid slinkies.

[Tele Master]

I have been using GHS Boomers, 10 gauge, for years now and I like 'em alot. I went to 11's a few times and found I kept breaking strings but I discovered it was because I was using standard tuning. You'll notice alot of people who use 11's or 12's will often drop down a half step.

[Polera]

DR round core. Going vintage...they feel real good.

[Vegas Wierdo]

I always drop it down a whole step... all six of 'em, not just "drop D" where it's every other string.

I want to get really thick gauge strings like what SRV has or like what you'd have on a baritone. Any recommendations?

Edited to add: I don't really focus on the low chunka-chunka hardmetalcore type stuff... I'm more of a soloist... but I like having two extra notes below normal... i.e. if I'm working something around the 7th/9th frets and then without warning I yank it on an open string... you know... eeeEeeeeEeeEeeaAaAaaaeeeeEEEaaaaaiiieeee***HWONNNNNG.

Oh, but some day soon I'll have me a baritone... :D :cool:

[kill em all]

thanks guys, I think I might turn to blue steel and see how they suit me. But I found these cool saddles ( " string saver saddles " ). Anyone had any experience there? they're only 35 bucks but it's not worth it unless it does what it says.

[G-Thunda]

Unfortunately I'm not much of a soloist. But is it much more difficult bending strings going from 9's to 11's?

[Vegas Wierdo]

Well, I put 13 gauge D'Addarios on my FatStrat last month.

All I can say is this:

You got the fingers for it, boy!? :D

[elklandercc]

I've tried out many different brands of strings, and I'll stick with earnie ball regular slinkies. The hybrids do fine as well for me.

[pure]

Unfortunately I'm not much of a soloist. But is it much more difficult bending strings going from 9's to 11's?

i just switched from d'addario 8's to ernie ball 10's. its a big leap, but the calluces i used to have came back and bends are alot easier. one thing you have to know is, the lighter the string, the flimsier it is. so with a light string its hard to get low action without it going all sloppy. now with these, i can get lower action than i had before and the strings are also tighter so theyre not as flimsy. all i can say is, if you got the fingers for them, get em.

[alucard0941]

the G-string... :D

[jiujitsu_jesus]

Yamaha EN10s. Never tried anything else on my own guitar.

[G-Thunda]

i just switched from d'addario 8's to ernie ball 10's. its a big leap, but the calluces i used to have came back and bends are alot easier. one thing you have to know is, the lighter the string, the flimsier it is. so with a light string its hard to get low action without it going all sloppy. now with these, i can get lower action than i had before and the strings are also tighter so theyre not as flimsy. all i can say is, if you got the fingers for them, get em.

Thanks! I'm not sure I have the fingers....I'd like to try some of the GHS Progressives for the heck of it....I've always used Boomers and have never had any problems.

[pure]

Thanks! I'm not sure I have the fingers....I'd like to try some of the GHS Progressives for the heck of it....I've always used Boomers and have never had any problems.

glad your problem's solved. you're welcome

[rockonn91]

the G-string... :D
dude, on my acoustic... i swear. the ONLY string i break is the G!

i was playing at a little mini-gig at my pool once and it broke and i was like... SH**! MY GSTRING BROKE! ha. everyone freaked. beautiful.

[alucard0941]

dude, on my acoustic... i swear. the ONLY string i break is the G!

i was playing at a little mini-gig at my pool once and it broke and i was like... SH**! MY GSTRING BROKE! ha. everyone freaked. beautiful.
haha, thats awesome

[DAMAGED ONE]

ROTO SOUND ON MY BASSES AND BLUE STEEL ON MY GUITARS :cool:

[johnnybroni]

i have been using elixirs on both my acoustic and electric with no problems but have been noticing some tone loss lately maybe time to switch

[aschleman]

I used Ernie Ball Pinks (I think they're either 8 or 9 gauge) for a very long time when I first started out because I thought those were the best strings to use. Then I got into a huge vintage phase... where I loved all things vintage and original. So, I started using .10 gauge Fender Super Bullet strings... They're not a bad string actually... I then moved into my .12 guage phase... and now I use GHS ZW Boomers (.11-.62 I think). They get great tone. I think I'll use these strings for a long time to come.

[markc2005]

rotosouns 9s i think might try some 10s or 11 next but got another pack to go through till then

[CrusadinCrouton]

I've always used .10 Dean Markley Nickelsteels on my guitars. Haven't snapped any yet.

[Rsam16]

I've only used Fender .09 to .042 electric guitar strings the whole time I've been playing. Love the tone and other strings don't satisfy me as much.

As far as Acoustic, Clapton's Choice Strings by CF Martin are some of the sweetest sounding Strings you are ever gonna find.

[damaged]

I use da'adrio..how ever you spell it 9-42's, i change once every 3-4 weeks, i also like dean markley blue steels. :rolleyes:
I dont mind spending $15 "australian" once a month and spend 5 minutes changing them. But i have never tried GHS boomers.

[Dr_simon]

If you are continually breaking the same strings in the same place, you probably need to sort your saddles /nut out. Often there will be a very small and very sharp shard of metal in the saddle / nut that your string is rubbing against. You can cure this in two ways:

1) file the bits of the saddle that come into contact with the string

2) get some Graphtech saddles/nut (I Graphtech saddles on most of my axes)

[VinnyHendrix]

I use D'Adarrios 10 gauge... sweet tone and long life!

[83261_sid]

GHS boomers are the best. the combo of the thin unwound strings and the thicker than usual wound strings is awesome.

[rightturnonly]

GHS Boomers are good.They aren't as expensive as most brands. The bigger the string the bigger the sound.They can make your axe sound real Beffy.

[rightturnonly]

I use ernie ball beefy slinkies and I don't want to change guage. But I have been popping alot of strings and I was wondering if you guys could tell about your strings: the problems, the sound, maybe there is a special bridge I could buy to help save strings? Someone recommended me Dean Markley Blue Steel said he stopped using ernie ball 'cause they break alot. Any merit to that? If anyone used guage 11 or higher and has some few string problems I'd like to hear aobut it. Any input appreciated, I've got some live shows comming up and can't afford to pop strings on stage.Do you break certain strings at a the place? If you do There may be a reason. :cool:

[suicidalmoose]

I use DR long life Red Devils (red strings) - i admit the reason why i bought them was because of the colour suits my guitar really well, but they are suprisingly nice strings which supposedly last 5 times longer. They haven't broken yet and i've played them for 2 weeks for at least 2 hours a day quite nice.

For all you G-string jokers, i'm sure u've all heard the joke "I broke my G-string while fingering a minor" :P