Electric Guitar Strings

[funkmeblue]

pyramid are the best strings I have ever tried. They feel great, sound great, and last a long f'n time. But damn they are expensive. Lately I've been using DR pure blues and have been really happy with them. Pure nickle strings are so much better for your frets.

[vibratoking]

I like the D'Addario nickel wound XLs. 10-46 on 25 1/2" scales and 11-49 on 24 3/4" scales. I've been using them for about 35 years.

Lately, I have taken a bit of a liking to DR pure blues. 10-46 and 11-50. They seem to have less tension and a more organic sound, if that makes sense.

Those are the two brands that I find myself using most often.

I love old strings too, but only on the Fender guitars that I have, Strats and Teles. I use them right up to the point that they either break or the intonation takes a nose dive. I like new strings on humbucker equipped guitars.

[wicker]

I use Fender 10-52, I really like bigger bass strings, I like this more massive tone compared to standard 10-46, I play mostly on clean, yes I love tone of SRV, but using heavier strings would be a problem for me probably, so this set fits me perfect + I've got 'vitange' style frets on my tele, but thinking of changing to something bigger.
I've used D'Adario before, but don't know why, I felt that they sounded good very short.

[Kazooman]

My club gig days are long time gone so I don't change strings as often as I used to. I finally sprung for a couple of sets of Pyramids (nickel round wounds) and they are really great (Vintage '65 Fender Mustang and more recent Gretsch Tennessee Rose).

I recently acquired a Ric 360 12 string and I should give it a new set of strings. I have read comments stating that you should ONLY use genuine Ric strings due to the neck tension issues as well as others that say this is just BS hype. I am tempted to try the Pyramids. Anyone have experience with these?

[Kazooman]

I am curious to know what players prefer; round wound versus flat wound.

Flat wounds sure give you a silky smooth feel and eliminate any annoying buzz if you ride your finger up an unfretted string. However, in my estimation flatwounds sound dull from day one and it only gets worse as they age.

Any thoughts on the World is FLAT versus the World is ROUND issue?

[SoundPerf]

Curt Mangan Nickel 10-46 http://www.curtmangan.com/

I use to use nothing but GHS Boomers, but I like these alot. Good string and better price. I could never bond with D'addario's. And since I sweat a good bit when I play, I can't see spending big money on fancy stuff.

However, I do spring for Elixer Nanowebs Custom Light for acoustic guitar. I like coated strings on acoustic, but not electric. I just saw that Curt Mangan has coated strings. I will have to try these.

[Structo]

I am curious to know what players prefer; round wound versus flat wound.

Flat wounds sure give you a silky smooth feel and eliminate any annoying buzz if you ride your finger up an unfretted string. However, in my estimation flatwounds sound dull from day one and it only gets worse as they age.

Any thoughts on the World is FLAT versus the World is ROUND issue?

Over the years I have tried different windings.
I agree that the flat-wounds I tried were kind of dull sounding.
It was nice not to have the string noise but the trade off wasn't worth it.

I think in the old days that they used pure nickel winding.
I'm not entirely sure why but maybe it was more easy to use or more plentiful.

I am digging these D'Addario Pure Nickels (EPN110) they have a neat tone on the wound strings and sound cool on barre chords.
More vintage sounding.

But if the guitar is on the dark side to begin with then these might not work for you.

[Reeltarded]

EB .008s on every electric, and normally Martin .012 phosphor bronze in any variety if I don't have DRs.

[mike9]

D'Addario XL 10-46 is what I usually buy by the box. I like Thomastik Infeld's too. SOB's are great strings, but can be a hassle to get.

[passfan]

Lpyramid are the best strings I have ever tried. They feel great, sound great, and last a long f'n time. But damn they are expensive.

That's what I play ever since I tried the first set.

[selloutrr]

just as important as the brand what makes a good string? how do you decide if you like one brand over the other? they all do the same basic thing, basically the same way. why one over the other?

[mlp-mx6]

Aren't there only a couple actual manufacturers in the US? (maybe 3) If so, they can only be *so* different.

By the way, either D'Addario pure nickel or webstrings.com nickel plated, 11-49.

[David Root]

Pyramid Nickel Classics Medium, .011-.050, round wound, round core, wound G. Old school tone. I am a recalcitrant old fart.

[Lonely Raven]

Wow, I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Snake Oil Brand strings.

I really like them, they stand up to my abuse and sound very consistent.

Well the problem with SOB strings is it seems to be hit or miss if you will get the strings.
If you follow the saga at The Gear Page, seems like some guys get their order in a week or two while other guys have been waiting for months.
Emails go unanswered and only when a threat of refund is made does Dean either send the strings or refunds the money.
That is so weird why some would get there sets while others never do.
He seemed to have one excuse after another too.
Family emergency, health problems, supplier problems, etc one after the other.
It is probably the worst business model I have ever heard about.

I've heard and read that...but I guess I've been lucky. I've been buying these strings since Dean first announced them...and I've never had an issue with getting them or anything. I order, and they show up a week later. I've probably got a half dozen packs right now.

Honestly, my biggest problem is they last so long, that I forget what model I currently have on my guitar and can't remember what I need to order...so I order one of each...but then they last so long and I have so many of them, I give them all to friends...and I'm right back where I left off. LOL

[jon]

What brand and style of strings do you guys like the best.
I've tried a lot of them and always seem to come back to D'Addarios.
Sound good, cheap, available, good life.

A few months ago I ordered a dozen or so sets of different brands and styles.

I pretty much stick to the light gauge 10-46 sets on all my guitars.

My main player for the last few months has been a Schecter C1 Classic which is a 25.5" scale, neck through, dual humbucker guitar.

I've tried the chromes, nickle plated, hex core, round core, etc.

The other day I put a set of D'Addario Pure Nickle XL's.
The silver looking packet.
They have a .010, ,013, .017, .025, .035 and .045 strings, so the bass strings are smaller by .001 than normal 10-46 sets.

According to D'Addario's tone chart they are considered a more mellow sounding string.

This guitar can be a bit bright and harsh with new nickle plated strings on the bridge pickup and what I noticed immediately was that these Pure Nickle strings sound much better.
More organic and mellow if you will.

I'm still evaluating them but I think I may have found the right strings for this guitar.

So what strings do you like and why?

I've had a set of the XL pure nickles on my strat for a while. I think that they will be my new go to string. Cant place my finger on it exactly but they are just better.