Strings?

[Fayde]

I really have no clue which to buy, I'm getting a Gibson LP Jr, playing mainly in Standard E and drop D, anyone can help?

[kidmo]

I use these:

[Fayde]

Originally Posted by kidmo

I use these:

Have you had any bad experiences with them?

[kidmo]

No, if I did I wouldn't keep buying them. String choice depends a lot on personal preference towards gauge and brand name. They're not that expensive. Try different brands and gauges and see what works best for you. If you are new to guitar try a thinner gauge cause they're easier to play and as your strength increases go up in size to see if you like thicker strings.

[planks]

So you might want to try out different brands and find the ones that suit you best. That could be linked to your personal taste when it comes to the sound, feel and durability of the strings, also what kind of music you are playing would influence your choice.

I play rock/blues, and been using Ernie Ball strings for many years, they have a very nice tone and feel imop. For a couple of years now, i been trying out the Elixir Nanowebs after hearing some good things about them. Mainly how they last quite a lot longer than other brands because of the coating they put on. I found this to be true, some sets have lasted up to 5-6 months, and still maintaining a fair amount of their tone. So costs more and lasts longer. However lately i've been going back to the EBs, because there's just something in their tone/feel, that imop is not present in the Elixirs.

Besides Ernie Ball sets i also had good results with Gibson strings. EBs still personal #1, though.

[chipper]

Originally Posted by kidmo

I use these:

I use those as well.

[jmg257]

Ernie Ball, Gibson, GHS, D' Addario, Fender - they are all good, quality strings. You can think about material, which will affect tone slightly (pure nickel vs nickel plated) and gauge (9s? 10s? ??) which will effect tone to a degree and feel/playability, and even build (round core like DR brand vs hex core, etc.) - if it matters.

Chances are it won't matter much if you are not sure what ones you want or why, so just get a quality brand, and eventually you can try a few brands/styles/gauges and see which ones YOU like.

[Fayde]

Thanks guys, I'm going with the Ernie Ball and see if it's anything for me

[cynic79]

Originally Posted by jmg257

Ernie Ball, Gibson, GHS, D' Addario, Fender - they are all good, quality strings. You can think about material, which will affect tone slightly (pure nickel vs nickel plated) and gauge (9s? 10s? ??) which will effect tone to a degree and feel/playability, and even build (round core like DR brand vs hex core, etc.) - if it matters.

Chances are it won't matter much if you are not sure what ones you want or why, so just get a quality brand, and eventually you can try a few brands/styles/gauges and see which ones YOU like.

I'm not terribly picky about strings, and I've had good luck with the above bolded brands.

I use Elixers on my Seagull dreadnought, which sound pretty good and last forever, but I've never tried them on an electric.

[AXE]

AXE tested and approved!

[hans]

I used to play .009's for many years until I got another Gibson set up to .010's - since then I play all my guitars (Gibsons) with .010.

Now, string brand - that's another thing. In my experience the cheapest are "the best" in the sense, you can change them more often without spending (substantially) more money.

[dbwalker]

Ghs 10-46

[River]

I've had problems with ultra-cheap strings. Not in their playability, but with manufacturing defects - like a G string that wasn't long enough to use!

The differences between the brands are, frankly, slim to none. I've settled on EB Hybrid Slinkys (9-46) - best of two worlds.

[MyJuniorRocks]

I use rotosound yellows. 10 to 46 gauge. They're excellent. I get a good price on these as I buy them 50 sets a time. (also the Rotosound factory is fairly near by and the boss is a lovely chap)
I've used Ernie Balls and they're excellent too.

I was using cheap Framus strings. (they cost me £1.20 a set), so I bought 50 sets. I change my strings every 2nd gig. Never had a problem with the framus strings. Very good value.

The best thing I did was to go up to 10-46. (also makes drop D sound a little stronger)

[Gibsonrocknroll]

Ernie Ball Super Slinky 30+ years.

[Robert Parker]

I use D'Addario XL .010's on my electric and Elixer Extra Light Polywebs on my acoustic. I really like both. I've also had good results with Dean Markely for electric and D'Addario for acoustic. Just try a bunch, make a few notes so you won't forget from one string change to the next, and then go with what works best.

[Kezia]

These are what I use

[twangydave]

Originally Posted by Robert Parker

I use D'Addario XL .010's on my electric

That's what I use for my electrics, can be had cheaply off that auction site if you buy 10 packs. Cheap and reliable gets my vote on strings.

[Sky]

The Hybrid set is great!
I use the 9-46 and have no issues wit Standard or Drop D.
I kill the B and E string fast though...

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by AXE

AXE tested and approved!

+1 on the Elixirs.

I bought a set to give them a try and put it on one of my LPs almost three weeks ago...they still sound like fresh out of the package.

[River]

Originally Posted by Sky

The Hybrid set is great!
I use the 9-46 and have no issues wit Standard or Drop D.
I kill the B and E string fast though...

I've never broken an EB string. How long do you leave them on?

[bscenefilms]

I use this:



Have for many many years. I had one string defective out of several hundred packs. Not bad.

[Sky]

Originally Posted by River

I've never broken an EB string. How long do you leave them on?

Not break, kill. Like where the string just looses it's touch and tone. Usually I'll kill the high E in about a week, with 9's at least. About double that for the B string.

[DrewG]

I use Rotosound yellows here... 10-46. I recently took my guitar for some fret work, having changed the strings a couple of weeks before, and the luthier recommended changing them as they were pretty dead. I'd been changing them at around 3-4 weeks before that. I'll have to up my string budget a little, but am happy with the Rotos.

[River]

Originally Posted by Sky

Not break, kill. Like where the string just looses it's touch and tone. Usually I'll kill the high E in about a week, with 9's at least. About double that for the B string.

Ah. Same here.

[Bordeaux]

I like the Gibson Vintage 10s, my new 50s Tribute came with the Gibson Brite Wire 10s and these are pretty cool too.

[Sirzach]

I use to play super slinky strings, but now I play the hybrid slinky ones. I tried regular slinky and it didn't feel as good as super. Then i saw the hybrid ones and they are great.

[LP Fan]

Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys and Rotosound Yellows. Gibson VR 10s in a pinch.