Brighter strings.

[JDC]

Had similar experience with elixirs, didn't notice any difference in feel but they lasted so much longer. Totally worth it in my opinion, really want to try cobalts.

[GuitarIv]

Seems like I'm not the only one round here that has acidic sweat eating up hardware and strings :P
If the Cobalts are at least as durable as Elixirs that would be nice, will certainly try a set out :)
Thanks for the info on Cleartones!

[JDC]

Seems like I'm not the only one round here that has acidic sweat eating up hardware and strings :P
If the Cobalts are at least as durable as Elixirs that would be nice, will certainly try a set out :)
Thanks for the info on Cleartones!

Every single screw on my go to guitar has rust!!! Even the tuners

[Slartibartfarst42]

What is the brightness of Cobalts like? Are they like normal strings (Tite Fits, Slinkys etc) or are they more like Blue Steels and Hi-Beams?

[JJretroTONEGOD]

Seems like I'm not the only one round here that has acidic sweat eating up hardware and strings :P
If the Cobalts are at least as durable as Elixirs that would be nice, will certainly try a set out :)
Thanks for the info on Cleartones!

no I have it too, my strings only last half the normal life because of it

[GuitarIv]

I wipe my strings before/after playing and still it doesn't help as much as I wish it would xD

[Slartibartfarst42]

Resurrecting this old thread for an update. I decided to try the Blue Steels and the tone is very good but I only put them on last week and the high E string has just snapped on me. I won't be buying another set! At Ģ7 a pack they're the same as Tite Fits but it seems they just don't last. At the moment I'm considering the Cobalt strings but as they're Ģ12 a pack and I clean my strings regularly anyway, it might be just as good to go back to Tite Fits.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Another update on strings.

Decided to try the Ernie Ball Cobalts and put them on all three guitars. In each case, they feel fantastic when first played, they have more power and the tone is excellent, BUT....... and it's a HUGE but..... of all the strings I've tried over the years, these have corroded faster than anything and by a considerable margin. I clean my strings after every time I play them but with regular playing they'd started to corrode within days. One of the guitars I played, cleaned the strings and left it hung on the wall. When I picked it up again a week and a half later, the strings were badly corroded. As I'd bought a few packs I thought it might be a dud set so put a fresh set on. The same thing happened. That's four sets of these I've tried so far and even with the most meticulous care, not one has managed to make it even close to a month before they are in desperate need of changing. I'll never be buying these again that's for sure and I urge the rest of you to steer clear. I'm inclined to just go back to Elixir strings now for longevity. The tone isn't quite as good as Tite Fits or these Cobalts initially but their tone is still good, it is consistent and they do last forever.

[JDC]

Thanks for the update, I'd probably kill them in 2 seconds by the sound of it

[Slartibartfarst42]

I kid you not, my jaw dropped when I realised they were corroding within days and by 'corroding', I don't mean 'going off slightly'. They were completely rusty. Normal strings would take me months to get to the level of corrosion these managed in less than a fortnight.

[Alex]

Interesting thread, I'm definitely going to try Elixir strings soon.

I just put on some Gibson brite wires yesterday. They have a bit more vintage character and are definitely not "bright", but I like them quite a lot.

[GuitarIv]

There's nothing better than Elixirs when it comes to durability. Their sound isn't bad either. For recording I'd go D'Addario but for the regular practice and gigging stuff Elixirs are the way to go :)

[JimmyMoorby]

Funny how every has different experiences ive only ever bought 2 packs of daddario's and they snapped within hours/days which is weird because I have a light touch.  Needless to say ive never used them since.

Also in stark contrat to what slart was saying I leave the bog standard ernie ball strings on my guitars for months if im not gigging or recording and havent snapped a string on an electric guitar for at least a 3 years.

Ive tried out lots of strings and i just keep coming back to ernie ball but the differences between tone and brands is normally subtle but just enough to matter.

The only strings which had a massive impact on my sound were eddie van halens own signature set which were very 'spanky'.  I rarely  find signature gear can make you sound like any one but these really gave me a sound similar to van halen - finish what you started which was weird because its not a sound id ever intentionally go for and didnt want but I think theyd be great strings for strats if you want a chunky texas blues type sound but i havent got round to this yet.....

Im gonna try some ghs boomers for my strat first though and some elixirs for my acoustic but for my workhorse guitars its definitely ernie ball.

[Kiichi]

I do wonder where these differences in experience arise from. Perception? Luck? Where they were bought (read how old are they)? How much of it is just chemisty (sweat and shite)? Or even just improper handling?

On the count of Balls I must admit I canīt comment on snapping. The longest I could ever stand a Balls set was about 1 week, at which point they lost tone quickly. Just donīt like the feel at all. Too soft and woobly. I am not saying they are bad strings, lot of people like them, but for my taste they just do not work at all. Might be that I like my core wire as thick as humanly possible and such...

[JimmyMoorby]

I do wonder where these differences in experience arise from. Perception? Luck? Where they were bought (read how old are they)? How much of it is just chemisty (sweat and shitee)? Or even just improper handling?

On the count of Balls I must admit I canīt comment on snapping. The longest I could ever stand a Balls set was about 1 week, at which point they lost tone quickly. Just donīt like the feel at all. Too soft and woobly. I am not saying they are bad strings, lot of people like them, but for my taste they just do not work at all. Might be that I like my core wire as thick as humanly possible and such...

In fairness im the only person I know who doesnt like the sound and feel of brand new strings (When I play them) I like them after a day or two of playing. 

Needless to say I cant ever tell which guitarist is using which strings its just a personal feel thing although I would like to know what other people think of those EVH strings they were good but weird and not for me!