What strings do you use?

mr dave · 08-04-2010, 01:47 PM

it wouldn't have been the same gauge, probably way bigger, but with reduced tension due to a shorter scale. not really something i expected you to go for, just more of a sh1ts and giggles thing.

MichaelC · 08-12-2010, 12:27 PM

I use the gauge 10 GHS Boomers on my Gibson SG. I love those! They really sound bad-ass with the distortion up and you can really bend very good for Santana-like stuff. Really lovely!
I was thinking about getting 9 Super Slinky's on my strat once I get one

Is that a good idea?

VEGANGELICA · 08-12-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Seeing as we're giving more detail:

Right now my 7 string has Elixer 10's on it. I replace the low E and B with a .049 and a .066 respectively. Since they're low strings, I buy singles of whatever brand, and keep them on the guitar for 2 string changes whenever I replace the other 5. That keeps the low end of the gutiar nice and beefy without me shelling out lots of cash on sets of singles.

My 6 strings have a set of d'Addario 10's on them for the S2170FW, just standard 10's.
My Viper has 12-56 Ernie Balls on, since I wanted to strengthen my fingers and play some jazz.
My NEW 6 string is my 'Blues' guitar, so I have that set up with 11 guage elixers to give me more of that SRV vibe.

My acoustic 6 string has 12 guage Elixers on.
My Acoustic 12 string has 10 guage rotosounds on because they're cheap.
My classical guitar, I don't actually know what strings are on it, except I asked for regular classical strings and got whatever I got.

The other guitars in the house probably have d'addarios on, since I haven't changed the strings on those in forever, the guitars above get much more playtime.

Now I know why you are GuitarBizarre...because you have, at last count, 57 guitars!

I just use Elixer electric guitar strings, light (0.010 - 0.046), with Nanoweb. It's the only set I have bought since I got the guitar. Not enough playtime, I guess.

I was actually pleased the first time a string broke!

I haven't played long enough to get finicky about my strings. I will say, though, that I like these Elixers because they are so easy to press down. My electric guitar feels very delicate and responsive to me.

I just got a bass and those big ol' whomping strings don't look like they'll ever break, so maybe I'll never have to change them!

Insane Guest · 08-12-2010, 10:42 PM

Don't attack me for this, but I'm still a novice when it comes to the actual sound of the guitar. When you turn on the amp, and start playing, do the strings actually change the sound. I'm talking electric guitar not acoustic. I use Ernie Ball, but I use them only because they are good on the fingers and could take some strong bends.

VEGANGELICA · 08-13-2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xEMGx

Don't attack me for this, but I'm still a novice when it comes to the actual sound of the guitar. When you turn on the amp, and start playing, do the strings actually change the sound. I'm talking electric guitar not acoustic. I use Ernie Ball, but I use them only because they are good on the fingers and could take some strong bends.

All I know, xEMGx, is that thicker (higher gauge) electric guitar strings are supposed to give a better tone than the thinner ones (like the ones I use). Also, I've read online that different brands of strings do affect the experience of playing...someone said somewhere that he felt his pick got caught more on d'Addarios.

And here's an interesting quote about how string structure (how they are wound) affects the sound:

Quote:

What Should I Know About Electric Guitar Strings?

The way electric guitar strings are wound affects playability and tone. Standard strings are round-wound, meaning a round wire is wrapped around the string’s core. Round-wound strings provide the most volume and tone, but also produce finger noise and are “grabby.” These strings might not be the best choice for fast runs, lead, or jazz work.

Electric guitar strings that are flat-wound or ribbon-wound (also flatwound) use a ribbon-like wrapping to create a very smooth surface that nearly feels oiled. These strings are very fast and produce no finger noise, but brilliance is sacrificed. This makes them an unpopular choice for rock or rhythm guitar, for example, but a good choice for jazz.

GuitarBizarre · 08-13-2010, 11:38 AM

That thing about the pick getting caught doesn't convince me, I've never noticed a difference there. It might be the strings feel a little more 'stiff' to the touch of the plectrum, due to either high tension or stiffer metallurgy (Stiffer metal would me a string at the same tension would be harder to bend too, compared to a softer string)

But honestly, if your technique is good, your pick catching on the strings shouldn't be a problem. If it is a problem, even when you're not digging into the note, then you're playing with an inefficient picking motion.

Also, xEMGx - Yeah, they make a big difference. Brand-to-brand, between the same guages, the differences are slight, and mostly playability is whats affected.

But if you change how thick your strings are, or the type of winding (see above), you'll notice a BIG change in sound.

Of note - Thicker strings are harder to bend but can be set to a lower action without buzzing, whereas thinner strings are easier to bend but need higher action.

Sound wise, thinner strings can sound 'tinny', whereas thicker strings can sound 'muddy'. Which is better depends on the type of music you play. If you want super defined chunky rythm guitars where the sound of a plam mute stops on a pin, you might want thinner strings, but you'll lose the nice chunky tone that comes with thicker strings.

Conversely, if you want a brutal death metal sound, and you want to avoid it sounding 'fizzy' and brittle, you'll want to use thicker strings, but your palm muting technique will have to change to compensate, since the higher mass of the strings means more momentum and thus you'll need more effective methods of muting the strings with the picking hand.

JakeDTH · 08-14-2010, 08:41 AM

I use Ernie Ball "Not Even Slinky" (.012-.016-.024p-.032-.044-.056) custom gauge nickel wound strings. I like them as I play in D# tuning and because they feel more like acoustic strings, which I like because I started out on an acoustic guitar. They also have more bass and won't break as easy when I play live.

I recently used to use Ernie Ball "Regular Slinky" (.010-.013-.017-.026-.036-.046) custom gauge nickel wound strings, but they don't work well with D# or really any kind of lower tunings.

Dr_Rez · 08-15-2010, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

My NEW 6 string is my 'Blues' guitar, so I have that set up with 11 guage elixers to give me more of that SRV vibe.

If im not mistaken didnt SRV use 13/14's, as well as tune down to Eb to help get that fat bluesy sound?

GuitarBizarre · 08-15-2010, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezZ

If im not mistaken didnt SRV use 13/14's, as well as tune down to Eb to help get that fat bluesy sound?

Yes, but I don't have fingers that strong, and I hate Eb.

Edit: Also, have you tried to find a set of 13's in electric? I can't find anything except roundwounds.

Dr_Rez · 08-15-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Yes, but I don't have fingers that strong, and I hate Eb.

Edit: Also, have you tried to find a set of 13's in electric? I can't find anything except roundwounds.

I bet your fingers are like little trains. Always moving forward and made of steel. And why dont you like Eb?

Edit Answer: Luckily my local shop has up to 15s that are just like the super slinky 9's. He told me it was because so many people were asking how to get a stronger blues tone out of there strings o that was there answer. If you looked online youd probably find some, no?

08-12-2010, 12:27 PM	#92 (permalink)
MichaelC Groupie Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 3	I use the gauge 10 GHS Boomers on my Gibson SG. I love those! They really sound bad-ass with the distortion up and you can really bend very good for Santana-like stuff. Really lovely! I was thinking about getting 9 Super Slinky's on my strat once I get one Is that a good idea?

08-12-2010, 10:42 PM	#94 (permalink)
Insane Guest Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: CA Posts: 1,322	Don't attack me for this, but I'm still a novice when it comes to the actual sound of the guitar. When you turn on the amp, and start playing, do the strings actually change the sound. I'm talking electric guitar not acoustic. I use Ernie Ball, but I use them only because they are good on the fingers and could take some strong bends.