Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Doadman on May 01, 2010, 08:58:45 AM
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So my lovely new Jackson SL3 is rapidly approaching its first set of new strings and I'm not sure which direction to take. I'm not overly fussed on either Ernie Ball or D'Addario, though they're OK, so would like to look at something different. I play in a Rock covers band doing everything from Free to Black Sabbath as well as some songs with no distortion at all. They'd need to work well with an OFR and Alder body (my previous guitar was mahogany and I'm assuming the tonal quality of the wood may affect my choice of strings). I'd also like them to be long lasting as my hands can sweat quite a bit while playing but I don't want to go back to the expense of Elixirs if I can avoid it.
I initially thought of GHS (Boomers probably) but read that a number of people complained of them deteriorating too quickly. I've also been considering DR strings but I've no idea which type of DR strings might be best. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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So my lovely new Jackson SL3 is rapidly approaching its first set of new strings and I'm not sure which direction to take. I'm not overly fussed on either Ernie Ball or D'Addario, though they're OK, so would like to look at something different. I play in a Rock covers band doing everything from Free to Black Sabbath as well as some songs with no distortion at all. They'd need to work well with an OFR and Alder body (my previous guitar was mahogany and I'm assuming the tonal quality of the wood may affect my choice of strings). I'd also like them to be long lasting as my hands can sweat quite a bit while playing but I don't want to go back to the expense of Elixirs if I can avoid it.
I initially thought of GHS (Boomers probably) but read that a number of people complained of them deteriorating too quickly. I've also been considering DR strings but I've no idea which type of DR strings might be best. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I use DR Strings on my Charvel 6. I've always used 9-42 as the Floyd is set for that tension. You can't go wrong with DR.
Did you ever get a set of Optima gold in the end? I think you can still get them and they look and sound great but twice the price
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No, never did try Optima. I just didn't think I wanted the extra expense. Those DR strings look good but which ones would be best? I thought the Hi-Voltage sets might be too much of a one-trick pony and was wondering about either Tite-Fits or Hi-Beams.
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No, never did try Optima. I just didn't think I wanted the extra expense. Those DR strings look good but which ones would be best? I thought the Hi-Voltage sets might be too much of a one-trick pony and was wondering about either Tite-Fits or Hi-Beams.
I use Tite Fits. They are the only type my local shop stock. They last ages and you can give the abuse + they sound great.
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No, never did try Optima. I just didn't think I wanted the extra expense. Those DR strings look good but which ones would be best? I thought the Hi-Voltage sets might be too much of a one-trick pony and was wondering about either Tite-Fits or Hi-Beams.
I use Tite Fits. They are the only type my local shop stock. They last ages and you can give the abuse + they sound great.
+1000 DR's are amazing strings
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The Tite Fits seem to have a lot of support so I guess I'm better with them than the Hi-Beams
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DR are my favourite, can't remember which ones I used as I'm on the D'Addarios to get the gauges I like.
What you think to the Elixirs? I ordered some but couldn't get gauges I wanted so I'll be mixing them with D'Addarios.
Someone will probably suggest Newtone strings sooner or later.
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DR Tite Fits are on all my guitars and have been for the past 2 years or so.
They last well and sound good to me
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/Feline%20strings/stringbanner600px.jpg)
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Ever thought about GHS burnished nickels?
They're a little warmer sounding, last a little longer and feel nice. I've got a set on my JR Tele, really prefer the sound of them to nickel plated strings.
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DR are my favourite, can't remember which ones I used as I'm on the D'Addarios to get the gauges I like.
What you think to the Elixirs? I ordered some but couldn't get gauges I wanted so I'll be mixing them with D'Addarios.
Someone will probably suggest Newtone strings sooner or later.
Newtone strings, although I can't tell you what they're like yet as my custom sets haven't arrived. If you don't need stupid-sized strings like me, then you can get them from various places, such as Strings Direct.
Roo
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/Feline%20strings/stringbanner600px.jpg)
Nowt wrong with those either :)
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What you think to the Elixirs? I ordered some but couldn't get gauges I wanted so I'll be mixing them with D'Addarios.
