What strings to people use?

[ilÿti]

10-46 on six-string and 10-56 on seven-string but that is of need rather than choice. I simply can't get a string thicker than .056 in my country. I really want to move up to 10-52 on the six and 11-65 on the 7 but it's just not possible at the moment.

[noodleplugerine]

My Horizon is tuned to a B and I still use 9-42...

Don't get what people complain about when they go on about tension problems :s

I mean, yeah they're looser, but they're still fine to play - I'd be much more frustrated with massive tree trunk strings, that require crazy high action, than some slightly looser strings..

Oh - And D'addario, incase anyone is interested, invested £80 in a 25 pack a couple of months ago - the box is funky, but the strings won't come out without a whole lot of effort...

[Philly Q]

D'Addario 10-46 on everything, regardless of scale length (well, except my bass!).

Keeps it simple.

I'm sure it's true that bigger strings = better tone, but it's also true that too big strings = impossible to play.  And my fingers seem to be getting weaker as I get older.

[AndyR]

... I've got a friend who can kill a set of strings in one session, god knows what he eats but his sweat is like battery acid on strings.

Yep, that's me as well - if I don't clean strings after playing they're gonners the next day.

D'Addarios last better for me, Rotos not too bad - hence my use of them. The Schallers (if that's what they were) were possibly better, but it's a good few years back.

If I only had one guitar to string, I'd probably restring once a week (friday night, ready for the weekend) even though I only play at home.

I tried some Felines (which I believe are picato - don't quote me, though) a while back - they couldn't cope with me! Very nice for a day or two, but detriorated very quickly in my hands. I've still got another set, so I'll give them another go, but at the moment my favourites are D'Addario.

[sambo]

... I've got a friend who can kill a set of strings in one session, god knows what he eats but his sweat is like battery acid on strings.

Yep, that's me as well - if I don't clean strings after playing they're gonners the next day.

Me too.


When I remember, I try to look out for coated sets; Elixirs or I think DR do some too. They tend to last about a month+

[horsehead]

I'm buying the D'addarios 11-52 (EXL116), absolutely fantastic strings for me, sound great & last for ages

[JDC]

I mean, yeah they're looser, but they're still fine to play - I'd be much more frustrated with massive tree trunk strings, that require crazy high action, than some slightly looser strings..

I'd say tighter string would let you lower the action, for me anyway because I hit the string lighter

I use d'addario, custom set 11.5, 15, 19, 30w 42w, 56w in C standard, all worked out on one of those string tension calculators

I think DR strings last a tiny bit longer, but they don't do singles or any sets I like so I'm sticking with d'addario, I do wish I could get hold of coated single strings as I do rust none wounds pretty quickly

[Elliot]

Either Snake Oil Brand pure nickels or the DR nickel Pure Blues.  Gauge: 11s. 

On acoustic (I play fingerstyle) I used to play D'Addario 13s but my hands were getting tired of the gauge and I tried Rotosound Country Golds in 10s.  These are really nice strings for fingerstyle - very pingy. 

For slide acoustic I make up a set of 16-60s from D'Addario singles - using an .27 unwound G as Stefan Grossman recommends - Big strings give great Bukka White/Son House tone from a £25 ebay Hofner acoustic!

[dave_mc]

i use rotosounds... generally 9-42 on 25.5" scale guitars tuned to E. Though I'm noticing that on guitars with shorter scale lengths that they're a little slack (but 10 is a little tight, lol). Might have to go with DRs (they do 9.5, i think), or maybe a hybrid set of 9-46.

[indysmith]

I usually use D'Addarios but atm I've got on some 11-54 custom wound Ernie Ball "Beefy Slinky" strings on there in standard tuning.

[_tom_]

d'addario 10s. I keep meaning to go back to 11s but never seem to get round to it..

[martinw]

I'm sure it's true that bigger strings = better tone

I'm not sure I agree with this. I was talking to Hayden about it the other day, and we agreed that different gauges give different tone, not better or worse. I like the "snap" of lighter strings and find heavier ones dead. Plenty of great players have recorded superb tones on antyhing down to 8's.
I use 9-42 on everything.

[indysmith]

I'm sure it's true that bigger strings = better tone

I'm not sure I agree with this. I was talking to Hayden about it the other day, and we agreed that different gauges give different tone, not better or worse. I like the "snap" of lighter strings and find heavier ones dead. Plenty of great players have recorded superb tones on antyhing down to 8's.
I use 9-42 on everything.

I second this motion. I think there's a happy medium soundwise - too small and it sounds thin and nasty, too big and they don't vibrate as well as they could - as martin said they sound 'dead'.
Still, i far prefer the feel of massive strings :lol:

[Philly Q]

I'm sure it's true that bigger strings = better tone

I'm not sure I agree with this. I was talking to Hayden about it the other day, and we agreed that different gauges give different tone, not better or worse. I like the "snap" of lighter strings and find heavier ones dead. Plenty of great players have recorded superb tones on antyhing down to 8's.
I use 9-42 on everything.

I was saying that with tongue slightly in cheek, just to avoid arguments and acknowledge the "conventional wisdom" (at least since SRV came along and we had the retro craze, whenever that was).  I think you should use what feels comfortable - if it's too bendy, move up a gauge.  If it hurts, drop down.

I have found that with some guitars, very light strings don't seem to have the "strength" to get the guitar resonating.  But didn't both Billy Gibbons and Ritchie Blackmore use 8's for many years?  Maybe they still do.

[hideous]

It's personal preference for sure. It depends what you're used to.
I like 10-46 or 11-52 in E standard. Lower, I like the 12-58 (plain 3rd) sets.
Just don't enjoy playing on the lighter sets very much, simple as that.