The Elixir strings do last for ages and after the initial stretching, stay in tune very well. They're expensive but do work out OK when you factor in their longevity. I found that I was changing the strings before they'd completely deteriorated because I was wanting to clean the guitar properly and condition the neck. They generally lasted me between 4 and 6 months depending on playing and weather conditions. I also found that the coating made quite a difference to feel. A set of 10's on Elixir strings felt noticeably thicker than a set of 10's by someone like, say, Ernie Ball and that impression was born out by the floating bridge on my guitar, which certainly needed adjustment when the Elixirs went on even though I hadn't changed the gauge. It was like I'd changed to 11's.
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I've been using DR Pure Blues strings for a while in both 10 and 11 gauge on my guitars and I really love the tone. They might not be ideal for the more Sabbath end of things for your requirements.
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Ordered a couple of sets of DR Tite-Fits so really looking forward to trying those :D
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GHS deteriorate a bit more quickly, especially the thinner ones, but they are also cheaper and thus I think they are about the same value. I like their tone a lot.
I use mostly GHS and Daddario.
I had SIT, Everly, EB and Dean Markley, to be honest difference aren't that big IMO. Only the Dean Markleys felt noticeably different (stiffer).
Question to anybody here: Has anybody tried those new Dunlop strings.$$
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I only tried GHS Boomers very quickly as I'd only very recently put them on my last guitar before I bought the Soloist. Like you, I liked their tone a lot but I've been put off getting them again because so many people seemed to be complaining about their rapid deterioration.
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What you think to the Elixirs? I ordered some but couldn't get gauges I wanted so I'll be mixing them with D'Addarios.
The Elixir strings do last for ages and after the initial stretching, stay in tune very well. They're expensive but do work out OK when you factor in their longevity. I found that I was changing the strings before they'd completely deteriorated because I was wanting to clean the guitar properly and condition the neck. They generally lasted me between 4 and 6 months depending on playing and weather conditions. I also found that the coating made quite a difference to feel. A set of 10's on Elixir strings felt noticeably thicker than a set of 10's by someone like, say, Ernie Ball and that impression was born out by the floating bridge on my guitar, which certainly needed adjustment when the Elixirs went on even though I hadn't changed the gauge. It was like I'd changed to 11's.
Cheers! If they are feel thicker, does it feel like there is more tension and are they are harder to bend? If I can get 6 months out of them might be worth me compromising string gauge
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Because it feels like you're using a slightly thicker gauge than in fact you are then yes, they do feel that bit harder to bend. I didn't notice it so much until I moved back to conventional strings when all of a sudden bends and vibrato became easier.
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Pyramid Pure Nickel 11s for me - I play mostly blues/rock ranging from Free/Greenie to Sabbath and beyond.
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as mentioned in the other strings thread, Rotosound i find great all rounders. I get 4-5 gigs from a set, they are 11's, i play hard and sweat lots. Only got 6-7 gigs out of Elixirs and Dean Markley Blue Steel's. Got 11's on my N4 and they floyd works fine, bit stiffer than with 10's
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I can recommend the Feline sets. I've been using them for a while and they are just as good as anything else i've tried. :D
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I only tried GHS Boomers very quickly as I'd only very recently put them on my last guitar before I bought the Soloist. Like you, I liked their tone a lot but I've been put off getting them again because so many people seemed to be complaining about their rapid deterioration.
It's definitely not "rapid" and the thicker sets IMO are just as good as other brands.
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I always found that GHS lasted pretty well.
Anywho, I've changed again - 12, 15, 20 from leftover newtone sets, 36, 46, 56 from DR tite fit 13-56 sets. I havent used DRs extensively before (tried them twice - same set a semitone down from now, in drop A#, where they were too slack, and ages ago when I was in D and they lost to GHS). The DRs are smoother, punchier in the lows, have more snarl to the top end and despite being thinner than the thick cored 32 44 60 I was using from newtone, sound tighter in the low end.
So in the last few years my experiences have been:
EB - too bright, break and rust easliy
Very brief experience with Roto - broke incredibly easily, didnt leave them on long enough to see if they didnt corrode.
GHS - Really like them but they dont do a set in gauges that I like when I changed tuning (down, lots, D to drop B).
Diaddario - OK, bit clangy and loose sounding, tollerated them as I could get singles in basically anything I wanted from strings direct
Newtone - sound much better than the diaddarios, fuller, thicker, tighter, can get anything you like from them
DR Tite/newtone cos I like the DR wounds better (for now), but dont like wound 3rds and still have newtone plains, which are great strings, sound awesome, last ages.
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Im a rotofan. I use 13-54's for my baritone. 11-56 for 7 string. and 12-52 for C# tuned guitars.